Contents
Brintellix is an antidepressant drug with the active ingredient vortioxetine. Brintellix is used in the fight against severe depressive states that prevent patients from functioning normally on a daily basis. The producer of Brintellix is a Danish pharmaceutical company – H. Lundbeck.
Brintellix – composition
The main ingredient in Brintellix is vortioxetine. Other ingredients include mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl starch, magnesium sterate, hypromellose, macrogol 400, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.
Vortioxetine is an organic chemical derivative of arylpiperazine. It is used as an ingredient in antidepressants in many countries. It was introduced to the pharmaceutical market in 2013. Vortioxetine is a modulator and stimulator of the serotonin transmission process in the human brain. Vortioxetine’s mechanism of action is quite complex and involves the inhibition of serotonin reuptake, so that this “happiness hormone” stays longer in the brain, taking part in the transmission of signals between individual nerve cells. Serotonin is a hormone that controls and regulates the activity of neurotransmitters responsible for inducing, among other things, a sense of anxiety.
Brintellix preparations available on the Polish market contain 5, 10, 15 or 20 mg of vortioxetine. One package of Brintillex contains 28 pieces of coated tablets, the price of the package ranges from PLN 150 to PLN 220.
When is Brintellix used?
Brintellix is used in adults suffering from major depression. Major depression is defined as a type of endogenous, organic or unipolar depression that is caused by factors of an organic nature, such as damage to the nervous system. In people suffering from major depression, we observe a disturbance in the distribution of neurotransmitters, including disturbed levels of serotonin.
The most common symptoms of major depression include:
- long-lasting deep sadness,
- feeling losing the meaning of life,
- internal voltage states,
- feeling anxious
- sleep disturbances,
- lack of appetite
- apathy, indifference in social contacts,
- psychomotor slowing down,
- cognitive disorders (problems with memory, concentration),
- thoughts of suicide.
Major depression may be genetic. Experts indicate that if parents suffered from major depression, the chance of their offspring getting sick may be as high as 50%.
How do you take Brintellix?
Brintellix is a prescription-only medicine. It comes in the form of dragees or drops, both administered orally. The standard dose is 10 mg taken once a day. Elderly patients will usually start treatment with a lower dose of 5 mg per day. The dose and duration of the treatment is determined by the doctor, based on the individual predispositions of the patient and his previous medical history.
Possible side effects caused by taking Brintellix
As with any medication, taking Brintellix may also cause undesirable results. Nausea is the most common. These symptoms were moderate in more than 1 in 10 people, more often in women than in men.
The other side effects associated with taking Brintellix include:
- diarrhea,
- constipation
- dizziness,
- sensation of itching all over the skin,
- reduced appetite,
- sleep disturbances,
- teeth grinding
- reddening of the skin on the face,
- night sweats.
It is not recommended to use Brintelllix if patients are taking drugs belonging to the group of non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or drugs belonging to the group of selective monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitors. Certain side effects may occur when these drugs are used together with Brintellix.
It should also be noted that an increase in the number of broken bones has been seen in people taking Brintillex. It is suspected that taking the drug may have some influence on the structure and composition of the skeletal tissues. For this reason, it is advisable to exercise caution when exercising or engaging in heavy physical activity while taking Brintillex.
In the case of pregnant and breastfeeding women, consult your doctor about taking Brintillex treatment. Most often, in such situations, the use of this drug is discouraged. When taken by young mothers, Brintillex may pass into their milk and then into the baby’s body. During pregnancy, however, Brintillex may disrupt the natural rate of fetal development and cause symptoms such as pulmonary hypertension in newborns. It should also be noted that drugs such as vortioxetine can reduce the quality of male sperm and cause infertility in the long run.