Mental Health Check-Up: Partner with Your Healthcare Provider
(BPT) - In the U.S., about 14 million people suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or clinical depression in a given year. Most people think MDD is just being sad. The truth is that depression is more than saddened mood; it is a constellation of emotional, cognitive and physical symptoms. These symptoms include loss of interest or pleasure, significant changes in weight or appetite, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, lack of energy, restlessness or slowed thinking or movements, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating, or indecisiveness, and recurrent suicidal thoughts or actions. If you suffer from multiple depression symptoms nearly every day, it can be hard to feel like yourself.
Bobby struggled with clinical depression for many years, but didn't realize his sadness could be depression. He now enjoys his time being a family man and a motorbike racing enthusiast. For most of his life, Bobby worked in the steel industry.
During the past eight to ten years, Bobby’s symptoms worsened. “It was like carrying a backpack, and it got heavier and heavier,” explained Bobby. “I would be so tired and couldn’t sleep, and didn’t want to eat dinner. Eventually I gave up, withdrew and became reclusive.”
In the fall of 2013, Bobby decided it was time to take action and get help. He worked with his healthcare provider to develop a plan to help manage his symptoms, which included taking Brintellix® (vortioxetine), a prescription medicine used to treat Major Depressive Disorder in adults.
Learning to accept your condition and recognize what you need to do to treat it, and seeking support, is important.
“I spent many years unsure about what was going on inside of my body, and I want to help people understand that you have to be proactive,” said Bobby. “I’ve learned that it’s important to talk to a doctor and find treatment for depression that is right for you. I like to think of our bodies as similar to cars, and from time to time we need to see the doctor for a check-up.”
Clinical depression is a complex mental health disorder. It is important to know about your options that may help. Brintellix is a prescription medication available in the United States shown to help improve the overall symptoms of depression. The efficacy of Brintellix was established in six 6 to 8 week studies, including one study in the elderly and one maintenance study in adults. Brintellix may cause side effects. The most common side effects in 6 to 8 week studies were nausea, constipation and vomiting. It’s important to work with a healthcare provider to learn more and determine a treatment plan that is right for you.
INDICATION for BRINTELLIX [(vortioxetine) 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg Tablets]
BRINTELLIX is a prescription medicine used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Suicidal Thoughts and Actions and Antidepressant Drugs
Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teens or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions. People who have (or have a family history of) bipolar illness, or suicidal thoughts or actions may have a particularly high risk. Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, impulsivity, trouble sleeping, aggressive behavior or suicidal thoughts are new, worse or worry you. BRINTELLIX has not been evaluated for use in patients under 18.
Do not take BRINTELLIX if you:
- Are allergic to vortioxetine or any of the ingredients in BRINTELLIX
- Take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid; do not take an MAOI within 21 days of stopping BRINTELLIX; do not start BRINTELLIX if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days
BRINTELLIX may cause serious side effects including:
Serotonin Syndrome: A potentially life-threatening problem that can happen when medicines such as BRINTELLIX are taken with certain other medicines. Symptoms may include agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status; problems controlling movements or muscle twitching, stiffness or tightness; fast heartbeat, high or low blood pressure; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Abnormal bleeding or bruising: BRINTELLIX and other serotonergic antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or aspirin.
Manic episode: Symptoms may include greatly increased energy; severe trouble sleeping; racing thoughts; reckless behavior; unusually grand ideas; excessive happiness or irritability; talking more or faster than usual.
Visual problems: may include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are.
Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood: Symptoms may include headache; difficulty concentrating, memory changes or confusion; weakness and unsteadiness on your feet; and in severe or sudden cases hallucinations, fainting, seizures or coma. If not treated, severe low sodium levels can cause death.
Before starting BRINTELLIX, tell your healthcare provider if you have or had liver problems, seizures or convulsions, bipolar disorder (manic depression) or mania, low salt (sodium) levels in your blood, bleeding problems, drink alcohol, have any other medical conditions or if you are pregnant, nursing, plan to become pregnant, or plan to nurse.
BRINTELLIX and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects when taken together. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan on or are taking any other prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements including medicines for migraine headaches, such as triptans; medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders such as tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, buspirone or antipsychotics; MAOIs including linezolid (a specific antibiotic); over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John’s wort; and the following medicines: aspirin, NSAIDs, warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), diuretics, rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, quinidine, tramadol or fentanyl.
Common side effects of BRINTELLIX include: nausea, constipation or vomiting. These are not all the possible side effects of BRINTELLIX.
Do not start or stop taking BRINTELLIX without talking to your healthcare provider first. Suddenly stopping BRINTELLIX when you take higher doses may cause you to have side effects including headache, stiff muscles, mood swings, sudden outbursts of anger, dizziness or feeling lightheaded, or runny nose.
Until you know how BRINTELLIX affects you, do not drive, operate heavy machinery or engage in other dangerous activities.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking BRINTELLIX.
Talk to your healthcare provider.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see accompanying Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide for BRINTELLIX.
For more information on Brintellix and clinical depression, including an MDD symptom checklist, visit https://us.brintellix.com.