Patient Drug News advises avoiding use of the antidepressant Vortioxetine (also called Brintellix or Trintellix), because the most recent evidence from the FDA shows that the drug has “little benefit” and “significant risks.”
The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used in 4 of the 5 clinical trials that formed the basis for approving vortioxetine. “These trials lasted from 6 to 8 weeks and compared vortioxetine to a placebo and involved patients aged 18 to 75 years,” says Patient Drug News. “The differences between vortioxetine and placebo ranged from as little as a 1.5 point decrease in the MADRS score to a high of 7.1 points” out of 60 total points. Though technically these changes were “statistically significant,” Patient Drug News comments that, “A result that is statistically significant may not be important (significant) to patients.”
An extensive list of side effect risks from the drug are also included in the article.
Avoid Using Until Sep 2020! Vortioxetine (Brintellix, Trintellix) New Antidepressant With Little Benefit and Serious Risks (Patient Drug News, November 25, 2014)
