How Long Does Brintellix Stay In Your System?

Brintellix, also known by its generic name vortioxetine, is a medication prescribed to patients suffering from depression. Specifically, Brintellix is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin receptor modulator, which means it is effective by balancing the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.

Taking vortioxetine has the potential to restore your interest in daily life.

Because Brintellix has a relatively short half-life of 57 to 66 hours, it is likely the medication will be completely removed from your body within 16 days. Several factors influence just how fast vortioxetine is removed from your body, which includes your age, metabolism, organ functions and more.

The use of antidepressants in the United States is on the rise, according to data from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are a few facts about Americans’ antidepressant usage between 1999 and 2014:

• The number of United States residents who have taken antidepressants within the last 30 days rose by 65 percent.
• One in eight Americans 12 years or older has used antidepressants recently.
• 16.5 percent of American women use antidepressants, compared to just 9 percent of American men.
• White Americans are the more likely to take antidepressants than any other race.

Although Brintellix is not a controlled substance according to the federal government, do not take vortioxetine recreationally. Brintellix should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.

The medications most commonly misused that contain Brintellix are Brintellix itself and its generic version vortioxetine.

Brintellix is an effective antidepressant because of its ability to balance the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Vortioxetine also inhibits the reuptake of the norepinephrine transporter in the brain. Due to its unique abilities and effect on the brain, many individuals find success with treating their depression with Brintellix when they have failed to benefit from other antidepressants.

Vortioxetine’s half-life is between 57 to 66 hours.

Several factors come into play when estimating how long Brintellix will stay in your system because every patient has a physiology unique to them. Here are some major factors you should consider when trying to understand how long vortioxetine will stay in your body:

• Age: Typically, the younger you are, the more efficient your body functions are. The more efficient your body functions, the faster Brintellix will be removed from your system.
• Body height/weight/fat: Your specific prescribed vortioxetine dosage corresponds to your body height, weight and fat. Usually, larger people will be given a higher dosage of Brintellix. The higher the dose of vortioxetine you have been taking, the longer Brintellix will take to be removed from your system.
• Genetics: Genes predispose people to different metabolic functions, which is a key factor in how your body processed medications like vortioxetine. For this reason, your genetic makeup comes into play when estimating how long Brintellix will remain in your system.
• Kidney and liver functions: The liver and kidneys eliminate everything you ingest, and Brintellix is no exception. If your liver or kidneys are damaged, it will most likely take longer for your body to remove the vortioxetine from your system.
• Metabolism: Your metabolism determines how quickly you process foods, liquids and medications such as Brintellix. If your metabolism is slow, it will take longer for your body to process and eliminate vortioxetine from its system than someone with a fast metabolism.
• Usage frequency: The longer you have been taking Brintellix, the longer it will remain in your system. For example, it will take longer for someone who taken vortioxetine for several years to remove Brintellix from the body than someone who has only been taking vortioxetine for a few months.

Here are some estimations of detection windows in which vortioxetine can be found in different types of drug tests:

• Urine: Brintellix can be detected in urine within 12 to 16 days of its use.
• Hair: Like many other medications, vortioxetine can be detected in hair follicles for a longer duration than other tests. Usually, Brintellix can be detected in hair within 90 days of its use.
• Blood: Brintellix can be detected in a blood test up to 16 days after taking it. Depending on your age and metabolism, it may be undetectable after 13 days.

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use disorder, get help right away. Visit www.TheRecoveryVillage.com or call our 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 855-548-9825 to learn more about recovery resources available to you or someone you love.