{"id":632042,"date":"2025-04-22T15:11:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T19:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=632042"},"modified":"2026-03-27T18:10:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T22:10:39","slug":"trintellix-generic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/trintellix-generic\/","title":{"rendered":"Is there a generic for Trintellix?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Trintellix (vortioxetine) to treat major depressive disorder, or depression, in 2013. The drug\u2019s manufacturer (Takeda Pharmaceuticals) originally marketed it as Brintellix, but changed the name to Trintellix in 2016. Trintellix can be expensive without insurance or discounts, but a generic version could make the drug more affordable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there a generic for Trintellix?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There is currently no generic version of Trintellix on the market, but the FDA has issued several tentative approvals. A tentative approval means that the FDA has determined a generic drug product is ready for approval, but the brand-name drug\u2019s patents are still active. Trintellix\u2019s patent expires in June 2026, and generic versions may become available some time after that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a patent expires, this allows generic manufacturers to create the generic drug by using an abbreviated approval process,\u201d says Tiffany Khieu, Pharm.D., an assistant professor at Marshall B. Ketchum University. However, it likely won\u2019t be right after the expiration date. A <\/span>study on generic drugs in Canada<\/span><\/a> showed that the average time to bring a generic to market after patent expiration is around 1.5 years. That might differ slightly in the US, but even when the Trintellix patent ends in 2026, its generic probably won\u2019t debut until 2027 or later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0 \u00a0 Trintellix generic availability<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Generic name<\/b><\/td>\nVortioxetine\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FDA approval date of generic version<\/b><\/td>\nSeveral tentative approvals have been issued, but generic versions are not yet on the market<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Is there a generic available for sale in the U.S.?<\/b><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
When will a generic be available?<\/b><\/td>\nSometime after June 2026, following patent expiration of brand-name Trintellix<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What are the differences between generic and brand-name Trintellix?<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the FDA<\/span><\/a>, about 9 out of every 10 prescriptions filled in the U.S. are for generic drugs. What makes them so popular?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The big draw for generics is that they\u2019re often less expensive. A large chunk of any drug\u2019s cost comes from the research and testing required to prove that it works and is safe for consumers. Generic drugs <\/span>require much less testing<\/span><\/a>, since their reference product already proved its safety and efficacy, so they typically cost <\/span>80\u201385% less<\/span><\/a> than their brand-name counterparts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything else is pretty much identical. <\/span>The FDA requires<\/span><\/a> that generic drugs have the exact same active ingredient, strength, dosage form (tablet, liquid, etc.), and route of administration (oral, topical, injectable, etc.) as the brand-name medication. So when a generic version of Trintellix comes out, it will work exactly the same way as Trintellix. \u201cBesides increasing serotonin levels (as all <\/span>SSRIs<\/span><\/a> do), Trintellix also acts directly on serotonin receptors, like the 5HT1A\/B, which may improve cognition,\u201d says <\/span>Alex Dimitriu, MD<\/span><\/a>, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. \u201cIt also blocks 5HT3 serotonin receptors, which may help with nausea and also add benefits to mood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Studies like <\/span>this one from 2019<\/span><\/a>, which assessed medications for blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and psychiatric conditions, show that generic medicines can deliver very similar outcomes to brand-name drugs. \u201cIf differences do exist, it is seen in the excipients, also known as the non-active ingredients,\u201d Dr. Khieu says, which include things like dyes, fillers, or coatings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So an eventual generic for Trintellix will be expected to produce the same mood-boosting effects as its brand-name reference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does Trintellix cost?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you are paying without insurance or discounts, a typical prescription for brand-name Trintellix would cost about $6,703 for 30, 20-mg tablets. You can use a <\/span>SingleCare coupon for Trintellix<\/span><\/a> to pay $491 for this same prescription.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the off-label uses for Trintellix?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While Trintellix is only officially approved to treat depression, sometimes a healthcare provider might prescribe it for other psychiatric medical conditions. \u201cAs an antidepressant, Trintellix has anxiolytic effects due to inhibition of the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) and modulation of various serotonin receptor subtypes,\u201d Dr. Khieu says. So some doctors prescribe it <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> for anxiety as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, <\/span>a 2018 meta-analysis<\/span><\/a> concluded that vortioxetine is a viable treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, and <\/span>a topic review from 2020 <\/span><\/a>reported that it could be a useful treatment for OCD as well. However, it might not always be the best option for these cases. \u201cGenerally speaking, vortioxetine is less beneficial for anxiety, and as good an antidepressant as the traditional ones, like Lexapro and Prozac, with possibly fewer side effects,\u201d Dr. Dimitriu says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Trintellix covered by insurance?<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the manufacturer, <\/span>Takeda Pharmaceuticals<\/span><\/a>, 85% of patients with commercial insurance have coverage for brand-name Trintellix. However, out-of-pocket costs will vary. <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Medicaid coverage<\/span><\/a> of Trintellix will vary. You can visit the Trintellix website to find out more about coverage and costs and explore savings options. You can also contact your specific insurance plan directly or check the most recent <\/span>formulary<\/span><\/a> to find out more about your coverage and out-of-pocket costs for Trintellix. If your insurance does not cover Trintellix, you can read more about paying for Trintellix without insurance <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you get Trintellix covered by insurance?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your healthcare provider can send a Trintellix prescription to your preferred pharmacy. From there, the pharmacy staff will process the information electronically and can tell you right away if the medicine is covered. In some cases, your plan may require <\/span>prior authorization<\/span><\/a>. This means that your healthcare provider will have to submit additional information as to why this medicine is medically necessary before your plan will determine if they will cover the prescription. If you would like to check your coverage first, you can call your insurance plan or check the formulary online.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Generic alternatives to Trintellix<\/span><\/h2>\n

Maybe Trintellix doesn\u2019t fit with your budget. Maybe it\u2019s causing some unwanted side effects. Or maybe it\u2019s simply not working as well as you\u2019d hoped. Every person responds differently, and for some, another medication might be more helpful. Fortunately, there are <\/span>several alternatives<\/span><\/a> for people with depression. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n