When will a Trintellix generic be available?

By Randy Magnuson, Apr 22, 2025

Per the Food and Drug Administration, around nine out of every ten prescriptions filled in the US are for generic drugs. What makes them so popular? The big draw for generics is that they’re often less expensive. A large chunk of any drug’s cost comes from the research and testing required to prove that it works and is safe for consumers. Generic drugs require much less testing, since their reference product already proved its safety and efficacy, so they typically cost 80–85% less than their brand-name counterparts. 

Everything else is pretty much identical. The FDA requires 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. “Besides increasing serotonin levels (as all SSRIs do), Trintellix also acts directly on serotonin receptors, like the 5HT1A/B—which may improve cognition,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “It also blocks 5HT3 serotonin receptors, which may help with nausea and also add benefits to mood.”

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