Can the taste of cardboard or plastic in the mouth and lack of appetite be a side effect of using Brintellix?

Yes, changes in taste in the mouth, such as a metallic, plastic or cardboard taste, can occur as rare side effects of antidepressants, including Brintellix (vortioxetine), although this is not very common and is not always mentioned in official leaflets. Brintellix can cause a variety of side effects, including nausea, dry mouth, changes in appetite, and taste disturbances. Lack of appetite and altered taste can affect the feeling of food as "cardboard" or "plastic".

In such a situation, I encourage you to report these symptoms to your treating doctor, who will assess whether the symptoms are related to the drug and whether it is necessary to adjust the dose or change the therapy. Do not stop treatment on your own. In the meantime, take the medication with a meal, which can reduce nausea and unpleasant taste.

I also encourage you to report the symptoms you experience to your doctor, as well as to report the occurrence of an adverse effect of the preparation. Reporting side effects allows you to increase control over medicines available on the market. We wrote more about how and why to report side effects in the article: 

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/artykuly/jak-i-dlaczego-zglaszac-dzialania-niepozadane

If you need more personalized advice, you can use teleconsultations here:

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/telekonsultacja/

The advice is provided in Polish.

The availability of Brintellix in pharmacies in Polish can be checked at the following address:

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/produkty/13859/brintellix-tabletki-powlekane/apteki