Be Very Cautious Mixing Alcohol With Viibryd!! (Page 5)
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This is a warning to you all... A little bit about me first: I'm 6'3" and only 130 pounds. Naturally I am very susceptible to side effects of any drug. I also didn't have my first taste of alcohol until October 2011, which is when I turned 23.

Throughout November 2011 I took Cymbalta. I also drank occasionally, but not often and not much. Cymbalta gave me a lot side effects such as an upset stomach, dizzyness, inability to sleep, etc. About mid-December I switched to Prozac, and took it through February. Throughout this time I drank a lot. Very often, and sometimes I'd get incredibly drunk, but I didn't have any bad experiences with mixing Prozac and alcohol. At the beginning of March 2012 I started taking Viibryd because Prozac wasn't giving me the results I desired. The first time I drank while taking Viibryd was on March 14th. That night was also my first and only ride in an ambulance. I drank a good bit of alcohol that night, but it wasn't the most I've ever drank. I also drank a little too fast. I ended up throwing up everything, then stomach juices, then dry heaving all the way to the hospital.

Since then I've only gotten drunk once while on Viibryd, and I did it slowly. I took about 10 shots of vodka but over a four hour period. I didn't feel any bad effects that night, and thought that maybe if I was just careful with my drinking that I could still get drunk while taking Viibryd. But the next day I was miserable. After havingstopped drinking at 11pm the night before, I was still drunk at 8am and unable to drive. The entire day I was sick and on the verge of passing out. I couldn't function at all. And the effects even carried over slightly to the following day.

I would just like to warn you all. It wouldn't suprise me at all if someone could end up dead due to an accident of mixing Viibryd and alcohol...

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Thank you so much for the response. It's nice to know your not alone in the world and your not the only one feeling a certain way. My biggest problem is feeling so alone and like I'm the only one experiencing the anxiety, I have a three year old daughter as well and I suffered from ppd but never told anyone about it and held it in for two years which had a lot to do with my anxiety building up and getting worse. I do think viibyrd is helping and I even had a couple beers last night for my birthday and so far feel fine just having a little trouble sleeping. Have you ever heard of cognitive therapy? I read about it a lot online but haven't much idea as to what it is or how it works?

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I wish you lots of luck with Viibryd! I have Post Partum Depression, and am just 6 months into the 1st year after having my baby. I am probably going to go to the full 40mg for a while, and then come down to 20mg eventually. I was first put on Buspar for depression/anxiety, and then was taking Effexor XR for many years. When I wanted to have another baby, my psychiatrist switched me to Prozac, which didn't really do much but blunt my emotions so that I didn't feel much of anything at all. When I had my son, I stayed on Prozac, and eventually weaned off by myself, due to it not really doing anything for my PPD. Now I'm trying Viibryd, and I found a bit of relief into the end of the first week of 10mg. Now that I'm on 20mg, I'm feeling a lot better (day 10). My only complaint is that I'm still having disrupted sleep, but that could also be because I'm somewhat paranoid that my infant is going to wake up :) It will pass, for sure. I do take melatonin in the evenings to help me relax and fall asleep, and I also try to keep similar sleep hours from day-to-day. That helps. I also supplement vitamin D, especially when the days start getting shorter, like right around now. I try to do everything I can to help the meds work their magic, and to improve the things in my life that are upsetting to me or stressful. I hope this lends some perspective for you; I realize how intrusive thoughts can be very upsetting, and difficult to deal with. I had that a whole lot when both of my children were first born. Best of luck to you.

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Thanks for the response! I was on celexa for two years mainly for severe OCD/intrusive thoughts and anxiety disorder and it ended up getting worse, so I got switched to this medicine! Hoping it takes away my negative thinking!

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The medication can take a while to start working fully. My psychiatrist told me to take .25 mg klonopin in the evenings, if I was having anxiety while starting Viibryd, until it is at full effectivity. I am on day 10, and I my Dr. told me that until the full week of 20mg pills is over I may still have anxiety periodically. It is normal to have anxiety sometimes, especially if there is stress happening in one's life. I try to identify what the stress is, and also identify how to control that stress. I ask myself, "What can I do about this stress?" If I can fix it, I decide to do that. If I have no control over it, I don't worry about it and just accept it. Sometimes that helps me deal with panic attacks.

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I am on my 11th day on viibyrd, at first I was having very bad dizzy spells but they seem to have gone away but last night I woke up very sweaty and shakey and had a pretty bad panic attack... Anyone else experience anything like this?

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I started Viibryd 8 days ago, and I am now up to 20mg on the starter pack. I have had alcohol two times, and have been fine each time. The only problem is that when I drink alcohol I don't sleep well, and that makes me feel bad the next day. I don't do 10 shots of vodka, though :) Last night I had two martinis and a long island iced tea over a 4-hour period. I felt tipsy/drunk, but not overly drunk. I do not drink every day, especially not hard alcohol. So far I have not felt negative effects that are strictly from Viibryd. I just try to watch my alcohol consumption; I do not want to overdo it. "Everything in moderation" is my motto.

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That sucks. As far as sleep goes, the only change for me has been really bad dreams, like being repeatedly raped. It is't often but it still sucks pretty bad. And I have gained so much weight that I am now weaning myself off. I'd rather be thin and miserable than fat and miserable. I truly already have enough to worry about without this new weight issue.

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I have sleep problems now due to Viibryd!!

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A couple of beers at a steady pace would probably be alright, according to my experiences...

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Does anyone know if its Okay to have a couple beers while taking ViiBryd?

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It truly is unfortunate that the responses to medications (at least, anti-depressants) vary so widely. Joy, I hope you will find a more knowledgeable and KINDER doctor who won't devalue your experiences.

I was on Cymbalta for~ 6 years. The withdrawal has been awful. My Dr. was very enthused about ViiBryd, and I all but cried at the idea of feeling happy. So far (5 weeks) that hasn't happened-- yes, I know! -- and as far as food - I'm really not interested. Even though sometimes I feel ravenously hungry, not much seems to actually satisfy. Diarrhea is a constant possibility, even though I take hydrocodone daily.

Is it too much to ask to actually *enjoy* life? Like I told my Dr., I'm not *sad*, but I'm not happy, either. What anti-depressant has actually worked for you (or all the all happy people gone from here?)?Maybe I should just try SAM-e and, what is it, HTP-5 or something?

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Oh, I should mention that Viibryd is awesome as far as curbing suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety. I don't get anxious as much anymore. I give Viibryd credit for my finding a new job because I didn't get nervous for the interviews at all. (At all!!!!) I noticed amazing differences very soon and was incredibly happy about it.

But then I put on a bunch of weight, and the mental effects of me gaining weight have rendered Viibryd's wonderful effects moot. The weight gain is a big issue in and of itself. My prescriber put me on this med specifically because it does not cause weight gain, but it certainly has for me.

I read somewhere on the net yesterday that 2-3% of people taking Viibryd experience this unchecked increase in appetite. They really ought to inform all of the prescribers out there!

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Officially, Viibryd does not cause weight gain. But, I have been on it for 3 months and have gained 20 lbs. I am always painfully aware of my weight, and any gaining causes intense stress, anxiety, and despair. I do not have an eating disorder or anything (I am 5'3" and perfectly happy at 125 lbs... though now I am 145), but I take pride in my shape and size.

What I found is that Viibryd has made me incredibly hungry. I mean I am STARVING, and I have mad cravings for sweets. This is incredibly unlike me. I will wake up in the middle of the night in serious pain because I am so hungry. I have never in my life had that issue!

I spoke to my prescriber and she scoffed at the idea that Viibryd is to blame because "it DOESN'T cause weight gain." She told me to eat lots of protein, which is harder to digest, and then I won't feel so hungry so soon after eating. So... I am eating all kinds of wonderful protein as well as burning at least 300 calories on the treadmill per day in hopes of controlling my weight problem that she has so easily convinced me is *my own fault*.

...yet still I am starving. I eat my high protein breakfast at about 6:30 am, and by 7:30 am I am starving. But no, I am forcing myself to wait until 9am before I can have that high protein snack. And I starve. And I watch the clock. And I starve. And then I eat my snack, and I force myself to wait until 11:30 before I eat my high protein sandwich, which does not make me feel satisfied at all, but because I am watching my calories I must not eat too much at any one sitting or I will get even fatter.

So I starve some more, and I have another high protein snack at 2, and by the time I get home at 4:15 I am STARVING to death, and I wind up eating a nice filling dinner and then I hate myself for going over my calories for the day.

This sucks.

And I ought to mention that I might as well not be on any medication at this point because the weight issue has caused some serious self-loathing. I won't let my fiance touch me, I can actually feel the fat jiggling when I walk, I can feel the fat bulging in my jeans when I am sitting (so basically every waking moment, I am aware that I am too large), and then the suicidal thoughts kick in again. I am ready to stop taking Viibryd. I would rather not take medication at all and succumb to unchecked PTSD than live with this baggage.

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Ashley first let my say how extremely sorry I am for your loss. My deepest condolences!

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I read all the previous post.. I WOULD NEVER recommend drinking alcohol while taking anti depression medication. The warning is there for a reason!! My fiancé was a drinker.. He went on to Viibryd on June 8th. He passed away on June 18th. Doctors tell me the medication didn't have enough time in his system to cause this... However, I knew him, and from the time he started taking it until he died.. He was a different person. He was irritable, very moody. I would just really encourage anyone going onto a new medication.. Especially one with warnings all over it, to have follow up appointments weekly to make sure your doing okay on the medication. I should mention that he committed suicide... He was not suicidal prior to the meds!!!!!! Just please do your homework prior to starting medications!

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I have been on Viibryd for a few months now & it does seem to help. I just wish it would motivate me more. Anyway, I forgot 1-2 doses & i felt like I was crawling out of my skin! My palms were itching and driving me crazy! Long story short, I realized last night that I had forgotten to take my Viibryd so I took it before dinner. My issue was that I had had some wine with dinner and became so nauseated that I had to leave the table. I normally take my meds first thing in the morning and can have wine with dinner with no problems. Also, just curious does anyone else have problems sleeping while taking Viibryd?

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If you're looking for weight loss and you aren't prone to seizures, I suggest buproprion. I dropped 25 pounds in 6 months on the 300mg XL with minimal diet change and zero exercise. I started viibryd last night (40mg) and this morning I feel light headed when I'm on my feet. I'm not a heavy drinker, but the bottle said no alcohol consumption on it. I just wanted to know if a few beers would lead to death. I'll be cautious regardless.

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After taking Viibryd for 3 months now I, sadly, no longer feel the effects I use to from it :( ... except a consistent constipation and stomach bloating. It really depresses me because Viibryd use to work so well. I had motivation and was happy to get up in the morning and go throughout my day. Now I'm just depressed at nights again. Maybe I'll try a different medication when I visit my psychiatrist again because the stomach problems aren't worth it anymore...

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I'm a 27 year old female and I have been on Viibryd for 2 weeks now. It has made a TREMENDOUS difference. I feel so much more energy and I've lost 10 pounds :) It has changed my appetite so I'm not eating as much and I get fuller faster. More than anything it has given me back my peace of mind. I give this medicine 2 thumbs up!!

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Cymbalta really does work as both an anti-depressant AND for pain relief. You might ask your doctor about it.

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