Help! Coming Off Of Viibryd (Page 3)

I was wondering if any of you out there have come off of an SSRI and had severe panic attacks that lasted a month or longer. I am in such distress. I wasn't taking any sort of medication a few years ago and was fine. I almost went through a break-up last summer, got super depressed and my primary care physician started me on Viibryd. At first, it worked great, I felt happy and alive and things smoothed over with the boyfriend. Once he bumped me up to 40 mg however this past November I started to notice I was having panic attacks every now and then. I decided I wanted to get off of it and he cut me down to 20mg for a week, then 10 mg for a week and then nothing. The more I got off of Viibryd, the more panic attacks I would have. I would especially get them while driving.

I would get a feeling of not being able to breathe followed by tachycardia and my hands would go numb. I was taken t the ER so many times this past month and even hospitalized for a weekend after being off of the stuff. I believe the last Viibryd pill I took was on February9th (a month ago today) and my panic attacks have lessened but only because I have been taking .5 mg of lorazepam (ativan) 3 times a day. Whenever I don't take an ativan, its inevitable that a panic attack will come on. I am in such distress and don't want to get on another SSRI because while I was in the hospital, I was diagnosed with hyper seritonin syndrome from the viibryd. The doc I saw said I was taking too high of a dosage for only weighing 115 lbs. I want this torture to end and I just want some comfort in knowing someone out there went through this or something similar and that they made it through it.

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It's always better to transition into and out of these meds. It also depends on how what if any side effects you are experiencing with the V. I've made this transition as well... but if I were you, I would take 5mg of V for 3x days, and then go into 5mg of Lexi for 2-3 days, 10mg for 2-3 days, and the back at your original 15! I was able to notice the very night that I went back on the Lexi that I was feeling back to myself! I couldn't believe how quickly my body responded.

Good luck!

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I'm suffering from type 2 diabatese. I take insuline n janumet 50/500 mg. daily. But my health is not improving at all. What should do ?

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I hope you have successfully come through what you were dealing with....I'm in the exact same boat ... Same weight thing and all. I'm absolutely terrified and its worse having literally NO ONE around who can even remotely fathom what it's like.

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I began viibryd in October 2012 after being off of Paxil for 3 months and suffering from panic attacks. My Paxil withdrawal was monumentally worse. I could not ride in a car for almost 3 weeks without throwing up at every turn, spent 2 days in bed and was having trouble walking and forming a sentence. This was after I weaned down at my doctor's discretion coming from 40 mg to 0 over a 2 month period. Once I was able to get off of Paxil I began Viibryd which helped but I only took 10 mg because the 20 mg dose had me feeling "zombie-like". I have missed a dose here and there and experienced the awful vivid dreams and sleep paralysis. I have now been weaning off Viibryd for 3 weeks and just finished completely 3 days ago. I have had a much easier go round this time as my wonderful doctor has prescribed me a 90 mg (generic version) of Prozac. She advised taking this one long Prozac that remains in your system for over a week to help disrupt the withdrawals from the SSRI medication. This is a miracle drug. I wish I had known this coming off Paxil. If any of you are having trouble coming off a SSRI medication please ask your doctor about utilizing a large dose of Prozac for one time use. I promise it will make a world of difference!

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My doc had me taper very slowly, max I was on was 20 then went down to 10 for one month now completed, feel somewhat light headed

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I agree. Been experiencing the same things since stopping it. I've tried everything the last 18 years, but this is BY FAR the worse.

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Started taking Zoloft in August, after suffering from an Anxiety attack. I went to see my doctor, asked if I could just be prescribed Vallium, because my anxiety was caused by situations in my life, like becoming empty nesters. Our grown daughters have all spread their wings. I am a 45 year old female, mother of three daughters. I agreed to taking the Zoloft. Shortly after starting, I became numb to every possible emotion including the desire to have intercourse with my spouse, who I have been married to for 24 years and we've never had a problem in that area. Nothing bothered me, nothing made me happy, Nothing, is what I felt. It completely altered my thinking, feeling, etc. So last week, I go see my doctor, explain how I have been feeling, and express that I would like to enjoy intercourse again. He decides to put me on Viibryd, and that is when hell broke loose on my body. I have been taking it for JUST 7 days. I started last Wednesday. So Tuesday night, I took 40mgs of Zoloft and Wednesday night I took 40mg of Viibryd. My doctor told me that it would be okay to go from one to the other at the same dosage. I was fine Thursday. Friday, I thought I would die. Felt like I had been hit by every cab on a train. Saturday, I thought I would DIE! Sweating, chills, no energy to breath, blood pressure 160/95 had the worse night of my life Saturday night. I literally thanked GOD for letting me wake up on Sunday. Mind you, I have never had a blood pressure above 120/60
Sunday, pretty much the repeat of Saturday, but was feeling better. Monday, call doc and tell him I about died over the weekend and want OFF of the drug. He tells me to lower my dosage, 20mg for a week. Thanks. I took 20mg and fought the devil all night. Horrible night, no sleep. Brain zaps, twitching legs. Completely freaking my husband out. I have slept 4 hours in the last two nights. I pray to God that he gets me through this. Finally found a place where I know how each of you feel. I can't express to anyone what the heck is going on in my body, in my head! I thank God too, that my husband is so supportive of me and has gotten no sleep either. I was literally afraid to close my eyes last night, for fear of the return of the devil. Never, ever taking anti-anxiety, anti-anything ever again.
Good Luck. Hugs to you all.

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Good luck to you. I cannot believe this is in the market. My physician looked at me like I was crazy when I told him the symptoms I had on that meds. I feel very fortunate to have come out of it, sane & alive. I had never experienced brain zaps or night terrors before, whoa. I tapered down very slowly, cut the 10mg into 5mg. I was so scared but I made it. As you said, I will never take anything like thus again.

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I have been on viibryd for 3.5 mo's began at 20, then 40. Been on these types of meds since 19yrs old on and off for dysthmia and PTSD from a severelydog abusive childhood and abusive 20yr marriage went back on for anxiety disorder and panic attack.

This medicine is hell on earth. After slowly cutting back to 20mg, my head and face swelled, bizzare thoughts and sense of being, itchy skin driving me nuts, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, hallucinations. I literally felt i was dying, i lowered dosage myself because of a car accident. My first day completly off and im itchy as hell. But no diarrhea, no vomiting, swelling in my head, face and lips and tongue subsiding,but i fear these side effects will be permanent.

My psychiatrist is useless. He just thought i had flu. I am educated with a Masters in HC Management, 43 yrs old female and was in great condition for my age, no one i ever met has believed it. I am a shell of what i was 3 months ago.

Ive been on and off these meds my entire life, this is the worst pill on earth. If anyone reads this NEVER EVER TAKE THIS DRUG. There should be a case suit. It has ruined my life worse than any abuse i have suffered. Really don't know how to proceed except to embrace the new non-active, hair falling out, red faced me.

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I am weening off Vibryd from 40 mg for 14 days, then 30 mg for 14 days and then 10mg for 14 days. I have 6 days left on the 10mg. I have had headaches and feel down a lot. My question is what are the side effects when you are totally off the drug?

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Christine... regarding going "totally" off the drug... I hate to be the one to tell you, but you're probably going to be in for a bit of a rough ride! Viibryd is some bad stuff! I found this forum because while I was going on it, I felt NUTS! Just about everything you've read on this forum is true! Listen, I'm no doctor, but if you're not going straight onto another med, and pretty much going cold turkey... I highly highly recommend you call your doctor for some Xanax or Klonopin. You're going to feel effd up in the head and prob everywhere else! Trust me, use the Xan or Klon as a transition... you will thank me! Either way, good luck... and getting off this stuff is the right move! Talk to your dr about a drug that is right for your situation... there are safe and effective anti depressants out there!

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Please just don't stop it cold turkey. I just went through this & was suicidal for the last month. This drug (viibryd) is dangerous & I really hope it gets taken off the market. My dr put me on Prozac right away and that's helping. (Prozac takes a couple weeks to kick in though) I've never been so scared in my life. Do not quit Viibryd cold turkey, whatever you do.

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It's been about over a month. Having the serotonin syndrome was far worse than any withdrawal from hybrid. I did get .5 xanax it takes edge off. Still have anxiety and shakes but no more mini siezures, stomach issues, fever or psychotically real dreams. I too am a small woman was given 40mg and when I took cough med for a cold and no klonopin is when the serotonin syndrome kicked in. No one told me you can not take cough medicine with it. I'm maintaining some normalcy and functioning. Quite frankly I'm afraid to take anything else. The most horrific feeling I ever had on viibryd . Truly thought I was going to die and am still 1.5 mo's later feeling. It needs to be taken off market and reported to FDA

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I have been taking wellbutrin for a few years and it generally helps, I had some stuff going on this summer personal and work and found that by Sept I needed something else. Generic Lexapro, my stomach was upset for a month, I had taken the brand name years ago and it worked. Generic zoloft, 1 week on it and I was extremely lethargic. Last Thurs went on 10mg Viibryd, I only took it for 4 days because my anxiety was getting worse and my heart was pounding, 2 days off and still having some side effects. My Dr is now going to try and fight with the insurance company to put me back on the Lexapro brand name. This med is not very good.

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I was put on viibryd for PTSD.. I was good the first week on the 10mg, and also the second, but by the time I made it to the 40mg I started having side effects. I was uptight, panicky, irritable, and if I missed a dose in the evenings I would have horrible violent nightmares. When I went to see my doctor she didn't step me off of it. Instead she gave me a nerve pill. By the second day I was violent and had what I guess was D.T.'s.. I had flash backs and urges to tear the flesh from my arms. I think it's more of a problem than a solution, considering the side effects and dependency level it creates.

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Hello. I'm 31 yr old female with 4 children i took Zoloft after the birth of my 3rd child, he and i were on a bad car accident when he was 6 Weeks old. Zoloft was good for the ptsd then so i could stop crying and feeling despair. But i was emotionally numb, no goofiness or the things that made me, me. if i stopped taking it i went nuts on people. I resumed taking it as scheduled but gradually weaned myself off. I was like 25 then and had my fourth child so i got back on it until i could pick myself up and get back to work and school. A few months ago I had a panic attack for the first time while driving my 14 year old home from school. I thought I was having a stroke. I went to my doctor and he recommended viibryd to take the edge off. I thought I was just being a weak person by not being able to be as resilient and stressed, he said he had other patients who were college instructors, psychologists and what not...and that it worked for them and I wasn't weak just needed some relief. He said it had no side effects and if i didn't want to take it then i could stop. I was very nervous to begin any medication and thought it was just my relationship stressing me out. Reluctantly, i started taking half of the 10Mg he prescribed me to see if i felt relief, and nothing changed so i started taking the full 10 at night secretly. (i was embarrassed to be taking it). Well, i felt very energetic in the mornings and less worried about everything. but i would wake up at like 3 am and lie awake for a couple of hours thinking about terrible things until i could go back to sleep. i went back to the Dr and he asked if i wanted to increase my dose. I said no thank you, I'll figure out how to cope. I kept taking it for a couple of Weeks and now, i've stopped. Wow. I have not had it in two Weeks. I sleep allot and i think about suicide. I cry allot and am very angry. I can barely work or focus. I'm withdrawing from events, not able to concentrate and i had to tell my significant other what is going on. The worst part is feeling depressed, crying and feeling like suicide. I usually love my life and find ways to enjoy it. I wish i had not started taking that dumb pill. I don't know how long this stuff will last. I've been listening to positive affirmations on utube and making myself calm down. Try not to take this medication. Pray, exercise eat right and cry if you need to cry. Life has UPS and DOWNS. Just keep going without drugs. The season will change and things will look up. Long post, i know. my apologies, thx for listening.

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Viibryd has been horrible for me and I'm slowly titrating down with doctor's advice and am getting the he!! off this drug. Last night went back down to 10mg and also had horrible almost immediate nightmares of not being able to breath. I was really freaked out. It happened about 20 times in my first two hours of sleep. I hace also had agonizing joint pain in knees, ankles and hands. This is the worst drug side effects I have ever experienced and I feel angry for seemingly being a guinea pig since this drug has been out for such a little amount of time.

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I have been on Vibrid for 4 months 40mg started with the starter pack felt ok for 3 month but very skaky. about a month ago I started having twitches in my arms then the shakyness got worse. Alot worse when I was dinking and extreamly worse when I used cannabis. Felt like i was having a seizer and legs were shaking uncontrollably. Dr said quit taking it. Today is day 1. 12/ 4/13 What should I expect? still taking 150mg wellbutrin.

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You should NOT just quit taking it. Even if you are still taking the Wellbutrin. Viibryd must be titrated. You should expect brain zaps, nightmares, extreme mood swings. Good luck.

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My husband is weaning off this horrible medication!! Viibyrd is NOT WORKING!! It did in the beginning but recently it has made him even more angry and impatient than before. He has been on it for almost 2 years. He can not control his anger at all!! We have a 17 month old daughter and he will swear and scream right in front of her. It is really scary,it is like he goes into a different world! He recognizes it after a while of calming down but he admits he can't control it. He is a very very sweet and thoughtful husband and father most of the time. But when he gets the fits of rage,look out,there is no stopping him!! This med has changed him for the worst. He is in his 2nd week of weaning off,he went from 40mg,to 20mg for a week,and now he is on 10mg. I really really hope he will go back to his normal self. I am trying to look into a natural herb and holistic remedy that can help with his moods.

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