Help! Coming Off Of Viibryd (Page 3) (Top voted first)

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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I am so thankful I seen this !!!!! I feel it's a Godsent to me to have come across it. I had the best time on lexapro , expect for gains 30lbs in 2 yrs:( Been on Viirbyd for 3-4 months now I was doing fine a lil nervous her and there but dealt w it. Omg I literally became
Nuts one day I am almost bedridden . I am the itchyest person ever 24/7 , I am so depressed all I do is have explosive crying episodes , I am so scary irritable ,I have become obsessed w harming myself in someway and that something I would never normally think of. Oh and let's no forget the cloud over the head feeling , or in my words a dark cloud over me at all times . I have so many things wrong w me right now , I am
going back On leropro ASAP! I'd rather be fat and happy and same!!!!! Thank I again do know u saved me!!!!!

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I am coming off of taking Viibryd 40mg for over 8 months. I'm taking 75mg of Effexor now. I immediately felt better. I had been having terrible feelings of depression, paranoia, anxiety and wanted to kill myself while on the Viibryd. I've been Viibryd free for 2 days and now I'm having terrible itching all over my body. Has anyone else had the itching like this? On the upside, I no longer have diarrhea every day, my brain feels clearer, and I don't cry constantly or want to kill myself.

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I just wanted you to know I am praying you will have restfulness. I hope you aren't offended by that, it gives me such peace. I am so sorry you are experiencing this. Finding good medicine for what ails us is the biggest challenge in all this, huh? Please let us know how you are. Even though I don't know you, I do care.

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Hey I went off about a month ago cold turkey no support. I was fine. Just a little cranky and miserable for a few days. Not what I expected from all the reading i had done. Really was not a big deal. I was on for 5 months got off of viibryd 40.m and wellbutrin 150mg all in a 3 week period. I was on wellbutrin for 2 years.

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Dear Confused,
Most of us on this site came here because we were certain Viibrid was causing most of our terrible side effects. I can't tell you the best way to detox yourself from this drug, but I CAN tell you you should find the safest way to do so and the sooner the better. I only took it for 9 days from a sample pack my doctor gave me. As soon as I took the first 20 mg tablet, I KNEW I could not tolerate this at any dosage. I cut the 20's in half and took the 1st half 2 days after the full 20. I then skipped a 3rd day then took another half (10mg) more. Then no more. There is nothing wrong with you except for this horrible med. I can't believe the FDA approved this. There's no way they couldn't have realized the seriousness of the side effects. You never mentioned what your doctor advised after telling him you wanted off of it. Be certain to follow up with him/her so they can document your reactions. So many of us tend to just go off of meds on our own but since you said you have been on it for 4 months, you will need to let them know in case they have suggestions on how to do so for YOU. Keep us posted.

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Confused, that kind of worries me. I really think you need to slow down gradually, not just cold turkey. Almost all anti-depressants have warnings to not stop without consulting your doctor. I'm surprised he would suggest that. It sounds a little dangerous to me. Maybe your pharmacist could better advise you.
Anyone else have any suggestions for Confused? Help is needed here!

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I have been on viibryd for 8 months 40mg when my son passed away i needed something and this is what I got. I got itchy every time my viibryd was wearing off extreme itchiness everywhere I wanted to crawl out of my skin so I was taking it earlier and earlier not to mention my head was always cloudy I couldn't remember a thing. I have been off the med for 4 days now I still have extreme itchiness but I am getting through it. I started taking thrive an all natural vitamin pack that has saved my life I am out of bed. I am not depressed anymore. I am a mother and wife again. I am blown away by what this product has done for me but the best thing is being able to stop the viibryd. If any of you are interested in what THRIVE is I can tell you all about the amazing things it's doing for people just email me at {edited for privacy}. It honestly saved my life.

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Hi,
Unfortunately, my experience with Viibryd was far from positive. After failing almost every other antidepressant, Viibryd seemed like the drug that could "fix everything" Well I started the titration pack, and for the first week, my anxiety lessened. I was able to leave the house and I felt less depressed. However, I was really nauseated and couldn't eat anything. I was so fed up though, I decided to overlook that. As week two approached, I noticed a bought of insomnia that I couldn't kick. I would be up at four in the morning with college classes starting at 8am. That too was concerning but I needed something and Viibryd seemed like my only choice. But then the most disturbing symptom emerged, memory problems. I started forgetting how to get to classes, and even how to get to my dorm. I told the doctor I wanted off the medication, but he reassured me everything was fine, and even told me to up the dose to 20mg. I didn't do it, and I am really glad I didn't because I probably would have died. This drug is dangerous, and I would not let anyone I know take it. It destroyed my life for an entire month, and I was only on 10mg. This drug should be pulled off the market at all costs. I haven't reacted well to any antidepressant, but viibryd was in its own class of horrible. I had never felt suicidal faster on a drug or so anxious. Its been three weeks since I have been off this med,and Im struggling immensely with panic attacks. I would love to see the manufactures of this drug take this s*** for a month and then say how "great" this drug is. They really do need a taste of their own medicine.

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I know how I have been feeling, and I concur with what I have been reading here. I am going to see my therapist this afternoon and ask LOTS of questions about how to get off of Viibryd! They also have me on Remeron and Atavan, and I think the meds in combination are being counter-productive. Reading what everyone has to say makes me what to contact an attorney and see if we can file a legal suit against the company that makes this. Any thoughts on that?

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This is unbelievable to me. I am so confused and angry. I read the print outs from the Viibrid and the pharmacy. The drug pushing Psychiatrist never explained what happens when you get off this crap! I have been on 21 different antidepressants and all I ever get is side effects. They always say to taper off these but this had no Extra Warning! This one however is the worst and why is it on the market? What are the long term affects? How can they do this to people? Does anyone think this is wrong? What can we do to stop this? Call the FDA? I'm mad this is insanity! I want to warn everyone? How can I? This is a living nightmare! I'm scared to death!

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This viibryd is bad stuff, I have been taking it for a year or so and I have gained weight and cant sleep, not so much with the panic attacks. I am in the process of getting off it too. Needing to cut the pills in half, and not have the head throb. I would not recommend this to anyone. It is way to expensive and the insurance dosent like to pay for it.. I am now looking into the essential oils. I know people that have had good experiances with this.

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The vitamins are called THRIVE. I can tell you I have been thriving for a year and have been off all meds, lost 15 to 20lbs, my acne went away, and I have a ton of energy! It has changed my life! {edited for privacy}. I am hoping the best for you!

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i have been taking viibryd for some time now. i was switched to viiybrd from anatriptallin 25 mg. i always took.my depression meds at night. no not this one. i felt like a walking zombie for 2 weeks. I called my doctor and he said to take it in the morning. since then i have no problems with viiybryd unlesss i miss a dose. then i itch from head to toe and have these kinda dizzy/out of body experiences. i hate it. the itchin alone keeps me up.

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All of these drugs are useless. I can't believe I paid over $200 for 3 months for the luxury of intermittent explosive diarrhea. None of the other meds have ever worked either. But I was dealing with an ongoing life "tragedy". But the doctor said, "Oh, you must stay on it. It takes a while to work." No it doesn't - I read the diarrhea was the result of my body ejecting the OD of serotonin. Scientists don't have the first clue about how the mind works. And any additional "depression" is only my realization that I got conned AGAIN into voluntarily signing up to be a guinea pig. Now, 3 days off, I feel like the heater is at full blast on a 61 degree night with the A/C pumping. The field of psychiatry doesn't have "dark periods" - it's nothing but a long black stain on history.

And, oh goodie - now Priests send you to these snake oil peddlers rather than doing their job. Or maybe the Catholics started all this crap - weren't institutions formerly run by nuns before the government took over with their "workers"? The only GOOD advice I ever received was from a psychologist who told me that only I could control my own mind. So no more pity parties. This is some seriously nasty poison. Tomorrow (well today) I'm gonna get in a good workout and have some fish oil. The doctors say that does NOT work, so it probably does. "First, do no harm" - ha.

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I suggest reading the book DARE- The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks by Barry McDonagh. I have been able to cure my anxiety.

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I went through the SAME thing yesterday down to the fact that it happened while I was driving.

I didn't know what was going on. This was my first panic attack but now that I've read your post it is clear to me that what I was experiencing was a full on panic attack.

I've been on Viibryd for about 1 month. I started with the starter pack and after about 3 days on 40 mgs I started to feel like the medication was too strong but stuck with it in hopes of getting better.

I called the doctor's office today and he said to stop cold turkey. I'm glad because I was scared to take viibryd again even to trickle down.

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I have been on many anti- depressants over the past 20 years. I was given a 30 day sample pack of viibryd and was on 40mg. For approximately 4 weeks. I had very frightening nightmares and felt revved up, but not depressed for the first time in years. I woke up in a panic several times. The worst incident resulted in my calling 911 for the first time in my life. My blood pressure was 220/100. Viibryd was reduced to 20 mg.
While taking viibryd I was evaluated in sleep lab. Found out I was thrashing my legs and according to brain wave evaluation, I was awake 3 hours when I thought I was asleep. I immediately stopped taking viibryd and I am sleeping much better now. No more nightmares, waking up in a panic, and early waking in the morning. Depression has come back, but I am done with medication. If you want to wake up from sleep terrified, take viibryd.

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I couldn't agree more! I am off all ssri's & feel better than I have in a VERY long time. I was prescribed Prozac, then Zoloft, then Paxil for PMS/PMDD. The Paxil worked great but I gained tons of weight & skept constantly. I asjed my doctir to swith me to sinething thatcwas non- weight bearing, thus Viibryd. Had a hysterectomy Dec.18,2012 and have been OFF all meds shortly there after. I suffered tapering SLOWLY down but survived & feel like I have my life back. I was scared I would go crazy & end up in the psych ward going off it, thankfully, that did not happen. Best if luck to you!

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Sorry for all the typos!

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I had GeneSightRx psychotropic testing--a cheek swab test sent to lab which analyzes the compatibility of psych meds and your genetic profile. Found out I was prescribed antidepressant for 8 years that was genetically incompatible for me and should be "used with caution". Unfortunately Viibryd is too new a drug, and testing does not currently exist for it. I recommend save yourself some suffering-get swab test. I am on Medicare, and it was paid for. If we can land a Rover on a specific spot on Mars, why trial and error with psych meds?

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