Viibryd Reviews (Page 4)
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Going to start it tomorrow. Anyone else taking it, and if so, how do you like it?

Thanks!

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Monty,

The Lex. def. took time to work for my anxiety, & it has only been 5 wks. at 10 mg., but I have about had it w/ the vivid dreams & what seems like breakthrough moments on Lex. where I just don't feel any different on Lex. than Cym. Could these meds be that close? Or "shiver" could Cymbalta still be in my system after only 1 wk. off.

I'll prob. give it some time b4 searching for a Lexapro thread. I don't want to do my research. Don't want to jinx anything. :)

Good luck to you!

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Received a trial pack from Dr. J, on day 6 at 10mg without a noticeable difference in mood. Being a seratonin inhibitor give me relief...

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Been on it for about a week now, no noticeable impact yet.

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Hey...I am finally off Cymbalta after many times of trying to stop. I didn't like the daytime sleepiness factor. Did it help w/ my peri. neuro. pain....ehhh...not really. But! Cymbalta (30-60 mg) nearly cured Spondolythesis spasms, neck pain, & perhaps prevented sinus infections?! Or sinus pain. I am in a lot of pain all the time & it only got worse after starting Viibryd, living thru the SP hell, wt. gain, yet I stayed active. Vii gave me energy?! Prefer SNRI over SSRI, but after trying Prozac again prior to CYM, then a short trial of Vii, then CYM, & now LEXAPRO! (New for me) and by day 3, I knew something was working, even at only 10mg, because I could say I felt tremendous. But the only thing w/ Lex. is the 8 wk. full benefit start up period. I thought that maybe I'd try weaning off due to lack of libido, but the ugly PTSD thoughts came back again. I have anxiety issues, so am cautiously adding back in 150mg of Wellbutrin, to see if that helps w/ energy level & focus. It might be too early to tell, but Lexapro seems to have breakthrough moments during the day when I wonder why I am feeling awful/anxiety... coming on, then it's fleeting & I am fine. I basically stopped Xanax cold turkey no problem w/ Lex. So Lex. seems to work like an SNRI, even though its a SSRI. Tried bumping up s couple times to 12.5 mg to 15 mg. Lex. & no real diff. So back down to 10.

Only thing I hate about the Lex. are the really active, weird, & vivid dreams! I do take it at nite, but even w/ a day nap, I am still dreaming and feeling physical pain & exertion that I am moving the contents of my house.....or that a doll comes to life.....but was a dead child....so dark dreams that annoy me while I sleep, but I am stuck & can't wake up. Drained in the am. I've read about the lack of REM sleep on Lex. So trying to make up for lost sleep w/ naps. And I hate feeling tired all the time. That's all!

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Hi, Monty. It's been 5 months now. After over a month at 40mg/day, I've discerned that it's the Viibryd that's causing the somnolence in the mornings, so will go back down to 30mg starting tomorrow (just spoke with the dr). There was no improvement in the depression by going up to 40mg. Dr has prescribed Abilify, 1mg/day as adjunct, so maybe that will help.

All that being said, Viibryd is still the most effective anti-depressant for me of all those I've tried (and that's been most everything invented), and has the lowest side effect profile of any. It took a long time to get past the initial "morning sickness" brought on by Viibryd, but it was worth the trouble. I wish you all the best, with or without it, and encourage you to give it a thorough trial before deciding. Please do keep us posted on how you're doing.

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How are you doing with the Viibryd? I'm currently on Wellbutrin and Lex as you were. Thanks

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Yeah Edna...oh my... No cold turkey!!! I know you don't want to go thru more trauma on Vii, but you have to step down slowly. Ask Dr....but Prozac was my answer in getting off Vii.

So last nite I hit the HOME section & couldn't believe there were 2 suicidal messages & glanced at one where someone wanted to pay cash for Oxy. Sigh. Never getting roped into suicidal posts again. The lady barely speaks English & how do I go about removing myself from that conversation so I stop getting replies from her on that thread?

Regarding 'oldman' suicidal ideation... :( it's really frustrating to hear anyone talk about feeling suicidal. I have so much anxiety because my past cancer. I just want to live. And have witnessed it all. Aside from smelling salts, suicidal thoughts are selfish & cruel & maybe anyone who has obsessive thoughts about suicide needs to experience actually being told that you're dying. Go shopping for caskets. Ask to see the cremation process. YouTube it. Whatever you gotta do to get ahold of yourself.

Serenity now! Lol

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As I read your response, Emma, it looks like you have actually made one big decision: to start a family. Since you're not "100% stuck on Viibryd" it seems the next logical step would be to ask your healthcare professionals 2 questions, the first of which you've written about already: Is it better for the child in utero to have an emotionally stable "host," or to be free of antidepressants.

If the answer is "a more stable mother," then the next question would logically be, "what's the best way to achieve that stability?" Viibryd might be the answer, or it might be an older med with a longer history to guide you.

A corollary question, just for perspective, would be about the meds you take for your other health issues. Those must also be weighed on the same scale, balancing benefit against possible detriment to your baby. Some may even be more "unknown" than Viibryd, maybe?

Of course, there are non-medical ways to work toward stability, too, as you well know. I'll bet that the father of your child would do a great deal to help you thru a difficult time. Meditation, more counseling, less work, more pleasure, ---I'm sure you can add to the list.

Question 4 U: As you pointed out, the effects of pregnancy on affect are unpredictable. You wrote, "the chance of [postpartum depression] hitting a woman who has a history of depression is so much greater." Have you actually seen stats to support that statement? Logical as it sounds, it may be worth looking into for veracity. If it's not supported, you may find some peace there.

p.s. for what it's worth: I have a friend in his mid-fifties who, in the process of diagnosis of a totally different problem, learned that he has a benign brain tumor. It may well have been there since HE was 29!

Keep us posted, will you? Peace.

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I was unaware, Theresa, that you started Viibryd without a starter pack. That could make a huge difference, I think. Even the 10mg doses made me sick, hate to think what 20's right off would have done. Dr J told me to take Viibryd WITH BREAKFAST. I asked if I could take it before bed so that I might sleep thru the worst part of the side effects, and he wisely said "No!" Even now, months later, I'm at 30mg only. When I see Dr J in a couple of weeks, he may want me to go up to 40 mg doses, because I still get those suicidal periods. I'll be a good boy and try what he says, even though I don't like the idea. Again, it's that trust issue. So in a nutshell, my point is just that we need to let the doctor be the doctor, not ourselves. They're not always right, but their odds are better than ours. That PhD thing is probably worth something, maybe?

Just a thought: If your dr TOLD you to start Viibryd at the 20mg level, you'd do well to get a second opinion, and maybe a second dr!

Please let us know how your appointment goes? As always, keep on keeping on!

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I would never make a recommendation that anyone ever stop or make changes to your meds without your dr being part of that discussion. The worst thing you can do is quit cold turkey with ADs, anyone who has ever been on them for awhile can tell you that.
As far as my issues last weekend, I've never felt or looked worse for wear after a few rough nights with brain zaps and nightmares. I did change to taking vii in the morning and that seems to be making the difference. I'm still on the fence as to if it's best for me (the cost is very much a factor) but that's a discussion I'll have when I see my dr... I too have been on many different ADs in my lifetime. Point is, this forum helps you find others who can relate to whatever you may be experiencing (I thought I was going crazy and was so scared last weekend before I found this forum) and may offer some helpful tips but ultimately, the discussion about pregnancy/risks, changing up or down on dosage, side effects, stopping HAVE to include your DOCTOR!!!!!

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Been on viibryd since late November went up to 40 but felt even physically worse went back down to 20 mg I never had the starter pack just started at 20 I still don't feel any better with my anxiety or depression fears or panic at this point and it bothers my stomach not sure how much is viibryd or my own fears just wondering if this means viibryd won't work for me or if I should give it more time see my doc this week but don't know what to do I have tried almost every ssri and benzo with no help yet

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I've been taking a over a month now. Severe dry mouth and horrible dreams. Also food tasting terrible, no food enjoyable anymore. Going to stop it today cold turkey!

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Emma,

You asked for any advice, so I replied. But you sure enjoyed 'old mans' response. Something unusual is going on w/ this thread. A should be thread about Viibryd has now turned to seeking advice about class C drugs & pregnancy from the Internet. You should be listening to your Dr's. That's why I said the hard to hear facts that everything is notated.

Sorry you have a brain tumor. That's quite serious!

I apologize for getting your age wrong before, but 29 is very young. And you seem to believe you have a handle on planning out your future. I did the same & at age 34, when my youngest was 5 mos. old, I was dx w/ practically stage 4 cancer. I was forced to stop bf'ing. Awful.

That's all I have to say. I wish you well & you focus on you & what you want out of your life! :) And lots of PRAYERS! That's why I am still here!

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Oldman, thank you so much for the lengthy and fully thought out, sensitive reply. I am in a very tough spot, as I am in grad school, newly married, and also have a (benign) brain tumor, and fertility issues that mean I only have a span of a couple years to conceive and have children. Unfortunately, I do not have the money to have my eggs frozen, which would be the best possible solution.

I just know that pregnancy messes with hormones so badly that it can turn any sane woman incredibly unstable. A friend of my mothers got pregnant, and became suicidally depressed, to the point where she had to have her mother with her at all times because of the suicidal ideations, she had no previous history of depression, and after she had the baby she did a 180 and experienced absolutely no post partum depression or mental health issues whatsoever after the birth of the baby.

The added hormone issues with pregnancy scare me, as well as the possibility of post partum depression, especially since the chance of it hitting a woman who has a history of depression is so much greater.

I am not 100% stuck on Viibryd for an antidepressant, I just wonder in general which is better, the stress of depression or the effects of medication on the unborn baby (and in breast milk, as ideally I would like to breastfeed) I wish I had more time to level out and be closer to feeling better before having to make these decisions, but due to the fertility reasons I am forced to make the decision to either have kids or forgo parenting altogether in the near future, and because I have dreamt of being a mother my whole life, I don't even see the latter as an option.

Thanks again oldman, I really appreciate the wealth of wisdom and perspective you have given me, and it gives me more to think about.

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Hello, I was doing some research as Viibryd has been prescribed for my son. I watched him sink into a shell and isolate him self and resolved that I was not about to lose my son like this. He started therapy and it helped but his counselor has been urging a visit to the Dr. I was at a lost as this is the first time I have had to deal with something of this nature. Yes, I said I. This is my child and it feels like its happening to me. The counselor broke it down to me like this: if your child had a broken arm, you would treat it, not just talk about it and wait for it to go away! So I took action. The Dr prescribed Viibryd and after reading some of the medical websites I was horrified. I cried, worrying about making the right decision. I prayed about it and have a peace about this medication. Then I found this site and read EVERY reply posted. I am comforted to know that it IS helping so many people and that is a good thing. My son started the first of the 7 day 10mg this afternoon. My son hugged me tonight and told me thanks for all you are doing to help me, and that totally brought peace to my heart.

To those who started this group (LS), and to those that continue to encourage and contribute to this dialogue - THANK YOU!!

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Hi Maria,

Unfortunately I was not able to continue with the Viibryd. I tried for about two months but found that I just could not function at work. Basically, I was just way too spacey and it didn't go away for me. Having this said, I never got over 20mg and in fact, was on 10 or 15mg the whole time. I may try again at a later date, but for now it didn't work the way I would have liked. Positives were an increase in libido and partial lifting of the grey of depression. The negatives were spacey'ness, increased irritability and decrease in desire to really do anything. I know it may not be what you wanted to hear but I still hope this helps :)

Sincerely,
ade8

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Hi, Maria. Did you sleep better last night? Hope so . . .

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Emma, I commend ya! I am really impressed! Despite all the stuff going on in your body, and the depression dragging on your mind, you have made herculean decisions committing to LIFE! Congratulations! That fella at your side must be quite a guy, too.

Lots of different medical conditions have visited me over the years, but I can’t recall ever having been pregnant! ; P So, no first-hand experiences to share, but close participation in a couple of them that gave us two wonderful baby boys, now grown into admirable men. All of your doctors responding in the same way to the Viibryd/pregnancy question could be taken in several ways. My negative side says, “They’re just trying to cover their fannies.” That happens. But what I hear behind those responses may be, “We (including Emma) all know what the Viibryd literature says concerning pregnancy. It’s your decision to make, Emma.” Perhaps, like me, they’re hoping you’ll choose to invite a new human being to share life with you. Your life will be forever changed, and richer it for it. The folks who put together the Viibryd Medication Guide wrote, “It is not known if Viibryd will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy.”

You can be sure that the folks at Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have looked into the pregnancy/breast-milk question thoroughly. They really ARE concerned about their fannies! Dr J assures me that in these cases, they have to report anything that they have found may go wrong, just for their own protection. The FDA isn’t very loose with its approvals, either. Those are strong points to consider, aren’t they.

Your question, “. . . will the effect of the stress of a pregnant mother who is so depressed she is suicidal be worse than the risk of taking the medication while pregnant?” is an excellent point. I’ve read an article about that very question in Discover Magazine recently. Sorry I can’t tell you which issue; I give away most of the mags after reading them. Maybe a librarian could help you find it? As I recall, (careful about trusting the memory of one “oldman”!) the research indicated a correlation between stress (cortisol levels, I believe) in the mother (mouse, I think) and difficulties with the pups. It would be worth finding as you ponder what to do. Other research articles are likely available, too.

You wrote, “There are people who say . . .” That’s a truism always, isn’t it. People talk, whether they know what they’re talking about or not. I’d encourage you to also remember the maxim, “Consider the source.”

I’d better quit before I become the first to get banned from posting by reason of verbosity! I do want to say again how I admire your deep faith shown in your commitments to your future.

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Hi Emma,

First off, as a mother....it is TOUGH raising children. So in trying to be as sensitive about this as possible, that's what I have to say about pregnancy & beyond. :)

But you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of a life. I am far too aware of Viibryd's side effects & it is possible that your baby could end up with a heart defect, or worse, AND go thru discontinuation syndrome after the cord is cut. And that has involved seizures, night terrors, sleep paralysis, exploding head syndrome, brain zaps, dizziness...for I would guess, 90% of the people on or who have tried Viibryd. This is no magic pill.

There are safer alternatives & why take that chance. The medical community will take this very seriously & if the mother is showing signs of mental distress....you did say you are suicidal w/o the proper AD's....then you could lose parental rights & your baby wouldn't be able to go home with you.

Gosh--I feel just awful for you having dealt w/ depression for so long. Mine is more anxiety, so I can't really relate. But I have experience w/ foster care & the nursing profession. Even L&D.

Do you have a good support system? If you are younger than 40 (my guesstimate # a totally healthy pregnancy & not to worry) then give it TIME. No rush! There are SO many parents in their late 30's to early 40's still having kids these days. The only thing w/ that is your back will ache more when putting the baby in the car seats,etc.

I hope I conveyed my message in a heartfelt tone. It's sometimes hard to tell via the net. And the member 'ls' has been reported several times now for harassing me from several Viibryd threads! She just cannot stand it when someone shares their awful Viibryd story. I am still waiting for the wonderful, glorious Vii stories & have only read 2. Which I am skeptical if you are even talking to 'theoldman.' Take a look at 'ls' writing style & the time the posts come in. I've ?'d before if she's a drug sales rep. They are that desperate.

Btw....'theoldman' is new here & she has never mentioned any sleep disturbances.

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The oldman,

You seem to have a lot of knowledge on Viibryd. I was wondering if you might be able to help me out by maybe throwing some advice my way. I am 29 years old an newly married. My husband and I want to try and have a baby, since we already know that I have problems with my fertility.

I am on 20 mg of Viibryd daily, just finished working my way up from 10, I want to say I have been on it for 2, possibly 3 weeks. I have baffled depression since I was about 13, at times it has been manageable and at others it is completely incapacitating. I also have narcolepsy, fibromyalgia and mayofascial pain syndrome, and my dr is beginning to think I may have an intolerance to gluten (possibly Celiac disease, but worst case scenario) Hopefully this is NOT the case, but might answer a lot of questions. In any case, I have had this depression, and it is extremely bad in the winter, as I live in CT and have severe seasonal affective disorder.

So the thing is, I want to get pregnant. I am worried about not being able to get off my VIIBRYD throughout the pregnancy. I don't remember a single year since was 13 that I wasn't on antidepressants for at least a number of months throughout the year. There seems to be no studies (that I have been able to find anyway) that speak to VIibryd and pregnancy, only warnings that effects on a baby are unknown so it should not be taken during pregnant.

I know that some antidepressants are worse than others to take while pregnant, but unfortunately I have treatment resistant depression, which makes it an even stickier situation. It seems like neither my GP not my OBGYN nor my psychiatrist can offer any help in this situation, and they are all doctors! It worries me so much, but my window of time for conceiving and carrying a baby is dwindling and I do not want to miss it. I worry if I take the risk of not taking VIIBRYD while pregnant, I might face some catastrophic postpartum depression, which scares me almost as much.

I know this is somewhat of a complicated case with a lot of factors, but I am just hoping someone might have some....ANY type of insight or information that could help me make some decisions about pregnancy and VIIBRYD and what is best for the baby. I know there are people who say the risk to the child is unknown and I have no business being on medication while pregnant, but will the effect of the stress of a pregnant mother who is so depressed she is suicidal be worse than the risk of taking the medication while pregnant?

Thanks for your (and anyone else who has any advise) assistance and time for listening. Good night!

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