Viibryd Reviews (Page 6) (Top voted first)

Going to start it tomorrow. Anyone else taking it, and if so, how do you like it?

Thanks!

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Theresa, I have been to some great therapists but I didn't find success with the psychiatrists in house. They tended to make me come in monthly and pay a 2nd copay before I could get a one month script. Now I use my normal practitioner who seems to know about ADs fairly well. I can now see a therapist just for counseling and this works well for me. I know its ideal for an all-in-one but it is what works best for you. Point is, don't be afraid to be creative in your treatment!

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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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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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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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Hey, Monty. How's it going now? In re: the libido increase-- do you suppose maybe the previous meds suppressed it, and Viibryd doesn't? I haven't noticed any change in that area (Yes, I'm old, but not THAT old!)

My dr. was emphatic about taking Viibryd in the mornings, and apparently for the dreaming stuff. I have some pretty vivid ones, and once in a while, they're horrible, but probably no more nightmares than the general population would have, especially given a history of abuse.

I'm hoping to hear from you that you're getting some relief from depressive symptoms soon!

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I've had no side affects at 20 mg.

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I have been on so many medications over the years. In my high school years I had alot of performance and test anxiety. I had alot of focusing issues. Reading was hard for me. I had to work hard to get the grades I did. I had to read things over and over again because I couldn't focus on them more than a few minutes. I could run a 4:30 mile but I could not do it in a meet. I would throw up and go to the bathroom alot before a meet. The anxiety was so much I could hardly run in a meet. After highschool I came down with mono and almost died. After that every time I would run I would get sick so I started lifting weights. I did a lot of power lifting. I gained alot of weight. Physically I was growing, but mentally I was becoming depressed. I becomed so depressed my life didnt have meaning anymore. I began sleeping 20 hours a day. I couldn't seem to do anything I was numb to the world. Suicidal thoughts rained supreme in my mind. Deep in my mind there was a light so dimmly lit but it was still lit. I put myself in the hospital for six days. Thats when they put me on five different medications. I was in college at the time I kept falling asleep in class so instead of reducing the medication. The dr prescribed me ritalin to keep me awake. I realized that I had to do something about it. The wife and I ended up moving to a different part of the state because of her job. I then found a different dr. My orignal diagnoses was bipolar one disorder, panic disorder without agoraphobia. I weened myself off all the meds I was on and started from scratch. I tried newer mood stablizers and antidepressants of no avail. I told him that I couldn't focus in highschool. He started me on viibryd for depression and put me on adderall. I also was taking klonopin for anxiety. After starting the adderall I dont have to take the klonopin hardly at all anymore. He changed my diagnosis to adult add with depressive episodes. I have a new lease on life now. I enjoying reading. I have adopted three wonderful kids. I have an Australian shepherd that has saved my life more than once. Whenever I feel my life is ruined I put my hand on my heart and say to myself "Feel that, now that's PURPOSE!"

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Viibryd NEEDS to be taken on a full stomach! I take it after supper. I do get short of breath a few hours later, but it only lasts about 20 min or so and I do some DEEP breathing which helps it a lot. I've been taking it for about 6 months now. I did the 10-20-40 routine, but have now dropped back to the 20 which is where I think I'll stay.

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Re: Susie Q (# 1051)

I felt the same when I started it; 40 sounds like a lot, but I believe it is considered the “therapeutic” dose. I didn’t feel joy again until I reached that dose. 17 months now and no side effects. I feel like it was made for me. Just don’t take it at bedtime; it seems to cause nightmares.
se

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So far, so good....course it has only been 4 days...lol... First day I will say I was a little dizzy, have had a little bit of stomach problems. But, I seem to be in a better mood, maybe just cause I am so hopeful that this will be something awesome...lol... I am on 20mg and am switching to 40 after 10 days... Will let you know!!

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Just started it today. Ran out of Cymbalta last night and my drs appt was this morning. How convenient! My doc gave me the sample package which titrates you from 10mg to 40mg in 30 days. He had JUST received them from the pharm rep and was excited to have a "guinea pig." LOL I love and trust my doc (11 years now) and he has high hopes for this one, so I'm game. I'm hoping for a little energy out of it and maybe even some weight loss? (I know. That is far too much to ask. *sigh*)
One thing he stressed is to take the meds WITH FOOD. He said that should greatly reduce the likelihood of any g/i side effects.
I'll keep posting and watching as time goes on.

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Can definitely relate to the anxiety. Difficult to make it through the day. I'm is my second week of Viibryd and it appears to be helping. Good luck!

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If a medician is making everything worse call your doctor right away.

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Wow, Tiger, glad I am not the only one...people just don't understand...I didn't understand when my mother was going through all of it either, just thought it was nuts. Just kind of snuck up on me little by little. I swore up and down I wouldn't be like that!! I have noticed a little more anxiety too...course going through I bunch and my son has been home from college,sooo, I don't get to drive much. I have to keep my mind in practice..lol...My xanax is definately my saving grace! And I thank the Lord for my doctor that will give it to me!!..lol I start on 40mg of the Viibryd tommorrow, I really think it is making me feel better!! :)

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Laura, how are you doing now?? I cracked up about the crazy sex part...lol..but I guess going to the hospital isn't really worth it! :)

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You mentioned that you're feeling a little more anxiety. I too am feeling that. Not sure if it's the Effexor leaving my system or something else. You also mentioned that Xanax helps. Does it help with the anxiety? I have a Dr Appt this afternoon and am thinking of asking him if I can try Xanax. I start my 40Mg dose of Viibryd in a couple of days. Thanks!

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LS, my dr is a Godsend too. He has never let me go a day without my chill pills...sends them to me in bulk. LOL (We have to use mail-order for maintenance meds, so I get a 90-day supply of big ones. This almost-empty bottle has lasted me almost 8 months!) I've been with him for 11 years now and he knows my history, my conditions, and that I'm not an abuser/dealer, so we're cool. Yep, I was diagnosed with GAD circa 1996 after a major panic attack - in the movie theater of all places - in the middle of a cold N.O. night. It took me 2 1/2 bottles of wine to get through it...and I was ALONE. Scared me straight to the drs office ASAP. Paxil handled it for a long while but it fizzled out. I can relate - I made a vow to never end up like my Mom too. She was diagnosed with depression in the 80s, tried ONE (old school) antidepressant, said it didn't work for her, and now she says there's nothing wrong with her and won't try meds again. HA. *sigh*
OMG, Laura, you are too funny. (That's meant in a good way.) You sound a lot like me when I'm talking to my "real-life" friends. I'm sarcastic as hell and the people around here in Podunk just don't get it...but that's another issue for another board, I guess. I take Topamax too for migraine prevention. Anxiety + a migraine - there's a winning combination, huh? I'm kinda pissed though that the massive weight-loss effect of my Topamax has worn off. = ( That was so awesome in the very beginning.
OK. Obviously my ADHD meds have also worn off, cause I am all over the place. LOL

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What a coincidence CT, I live in Podunk too! Aren't the people here just the best *insert extra-wide grin here*.

Paxil almost scared me off of AD's for good. After 10 days of taking it, I was sitting in a movie theater (what is it about theaters?) and it felt like someone had slipped a cattle prod into my head. I bolted from the theater, ran straight home and flushed the rest of the Rx. Cymbalta felt much the same way when I was coming off it. I paid out the a$$ for a 50lb. weight gain, hair loss, and worse depression symptoms. Not to mention, they don't tell you that coming off the stuff is like coming off a street drug, only worse, because at least when you're coming off a street drug you get a little sympathy and help, a free clinic, a bucket to puke in, a meal cooked for you....instead, I was trying to explain what a "brain zap" felt like and why my face was twitching, and why I couldn't drive the kids to baseball because my brain feels crazy...that went over like a lead balloon. Finally I put it in terms my husband could understand, "honey, I've got snakes in my head." For some reason, this makes perfect sense to him, because he truly believes that most women are born with snakes in their head, only some of us have more than others. Oh yeah, and some of us have twigs in our uteruses, but that's another story. So Cymbalta is a no-no. Nice idea, poorly executed.

Yesterday was my first day taking the Viibryd in the morning with the Wellbutrin, and at first, I had a wee bit more energy....winning! Then I started to feel like I was slogging through waist deep mud...winning, not so much. Then I was dizzy for some time, specifically the time I had to drive across town to drop off my eldest...losing, definitely losing! I'm already not a confident driver. I don't know if I'm really lucky, or unlucky, but in the last year, I've been on-scene seconds after a fatal accident 4 times...yes, FOUR times, and one of those times involved the fiance of a dear friend. And by seconds, I mean there before the emergency crews, while the cars are still spinning, before the glass has settled. So I feel a little like a character from one of those Final Destination movies where because you've cheated death once, when it catches you, you die in the most horribly ghoulish, freak accident you can conceive of. I SOOO did not need to start feeling out of it half way across town in traffic with all my kids in the car. I was whiteknuckling it all the way home, sweat pouring, teeth grinding, eyes wide and fixed. I'm sure other drivers thought I was demented, or having a seizure.

I have noticed that regardless of when I take it, this combo seems to shorten my sleep cycle....actually, to be more accurate, regardless of when I go to sleep, I wake early (6am), every morning, even when I went to bed at 1:30am, even if I go to bed at 1:30am after taking two Tylenol PM. Ordinarily I'd see this as a warning sign for a manic episode, but I'm not having any other symptoms, which are typically very mild to begin with, and usually my sleep disturbances aren't this pronounced- I'm a soild 6-8 hour per night kinda girl, rain or shine, manic or not. I like having a few extra hours of productive time every day, my house has never been cleaner, but I'm worried I'm running a sleep debt that's going to catch up with me sooner or later....or I'll eventually start hallucinating and things will get real trippy around here. I'm curious if anyone else has noticed any chances to their sleep patterns while on Viibryd.

I've also noted some very mild hair loss, but this is more likely because of the wellbutrin as I seem to recall the same thing when I was on it before. That coupled with increased shedding during the summer makes it look like a lot more, but it is disconcerting all the same.

Some blurred vision. This is definitely the Viibryd. It feels a little like my eyeballs are swimming in my head....actually, it reminds me of the way things look when I'm really, really drunk, except no one looks better. This lasts pretty much all day, but because I've had a severe astigmatism my whole life, I'm pretty good at compensating for it. Still, it makes everything, from driving to reading things online, to reading my books, much more difficult.

I've also had some hot and cold flashes. My first one was the day after I started taking the Viibryd. I was flushed bright pink and my husband suggested I was going through "the change"....at 34....thank you Mr. Sensitive, now guess whose snake won't be plowing my twigs anytime soon....And later I had zombie feet (and hands) and I just couldn't get them warm for the life of me. It's like I was chilled to my core, and the outside temp was 115 (counting heat index), inside temp was 82 (old heatpump). I was under two blankets and my hands were still like ice. It was the oddest thing.

I will say that even with those side effects, the benefit I'm feeling outweighs the negatives, at this point. The Wellbutrin has a tendency to make me edgy, angry, downright mean, in the first few weeks of starting it, and this Viibryd has really taken the edge off it, BIG TIME. I don't feel that undercurrent of anger, or rage...I feel more mellow and controlled. I think it's the perfect augment for Wellburtin if Wellbutrin by itself hasn't been cutting it for you, but I don't know if either alone would be quite enough to handle more severe meds resistant type depression, or mood disorders.

BTW, I'm taking the sample pack as well, and started with the 10mgs, moving to the 20, then the 40mgs....I think the original sample packs started you at 5mgs. I wonder why they doubled the dosage in the sample packs? Seems surprising that they would be able to do that considering that the drug hasn't been available that long.

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Laura, have you had your thyroid checked? You sure have lots of symtoms of Hashimotos thyroid.

I started my first 40mg yesterday. It did the same thing as the 20mg when I first started it. Dizzy and kind of weird feeling....but it went away...hopefully it will this time too..lol.. But I do like this so far!! Boy, I needed something.....

CT, I wish my doc would give me my xanax like that! I have to go every month...but I think they just want the money...lol..

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Started 40mg Viibryd today. Feeling a little spacey, but otherwise ok. Went to doc on Monday about anxiety and asked about Xanax. He's not a fan of Xanax, but put me on Klonopin for anxiety. Seems to be helping with the anxiety, but makes me a little sleepy. Also noticed that I'm waking up earlier than I used to on the Viibryd, but that's not so bad because I used to sleep a LOT when I was on the Lexapro and effexor.

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What if any side effects are people experiencing on viibryd ## Taking Viibryd (vilazodone) at a dose of 40 mg per day is...

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