Viibryd Withdrawal -- How I Felt
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Stopping Viibryd: From 40mg I tapered down to 7 days of 20mg followed by 7 days of 10mg. The biggest side effect I felt was mostly irritability and anxiety. I was able to go into work but tried to keep to myself. I felt sick. Didn't want to socialize. When I finally stopped the med completely it was pretty bad. I'm on day 6 now. Have been unable to work, drive or leave my house ... for fear of ending up in jail or hospital from flipping out. I feel a constant anger and want to break things, and have yelled at the top of my lungs to two people on the phone. I feel disoriented, dizzy, itchy, and confused (itchiness was actually nothing new for me). I'm confined to my house until further notice. Very unpleasant!

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Re: feeling insane (# 10)

Hi I'm going through the same thing. I don't think that I can take it much longer. How long did your symptoms last?

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I have taken viibryd for a total of 2 months, with 1 month on 40. My doctor described it as some miracle drug. I was hopeful at first but then I didn’t feel much of a difference, maybe even worse (which is why I increased to 40).

I began reading more about the drug and omg, all the negative feedback from it is CRAZY. So I decided to stop cold turkey. I don’t ever want one of those pills in my body ever again. It has now been 5 days, it’s tough but bearable. I like to see it as a challenge to test my psyche when it gets tough. But mostly I just get angry, that a-hole who described it like the best thing since sliced bread who probably gets paid to prescribe it, doesn’t give a s***.

I’m having trouble controlling my thoughts. They are going haywire. I can’t stop thinking that I’m putting myself in danger. Not because I will do anything to myself but because of the sudden disruption. However, it’s been 5 days and the half life is like 25 hours, which means that I should be down to having ~3% left of viibryd in my body. So I should be fine right? Like if it would have killed me it would have done it already right?

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Hello! Please help. I have been on Viibryd for 6 years and and now tapering off to TTC. I’ve been on 20mg the whole time, 2 months ago I cut down to 10mg, and 2 weeks ago I cut down to 5mg cutting them in half. I have had the absolute worst fatigue, but besides that the most awful body aches. I feel like I imagine someone with fibromyalgia to feel. My joints and muscles just every time I move. Is this a normal symptom? When I stop taking the 5mg per week will this go away?

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Re: feeling insane (# 10)

Vibryd has the same withdrawal symptoms as the Effexor

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Re: Connie (# 20)

I have been on Viibryd 10mg since Nov 2017 for anxiety...don’t like it but figured I have to give it time to work...about 12 wks out approx 2-4 hrs after taking it my heart is beating so fast I could scream.....at first I thought it was anxiety but now I know it’s not. I told him I didn’t like it .....so He told me to quit taking it....stopped 10 mg yesterday....fatigue seems to be the worst w/ d symptom and feeling flushed w a slight headache.....hope it goes away soon

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I'm debating weining myself off. Thinking about is makes me very upset. It is the ONLY drug I have taken that keeps me from being nasty and my anxiety not going off the charts. I am very very worried. My insurance is insane, the price of the meds is insane.
Hoping you are feling better. I hate knowing I can only be a nice person on meds : (

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Re: Scout (# 17)

I ran out of my viibryd a week ago. Just thought, whatever, i will get some from my doc when i can. Little did i realize the profound negative effects this had on me. Nauseous, dizzy, confused, foggy, angry, messing up at work, trouble driving, etc. All the things all you people are saying. I got more pills and took one yesterday (friday) i took one this morning (saturday) and i feel more clear headed. But until i saw all these posts, i didn't know that viibryd has been the reason why i feel like i could cry my eyes out about anything, all the time. Its also probably why i have no motivation to get out of bed in the morning to go to work. Then when i get to work i dont want anybody anywhere near me the first half of the day. Also, my libido is at level zero. Been taking viibryd for four years now and dont even remember how i was before i got on it. I thank my wife for sending me this site to read. I just learned a lot from all you people. I would never go cold turkey off this crap. I wonder what else this drug is doing to me that i dont know yet?

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Re: gistell (# 2)

How long did it take to feel better after you stopped?

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Viibryd is the WORST drug possible! I have been on several antidepressant and this is by far the worst experience ever. DO NOT GO ON THIS MEDICATION. I was on this medication for just over 6 months. When I first started I had to do the sample packs of 10mg for a week, 20mg for a week, then 40mg to stay on. I ended up doing 2 weeks of 10mg and 20mg due to feeling so nauseous. Few things I learned quick: do not miss a dose you will feel awful, take at the same time everyday or you will feel awful, avoid any alcohol. I also had horrible dry mouth and constipation daily! I began to notice this spring and into summer I was gaining weight and feeling off. I finally read posts online to find out most people gain 20lbs! I gained 20lbs and I am someone who eats healthy and exercises so that is not normal for me at all. Nowhere in the medication guide does it explain anything about that or the withdrawals. I asked my psychiatrist if I could get off this medication as it wasn't doing anything and I just felt awful on it. She had me go from 40mg to 20mg for 1 week so I cut my pills in half and started the taper. I started to get this itching sensation all over my body. I tried Benadryl and anti-itch cream and nothing helped. I then felt like I had the flu, but I didn't. I was fatigued, had horrible headaches..Tylenol did not help. I was nauseous which ginger capsules helped a lot! I started to get brain zaps...very hard to describe, but I thought I was going to pass out. Horrible nightmares & vivid dreams, insomnia which some melatonin helped with, tingling in my face and numb feeling, I also started to get horrible jaw and teeth pain! Not to mention the anxiety and panic I felt as well. I talked to my psychiatrist and finally went up to 30mg for a week, then 20mg for 2 weeks, then 10mg for 2 weeks and I am off. Today is my last dose of the 10mg and then I am off. Every time I dropped to a new milligram I experienced the withdrawals listed above, but not to the extent of the first time around. I was told by my psychiatrist the 20lbs I gained should drop with the taper and I have yet to see that happen even though I still eat healthy, haven't changed my diet, and exercise a couple times a week. This medication is scary and not to be messed with. I have never written about a medication before online, but I want others to know what you may experience tapering off this and it's not pleasant, but stick with it to get off. AVOID THIS MEDICATION AT ALL COSTS! I wish I would have read more about this drug before going on it. I thought I was dying with the withdrawals because I had no idea a medication could cause so much pain and affect my body the way it did.

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THIS SHOULD SAY STOPPING AT ALL, INSTEAD OF ABRUPTLY...."Stopping vilazodone abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin)". Source: "Mental-Health-Medications/Vilazodone-(Viibryd)", Nami.org. Web. October 2015.

I was only on 10mg for about 24 days. The only thing I noticed was reduced libido. No depression or anxiety help. Decided to go down to 5mg for 2 days and then discontinue completely. Then...

Day 1: Migraine with aura (didn't realize possibly related). Resolved with meds and sleep

Day 2: Day - Groggy, no energy, leftover headache. Weird dark aura and brain fog. Night - ER visit as I was still thinking something to do with migraine

Day 3: Laid around all day, no energy or will to do anything. ANXIOUS! Panic attacks. FACIAL NUMBNESS and tingling down right arm and leg. Brain fog, difficulty gaining clarity. You feel like you're floating through life with no exact recall. Weird crap! Diarrhea

Day 4: Brain zaps, disconnected, scalp burning itching, Facial tingling, eye disturbance still present. Went to the eye Dr thinking maybe a serious eye issue. But, Health of eye is fine. Felt like I was having a heart attack in the evening, chest tightness, palpitations, along with facial numbness, hand tingling and jaw pain...was sure it was a stroke. Cardiac workup is fine. They gave me fluids and that made me feel better and less nauseous. I'm officially nuts. Diarrhea like crazy. Wait it out per the ER. Severe left knee pain. Never had anything like that ever

Day 5: Day 4 repeated. Scalp feels like I burned alcohol into it. I can't feel normal. Vision still is screwed up on my end...have trouble making eye contact and keeping it. Very weird.

Please let Day 6 be normal :(

I find it best to lay around...the more you move, the more uncomfortable it is, but I also think getting everything moving may get it all moving quicker. Get a run in and then go lay down maybe. I was only on 10 mg! How is this possible?!

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Hey guys the headache symptom sounds veryyyy familiar to me. I decided to stop Viibryd three to four months ago and noticed that my headache around the time of my cycle for three to four days is now excruciating. It must have been masking that or some hormone is now triggered. I have no idea. Thoughts? Nothing really helps

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My doctor took me off Viibrad cold turkey I was on it for 3 weeks to many side affects now I'm day ,7 I'm still very dry mouth

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My phycologists took me off Viibrad cold turkey I was on it for 3 weeks I still have very dry mouth

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It does it 'better' as the days go by but you travel through Hell to get 'better'. I saw my Doctor 2 days ago. He said the PA should have never taken me off Viibyrd. For a month I could certify my own self that I had a mental issue of all sorts. But the itching did get better with Benedryl and I could tolerate that. But my mind was racing around the world. I will have to admit that my Doctor put me back on the Viibryd a couple of days ago and I am feeling like my old self. This is a hard and scary road to trave and I sincerely hope all of you feel better. Much Love.

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After a while, drugs stop working. I was on Vybryd and it stopped. So my Doc put me on Wellbrutin. Didn't tell me that it takes 6 weeks to 'kick in'.....now I have no coverage. I worry about everything, I cry ALL THE TIME. I saw a little girl today without a jacket. I started crying but I felt so sorry for her. WTH? The itching is driving me crazy. (crazier I should say). I don't get angry, just cry. Any suggestions? I can't wait another 5 1/2 weeks for this crying to stop......xo

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I totally agree!!!!! Effexlor is a killer drug!! It's been a horrible nightmare getting off of it! I was put on this for my joints!! Decided to get off of it and my Dr. Put me on Viibyrd . Well, I've only been on this a few weeks and I feel horrible. So, I'm going to taper off and see if it's gets better. This is the worse experience I have ever had in my life!!!! I will never get on any anti-depressants again!!! Effexlor is a horrible drug! I'm warning everyone!

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Do you know how long it took for the headaches and brain zaps to go away? I have had a headache since I started weaning off of the drug and that was 3 months ago. I have a headache everyday. The zaps are less intense but still disorienting when they occur. I am one more off the drug completely but I have a consistent headache every single day there is no break. Tylenol does very little to help. I am becoming worried.

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his tell: I understand exactly how you are feeling!! I took Viibryd for about 8 mos & stopped cold turkey about 3 wks ago & I too have been so irritable, angry, depressed, cry often. It got so bad that I had 2 strt bck taking 10 mg every other day. It seems 2 help some but not a lot!! Any suggestions from anyone wud be greatly appreciated!!

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How long before the nightmare ends? It's been a month and like everyone I'm scared I'm going to be committed to a psychiatric ward! The ups and downs are horrendous. I can barely make it to work, when I do go I'm like a zombie. I'm in tears about anything. I feel like I want to die. Viibryd is the worst drug on this planet, the itching, the depression has tripled, nausea has caused a 10 pound weight loss because I cannot eat. I'm fatigued 100% of the time. The anxiety attack are the devil. I have nightmares all night so my jaw is locked so tight when I get up I have a headache. Just going to the grocery store scares me. I feel like I'm never going to get off this thing and I will never be myself again. I prefer the depression I had before this drug now I think about suicide more than ever!

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gistall: Jst read ur post & I know All Too Well What? ur tlkn about. Not having family or friends that have ever experienced Depression, much less the agony of withdrawals!! I spend everyday jst about right by myself & it is Horrible!!! I wish we lived close 2 each other, not sure where u live. I live in North Carolina. But if I lived near you, I wud be more than happy to sit with you & go thru these Horrific unpleasant withdrawals together. Hope things get better for you soon!!

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