Has anyone else experienced RAPID weight gain on Viibryd?
Question posted by daseniura on 1 May 2013
Last updated on 4 August 2023
My doctor started me on Viibryd about a month ago after I'd been on Lexapro for years and it had stopped working as well. I did the standard step-up dosage pattern with the starter pack... started at 10mg and was up to 40mg by the 3rd week. I should mention that I am anorexic and bulimic and my doctor is well aware of this, and when he told me about this new Viibryd medication I adamantly stated that I CANNOT be on anything that causes weight gain. (I also take 450mg of Wellbutrin XL and have been for several years now.) So he promised me that Viibryd doesn't cause weight gain and I agreed to start taking it. A couple of years ago, I lost a ton of weight (110 pounds) through diet and tons of exercise and managed to stay at about 100-105 pounds for a good 6 months, even AFTER I stopped exercising completely.
Well, suddenly I started gaining weight rapidly about a month ago, and so I freaked out and started going to the gym again and working out hardcore (which I know produces results because that's how I've lost weight and kept it off in the past) and immediately changed my eating habits. Yet I'm still steadily gaining weight at an alarming rate and the only explanation I have for it is that it's the Viibryd. I know it's not normal to exercise hardcore, eat healthy, and STILL gain weight. I now weigh 120 pounds and the number has just steadily climbed up since I started Viibryd. I don't understand this at all. I weigh myself everyday and monitor every single thing I eat. I track my caloric intake religiously and I know exactly how many calories I've burned during my workouts, and nothing can account for this weight gain other than the medication. If anything, I should be LOSING weight since I just went from sitting on my butt all day to an hour of cardio a day, but this is not the case. In the 3 weeks since I started working out hardcore, I've gained 5 pounds (no, it's not from fat converting to muscle).
I think Viibryd needs to be tested more and an updated report of side effects needs to be published. No amount of depression in the world is worse than weight gain for me, so it's ironic that an anti-depressant is causing me to want to kill myself due to a side effect that seems to be a lot more common than the pharmaceutical companies would have you believe. I'm going to stop taking the Viibryd as of today and I don't care what my doctor has to say. I'm hoping I'll be able to take off the 10 pounds I've gained in the month since I started Viibryd once I stop taking it. I'll make sure to post an update to this thread once I've tapered myself off to let everyone know if anything changes. I'm just really upset because I was led to believe this medication wouldn't cause any weight issues. I've also had an increased craving for sweets, but I haven't given in to it because I know what sweets do. I'm also incredibly bloated since starting the Viibryd. Has anyone else had similar experiences with weight gain and this medicine and past eating disorders?
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
73 Answers Page 3
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vegasmom
30 Dec 2017
I started on viibryd about 4-5 months ago, 10 mg, 20, then 40. I've gained about 25 pounds and look like I'm pregnant. I have never gained this much in a short amount of time. Viibryd is the only thing it could be. I've been eating healthier too do it makes no sense. I'm going to ask my Dr about going on something else. Good luck to everyone out there feeling better and losing the weight you've gained
Votes: +1
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Maggmom
28 Nov 2017
I was told no weight gain as well and I actually didn’t gain any weight for the first year (I kept track on my fitness pal). However, after the first year, I rapidly gained 15 lbs. I have always been the same weight so there is no doubt it was the meds. I will say this medicine helped tremendously with my anxiety but the weight gain was just depressing! Also, going off the meds was a nightmare!
Votes: +0
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kkratzke
19 April 2017
i had the same experience and got off of it immediately. i retained water to the point that i felt i was drowning. the science says it does not cause weight gain but for me that was not the case. this is not for you, it's not worth gaining weight, I had the exact same experience and so did a lot of other people
Votes: +0
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jennied21
30 June 2017
I am so grateful to have found these comments. I am a fitness instructor, and while I am seeing some positive results from Viibryd (less anxiety, reduced depression), I have gained about 15lbs in the 4.5 months I've been taking it. And it's an unnatural looking weight gain. My face and midsection are so bloated! I am tired all the time, the nightmares are terrifying, and I wake up around 3AM consistently. Questions: Do any of you have recommendations for alternative medications, and will I lose the weight if I taper and/or stop taking Viibryd?
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thatpat
25 March 2018
My daughter gained 45 lbs in 10 months on viibryd. We knew it was the Viibryd that caused it because before she started taking it, she had been 135 lbs for 5 years without watching her diet and no exercise. She is now on Pristiq. It's helping more than any others she has tried. In addition to helping depression and anxiety, it helps her with motivation. Check it out.
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addy1234
29 June 2018
I looked up information on Pristiq, and found that everyone reacts differently to it: some people gain weight, some lose it, and some stay at their normal weight. Thank you for trying to help.
Yes!!! I've been on Vibriid for about 4 months. I also did the titration schedule and was at 60mg for about a week. I weighed in yesterday and in the nurse had me get on the scale again because she was so shocked at the change. I've gained 15lbs!!! The only thing I'm doing differently in life is walking the dogs a ton and putting in huge gardens where I haul dirt and mulch around and plant stuff. My diet feels as if it's the same, my stress is the same, job is the same. Sooooo, it's gotta be the med. I'm done taking it.
Votes: +0
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sherwood2900
19 March 2017
I started vibryd in Oct 2016 and to date have gained 20 lbs. Eating habits have not changed. This is the only thing I can attribute it too as well.
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msguthrey
2 March 2017
Hi all, my doc put me on vilazodone today, and i have to tell ya its not going to take me gaining 30 or 40 pounds before i realize its my antidepressant causing the weight gain before i tell my doc its not working for me. After all if I gain that much weight in a very short amount of time, im really going to be depressed and everyone around me will know it. So my question is why on earth are you people still taking the stuff when there's so many different kinds out there?
Votes: +0
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Phog67
19 April 2017
I took Vibriid because my doctor prescribed it. I don't have any experience with other antidepressants, I'm not a HCP. I'm just a person have depression and anxiety. She's the one that's see tons of patients and has experience with Meds, so you ask why do we take a certain med? Well, because that's what was prescribed for us. I told my doctor I was not taking Vibriid anymore and she will be the one I trust to find something different. I am not going to prescribe my own medication, correct? Yes, I can read up on Meds, but that isn't the same as being a doctor! Yes, there are other drugs out there, obviously, but which one works best for me? Who knows!! The people on this thread have all probably stopped taking the Vibriid as well.
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CrazyHazey
11 May 2018
This is not a nice comment. The people who have packed on the pounds do not need your input about not speaking up sooner
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kkratzke
19 Jan 2017
I experienced rapid weight gain despite working out 1- 2 times a day. I also was up all night! i got off of it after 45 days. for me the stuff was horrible. I blew up like a balloon and I'm 120 lbs! no thnks. the research i did at the time, many many people were gaining 40-60 lbs within weeks. no thanks
i would not take it. i went back to celexa (citalopram).
from what i could tell... I don't thing there are enough clinical trials on VIIBRYD
NO WAY!
i tried to tell the government that asks you to provide information on experiences like this and i never got a response. so the answer is YES, many people have had rapid weight gain, without even enjoying the food. Nothing more depressing than that!
Votes: +0
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Pisces39
19 Jan 2017
I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this because I too have gained tons of weight while taking Viibryd. It causes me to feel super bloated and crave carbs constantly. It's great for the depression and anxiety but heck it's causing more depression for me because of the constant weight gain. I'm going to just have to deal with depression on my own and come off of them.
Votes: +0
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concon38
2 Nov 2016
I wish I would have done research on Viibryd before I started it. I have been on it for 2 months now and have experienced rapid weight gain and no sex drive. I missed a dose on Monday and immediately noticed the brain zaps by Monday evening along with horrid nightmares trying to go to sleep. I wanted to rip my skin off with the itchiness I experienced. After experiencing those symptoms from one missed dose I started doing some research and am now weaning off of the med. It is NOT worth it for my body to have all of these effects with no positive results from taking it for 2 months.
Votes: +0
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lisgre
12 Aug 2018
I've been scrolling through this feed looking for a connection between my meds and my rapid weight gain. I'm commenting on your post because of your description of the itchiness from a missed dose. It's horrible! I make sure to never come close to running out and take it the same time every day. Thank you all for this discussion, it's great not to feel alone and have the confidence to talk to my doctor.
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Bethy2015
19 Sep 2016
I also have experienced weight gain that is not explained. I had weight loss surgery 2 uears ago and had maintained my weight loss for more than a year and a half. My dr changed me from Zoloft to viibryd. I noticed weight gain and went immediately to my gastric dr. She tried weight loss medications for 1 year but nothing helped. I continued to gain weight. I have gained 20 lbs since i began this medication whixh was june of 2015. The weight has contributed my depression since i went through surgery and major life changes to become healthy. I have just put all the pieces together this week and my nurse is going to change my medicine. I will let you know the outcome of my changing of the medicine with regards to weight loss.
Votes: +0
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jorinicole
9 Sep 2016
I have been on Viibryd since June and I have also noticed a rapid weight gain as well. I told my doctor that I was already concerned about my weight because I have been on several different other medication that has had me either gain a bunch of weight or lose a bunch of weight. I am considering going to my doctors and being put on something different because I can't keep gaining weight
Votes: +0
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Winterprncezz
27 Aug 2016
I totally know how you feel. I too suffer from anorexia and bulimia and was given a so called weight neutral medicine. My Dr.gave me trentillix and I gained 20 lbs in 3 weeks. I am so pissed off. I was originally on effexor and wellbutrin for years, no problems. But I had svt and supposedly effexor causes rapid heart rate. So now I'm on vybriid, I told the Dr if I gain one pound this medicine goes. My thing is, why would you give a person with anorexia /bulimia any medicine that would make them gain weight. Are we not depressed already? Now I'm up to 132 from 118 and can't get it off.
Votes: +0
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Vingram466
12 June 2016
I could not understand why I had began gaining weight and more craving for sweets. I have struggled with my weight for many years and I worked really hard to maintain my weight lost after having back surgery. My life changed when I began having severe back pain which, led to having back surgery. Physical exercise pretty much was non existent for me during this time. So I had to watch everything I eat and I freaked out everything I was prescribed medication. I asked my health care providers about medication side effects; mainly weight gain. I too was told Viibryd would not cause weight gain. I have a weakness for sweets so it was extremely hard for me to resist however, I manage to limit my intake. I found ways of exercising although I was recovering from major back surgery. I do agree more research need to be conducted to weight gain using viibryd. I have so much going on in my life right now to add weigh gain would only add to my depression. Thank you for sharing your story.
Votes: +0
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spadrine
6 June 2016
I was prescribed this medication for depression & anxiety after having tried many similar ones and could not tolerate the side-effects. My main concern was weight gain sexual side effects. My doctor assured me that Viibryd does not cause either of these. He was right about the latter but not the former. I was in the 3rd week of the startup (20 mg) and after the initial trial part my dosage was doubled to 40mg. During the 3-week period I noticed my weight balloon by 10 lbs. I had been trying to lose weight since I was at 240 lbs on a 5' 8" frame. Now I'm at 251 lbs. I told my doctor about this and he acted shocked since he had never heard of weight gain on this drug. He advised me there may be a rebound effect having come from my previous drug Venlafaxine and that it should be alright given time.
I'm now 2 weeks on the doubled dose of Viibryd and I can feel the skin on my thighs, stomach and buttocks tight as a drum with even more fat. Needless to say, I was glad to read the posts on this thread and don't feel like I'm crazy. I'm going to request that my dosage be cut to 10 mg. I'm so tired of all the side-effects of all these drugs to the point I feel I don't want to try any more of them. This was my last option to hear my doctor talk.
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Jennelle
1 June 2016
I started taking this medication about a month ago and have gain almost 20 pounds!!! I have been doing the same things you have. I am going to ask my doctor to take me off of it
Votes: +1
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atticabob
1 June 2016
I've been on Viibryd for 3-4 years now, and have not gained any abnormal weight. I've heard that a lot of other people HAVE had problems with gaining weight on this drug though, so it's probably a good idea to look into something else. Viibryd HAS worked great for me, though!
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Jennelle
6 June 2016
Its too bad because I was starting to feel good again but I simply can not feel good when I am taking all the steps to work off my weight while following a nutritious diet and the weight is just adding up at an unstoppable and alarming rate. I hope to find a depression medication that will be able to just help me feel like a normal person. It's been so long now and I haven't been able to find the right fit. I thought with the Viibryd being weight neutral that I would be good. I felt better within two weeks, and within a month noticed a huge difference. Unfortunately that difference was also in the scale. As soon as I stopped taking it 15 pounds fell right off.
