I've only been on Viibryd for 4 days but have had 3 nights of very bad sleep. Not being able to sleep is a deal breaker for me. I have mild circumstantial depression and had sleep problems to begin with, but could sleep quite well with a Unisom every night. I see many, but not all folks have sleep issues while on Viibryd. Does this side effect go away after a while? I tend to be the irritable depressive type person and I don't care about the sexual side effects. But I need to sleep. Any ideas?
Sleep and Viibryd?
Question posted by Lilia76 on 24 April 2012
Last updated on 24 August 2023 by WildcatVet
16 Answers
WildcatVet
24 Aug 2023
From the literature:
"Common (1% to 10% of users): Dizziness, paresthesia SEDATION, SOMNOLENCE, tremor"
Side effects generally resolve within days to a week or two. If they persist longer than that you need to consult with your doctor for professional advice.
JasmineMN
24 Aug 2023
Am I the only one that finds Vilazodone completely puts me to sleep? About 2-3 hrs after taking it I get so unbelievably sleepy it’s like I took an Ambien. I take it at dinner time (7-ish) and usually pass out for a few hrs around 9 pm. Then I wake back up. I’ve been on it about 1 month and am trying to take it later at night — but not ideal since need to take it with food.
I realize that this makes me “luckier” than those with insomnia, but it’s a peculiar side effect that I’ve not experienced with other antidepressants. Just wondering if I’m alone in this experience. Curious if it will eventually go away.
Plover45
10 July 2021
Ive had a sleep disorder for over 26 years. Tried so many different meds to get sleep and depression in order. Was doing great with escitalopram 10 mg at night and 400 mg Nefazodone. They stopped making Nefazodone, a serotonin, norepinephrone dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and I had the rug pulled out from underneath me. Ended up in a psychiatric facility for a few days. My new psychiatrist has put me on viibryd otherwise known as vilazodone. One of her colleagues recommended it. I said how is it related to nefazodone, it works on different receptors. She said it is in the same family. Ha! Because it ends in “ozone?” I’m only at 10 mg and something is causing primary insomnia. doxepin is now recommended for sleep arousals and early awakening at either 3 mg or 6 mg doses.
I tried it and it worked for awhile, but I’m going off another med, quetiapine, and I think that, along with the viibryd may be the culprit to why it’s not working now. But definitely worth trying. Look it up. I tried the viibryd at 20 mg for one night, sleep arousals and early awakening. When I next talk with my psychiatrist I’m going to tell her I’m going off the viibryd (may do it sooner) and request to go on geodon. Studies show it’s very effective for sleep disorders. Helps with slow wave and rem and improves overall quality of sleep. It is an antipsychotic, and I swore I would never go on another, but it has minimal effect on weight, lipid levels in the blood, and blood sugars like other antis. Guided meditation helps with not being able to get to sleep. UCLA has free ones, google it. There is a 13 minute body scan that really helps you get to sleep. Have you tried escitalopram for an SSRI? I take 10mg at night and have had no problems with insomnia with it for 13 years, but we’re all different. It got me part way there, then 2 other meds including nefaz (no longer available) and a devilish anti. Got me the rest of the way there for sleep and depression. Have you tried Trazodone? It’s pretty much used off label now for insomnia rather than depression but it hits some of the same receptors as Nefazodone. They use sub clinical doses at 25 to 100 mg. Hope some of this helps. I know it’s a rambler of an answer but there is a solution out there for you. Good luck.
Iscander
17 Feb 2021
I was taking Viibryd for 3 weeks and stopped because of the horrible insomnia. Sleeping pills that normally could put me to sleep - trazodone, ambien - didn't work for me at all.
The worst thing is that now, almost one month after stopping the medication, my insomnia is still very bad. On some nights I can go to sleep with trazodone. On other nights I can't fall asleep even after 10 mg ambien.
Viibryd is probably the worst medication I ever tried.
IronDog44
12 Sep 2017
Hi. I had this same insomnia problem when I switched to Viibryd from Lexapro 6 months ago, but taking Viibryd in the morning instead of at night completely resolved the problem for me.
When I was still taking Viibryd at night, no matter how little sleep I had the night before, I would wake up after 3-4 hours feeling wide awake; bordering on wired. Could never get back to sleep, and many nights I just lay there awake for 3 more hours before finally getting up. I complained to my doctor and even asked her if I should take Viibryd at a different time of day. However, she kept saying that taking Viibryd in the evening should *help* me sleep, despite my experience in the opposite direction.
This went on for four agonizing months before I finally found the comments from others on this post about switching to a morning dose. The first day/night I switched to the morning I didn't notice any change, but the second night and every night since I have slept soundly throughout, and its even a little hard to get up in the morning sometimes.
Hope my experience helps someone else. Thanks to the other contributors for helping me. Fellow patient experience always beats feedback from doctors about what "should" happen...
roxyleighp
20 Feb 2015
I've been on viibryd for ten days... The first two days I had terrible insomnia but then it subsided and I was back to normal. Then when I went up to twenty mils it came back but it's subsiding again. So there is hope for it going away... Just give it some time.
Inactive
12 Dec 2013
I've been taking viibyrd for 14 day's and sleep is at least 5x's worse... that's it, thats part of why I feel worse... less sleep. thank you lilla76
greg1998
5 Aug 2013
Take it first thing in morning with food. The sleep issue went away when i did that.
4N Substances
5 Aug 2013
Hi Lilia,
You've obviously been told that its important to take your Viibryd dose in the morning to avoid possible sleep problems. For me after one year, that's no longer a concern. It will subside, try to hang in there if Viibryd is making a big difference in your life otherwise. I also take .05 Clonazepam at bedtime, sleep very well. Please keep us posted.
4N Substances
Elvis_mom
16 June 2013
I've been taking this for several weeks and did fine until they added Abilify. Now I sleep no later than 5 a.m. I used to sleep until noon. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. It doesn't matter if I go to bed at 10 p.m. or 2 a.m. though, which IS quite frustrating. I do take Lunesta and now Trazodone was added to combat the insomnia. Mentally I feelbetter somewhat
mlh1026
16 June 2013
I've been taking Viibryd for almost 3 weeks, and I too have problems w/ insomnia on it. My dr told me to take it at night, and I've been doing that, but here I am awake after tossing and turning all damn night! I have trouble sleeping already due to anxiety and my carpal tunnel, bladder issues, or my kids waking me up, so this is NOT good. I'm also a poor metabolizer of most antidepressants, so I need to take ones that are not metabolized by C2D6 liver enzyme. Anybody know any similar antidepressants to Viibryd that aren't so activating? I don't wanna take it and have to take a sleeping pill for an extended period of time. I've tried Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Pristiq, Effexor, and Celexa. All metabolized by C2D6, so I can only take a tiny amount. Wellbutrin was too activating at low doses, and Pristiq and Effexor were super activating. The others made me tired all the time or nauseous, but both Zoloft and Lexapro helped w/ sleeping and mood. Any suggestions?!
atticabob
16 June 2013
It's odd that your doctor would have told you to take it at night; insomnia seems to be a rather common side-effect. Maybe it had something to do with your metabolism. Talk to your doctor about taking it during the day. I take mine in the morning and have no problem with the Viibryd, but if I take it at night even I have insomnia! Good luck to you!
mlh1026
16 June 2013
Thanks atticabob! I have tried taking it only once during the day and it made me kinda dizzy. I will try it again today and see how it goes. I really need to sleep!
4N Substances
7 April 2013
Hi Lilia,
I have been on Viibryd some ten months now and insomnia has never been a problem for me. Critical to take it in the AM as you've heard. I have taken a very small dose of clonazepam at bedtime and sleep very well. I have survived all the other side effects and the drug has been life changing for me. Like you, I must have my sleep! If I can help further along your path, don't hesitate to write again or PM me. I hope you can overcome this difficulty.
Regards,
Frenchie
ssri13
7 April 2013
I developed permanent insomnia on viibryd. I stopped taking it a year ago but still wake up after 4 hours of sleep. This permanent insomnia is dramatically affecting my life.
Christian08
29 June 2014
I too have developed insimnia from vybriid. I took approximately 12 doses of 10 mg for situational depression. I didn't sleep at all at first. Then i could get about three hours with Ambien but I'll wake up after that. I have been off for about four months ago but still sleep the same way! It's like my body thinks it needs less sleel after i took and I am exhausted and desperate to get back to normal. Please let me know if you find out anything that will help reverse this cycle . And ill do the same. I've gone to sleep specialists and did a sleep study. I don't have the results yet but hopefully they will shed some light on what's going on
Christian08
5 Oct 2014
I took a few low doses of viibryd 6 months ago and developed insomnia immediately . Initially I couldn't fall asleep on my own and had to get sleeping pills for the first time in my life. I would still wake up after 3-4 hours . Now I've been off for about 5 mo and still wake up after about 3-4 hours just about every night. many nights I can't go back to sleep. I wanted to know if your insomnia got better and if so what worked for you. The insomnia is affecting my quality of life
Christian08
21 March 2015
Did anyone else experience this long term insomnia and did it ever go away ? I have the same experience - insomnia that began with vybriid that hadn't gone away a year after stopping? It is terrible.
Villa2m4
15 Jan 2017
Has anyone overcome this I really can't sleep either and it's destroying my life.
AnneCo
4 Sep 2020
I was on Viibryd for a year. I experienced terrible sleep on the drug, but since stopping, the insomnia hasn’t let up. I have tried so many meds to help sleep, without much luck. The med that’s probably helped the most is Zyprexa, but it has a lot of side effects and sleep is still very broken and ineffective. I’ve had to stop working because of insomnia’s effects mentally and physically. If anyone from this thread has found a solution, would you be willing to share or even just give an update on your sleep situation post-Viibryd?
ssri456
3 Feb 2021
I have also developed permanent insomnia after taking Viibryd. It's been 2 years. Does anyone have solutions? I was thinking potentially sleep restriction therapy if it is a circadian rhythm problem.
harleerose
18 July 2012
Was on vybrid for 9 months bad horrible insomnia it never went away for me I had to stop I already have trouble sleeping .
LaurieShay
25 April 2012
Be sure to take the Viibryd in the morning and take your unisom at night. The insomnia will subside with continued use so be patient.
Lilia76
25 April 2012
Yes, thank you. I do take it in the morning with the unisom at night. After reading many reviews, I've read many who do get over the diarrhea but don't see any that get over the insomnia with continued use.
Related topics
depression, sleep disorders, sleep, viibryd
Further information
- Viibryd uses and safety info
- Viibryd prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Viibryd (detailed)
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