Viibryd - Nightmares/Night Terrors?

I started Viibryd about 3 years ago. I went up to 40 mg and had the WORST nightmares I’ve ever had and sleep paralysis. The dreams were so vivid, i could have sworn someone was touching me. I was so scared to go to sleep. My doctor dropped me back down to 20 mg and then I was fine. However, if randomly stopped working for me last month so I just switched back to lexapro. If the lexapro is working for you, is stick with if you can!

I think that this is a drug that can create a relatively difficult early adjustment period, particularly related to the onset of sleep, nightmares, and other symptoms related to sleep. I suspect it's similarly difficult to discontinue. I've been on Viibryd for many years. It has helped me a great deal. For weeks after starting it, I had strange semi-hallucinations at the onset of sleep. Those went away. I do have unpleasant dreams, but that pre-dates Viibryd. The ongoing issue I have is that if I forget a dose, I may go to sleep, but it is a light and unrestful sleep. For what it's worth, when I have a stretch when the sleep problems seem worse, I take a very low dose of Klonopin at night which helps me sleep.

Try taking vybryd at least 3-4 hours BEFORE you go to bed. You have to give the medicine enough time to kick in. I've forgotten a few times and I've taken it too late. Doing so, brings on the night terrors.
Best of luck and don't forget to take early!

I was put on Vybriid about a month ago. First 10 and graduating up to 40. I’m having terrifying nightmares that are so real and vivid and are about current events in my life. I wake up in sweats and panic 3-5 times a night. It’s horrible and terrifying. My Dr says that it will pass. I don’t believe him. Has anyone gotten passed the nightmares to good, solid restful sleep on Vybriid? I thank you all.

Hi Everyone,

I’m David. I’ve been on Vybriid (40 mg) for a little over a month. I take it in the morning and at night I’ve been having intense nightmares and I wake up several times a night. It’s horrible.
Before I even saw this Group I talked to my Dr and told him. (I always take it in the morning). The Dr said the nightmares should go away. He added 7mgs of Zyprexa for me to take at night also.
The nightmares all contain current happenings in my life and they are really intolerable. I’d say it is helpful with my depression but the nightmares and sweats and panic are over the edge.

Thanks,
David

I’ve been taken by Viibryd for 6 weeks, 4 weeks at full dose. I read a lot in the medicine before I started and always take it at about the same time in the morning after eating a high protein breakfast. It has been very effective at treating my depression and associated symptoms. I haven’t felt this well in years. The only problem I have had are a few episodes if false awakening, where I think I’m awake but am still dreaming. Fortunately the dreams have not been unpleasant.

Hello yanksgrl:

I have had some bad nightmares while on Viibryd and some of them have occurred 30 hours or so since my last dose. Whether these are connected to taking or not taking my Viibryd I will never know for sure. I also had a dream while taking Viibryd (but having gone 30+ hours since my last dose) that was nothing short of a significant spiritual experience. In hindsight I would be happy to accept all the bad dreams I have ever had (very few of which I remember) for the one beautiful dream that I fondly remember and that has changed my life in a very positive way. Again, I have no way of knowing whether Viibryd played a role in my "spiritual experience" dream and it doesn't matter. Either way, I believe that my Higher Power meant for me to have that dream with the help of Viibryd influence or without it.

Take care for now and all the best.

Hi there-

First off, I’m so sorry that you’re experiencing this! Second, I also had horrific nightmares and sleep paralysis with Viibryd, but only on 40mg. They were the worst things I’ve ever experienced and so real! I would feel things touching me. It was terrifying. I put up with it for so long bc this is the only med that has really helped but I finally went down to 20 mg and the nightmares and sleep paralysis have completely stopped. If you can, I’d try to stay on just the 20 mg and see if that works. You may have to add another drug to supplement but like I said it’s the only med that’s helped me. Good luck!

Hello yanksgrl:

I have not had your experience with Viibryd. The drug has been very effective in treating my depression and anxiety. However, I notice that if I miss a dose I really feel it due to the Viibryd's relatively short half life. This is particularly true at the 40 mg dosage level. I have been weaning down and am currently taking 1 and half 20 mg pill per day which is nominally 30 mg but effectively 27 mg (Somehow Viibryd is less effective when the pill is cut). I hope to get down to taking just a single whole 20 mg per day so that I don't feel so dependent on it! I hope that is enough to keep my depression and anxiety at a manageable level.

I have been taking Viibryd for about 6 months now and have woke up again tonight with the most horrific nightmares and feeling of paralysis. I felt as though something was climbing or hovering on my back and I can’t get them off or even get out from under my covers. That was the second one tonight then I feel as though something is holding me done and I jump up in my dream and can’t get any lights to work. That happened numerous times in a 30 minute period also feel as if I’m hearing a strange childlike music box and it accelerates it as I try to wake up. Think they are occurring if I forget to take it with my dinner which happened today. I hope that is the reason and I never forget it again,! 2 months ago I Had a psychedelic type dream where a one eyed bird was hovering in front me , that hasn’t occurred since that time., I wasn’t even truly asleep when that occurred, which made me think I was losing my mind. I have to be up for work in a few hours but I’m afraid to go back to sleep.

I took this med for a year and a half, and if I took it too late in the day or missed a dose, I would experience sleep paralysis and night terrors. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. I also would get these shuddering feelings in my head like a flapping behind my eyes or something. I felt foggy a lot of the time too. Once I was off Viibryd, which by the way coming off that medication was horrible, I did feel better. However it’s been 2 years since I’ve been off it and I feel like I experienced memory loss while on it, in the part of my brain that controls language. No joke, I regularly can’t recall words while having conversations. I didn’t find the med to have helped me at all and I’ve been on many different ones over the years, this one has been the worst and certainly had the most severe side effects.

I just recently have switched from Paxil to Viibryd and for 2 straight weeks I have been experiencing the most horror filled nightmares that the rest of you have been experiencing, I just would like to say thank you all for sharing it has helped me realize that I'm not going crazy and need to get off this med.

Hello yanksgrl:

I have been on Viibryd for 6 years and have yet to experience what you described. I will say that due to Viibryd's short half life, if I go much more than 30 hours between doses it has a way of reminding me that its time for another dose. A certain "rawness" starts to set in. I have, inadvertently, gone as long as 48 hours between doses but, gratefully, avoided any major side effect.

Take care for now and all the best.