I have been taking Viibryd for six month and I have experienced weight gaine despite Viibryd claims that it does not cause weight gain. I am currently being monitored monthly by my doctor. I go for monthly weight and blood pressure check ups. My doctor can verify that since starting Viibryd I have gained 20 pounds. I am currently prepping for an upcoming surgery. I have cut many foods and drinks out of my diet. I currently drink only water and green tea. I excerise daily. There is no reason for this weight gain. Viibryd is the only medication that I am currently taking and as I mentioned, it can be proven that my weight has increased significantly since starting Viibryd. I am 40 years old and my weight had been stable prior to starting Viibryd. I have also been experiencing very vivid dreams and nightmares since starting Viibryd. As a result, I am constantly fatigued and feel unrested. And, unfortunately, I am one of the rare few who have experience sexual side effects on this drug. I am also noticing an increase in restless leg syndrome since starting Viibryd. On the positive side, Viibryd is working for me. My doctor prescribed Viibryd to treat my depression, anxiety, and anger. My doctor and I are continuing to monitor these side effects and I will definitely change medications if these side effects continue or worsten. Does anyone have any comments to share?
Viibryd side effects?
Question posted by mommyof4inny on 27 June 2012
Last updated on 10 September 2021
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39 Answers Page 3
I started Viibryd 4 weeks ago to boost the action of 450mg Wellbutrin and it seems to be working. I took 10mg the first 3 weeks and 20mg this past week (my doctor wants to max me out at 20mg since I am sensitive to medication, even at low doses) and am feeling much better psychologically -- went from feeling despondent with racing negative thoughts to reduced anxiety and a positive outlook on the 10mg. However, I am experiencing side effects since moving up to 20mg. In addition to sleep disturbance, I feel a little hyper now and there are definite sexual side effects (have gone from a previously strong sex drive to almost no desire and trouble reaching climax) plus weight gain. Although I'm a naturally slim person (5'7" and 119 lbs.), I have gained 5 lbs. in the past week since bumping up to 20mg. That is not a big deal right now, but I certainly don't want to continue to gain 5 lbs.
per week from here on! Since the medication was working well at 10mg in conjunction with my Wellbutrin, I don't see the need for the increase and am going to talk to my doctor about remaining on the 10mg dose. I just hope the positive results continue...
You may want to check with your doc about the 450 mg Wellbutrin. I've been on 300 Mg (Bupoprion - generic for Wellbutrin) for years. My internist suggested I bump up to 450 mg. Then, my psychiatrist moved it back to 300 because the 450 dose increase you chances of seizures.
I have been on Viibryd less than a month starting with 10mg then 20. I started having terrible nausea even if I took the pill after eating and various times of the day. The nausea go so bad I was weaned off the drug by my doctor but now I am still experiencing stomach issues, no appetite, nausea and have developed restless leg syndrome and sleeplessness. It has been almost a week without the drug and I still can't sleep or eat. The rls still exists at night. I pray this nightmare ends soon. I feel like a zombie.
I have lost 40 pounds, so weight gain Iis not a given. Studies show 3-5% gain weight, but 6-9% get anorexia. I don't have that as my weight loss has been purposeful and planned.
You ought look at other factors or you may be in the 3-5%. Viibryd works for me so I won't be changing any time soon. I have been on it for almost a year and I can say that it is saving my life. Of course, your results may vary.
Good luck
I am also having anxiety and sleep
Paralysis-scared me into a panic attack. Going back to celexa.
I have been on Viibryd for about two months and have just started having horrible night terrors, waking up screaming with some visual hallucinations at the moment that I awake. I cannot say that it is doing much for the depression, as the suicidal thoughts occassionaly creep back in. I am on 40 mg currently, and do not think these effects outweigh any questionable help it might be doing. I have also noticed the beginnings of restless leg syndrome. Help, anyone?
I have been on Viibryd for over 7 months now. I cannot speak on the weight gain part as though I have gained about 10 lbs since being on Viibryd I have only recently started exercising again and watching what I eat. I have lost 3 lbs so far after two weeks of this. As for the nightmares yes, I have definitely noticed this. Usually they are paralyzing dreams in which I cannot wake up and cannot call out. I'm not really sure if I'm awake while this is going on or it is a nightmare. It might be sleep paralysis. This morning I had a dream in which I was pretty much dead and woke up with derealization so bad that caused a panic attack and my inability to cope with anything including my two children for two hours. I also have the sexual side effects. I still want to have sex but my ability to orgasm since going on Viibryd is completely gone.
Holy crow, I just had the scariest experience and it is just as lennongurl posted... I read her post to my husband and he said that is exactly how I described what happened to me... I was falling asleep and began having the electric shocks in my head, I've had these since I started taking Viibryd, but it did a good job on my symptoms so I continued taking it... but they are more like I'm being hit over the head... my head actually twitches or jerks... I know I was awake because I heard my husband coming upstairs. Suddenly I began seeing colors and my body became paralyzed and hot, especially my arms, and I was hoping that my husband would come in and find me but I heard him go into our sons room, so I tried to call to him, but couldn't speak, couldn't make even a sound... I thought for sure I was having a stroke and was dying...
after a few LOOOOOOONG seconds, I was able to call to him, but still couldn't move, and by the time he came into our room, things were going back to normal. I totally thought I was dying. This happened last month as well, to a lesser extent, and I chalked it up to a bad dream then, but I am positive I was awake this time. I will be calling my dr. tomorrow am and getting off this drug. There is nothing else that could be causing this.
I just got home from the emergency room from doing this exact same thing. I will immediately discontinue using viibryd. This is insane!
Do you think the help outweighs the side effects? Would you start again knowing what you now know about it? Are you going to discontinue?
I too have gained weight. This is in spite of the constant diarrhea and being bloated. In addition, and to me the biggest problem, is the extreme pain in my joints and leg cramps. I went to the doctor 2 days ago and we discussed these side effects. The doctor agreed it could be the meds but also showed concern that it could be some kind of infection. He decided to cut the dosage down to 20mg (from 40mg) and added Welbutrin (I have never taken this before). I was going to take a wait and see approach before going to my internist but was very achy yesterday so I went ahead and made an appointment. Well this morning I woke up and feel so much better. Apparently it was the Viibryd. I agree with everyone that it worked great for the depression, but for me the trade-off is not worth it. I might also mention it seems the diahrrea is also gone. I think Viibryd needs more time on the market to accumulate some greater history regarding side effects.
Thank you so much everyone. I am thinking that although Viibryd is working for me and I need to start looking for something else with my doctor. Good luck to all of you!
Please, Stop taking this medicine. It has made me to the point that I was unable to walk. It hurt my feet and my legs hurt terrible. I have been off of it for 4 days and noticing some improvement! Everyone please stop taking it! It is poison for your muscles and tendons. I couldn't move my fingers or my wrists.
Hi,
I have stop taking Viibryd a little over 2 months. My ankles, knees, elbows, wrist and fingers hurt so much , I'm having a hard time working. Pain is getting worse every day. I hope the FDA do something soon before more people get hurt. I was exercising 4 to 5 times a week, and worked 8 to 12 hour days, now I can hardly get to work.
I have only been taking Viibryd for about three weeks. I am also arthritic. Since beginning I have, daily, gotten worse on pain from my waist down. Every day, I get groggier and groggier, like I am drunk. I decided to research and am withdrawing myself from the Viibryd. I would rather deal with depression than this drunk, groggy feeling and the additional pains.
I've been taking viibryd for over a year now. I also have had the itching feeling of my scalp crawling when trying to come off the medicine. I've now weaned myself down to the 20mg. My concern is the long term effects of the medicine. I do believe it helps with anxiety, but the joint pain I'm feeling now has destroyed all the happiness I had in life. I can't say for sure its viibryd to blame. However, all the connective tissues in my body has been deteriorating. Planters fasciitis, fibromyalgia, evidence of perphial nueropathy, degenerative arthistis in my ankle, small vessel disease issues, toes and fingers cramping and remaining in the postition until you move them, multiple trigger fingers..the list continues to grow.
Maybe I am just getting older, but my health has spiralled out of control and it all started with one trigger finger. Now I'm on several medication and nothing is helping with the pain. So if it is viibryd that has caused this then, I'd take a few days of depression in a heartbeat over not being able to walk, the fear of losing my job of (now) 2days a week and my home I raised all my children in. I wanted everyone to know if youre not alone with the joint pain and connective tissue issues.
I have taken vybrid right when it came out ! Did it help? Yes it did . But I also gained 25lbs & insomnia is one of its worst side effects that never went away also sex drive gone also couldn't achieve a orgasm! I'm now on a new search with no luck! I hope this helps this is from experience I was on it 7mths
That's exactly what I'm going through.. absolutely cannot achieve orgasm on this pill at all.. it's very embarrassing and hard to explain to the woman cause they think its them
Hello mommyof4inny. In clinical studies/trials between 2% to 3% of people taking Viibryd reported an increase in appetite. Best of wishes to you, pledge
I am 44 and have been taken viibryd 40 mg for 1 month. Tonight is the first night I have had these horrible scarey nightmares. I feel like awake and screaming and trying to get out of bed but I'm not. I even see scenes from the nighare when I finally wake up. Also feel terrible shocks in my head every time I close my eyes. I have to get off this med!' it's almost 3am and ive been awake all might. All I can do is pray for myself and Anton experiencing this!! I'm afraid to sleep :(
I hope you are doing well, it will become better.
I thought I was going crazy when I started having these shocks in my head I have been having vivid dreams for sometime now and I have been exercising as well and not loosing any weight.
I have also been having very rapid heart rate when climbing my basement stairs. I have been running for 10 weeks now and I carried stuff up my stairs last night and had to rest afterwards because my heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest, does anyone else have this?
I've been taking vybrid 40mg for 3 months now, the nightmares are completly insane,I have a reaqurring one ware I feel awake and can not move and I see the same dark figure who once it notices me looking at it it, it attacks, I generally wake up at this point kicking and screaming, I have also gained about ten pounds and get the brain zaps and have all but lost my sex drive. I'm not sure what to do, I had the same side effects from cymbalta as well, minus the dreams. On the plus side it has leveled out my mood, and significantly decreesed my anger level.
I see a lot of mention of weight gain as well as vivid dreams on the web with this drug. I would certainly keep the Doc informed as it is obvious based on my web inquiry that you are not the only one experiencing these sides. Hope this helps.
Related topics
depression, weight loss (obesity/overweight), side effect, weight, blood disorders, doctor, viibryd, blood pressure
Further information
- Viibryd uses and safety info
- Viibryd prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Viibryd (detailed)
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