Levomilnacipran and Irritability: What Users Say

• GDD...
• October 17, 2014

Levomilnacipran for Depression "I started Fetzima 4 months ago. My blood pressure went up dramatically to the point that now I am on blood pressure medication. I am also irritable now. I see my doctor in one week and I will tell him to change it. I've never had a blood pressure side effect from medication before. My blood pressure was also normal."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2015

Levomilnacipran for Depression "I have had severe depression since my teens and have been on antidepressants for many years. Fortunately, I have had beneficial effects from several over the years. The most effective treatment to date has been a combination of Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. I took that combination for ten+ years and, unfortunately, I recently started slipping downward, increased depression, and feeling out of control. I was prescribed Fetzima (transitioned off Cymbalta) and completed the starter pack with the only benefit being increased energy. My Dr. then increased the dosage to 80 mg and have been at 80 mg for two + weeks. I have never felt (for lack of a better word) so crazy in my life! I have been so irritable, angry, depressed, and unreasonable and feeling."

• Squ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2014

Levomilnacipran for Depression "Started on 20 mg daily and went up to 40 mg. Little or no mood changes. Some of the worst side effects I've experienced: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation. Pain with urination. Initial loss of appetite, which then seemed to swing the other way and make me want to eat constantly. Very increased irritability, to the point that I caught myself screaming insults at the computer or other drivers (in private, thankfully), pounding my fist on the desk, and having to plug in headphones and crank the music loud enough so that all the little noises around me didn't make me scream in anger."

• Tin...
• January 19, 2016

Levomilnacipran for Depression "I tried 40 mg of this medication for about 8 weeks. Initially (1st 2 weeks), it seemed to work. Then, for the last 6 weeks, it seemed not to work. I had side effects of tummy pain, leg cramps, and irritability. My doctor insisted I was getting better and just needed a higher dose. So she put me on 80 mg of this medication. I began to experience extreme bursts of anger and negativity, which, of course, only worsened the depression. I also had horrid stomach pain and couldn't tolerate it. After going off the medicine, I felt much better. No expense, no leg cramps, heart rate down, rage bursts abruptly stopped after about a week. Yay, I guess. Back to Amitriptyline..."

• Som...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2015

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on Fetzima for 3 months. I take the 40 mg extended release. This has been the best medication I have been on. I have increased energy. I can focus and stay on task. I do not feel hopeless and have an opinion now. The side effects I have are dry mouth, constipation, my face and chest will turn red and feel hot to me at times, and my neck will break out. I have also had some irritability and anger. I feel like this is because I walked around in a fog with no thoughts or opinions for so long that now I'm engaged in life and paying attention. Some things that used to not bother me do now. For me, my effects from this medication have not changed at all. The benefits definitely outweigh the mild side effects."

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2016

Levomilnacipran for Depression "My experience with this medication is terrible. I have moved up to 40 mg daily. I have had a rapid heartbeat all day. The mood swings are terrible, runny nose, the sweats, body aching, headache, and just feel very irritable. The dreams are more like nightmares. I am not sure how they still market this drug, but I would not recommend this to anyone. It is not an antidepressant but an anti-feel-good product. I have never written a review before but feel so strongly that other people should not get involved in this drug."

• 8...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 2, 2016

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "For the last 8 months, Fetzima has worked very well (after the initial transition period from my last medication). Over the last 15 years, I have been on many effective anti-depressants, but after about 2-3 years, these medications start to become ineffective (Zoloft, Lexapro, Cymbalta, etc.). Started taking Fetzima 8 months ago, and the first month involved a lot of agitation/anger (very unlike me) and also having to adjust the dosage upward... now at 120. Since then, it has been a good experience. Feel centered and have energy. One very good side effect has been pain relief from my arthritis in my knees and back. I have dry mouth with this and every other anti-depressant I have taken. The drug is very expensive."

• Wis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2017

Levomilnacipran for Depression "So this drug was awesome for everything except it made me rageful. I could orgasm, no sleepiness, felt a little nausea, but all meds have yucky side effects that go away after a while. It helped with concentration and motivation!! Wow, I was a superstar at work. Or maybe I was so used to the other SSRIs that gave me brain fog! I could jump out of bed with no problem in the morning, which I never would get before. But it made me snappy, angry, mad, and boil my blood! It didn't do well for anxiety. I think it gave me more. This drug must have a stimulant in it, more than one of the other ones that are more sedating. It was also the top highest tier for cost! Too much right now because it's a newer drug. Doesn't work for anxiety!"

• bam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2015

Levomilnacipran for Depression "I was switched from Celexa to Fetzima. I started on 20 mg for a few days, then increased to 40 mg. It did not help my depression at all. I was crying and had repetitive thoughts. Side effects were awful: constipation, dizziness, retrograde ejaculation, anxiety, irritability, etc. I switched to Viibryd. So far, it's a lot better."

• The...
• September 26, 2015

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "I started taking Fetzima as an alternative to citalopram, as it was no longer effective for me. I immediately started feeling sick (queasy, lightheaded). My doctor told me those were withdrawal symptoms, but I still feel them weeks later. I quickly became irritable and have gotten worse and worse. I'm hot and sweaty most of the time, but when I'm cold, I also sweat. The irritable and constant crying have caused me to gain weight, as I'm eating all the time to try to feel better."

• Reb...
• April 10, 2017

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "This is the second time I have taken Fetzima ER and have been on it for 9 months. I quit the first time due to not being able to afford it. I have MDD, anxiety disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and BPD. I take the 40 mg a day. At first, when I started Fetzima, I was happy, almost euphoric, and my depression and most of my anxiety completely disappeared. Recently, within the past couple of months, my rage has returned, I'm easily agitated and highly irritable, I have had to take my Klonopin daily for extreme anxiety, my personality has changed, and my depression has gotten much worse to the point where I cry several times a day and feel hopeless. I'm not sure whether I need to decrease or increase or try something else at this point."

• Reb...
• April 10, 2017

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "This is the second time I have taken Fetzima ER and have been on it for 9 months. I quit the first time due to not being able to afford it. I have MDD, anxiety disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and BPD. I take the 40 mg a day. At first, when I started Fetzima, I was happy, almost euphoric, and my depression and most of my anxiety completely disappeared. Recently, within the past couple of months, my rage has returned, I'm easily agitated and highly irritable, I have had to take my Klonopin daily for extreme anxiety, my personality has changed, and my depression has gotten much worse to the point where I cry several times a day and feel hopeless. I'm not sure whether I need to decrease or increase or try something else at this point."

• sou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2016

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "I believe this medicine is making me more agitated. I am in pain as I am waiting to have knee replacement in a month, but I did not act this way with my first knee pain which led to knee replacement. I am acting so extremely different, crying, cussing, being ashamed, sharply irritated, over and over. I say and think the ugliest things, then I'll cry over a commercial or something out of the blue. I feel like I'm going crazy. I believe part of this is due to my doctor instructing me to abruptly stop taking Cymbalta 30 (was low level because I have increased liver enzymes) to Fetzima 40. No tapering down from Cymbalta or ramping up on Fetzima. I have taken Cymbalta for years. Could this be it? If so, when will it end."

• Kal...
• March 3, 2016

Levomilnacipran for Depression "Switched from Zoloft. After the initial first week and withdrawals from the Zoloft, I noticed that my irritability never went away and seemed to get worse. I was yelling at my kids for 3 days straight and realized this just isn't me. It's treated my depression, but the irritability and agitation, along with the other effects, just are not worth it. I have a hard time sleeping due to the dreams that I have that only started once I started taking it. Hallucinations started as well. It seems some days I have a hard time with what's real and what's not. Only when just relaxing, my mind seems to jump all over. Will be switching ASAP, this drug isn't for me. I would rather have the weight gain from the Zoloft. Expensive, even with insurance."

• Kal...
• March 3, 2016

Levomilnacipran for Depression "Switched from Zoloft. After the initial first week and withdrawals from the Zoloft, I noticed that my irritability never went away and seemed to get worse. I was yelling at my kids for 3 days straight and realized this just isn't me. It's treated my depression, but the irritability and agitation, along with the other effects, just are not worth it. I have a hard time sleeping due to the dreams that I have that only started once I started taking it. Hallucinations started as well. It seems some days I have a hard time with what's real and what's not. Only when just relaxing, my mind seems to jump all over. Will be switching ASAP, this drug isn't for me. I would rather have the weight gain from the Zoloft. Expensive, even with insurance."

• ch1...
• November 28, 2017

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on every antidepressant made, it seems. This is the best one by far. Everyone noticed a significant difference within less than a week. I was up to 120 mg a day due to my extreme anxiety and not able to leave my house. The 120 mg had everything under control, and I wasn't even having to take my Xanax, but my doctor felt I had begun to become 'flat.' He dropped me back down to 80 mg, and now all of my anxiety, irritability, and inability to focus have come back worse! I actually have a call in to him to see if I can go back up to 120 mg. Even with the issues I am having now since my dosage was reduced, I still think this has been the best medicine I have taken."

• Map...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 4, 2015

Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder "Developed a condition of depressive ice disorder that I couldn't even get out of bed - odd for a type A person of high activity, but doctors decided it was a form of norepinephrine depression related to a high dose and bad reaction to fludrocortisone. I had to take Fetzima, which was the only medicine of 13 tried to have sufficient efficacy. It was truly amazing that a chemical imbalance can result in this inertia. However... early on, jitteriness, nausea, insomnia, irritability, and lower anxiety threshold made me wonder if this was a good decision.... After 9 months, efficacy there - good enough for me to do the heavy lifting to get myself into new habits, new social situations, etc. Irritability itself waned, sleep problems continued, causing more problems."

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2016

For Depression "I can't accurately vouch for this drug if it works or not. But I've had immense side effects and possible allergic reactions. I've had chills, dizziness, and itching on my hands and feet, which are most likely an allergic reaction. And I've had constipation every day, diarrhea, major irritability, and strong desires to cry for no reason."