Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Ano...
• February 15, 2017

"I've used Viibryd for a couple of years. 40 mg grew to being jittery, even with exercise. At 20 mg, I have improvement. I'm much more functional. Being lactose intolerant, it's not uncommon to have diarrhea from time to time. If early in the day, it seems to cause a drop in energy, focus, etc. As needed, I sometimes take an additional 10 mg at lunch. Previous medicines tried were Prozac and Cymbalta."

• Dom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 2, 2019

"Since I was 14, I took about 10 meds a day for bipolar, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, major depression, and anxiety. Now I thankfully only take Viibryd, and it's saved my life! The only sort of bad side effects I have is if I take it before I eat breakfast, I become extremely tired to the point of knocking out. If I miss a dose, my face gets extremely itchy. But other than that, I'm doing great. I still have some bad days, but not nearly as bad as before!"

• Anonymous
• March 3, 2015

"I have bipolar, depression, anxiety, and I have been to mental hospitals with suicidal tendencies. I have tried many other medications and have been on just Viibryd for the last year now. Nothing in the past has helped me as much as Viibryd has. I went from having anxiety and bipolar episodes to being able to control my outbursts. For people who say they take this medication and it does nothing, I believe they may have not taken it long enough. The only adverse effects I have are diarrhea, and if I miss a dose by a day, I go through withdrawals pretty bad. I recommend this medication to every young adult I know!"

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2018

"I spoke too soon. This is the worst medication I have EVER taken. For 8 days straight, 24 hours a day without any break, I have been nonstop nauseous to the point my face turns pale white, horrifying nightmares, sleep paralysis, no appetite, vision blackout with “zaps” or “pressure” feeling in my head. Extremely high blood pressure, with pressure behind my eyes, which concerns me about angle closures, with it said in the med pamphlet can cause glaucoma. Which causes blindness. Difficulty understanding, hot and cold, flu-like symptoms, weakness, anger/rage, uncontrollable crying, blurred vision, pain throughout the body, excruciatingly painful burning sensation in my stomach always. Seeing things that are not there... these have been symptoms I’ve experienced every day and night with no break for 8 days. Almost went to the ER several times, I weaned myself off this med. This is poison to my body. I was so hopeful for this medication too."

• Lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2019

"I have tried many antidepressants. Even many mood stabilizers to see if they would help me. Nothing seems to work for me. I had a really bad experience with Viibryd. I only took 10 mg for 2 weeks, but it made me feel really bad. It seemed to awaken some part of my nervous system. It made me feel so depressed and panicky. The fear is out of control, to the extent it's crippled my life. I haven't taken this medication for maybe 3 weeks now, and that scary Viibryd feeling is still there. Usually, when I try a new med, within a week after coming off of it, I feel fine. Honestly, I'm worried this medication may have permanently keyed up some part of my brain into fear, possibly forever? Keep in mind I took this for major depression. I have no history of anxiety, fear, paranoia, or anything. With the damage this med has done to my brain, I want to warn others. I know I was willing to try anything to feel better, I didn't think anything could get worse, but Viibryd made it worse."

• DKM...
• August 28, 2015

"For the first week on 10 mg, had brain zaps, diarrhea, tingling in extremities, and some nausea, insomnia. Almost discontinued taking the drug. However, after a week, most side effects improved. Now on 20 mg per MD recommendation, only have insomnia and some leg cramps now, slight weight gain but not much. Mood improved, and the bonus is that my sexual function has improved for the first time in 10 years. Based on my experience so far, would recommend if you are willing to tolerate side effects for several weeks when beginning the drug."

• Sum...
• July 7, 2025

"Wow! I have been on medication primarily for anxiety and MDD most of my adult life. I have tried most antidepressant/anxiety medications, some worked so-so, some not at all, some the side effects horrible, but I pushed through anyway trying to find relief! After 30 years, this is by far the best medication I have tried. It kicks my anxiety and major depression’s butt! Thank God! Years of isolating, years of barely functioning, to now a life that’s full, happy, and complete! The start-up of this med was particularly difficult. Insomnia, diarrhea, headaches, sweating, nightmares… when I did finally drift off to sleep. I also had a spike in blood pressure. I kept on it and treated the blood pressure. The sleep resolved, I sleep better than I have in 20 years! The headaches are basically gone, as is the diarrhea. I sweat, but not that bad. I’ll take a BP pill any day to have the wonderful life lived to the fullest!"

• Mot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2020

"My older sister is a psychiatrist, and my younger sister is on this med. They both suggested I try it because it worked so well. I finally gave in and gave it a go around Christmas. It was the worst thing ever for me. I gained 11 pounds in 7 weeks, I couldn't stop crying, I didn't care about anything anymore. I almost checked into a psych ward. Coming off of it was tough, but definitely better than staying on it. I've been on a new med for a few weeks, and I'm feeling so much better."

• App...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 10, 2022

"I have taken so many different antidepressants, and all of them either did not work or made me feel worse. Not Viibryd! I feel amazing on this medication, a life I've always wanted to live feels possible because of it. I've been on it for almost 2 years now and cannot tell you the turnaround in my life. From suicidal and hopeless, and now I am happy, motivated, and positive. I hope to whatever higher power exists that it never stops working for me and I can always afford it."

• don...
• July 4, 2014

"The first few weeks, it seemed to improve my depression. I almost felt normal again. Then, wham! I started crying about everything-happy, sad, or for no reason at all, and although the feelings of 'hopelessness' were gone, I felt I was worse than before. I have been diagnosed with early-mid AD, and perhaps that explains the odd reaction. I haven't seen my doctor since this odd reaction began, but I intend to see him. I have also suffered severe gastric distress while on Viibryd."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 8, 2024

"I found 30mg to be the therapeutic dose for me. I have always reacted differently to most medications, and after the birth of my daughter, prescription antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications that previously had worked were no longer effective and came with some really bad side effects. A friend suggested that I try Viibryd. I was skeptical at first, but after I was upped to 20mg, I felt better than I have in a very long time. I suggested to my doctor that if I felt better at 20mg, rather than go up to 40mg and chance side effects I had previously experienced with other medications, to try 30mg. For me, 30mg was the therapeutic level that is the right range. I cannot say how much of a difference Viibryd at 30mg has made in my life. I briefly attempted 40mg, and I started having issues with restless legs and arms throughout the day, and I am an already active person. I quickly went back to 30mg."

• Unn...
• December 3, 2016

"I started taking this medication for major depression and anxiety. The first month was great, I was sleeping well, and I was very happy and wasn't stressed, then it all turned. I began to have vivid nightmares that I woke crying and screaming. I started having trouble staying asleep, not just from the nightmares, but I couldn't bring myself to sleep. I stopped taking the meds and talked to my psychiatrist about my concerns. I told her I didn't take the meds every day at the same time, so she told me to try it again. I started a strict time regimen. I started having dizzy spells, started hallucinating, nightmares again, I would get weak and shaky. I took sleep meds, still no sleep. I still had depression. It was horrible."

• She...
• September 16, 2017

"I have been on and off antidepressants most of my adult life and have tried many. Was just switched from Celexa to Viibryd about 1 month ago, and it has been a living nightmare. This has by far been the worst med I have ever been on. I have been an emotional wreck and sick as hell. Nausea, dizzy, shaky, jittery, heart racing, weight gain, headaches, anger, crying, and several more. I have actually had to pull my car off the road and sit because I was so sick. I can't think straight at all. Tried tapering down from 20 mg to 15 mg for a week, and I felt like I was dying, so went back to 20 mg. I feel like I belong in the mental ward. I see my doctor in a few days. Horrible drug, I do not recommend at all! Rather be depressed."

• Bou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2016

"I tried to go off this drug after undergoing TMS treatment, but I could not. It is as addictive as heroin. I needed to go onto Wellbutrin and Prozac to bridge over and taper off the Viibryd over a period of several weeks, and the withdrawal symptoms were awful."

• Ath...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2017

"I started taking this a little over a week ago. I tapered off of Zoloft, and started with 5 mg of the Viibryd, and then up to 10 mg a day about ten days ago. I can honestly say that I'm pretty sure I feel out of control, and cry at the same time. I'm filled with utter contempt, and rage at everyone and anyone in my vicinity. I'm not a rage-filled person. I want to cry at the same time. I'm just plain angry all the time. My depression has worsened, and the rage and crying is all the time. My doc is not available, so I contacted the pharmacist, and said to continue to take the Viibryd as directed and go to the ER if it continues, or gets worse. Well, I'm not waiting. I've taken myself off of it starting today."

• bbo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 20, 2024

"I have been on and off other antidepressants all my life. Some worked, some did not, some made me feel horrible (most of them did). I am really sensitive to side effects. This drug has been awesome for me. I noticed some changes very quickly. I had no side effects at all, I do take it with food. Overall, I really like this drug. It has really helped me to feel somewhat normal. I am a little worried as it doesn't seem to be working as well lately, but I am going to see about going up in dose. I am at 40 mg a day."

• Sal...
• June 4, 2015

"I started taking this medication a month ago. My doctor had been prescribing me Xanax for 10 years and felt this was the cure for my anxiety. I experienced worsening anxiety and panic attacks. I felt really irritable and still do. By the 5th week, I was beginning to feel hopeless and not wanting to get out of bed. I'm always tired, and I have gained 10 lbs in 5 weeks. I'm supposed to take it for another month, and if it still doesn't help, then I get to taper off. I accidentally missed a dose and felt miserable. I had no energy and felt like electric shocks were popping my brain cells. I still have anxiety and feel like this medication gave me depression."

• RAa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2019

"Been on Viibryd for about 6 months now. Works great for me, no depression symptoms at all. I have noticed that it is difficult for me to get excited about anything, though. It sort of makes me just numb to all emotions, which helps with anxiety and social phobia. Side effects of diarrhea and gas were terrible, but the pros outweighed the cons in my case. After 6 months, I still have occasional diarrhea. Very vivid dreams at night, and every night. Expensive."

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2020

"I was going through a really hard time in life, and I had never taken any sort of medication before. My doctor prescribed me this, and I was so super nervous to take it at first, reading all of the reviews. But everyone told me just to give it a try. I took it, and at first, everything was fine, but then I started having a “high” sensation. My heart was racing really fast, and I started talking really fast. It felt really weird, but I was like, “I can get used to this.” I went to bed and woke up at 2 in the morning with the feeling of nausea. I finally ran to the bathroom and started puking blood, believe it or not. I was panicked, and then I had diarrhea all day as well. I’m assuming I had an allergic reaction to it because that was the first night on it. But it was awful. I felt so, so sick. So I didn't think this happens to everyone, but I didn’t take it again. A few months later, I started taking Lexapro and Xanax, and I’ve liked that so, so, so much better!"

• Ste...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 9, 2022

"Viibryd replaced Cymbalta for me. Almost all other antidepressants had bad side effects. Viibryd did not have side effects and helped with depression. I no longer have 'bad thoughts,' and it helps keep me stable. I cannot say enough about how great it helps."

• Sro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2017

"I've tried numerous antidepressants with varying degrees of success and failures. I transitioned to Viibryd from Trintellix. I started out on 10 mg per day and titrated up to 40 mg. Within the first week, my mood and demeanor became more positive. I stopped thinking about suicide. I did experience some side effects such as vivid nightmares and the inability to sleep. Major trouble sleeping at any time. I told my doctor, and she added Zyprexa 10 mg at night. Finally, I could sleep. I'm going to see if she'll increase it a little more. This combination works wonders for me. If Viibryd alone isn't working for you, try adding an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. I feel really good on both of these medications. Finally, something worked."

• Mag...
• September 26, 2019

"Taking this medication was one of the worst experiences of my life. Depression got worse, but I figured it was a side effect that would go away over time. One night, all of a sudden, the whole room felt like it turned upside down. Other people have referred to this as 'head drops,' and that's the only way I can describe it. I started getting horrible nightmares and had sleep paralysis for the first time in my life, and it was terrifying. At night, I would hear loud explosions in my head. I would wake up and be unable to go back to sleep because the sleep paralysis was too scary, and I started becoming extremely paranoid, like something was going to come kill me. Driving home from work at night, I would hallucinate people darting in the road or hanging from the trees. It was very difficult to distinguish between reality and dream/hallucination. I weaned off the meds, and everything went back to normal within a few weeks. What could happen in side effects isn't worth what good it could be."

• cla...
• January 24, 2020

"10 mg Viibryd for 1 month, 20 mg for 1 week. Everything fine, slightly lightheaded. 3rd day on 40 mg, my left pupil dilated and would not contract. 4th day on 40 mg: lilliputian hallucinations, visual and auditory hallucinations began of evil beings threatening to kill me upon waking at 3 AM. Did not know where I was. Mouth was just opening and closing, mouthing gibberish, I was told later. Xanax calmed me down. Hallucinations began again every time I would try to sleep. Body would try to jolt itself awake. When able to finally sleep, it would be for only 1 hour and be vivid nightmares about death. Psychotic thoughts and itching about my skin and eye skin and thinking that my hair needed to be removed because of an evil bug implanted in them by the hallucination characters. NEVER had psychotic thoughts in my whole life. This has all been going on for 2 and 1/2 days. I've tried 20 different SSRIs/SNRIs, two TCAs, Abilify, Seroquel, this is the worst reaction I've ever had."

• tak...
• June 23, 2017

"I'm a healthcare professional myself and was prescribed Viibryd for depression and anxiety. This medication is by far the worst medication I've taken. I started taking the recommended dosage with the starter pack. I experienced all the side effects (nausea, diarrhea, vivid dreams, zaps to the brain). The worst is I ended up in the ER with a panic attack, and these panic attacks have continued. Of course, I'm off this medication immediately, recommended by the ER physician and my personal MD. There are too many negative personal experiences with this medication. Even though everyone reacts differently, there is a correlation."

• tay...
• October 2, 2018

"I was first prescribed Trintellix, and it was the worst medication-too much nausea and vomiting. Then I started Viibryd, and it's the best ever-no side effects at all, no weight gain. The only bad thing is really bad insomnia, however, my depression is better thanks to Viibryd. With a coupon, I pay $10.00!"