Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Von...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2016

Vilazodone "Suicidal in early 20s - previous control found with counseling, Zoloft, Effexor, no other drugs giving much or lengthy control of disease. About 2 years ago, began Viibryd - quickly brought up to 40 mg dose. Still have dry mouth and some diarrhea (so bad at first it actually turned into IBS for me) and continue with daily headaches and queasiness, though no weight gain as others reported. In the last 5-6 months, have noticed a sharp increase in sudden unexpected crying with no ability to stop, and now more aggressive feelings and an increase in suicidal ideation, which I have not had for many years. Very surprising and frightening after all this time (40 years since diagnosis). Will wean off this drug soon when/if I can find a doctor to address these issues."

• Ric...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2017

Vilazodone "I have been taking Viibryd for years now. It was extremely successful at taking away suicidal depression and extreme social anxiety, due to mild Asperger's. It also gave me a tremendous amount of energy. After a good amount of time with a 40 mg a day dose, I started experiencing side effects. The first side effect was upset stomach, with diarrhea. Next, I started noticing mental exhaustion and slight dry mouth. Then the side effects went to severe temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) issues and tension headaches, sometimes accompanied by neck region night sweats. Then my doctor and I decided to cut the Viibryd down to 20 mg a day. I have been on the 20 mg for a while now, the TMJ is gone, and all other side effects have been reduced. Overall, I'm still happy."

• Sic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2019

Vilazodone "On Viibryd, I had stomach cramps, insomnia, and angry outbursts. I have taken every pill there is for MDD, I think. This is the first to help me get out of bed. But, it makes me nervous and sick. I wake up every hour or two. I wished the side effects were not this bad. I can't continue taking this medicine, plus it costs me $135.00."

• kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2016

Vilazodone "This medication is terrible. Right away, I was experiencing nausea every day. I had blurred vision, and I felt like I couldn't think very well. My brain was all foggy. I craved sweets and carbs all the time. I took it for a month and gained about 15 pounds. I also had the most extreme, horrible, vivid nightmares where I was afraid to close my eyes, and sometimes I felt like I couldn't wake up. I woke up covered in sweat with a racing heart, frightened. I also got brain zaps, where it felt like my brain was being electrocuted for a second. I feel like I turned into a monster on this drug. I was filled with so much rage and anger, and I hated everyone and everything. I would have times that I just broke down crying uncontrollably. So I switched."

• Kpr...
• April 23, 2016

Vilazodone "Viibryd has changed my life. I was so lost, I had actually forgotten how it felt to smile and laugh. My only issue is due to several injuries I have suffered, and the cost of my doctor visits and other medications that I am taking. It has been quite a financial hardship. I wish this medication was lower priced."

• Mom...
• June 16, 2017

Vilazodone "Truly the worst medication I have ever been on. I had all of the bad side effects: diarrhea in the middle of the night, had to change the sheets, nightmares so bad that I slept with the lights on, brain zaps, migraines still to this day even after being off of this medication for 2.5 years. Dizzy spells, blackouts, I couldn't even drive while taking this. I'm sure there is more. I weaned myself off of this medication against my doctor's orders because he was convinced that this was a miracle drug, needless to say, he is no longer my doc."

• Bob...
• December 4, 2018

Vilazodone "I am up to 40 mg per day now, and something strange is going on. I am feeling waves of electricity zap in my head like mini seizures. I never had a sensation like this before, and I have tried many over the past 20 years. I even feel like I might fall down. I even did the genetic testing to see which drugs worked better for specially me. I don't know... but if this is a side effect, then how long do I have to endure it?? I think I will go back and try Latuda. It seemed to smooth things out for me. P.S. By the way... you are supposed to take this with food."

• Pad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2016

Vilazodone "This drug probably kept me from killing myself, but missing a dose once after using it for almost two years and I was diagnosed with withdrawal. It hurt. Bad. Worse was getting what even my psychiatrist called 'brain zaps.' They started out very infrequent and weak, but as time went on, it was torture. They were around the clock and even woke me up every night several times each night. I almost want to leave my email if the drug company wanted to talk to me about it, but can only imagine the emails I would get from everywhere."

• DbL...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 2, 2018

Vilazodone "My update... I have now been on Viibryd for about 5 months. Had anger/anxiety until I added a low dose of Cymbalta. This has been a perfect combination! I’ve had NO depression/suicidal thoughts AT ALL, which is amazing for me. Have since joined a health club, work out, interested in activities, hobbies. Have even wondered if I could work once again for the first time in 8 years. I still do have a fear of going downhill once again as I have a long history of severe depression/suicides. I pray that I can remain as well as I feel now. Thanks to Viibryd."

• Ang...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 27, 2021

Vilazodone "I have been on a total of 10 antidepressants throughout my life. Viibryd is amazing and the only med that really helps me. It keeps me level and my depression at bay. If I miss a pill, I am depressed the next day. The 40 mg pill really upset my stomach every day. So the Dr. dropped me down to 20 mg. At one point, I was struggling, so he told me to take 40 mg until I was better. I took two 20 mg pills, it did not hurt my stomach. So I'm not sure what the difference is in the pills. If I miss a dose, when I start back, I also get a headache and upset stomach for 1 day. It does get rid of my sex drive. I don't even really ever think about it anymore. But the pay-off of not struggling mentally is completely worth it. It is super expensive, even with insurance. So my Dr. sends them a note letting them know I have tried 9 other meds, so this one is medically necessary. So insurance pays for it completely."

• DbL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2017

Vilazodone "Less than a week ago, I reviewed Viibryd. Called my doctor as I am so confused about this medication. She says give it at least 6 weeks to work, which is ridiculous. This medication has some good effects, doesn't cause sexual problems, I'm getting a lot done around the house, energetic, excellent concentration, but I'm a nervous wreck, sleep 2 hours at a time, horrible nightmares now about people ganging up on me, and I'm swearing at them in anger. Ruined my relationship with my adult daughter, and she cut me out of her life and my grandchildren's. I'm perfectly fine until I'm not, uncontrollable rage, suicidal feelings (won't act on them, I hope), cry, sob uncontrollably. Sopping wet with sweats/chills during my sleep, nasty to my husband. Stop or stay on?"

• Bir...
• May 30, 2017

Vilazodone "Been on a plethora of antidepressants most of my life. This one, by far, has been the worst. I had all of the negative side effects pretty intensely. Insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headaches, severe agitation, visual hallucinations, feeling like I was crawling out of my skin, sweats, and psychosis so bad to the point I blacked out and attacked my best friend physically. Thanks be to God my friend was there, and I'm not in jail! Just based on my personal experience, I think this drug needs to be tested out more thoroughly. I felt like a wretched guinea pig on it. I stopped the drug a few days ago... going through the horrible withdrawals now. The 'bath salts' of antidepressants!!!!!"

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2022

Vilazodone "The side effects I experienced while taking Viibryd overwhelmed the benefits. Six months prior to trying Viibryd, I had been on 150 mg of Effexor for two years, but its effectiveness plateaued, and the GI issues I had made it no longer a good fit. I started on 10 mg of Viibryd for three weeks, and initially, I felt more energized, less agitated, and slightly more upbeat, along with intestinal distress, headaches, and insomnia, which I expected for a short period. After three weeks, both the benefits and side effects waned, so I titrated up to 20 mg with stronger side effects plus anxiety, which started to increase as the medicine began to build up in my system. I had a non-stop headache, ridiculous insomnia, and worsening anxiety. I became so exhausted from never sleeping, and disappointingly, my depressive symptoms did not improve. I stopped taking Viibryd a week ago, but I continue to have insomnia and intestinal discomfort."

• hwh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2015

Vilazodone "I started this medication via a sample pack about two months ago. I went up to 20 mg. My doctor thought that I should stay on it longer even though I felt it was doing nothing for me. Now, after two months, I have started having lower abdominal pain, which turns into discomfort and pain again. My bowels are all over the chart from diarrhea to very slight constipation. There is no rhyme or reason. I also now have very uncomfortable bloating. I have a feeling of fullness in my lower abdomen, and had an ultrasound done by my OBGYN to see if I was having issues with my ovaries or uterus, and that came back clean and clear. I also have random nausea. Sometimes early in the day, other times later on at night."

• Sin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 17, 2015

Vilazodone "I think it works amazing, but I have been taking it for almost a year now, and I'm starting to gain a lot of water weight! I started out at 155, and now I am up to 183! This is huge for me! I'm going to request water pills to take this water weight off."

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2021

Vilazodone "I've been on Viibryd 10 mg for about 5 months in combination with Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I've been reading that this is a 'duplicate therapy,' meaning both drugs have almost identical side effects. I have horrible insomnia and a lot of anger. I was on Wellbutrin years ago and never had any problems. I believe discontinuing the Viibryd 10 mg altogether would be best. I felt a slight boost in my behavior during the first week, and that's it. I don't feel any better. Actually, just more 'blah.' Any thoughts/suggestions?"

• bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2016

Vilazodone "My doctor weaned me off of Fetzima and onto this drug from hell. The loose bowels are very annoying (I had two feet of my colon removed 8 years ago, so perhaps I am super-sensitive). I'll start taking Pepto Bismol or something, see if that helps. I have every side effect. I am mean, nasty, aggressive: you name it, I have it. The good side is I am sleeping much better than I have for 50 years, and I have a bit of energy, which I love. But my depression is hideous. Because I have had some improvement, the doctor says stay the course; I'll feel better in three more weeks. We shall see."

• dar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2019

Vilazodone "Viibryd was a horrible experience for me. I was on it for close to 2 months. I had migraines every day, nausea every day, hot flashes, cold sweats, and I gained 10 pounds in one month. It's been 2 months since I was taken off of it, and I'm still trying to rebalance my body from the physical chaos it brought me. Viibryd magnified my symptoms, and I was very suicidal to the point where I had to hospitalize myself. I have never experienced as many manic episodes as I had while taking this drug. I'm glad to be off of it."

• Soc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2019

Vilazodone "Viibryd, the first drug I've been on that actually did anything for my major depression. I'm a 24-year-old male that's pretty med-resistant, been on Prozac, Lexapro, Klonopin, Deplin, and many others that I've forgotten in my various psychiatric efforts since graduating high school. None of them did jack for me. At first, starting this, I couldn't sleep. If I ate really crappy food, my heart would be beating out of my chest, it felt. After moving up to 20 mg, I felt I started to make a breakthrough for the first time in my life. I was so happy and thought I had figured it out. Then I titrated back down and off the meds. Results lasted a couple weeks longer, and then the depression was back. Currently back on it at 40 mg in an effort to reclaim that sense of peace in my life again, taking longer this time around. Some side effects are that you need to take this at a consistent time every day, or your sleep will get all messed up. Also, side effect-wise, while on this at higher doses, it feels like it takes every cell in my body just to ejaculate."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2021

Vilazodone "I have had a great deal of stressors over the last 4 years. This has led to a diagnosis of MDD. I have taken many different depression/anxiety meds as well as trying a couple of mood stabilizers. Nothing has helped long term. I realized that most of these meds either don't change my depressive state or I become very depressed, lash out, and I'm suicidal. I haven't been on anything for about 6 months. Seeing a new doctor, and he suggested we try Viibryd and gave me a sample. WHAT A MISTAKE!!! I felt good the first day, then started becoming sad. Ended up lashing out at my husband and teenage kids by the evening of day 4. Day 5 was a nightmare day. Anger, depression, wanted to just leave my family, and felt very suicidal and self-harming. I was not able to work the following day. I stopped immediately. Although I am still agitated, I feel like today I could cry at the drop of a hat, but I'm not wanting to lash out or be suicidal. Worst med possible for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 6, 2021

Vilazodone "I have used nearly every SSRI made. I did well on some others, but constipation became too much of an issue. I started with Viibryd about 8 months ago, and it felt like a game changer. Slowly, I started to have symptoms of depression creeping in. As of today, I have cried nearly every day for over 4 weeks. I am in one of the worst depressive waves that I have ever been in for years and years. I think Viibryd starts out well but fizzles out."

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2021

Vilazodone "Two years ago, I was going through a really difficult time. I was too depressed to get out of bed, and I felt like I couldn’t get a full breath. A friend told me about her doctor and the “magic pill.” Obviously, I wasn’t believing that there was such a thing, but I made an appointment anyway, it couldn’t get any worse! At my appointment, the doctor gave me a trial pack that contained 10 mg and 25 mg. She said to start at 10 and then take the 25. I asked what they were and was told antidepressants. My heart hit the floor, and I felt like I was going to cry. Over my life, I had tried several types of antidepressants that only made me feel worse. I left my appointment and just forgot about the pills. One day, about a week later, I was feeling so bad that I decided to try half of a 10 mg. Within 30-40 minutes, I started feeling better-a lot better! Long story short, it saved my life. I haven’t had real depression since that day, for me, it was a magic pill!"

• Con...
• September 2, 2019

Vilazodone "Out of desperation, I gave this a try. All I can say is it is awful. I took my first 10 mg, and within 2 hours it hit my intestinal tract. The next day, the same thing happened with an added headache. Third, I decided it might be better to take it before bed, and I woke up at midnight, spending the next 4 hours off and on in the bathroom. I can't understand why the doctor prescribed this. So disappointed. No way I'm going to take another dose."

• bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2015

Vilazodone "Was on for 3 weeks, 10 mg, until the nightmares and sleep got so bad I had to stop. Was so bad I was having to take upwards of 1.5 mg of Klonopin just to sleep and still didn't seem to help at all. Seemed to help with anxiety, but the effects on my sleep were counteracting any help it was having for the anxiety. I've always had issues with my sleep, but this definitely made them worse. Seriously, the nightmares were intense and strange. Like dreams within dreams, gory sometimes, but almost always sad and frustrating. Might be the ticket for others, but not me. On Lamictal now and seem to be doing much better (after 2-year trials of all kinds of SSRIs and SNRIs that only helped a little in some ways or totally messed me up)."

• hea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 6, 2024

"Off medication, I have suffered from very bad depression and anxiety that is treatment resistant. I tried most of the other antidepressants out there over the past 30 years except MAOIs. Viibryd works amazingly well for me and as long as I take it with food there are no stomach side effects (there were in the beginning but not after the first month). I give it a 10/10 on effectiveness and side effects. I do have a complaint though. Brand name Viibryd? Perfect. However, my insurance won't cover it since generics are out and my pharmacy has switched my generic manufacturer of vilazodone at least 3 times randomly. Of course generics are supposed to be the exact same effectiveness and highly regulated but I believe I have noticed some small differences in how I feel on some of the generics but they have switched them so often, I can't even tell which one might be causing it. I strongly dislike how at least 2 of the generic versions are made in different countries. I need consistency."