Vilazodone and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Eni...
• August 27, 2018

Vilazodone for Depression "I was prescribed to try this Viibryd for my PMS, and I have my worst experience of side effects of all the medication I tried. It is not worth it, it gives you vivid, painful, terrifying nightmares, but to make it worse, you are half awake and can feel everything. I never ever experienced this kind of trauma, but it doesn't stop there, it makes you the worst version of yourself, anything negative. Your brain will overflow with negativity and will give you hallucinations, anxiety, all bad things in one package. I can go on and on, but it is just not kind nor humane to let someone try this medication and have them experience all of the side effects. Yes, it might work for other people, but to take that risk for the people who might have these terrible side effects is just unacceptable."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2023

Vilazodone for Depression "I was optimistic and wanted to love this medication. It, unfortunately, caused me to have profound side effects that I cannot attribute to anything else as I take no other medications and experienced no notable events to alter my psychiatric state. Experienced anxiety and mild depression which resulted in this prescription. Week 1: diarrhea, stomach cramps. Week 2: constipation and no notable mental changes. Week 3: believed that anxiety was easier to manage but still somewhat depressed mood. Inordinately sleepy. Week 4: unable to wake up in the morning with my daughter all week (normally wake with her daily without issue). Anxiety is better, but depression seems mild to more severe. I attributed it to poor sleep despite resting an excess amount of hours per night. Week 5: all comes to a head: weeks of feeling lethargic yet unrested, constipation for 8 days, one morning had a profound and uncharacteristic weeping spell. Nightmares. Next day worse weeping spell. I do not ordinarily cry. Stopped taking this medication."

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

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Unh...
• September 10, 2018

Vilazodone for Depression "Started on 10's, then 20's, then 40's, and the misery started. It made my depression worse, made me stay mad and very angry. The nightmares are unreal, out of this world. I was screaming for help and could not move, but I was awake and asleep. It gave me the hardest pounding heartbeat in my head I've ever felt. I'm afraid to go to sleep until this is out of my system. I don't think anyone should go through this misery. It makes me very jittery and have worse anxiety than I had. I don't see how anyone can take this terrible medicine."

• Unh...
• September 10, 2018

Vilazodone for Depression "Started on 10's, then 20's, then 40's, and the misery started. It made my depression worse, made me stay mad and very angry. The nightmares are unreal, out of this world. I was screaming for help and could not move, but I was awake and asleep. It gave me the hardest pounding heartbeat in my head I've ever felt. I'm afraid to go to sleep until this is out of my system. I don't think anyone should go through this misery. It makes me very jittery and have worse anxiety than I had. I don't see how anyone can take this terrible medicine."

• goo...
• November 12, 2018

Vilazodone for Depression "I was on Viibryd 20 mg and increased to 40 mg 5 months later because I wasn’t feeling better. The biggest mistake I made was to pass off my deepening depression as me just getting worse rather than seeing it as a side effect of the drug. I lived in fear. I was constantly terrified. I was afraid to leave my house, full of anxiety, panic attack after panic attack, unbelievable nightmares, heart palpitations, diarrhea, and brain zaps. Brain zap for me: It would get extremely loud in my head and build up. I would cover my ears and close my eyes. And wait for it to spike and ultimately end. I don’t know how else to describe it. I felt like I was spiraling down into becoming legitimately insane. I was sane enough to know my thoughts were not normal. I remember asking, “Am I going crazy? Could this have anything to do with the medicine?” Please do not take this drug. It is terrifying."

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

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Fai...
• January 5, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "I've been on this for two weeks. When I first started at 10, I had some digestive trouble, nothing bad, and I had some lethargy and brain fuzziness. By day three, I noticed my anxiety increasing and constant dull headaches. Day 5, I felt better. Day 7, I got nausea and slight diarrhea. Days 8, 9, and 10, I was physically better but more easily agitated. Day twelve, bad nausea and diarrhea for 10 hours. No pill today, just not for me. Still have the headaches throughout!"

• kat...
• November 15, 2015

Vilazodone for Depression "I had terrible insomnia on Viibryd. Awful. Whole nights spent wired. It made me so anxious that I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. Brain zaps, headaches, etc. I tried for several weeks, but the symptoms got worse, not better. Did not work for me at all."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "Took it for 3 months on 20 mg. Was foggy since day 1, anxiety was through the roof, panic attacks, derealization, reality was dreamlike, vision highly affected, everything seemed darker, hypersensitivity to light and sound, constipation, racing negative thoughts. I did not like this drug at all."

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

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• jes...
• November 1, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "Diarrhea only lasted a day. I was pleasantly surprised how fast Viibryd began working. I felt so much better not even five days into taking it, which NEVER happens with me! I thought I had finally found a medication that worked after six years. About two months into taking it, I had gained about ten pounds, my vision had gotten worse, my sex drive had gone from being very, very high to literally NOTHING (it took three months after I stopped taking it for it to return), and my depression and anxiety were back in full swing. It wasn't normal depression where everything is just boring and you're lethargic and whatnot, it was the angry, scary, unpredictable depression I've only experienced from bad reactions to other medication in the past."

• Pon...
• July 24, 2015

Vilazodone for Depression "This medicine almost killed me. Symptoms worst at 40 mg but there earlier. I ended up in the ER twice and was admitted to the hospital for days after a month with uncontrollable diarrhea, vomiting, and the worst abdominal cramps I've ever had before anyone realized it was the Viibryd. I pass kidney stones regularly, so I have a super high pain tolerance, and the lower abdominal pain from Viibryd was as bad, if not worse, than that. I had uncontrollable leg and body spasms, and agitation and anxiety through the roof. Tapering off the stuff ended up being just as bad, every time I took the tapered dose, I felt like I was taking poison, and I would go into convulsions. Less serious side effects including eye pain, odd vaginal discharge."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2019

For Anxiety "I was switched to Viibryd 20 mg. My depression had decreased significantly, but I was still anxious. After 1 month, my doctor updated the dosage to 40 mg, and after only 10 days, my anxiety turned to panic attacks and nightmares. Because my anxiety had increased, my depression started showing up again. Talking to my doctor now to switch off of this medication."

• Twi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2019

For Anxiety "I was on Lexapro for 4 weeks and found the sexual side effects and low energy levels to be too much. Doctor switched me to VIIBRYD with two sample packs. I weaned off Lexapro with half a dose for 1 week, while simultaneously taking VIIBRYD. Had diarrhea for the first week off and on. Within 8-9 days, my thumb started to have involuntary twitching. That lasted 3-4 days, then muscles throughout my body started to twitch once per 20 to 60 seconds. When I go to bed, I get jerks that make it hard to actually fall asleep. Dreams are abnormal and distressing. Although I have had periods of feeling normal again, I have also had two panic attacks (rare for me), and generally speaking, my anxiety has gotten worse. On day 23 now. Hoping things begin to calm down soon."

• Cca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2019

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "Absolutely the worst experience I’ve had with an SSRI, and I’ve been taking them for 6 years. Unbearable paranoia, anxiety, and side effects. Heart palpitations, obsessive thoughts, and insomnia. At 10 mg, I noticed side effects, but not as bad, but at 20 mg, I experienced the worst panic attacks of my life after not having them for months, along with the others listed. I will give this medicine credit for helping my depression, it has done great in that regard. But the anxiety and paranoia have been too much to handle. Telling my doctor to take me off of it tomorrow."

• jay...
• March 2, 2017

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "Absolutely horrible experience. I would wake up every night at three, having an anxiety attack thinking I was dying. Several nights, I experienced strange, vivid dreams. My depression and anxiety increased immensely, and suicidal ideation set in hardcore. Beware of withdrawals! I have never had so much anger and rage in my life. Even after two weeks, still making my depression worse, as well as anxiety. Do not take this drug."

• amb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 24, 2015

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "I created an account to solely rate this medicine. The medications that my general doctor were prescribing weren't doing the trick, so I was sent to a psychiatrist who gave me Viibryd. My insurance didn't cover much, I had to pay $80 for one month of dosage. At that point in my life, I was so desperate, and it felt like I was running out of options, so I gave it a try. I was on Viibryd for about 6 months with absolutely no change. I was irritated all the time, my anxiety flew off the charts. The doctor told me to try to stick with it. Finally, one day I quit cold turkey and felt no side effects, no withdrawals. It's good to see some positive reviews from others, though!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "Really wanted this to work, and I stuck it out through the first month. However, this medicine caused my blood pressure to stay elevated. I also experienced worsening anxiety and did not sleep more than one or two hours at a time. By the end of the first month, I felt like I was worse off than before as far as anxiety, blood pressure, and sleeplessness. That's just my experience, though."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "I had a bad experience with this. I felt dizzy, very anxious, and only slept 5-6 hours a night. I took it for 2 weeks and today called my doctor to share this. This medicine is not for me and made my depression/anxiety worse."

• Xxx...
• July 4, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "Before taking Viibryd, I was on Lexapro for a year. I experienced severe withdrawals while transitioning medication. Electric jolts, severe headaches, extreme anxiety, extreme aggression, paranoia. Then, once the Viibryd started working, everything stopped. I feel good, 40 mg works best for me. I am bipolar, this drug has helped a great deal with severe mood swings. I hope it continues to work for me."

• Gul...
• November 19, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "After changing from a Viibryd dose from 10 mg to 20 milligrams, my side effects are severe. Extremely detailed dreams, tiredness, anxiety, nausea, headaches, chills, muscle stiffness, short-tempered, dizziness, overall awful feeling. Happened both times I tried to increase from 10 mg to 20 mg."

• Sou...
• August 7, 2017

Vilazodone for Depression "I was on Viibryd for just about a year, the first 8 months were wonderful, with issues of exhaustion here and there. Then, the last few months I was on it, my anxiety became so unmanageable. After stopping Viibryd, I had little withdrawals, thank the good Lord, because I have missed a dose of Viibryd before, and the nightmares are god-awful. I'm really hoping to find a happy medium with medication, it's been an ongoing battle of finding something that works for almost 5 years now."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 12, 2016

Vilazodone for Depression "I have mixed feelings about Viibryd. I'm switching off of it now, after about a year on it. I found that it did help, but it seemed to make me more anxious at first. I didn't have any other side effects. After being on it for a while, I noticed if I was even a couple hours late on my dose, I would be a complete mess-crying, panicking, just feeling terrible. I've never had such a strong reaction to just being late on taking a medication. I'm not even talking about missing a full day. This is the main reason why I wanted to get off of Viibryd. I stayed on it for fear of withdrawal symptoms, and my depression and anxiety worsened. Currently taking Celexa, and today is my first day with no Viibryd."

• abb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2018

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "This drug was horrible for me. After taking Prozac for 3 years and building a tolerance to it, I needed a change. So my doctor suggested Viibryd, which sounded great. Immediately after starting it, I had horrible stomach aches every single day. After only 3 days on this drug, I spent 2 days uncontrollably vomiting, and having diarrhea for the whole entire next week. My lips would bruise, and my arms and legs would get random bruises. I got terrible headaches, and my mind always felt foggy. My anxiety seemed worse, and my depression was hardly any better. It took me hours to fall asleep at night, only to wake up repeatedly throughout the night. After about 3 weeks on the drug, my doctor agreed to switch. I would not recommend it."