Vilazodone and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 5)

• NO ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "This medicine upset the last two months of my life. I kept telling my doctor it was not working. He told me to keep trying it. I continuously had diarrhea for two months, sometimes having accidents. Sometimes my stools were bloody in nature, and I went to see my regular doctor to see if something else was wrong with me and found out it was a side effect of Viibryd. I was extremely irritated at the time of day I would take my dose, and a side effect is anger. I lost great friendships with family and friends because I became angry. I am depressed and usually very mellow. For the first time in my life, I was suicidal while on this medicine. Going off the medicine, the withdrawals led to an itchiness of my skin all over my entire body. No more Viibryd!"

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

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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 for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Sum...
• July 7, 2025

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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!"

• Ell...
• January 9, 2020

Vilazodone for Depression "I had only been on the medication for 2 and a half weeks. I started feeling like I was zoning out all of the time, and I was either throwing up or having diarrhea every morning when I started taking it. Once I got through the 10 mg trial, I started taking 20 mg. I started having issues standing for long periods. Still vomiting and still had diarrhea. Last night, I went to the hospital and was told I have tachycardia, and I couldn't stop throwing up. I couldn't sleep. I really feel like this is the worst SSRI I have ever had."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "Had diarrhea for a few days, but I was expecting it. I'm now up to 20 mg. I think I like it so far. It's hard to tell. Has anybody experienced restless legs with this? My legs drive me crazy at night, and they itch!"

• Aly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "I have been on this medication, Viibryd, for 2 weeks now. My depression is feeling a bit better, but nothing crazy good so far. I have not felt nauseous or had diarrhea, however, I’m having a very hard time climaxing while having intercourse with my boyfriend, and it’s causing a lot of frustration between the both of us. Not sure if anyone else is feeling this effect. I have the desire to have intercourse, but things that would have gotten me to climax before taking the medication are not getting me close at all at this point. Doctor recommends waiting another 2 weeks, but I’m afraid I will have to switch to something else that makes it worse. Now I’m having more anxiety due to my boyfriend and me both being frustrated about me climaxing. Ughhh, really stressful."

• Mom...
• June 16, 2017

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 14, 2016

Vilazodone for Depression "I've been on Viibryd for a year now. Startup symptoms were upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea. I got to about 10 mg for a week and couldn't handle the nausea, so I backed off to about 5 mg. I had a good improvement, and nausea went away. Tried to go back up to 10 mg, and by the 4th day, I had the same results. Keep in mind antidepressants are very powerful. I had improvement from just 5 mg. My doc wrote me a script for 20 mg, and I cut those into 4. I still have days where I don't feel well, but it has decreased my depression symptoms and panic attacks with minimal side effects. I gained a little weight, about 7 lbs. No sexual side effects. Has to be taken with food."

• Ave...
• December 27, 2011

Vilazodone for Depression "I only gave Viibryd a 5 out of 10 due to one thing: diarrhea. If it wasn't for that, I would still be taking it. It was a hit-and-miss thing for me. I would go over a week and be fine, and then week after week I would have diarrhea at around 2-3 times a week. Tried it with food and after food and didn't seem to help. Don't get me wrong, I can deal with a little diarrhea, but this was insane diarrhea with bad stomach cramps. Took it around 6 months and weaned myself off it. Would not recommend quitting cold turkey. Even weaning myself off at 20 mg made me really irritable for about 2 weeks."

• Byo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2023

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Never had much relief with SSRIs, but my doctor spoke very highly about this drug. I was motivated to try it out. I had the common side effects like diarrhea and nightmares on 10 mg. As soon as I upped it to 20 mg, I got debilitating migraines and more anxiety. Lowered it back to 10 mg and feel super anxious and low. I’m getting intrusive thoughts about things I thought I had under control years ago. Definitely want to go back on an SNRI or an antipsychotic, I had felt better on those but had sexual dysfunction. I don’t care at this point, I just want some relief."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Bir...
• May 30, 2017

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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!!!!!"

• Whi...
• April 16, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "I've struggled over 10+ years with anxiety. After being on almost 10 different medications that didn't work, my doctor prescribed me Viibryd last week. I have a constant upset stomach, mostly diarrhea and excessive gas. I feel less anxious with this medication, but I'm scared these side effects won't go away. I'm a full-time mom and nursing student and cannot constantly stay in a bathroom. Has anyone had this experience, and did it go away after time?"

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

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• 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."

• joe...
• July 24, 2017

Vilazodone for Depression "The first 3 weeks on Viibryd has little to no side effects. Starting on the 4th week, all the side effects came in all at once. Insomnia, swelling, joint pain, diarrhea, dizziness, dark thoughts, nightmares, and mood swings. Saw my doctor, and she told me to stop taking it immediately. This medication is definitely not for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "It worked when nothing in the past had. No real side effects, I did have some diarrhea, but it subsided in a day or two. Plus, I'm a girl, and I usually have the opposite problem, so it didn't bother me."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2022

Vilazodone for Depression "Horrible experience, to say the least. I took my first dose (10 mg), and within 30 minutes, I became incredibly nauseous, but it was manageable. Around midnight, the nausea became worse, and I was up all night violently vomiting with diarrhea until 6 a.m. consistently and still throughout the entire next day. The next day, I was still having issues with dizziness, diarrhea, and just feeling very off! I'm very sensitive to medications, so be aware if you are as well. I won't be taking this medication anymore as two days with my head in the toilet was enough for me."

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

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Anonymous
• October 18, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "On day 1 of Viibryd, I felt sick (i.e., diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps). The benefits definitely outweigh the cons. My depression and anxiety have decreased significantly. I'll be hitting week 3 (40 mg) of Viibryd, and I feel so much better. I don't think negatively anymore or feel too sensitive about certain topics. I finally feel normal again because I have been battling my depression. I will continue using Viibryd."

• 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
• December 2, 2011

Vilazodone for Depression "My husband has been taking this for depression and anxiety for a little over 3 weeks now... up to 40 mg. The only negative is the diarrhea and nausea. This is extreme at the present. The good thing is that he does feel better mentally and there are no sexual side effects (as it was with Zoloft). I am hoping the negative side effects go away soon."