Vilazodone and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Len...
• November 16, 2015

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "The only reason I gave it a 9 is because I can tell immediately if I miss a dose, because it is as if my depression returns full fold, as far as crying, irritability, anger, and deep sadness. I use something else - Wellbutrin & Xanax bid for my anxiety. I have been on many antidepressants and have dealt with PTSD and MDD since dx when 19. Probably had it prior, but I was dx when I got to college, because I was an A student who could not function. I tried this because my alternating Lexapro and Celexa (not at the same time) was no longer working, and I am so happy that my NP found it. I had some tummy issues at first, but they were gone after the first three weeks, and I already have insomnia, so that has not changed. I am the young me again."

• Jam...
• September 14, 2017

Vilazodone for Depression "I have taken many antidepressants over the past 20 years (Lexapro, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Remeron), and Viibryd is the best I have taken. I loved Lexapro and took it for 15 years before it finally lost its effectiveness, and I didn't think I'd find anything better, but Viibryd is as good as Lexapro for me without the negative side sexual effects. The one caveat is that, unlike the previous SSRIs, I have to take Viibryd in the morning rather than at night, or I get terrible insomnia. With my dose in the morning, I now have literally no noticeable side effects, and my mood, motivation, and motivation for things are all elevated. Like any antidepressant, there are negative side effects the first 2-4 weeks, but those go away, so hang in there!"

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2014

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "Was diagnosed with clinical/major depressive disorder when I was a teen. I am now approaching 60 and have battled this all of my life. I had very good luck with Cymbalta starting in 2006, but within the past year, the Cymbalta (120 mg/day) lost effectiveness, and I had several serious depressive down cycles. My therapist put me on Viibryd (after trying some others) about 2 months ago. I have suffered the previously mentioned side effects: diarrhea, restless legs, vivid dreams, some insomnia, but I feel much better mentally. My biggest problem has been in weaning myself off of the Cymbalta. Still on 20 mg a day, and halving that on a weekly basis. Terrible withdrawal from Cymbalta!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "25-year-old male. By far the best antidepressant I've been on. Initially, I had a little trouble with insomnia, but it went away after a couple of weeks. I also had trouble finding the best time of day to take it. After trying both in the evening and morning, I came to the conclusion that it's best taken in the morning. Other than insomnia, I have experienced no other side effects. Additionally, my libido has increased substantially, an added bonus. My father has also started Viibryd due to my positive experience. I would definitely recommend this medicine to others."

• PDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2019

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "I started taking Viibryd after I had the gene test. I was on Viibryd 10 mg for about 3.5 weeks, didn't make it to 20 mg. It helped with the depression, but I never had such bad side effects on any other antidepressants. Daily diarrhea, bloating, gas, stomach pain, and some shaking. Sexual side effects were negligible, which was the only upside. But the insomnia was the worst. I was just never tired. I was taking melatonin and even Benadryl to sleep, which gave me a couple hours a night. Don't stick with it too long if you have bad side effects because I don't think they go away. No wonder I never heard of this drug before!"

• Cra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "The first 3 months on Viibryd were great, I was on 20 mg. Had a lot of energy and felt like my old self again, then I took a turn downward. So they upped the medicine to 40 mg, and I had the worst side effects possible. Heart pounding and palpitations, panic attacks, bad diarrhea, sleep deprivation, crying, shaking, loss of appetite, bad nightmares, so they took me down to 20 mg but added Buspar. I have been on other antidepressants and never had such bad side effects... I still have diarrhea and nervousness."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "Giving it a 10 after only 3 days might sound odd, but compared to other meds I have been on, it's a 10. I was on Lexapro 20 mg and Wellbutrin for a year and a half. Stopped the meds cold turkey for a year. (Not a smart move.) I had no feelings at all, and I looked physically off. I had the distant look in my eyes all the time. Plus, I gained 40 lbs over the course of these 2 1/2 years. So, I finally go to a new doctor and explain my feelings, and he says I have SMD and anxiety. He mentioned this Viibryd. Day 1, I had that upset stomach feeling at night, had a hard time sleeping, same thing with Day 2. Today is day 3, and I feel awesome, slept well, and woke before my alarm. I love this. Can't wait to see what the future holds."

• cos...
• June 17, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "Got up to 40 grams of Viibryd and finally started to feel good! (Been on many antidepressants over the past 35 years). Last week I had the worst, scariest breakdown, almost uncontrollable anger, sobbing, insomnia, and extreme fatigue, body aches, and my nerve pain was off the chart. Today my doctor reduced Viibryd to 20, hoping that will stabilize me, along with my Buspar and Xanax. Now let's see what this week brings. Oh, I also have multiple sclerosis, diabetes, heart issues, and arthritis."

• Jtr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2020

Vilazodone for Depression "I took Paxil for years and felt like it wasn’t working for me anymore. My doctor switched me to Viibryd, I took it for a few weeks at 10 mg. I had unpleasant side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, headaches, insomnia, and increased anxiety. She switched me to Lexapro, and I feel a million times better. No side effects at all! This may work for some people, but it definitely did not for me!"

• Eva...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 26, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "Like most of you, I have been on almost every medication to date. They work a few months and stop, so I gave up about 8 years ago and just dealt with it all. I told my doctor I needed something for depression and anxiety. He put me on Viibryd, and I slowly built my way up to 40 mg, which I'm still on to date. This is the first medication that has ever worked for this long of a period for me. And as far as being depressed, that is long gone. I have a lot of trouble sleeping, and when you do miss a dose, you can expect a super crazy dream that night. I'm a very moody person, and they have seemed to control my outbursts and keep me calm. As for sexual side effects, I have not noticed an increase or decrease. I have put on at least 10 extra lbs from it also. I'm very satisfied with the results and would give this medicine a 10-star rating."

• man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2019

For Anxiety "Started out on a trial pack of vilazodone 10 mg the first week, 20 mg the second week until insurance approved coverage. Most noticeable side effects were: feeling sick, diarrhea, having to urinate more often, agitation/anger, worse memory, and I occasionally had sleep issues on it. These side effects for me amplified when moving on to the 20 mg. I'd recommend anyone considering this medication to really review other options. While on this medication, even for just a short while, I've developed trust issues with others and anger that I never displayed while not on this medication. It did seem to help my anxiety symptoms for about the first week (could completely be a placebo effect), but since my anxiety has only gotten worse and, in turn, has made my depression come back. However, this is just my experience, many others have had different positive experiences, and you could too."

• Nur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 29, 2016

Vilazodone for Depression "Been taking Viibryd for 2 years now. Was only on 10 mg the first few weeks: nausea and loose, frequent stools. Each week the symptoms lessen, and I could feel the benefits. I was happy and relaxed, no decrease in sex drive, and didn't have any of the side effects that I could notice (chronic back pain, GI issues, and difficulty sleeping my whole life). My doctor gives me samples and coupons when he can, but it is extremely expensive."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "I was given a starter pack for Viibryd for anxiety disorder/depression. The 1st week was awful, with my depression ramping up, but I figured that was normal. Then I started to take the 20 mg. It was the most horrible experience I have had on an antidepressant medication. If you suffer from just depression, this may work for you, but my diagnosis is anxiety and depression. I started to have panic attacks, which I hadn't had in years. I also had diarrhea, dry mouth, and the worst part was the insomnia. I just couldn't sleep for 2 weeks. I did try over-the-counter sleep meds with no relief. I personally will NEVER take this medication again."

• Ano...
• September 1, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "I began taking Viibryd 10 mg 3 months ago. Quickly began having stomach pain, worsening of insomnia, and diarrhea. Couldn't go up to 20 mg because of worsening side effects. Today, Sept. 1, I took it and again, having uncontrollable diarrhea. Seeing my doctor on the third and am going to ask for something else. All of the SSRIs and SNRIs have affected my GI tract but not as bad as this one. Lifelong history of depression and anxiety. Searching for the right antidepressant for over 20 years."

• fem...
• June 6, 2017

Vilazodone for Depression "Side effects: heart palpitations and pounding, insomnia, numb hands, 24/7 panic attack even in my home lying in bed, fearful of getting out of bed, leaving the house. Frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain. Auditory hallucinations. Had to stop, not even remotely tolerable. I got tested by 'Assurex Health' Genesight testing, which showed this to be on my 'green' list. I see that they billed my insurance $6,224.00, and my responsibility is $1,300.00, but I was told there was some sliding scale, so we'll see. They're making a killing on these tests, and I'm afraid to try anything else on their green list since they're all newer drugs, all costing in the range of $250 to $400, seems like there is something going on that doesn't benefit patients/victims."

• Shk...
• January 3, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "I like this medicine, but after reading some reviews, I have confirmed some things. First, I am experiencing insomnia and worsening of my restless legs. Second, the constant sweet cravings and never feeling satisfied after I eat is annoying. I have had about a 4-5 lbs. weight gain. It is like someone takes over, and I just eat. I have no impulse control. Third, the gas and bloating are awful. I am fine in the morning, but as soon as I start eating, I start bloating and developing gas. I cannot expel it, and it makes me so uncomfortable. It has worked some to level out my depression, but I am contemplating weaning off for now."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2020

Vilazodone "Sadly, for me, Viibryd was the worst experience I've had with an antidepressant. I suffer from generalized anxiety disorder with social phobia and had a small depression the last few months. I've used in the past, Effexor, Celexa, Cymbalta, Paxil, Zoloft, to name a few, but Viibryd got me very sick. I started at 10 mg for 2 weeks, then went up to 20 mg for 4 weeks, then 30 mg for 2 weeks before going to 40 mg, but I felt agitated, nervous, had trouble breathing, was sweating a lot, was able to sleep only 4 hours per night, I even began to be aggressive, which I am not normally. My eyesight was decreasing. I had stomach problems. So my doctor stopped Viibryd by decreasing it, and I am now at 10 mg and feel much better. I will be done with this drug in a few days and I will take Zoloft again since I had no side effects from that with it plus I will start Elavil. Wish me luck!"

• Bas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2015

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "Positive response within a week. 20 mg was sufficient during the spring and summer seasons. Sexual side effects are minimal and virtually disappear once used to the medication after the last dose increase. Insomnia at first, but with time this side effect has gone away. Very satisfied."

• Anonymous
• December 28, 2011

Vilazodone for Depression "Started Viibryd 6 months ago. Took nearly eight weeks to become used to it! Significant stomach upset every day 30 mins after taking with or without food. Had to take it at night after work. Would not have been able to function if I took it during the day! Trouble sleeping after you awake in the middle of the night. Most of this finally subsided after about 8 weeks. Boy, you really have to be motivated to stick with this medication through the 'adjustment' period! Also became sometimes irrationally irritable and argumentative. Totally unlike me. It has only helped my anxiety. Unfortunately, it has exacerbated my depression to a point that it is affecting my life at home and work."

• NWA...
• January 15, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "I had been on Lexapro/Celexa/Citalopram for the past 10 years (maybe a couple more), and it was fabulous! About a year and a half ago, it stopped working for me. I had tried Wellbutrin before the L/C/C, and it was horrible for me - like wanting to hide in a corner under a desk, paranoia! My doctor suggested Viibryd after the L/C/C stopped working, and so far, so good. I can't attest to the GI problems, and I don't know if I have the nighttime issues (I sleep like a log and am single, so no one is there to tell me what is going on while I'm sleeping). I do have sleep issues, but not related to Viibryd. I have found that the Viibryd doesn't help with anxiety/anger issues, so the doctor suggested adding L-Theanine, and that helps tons!"

• DSh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "At first, I thought this medicine was working. I've been on every antidepressant known to man. Nothing ever worked. So my doctor gave me a sample pack. When I hit the 40 mg mark, I started having the 'brain zaps.' They are very real. Very frightening. One night I thought I was having a seizure in my sleep from so many zaps. My husband has to hold me down when I finally do fall asleep because my body is constantly moving. The problem is that I've been taking the 40 mg for a month and am now just realizing the cause of my 'brain zaps' and lack of sleep. So now I have to wean myself off of this drug from the devil himself. I would NEVER EVER recommend this drug to anyone. Nothing good came from it. Nothing at all."

• b3b...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "I developed serotonin syndrome. Diarrhea (to the point of leaking), drowsiness, increased body temperature, very blurry vision, looked & felt drunk, bloating, weight gain, dry eyes, red bumps on face, feverish, felt like I was getting the flu, gas, heartburn, craved sweets, no concentration or focus, forgetful, clumsy, insomnia, etc. Four symptoms showed up during the first week on 10 mg, the rest showed up during the second week (20 mg). I've been on many antidepressants over the past 17 years (Zoloft, Effexor, Lexapro & Wellbutrin XR worked the best), but they would all eventually lose their effect. The only other time I've ever felt this bad in relation to a medicine was when I was going off of Lexapro. Viibryd is a 'no' for me!!"

• Sco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2015

Vilazodone for Depression "Got the typical starter pack. One week at 10 mg - noticeable antidepressant effect, side effects of diarrhea and weird dreams. One week at 20 mg - suddenly had tons of energy. Found myself getting lots of housework done, starting up projects I had been putting off for months, but no true enjoyment of things I loved. Diarrhea remained, some insomnia started. Five weeks at 40 mg - energy remained good at first, wasn't depressed but wasn't happy either. Just became numb like with all other SSRIs I've tried. Diarrhea persisted. Had trouble getting up each morning and felt foggy all day but still had energy to get things done. No libido. Anhedonia persisted. Not the right drug for me."

• Von...
• August 12, 2015

Vilazodone for Depression "I've been on 40 mg Viibryd for 8 months. Not too many side effects, e.g., no dry mouth, no nightmares, no high anxieties. A little insomnia requiring Benadryl. I had severe diarrhea until about a week ago, but it was semi-controllable with Imodium. I feel functional but still have 2-3 day periods of depression which are difficult to wade through, so it has not kept me completely stable. Missing 1 dose sends me way down within 2 days, change is very abrupt, so I know the drug is working. Day-to-day energy level only so-so on Viibryd, but I think my logical thinking has improved and words are not as difficult to find as when I was on other meds. This is huge for me. I'd like a little more stability, but for now the pluses outweigh the negatives for Viibryd."

• Ell...
• July 23, 2017

Vilazodone for Depression "After having poor results with several antidepressants, I started Viibryd. I only need 5-10 mg to feel a profound result. I eat really clean and exercise every day, so that may be part of why I need less. My doctor actually became emotional when he said he thought this was the right drug. I was suicidal, and getting up in the morning was a monumental task. I couldn't focus on my family, and social anxiety was high. I prayed that my body could adjust, and it has. When I occasionally up my dose, I have severe diarrhea, but I just take an OTC to treat it. Insomnia was a problem at first, but no longer is. I don't feel totally like myself, a little drugged, and my short-term memory is very challenged. But it's worth it. I can function fully now."