Vilazodone and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "I have only just begun taking Viibryd, and after one pill, I already notice a difference. Love it. My doctor has always directed me to take my antidepressants at night for one of the biggest side effects is drowsiness. I did have a little bit of a hard time falling asleep. I was taking 200 mg Zoloft for about 2 years, and it just pooped out. I haven't had any side effects yet. I'm very hopeful for this antidepressant. Although I did have one side effect, my muscles feel like I ran a country mile. I'm hoping this gets better as I adjust to taking higher doses."

• em3...
• December 24, 2017

For Anxiety "I started the sample pack at 10 mg and didn't feel much of a difference until 20 mg, which is when I felt it kick in. However, after about 2-3 days, I experienced horrible headaches and jolts, insomnia, and increased anxiety and depersonalization. I HATE IT. I am talking to my therapist as we speak about switching it off, however, I have read an increase helps or waiting 6-8 weeks after starting does too but am too anxious to do that and am wanting to start a new one."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2021

Vilazodone for Depression "I've been on Viibryd for depression, anxiety, and panic attacks for almost 6 weeks (started on 10 mg for 2 weeks, then went up to 20 mg). So far, my experience has been good. Every week, I slowly noticed myself feeling a little better. Now, looking back, I used to have multiple panic attacks a day, and now I have maybe a few a week, tops. My goal is to have less than this, but this is still a big improvement for me! My depression is also not 100%, but it is a lot better. I've tried multiple medications, and this one is the best with the least side effects. The only side effects I noticed were increased anxiety at the beginning, which went away after a few days. I also had insomnia in the beginning, which seems to have gotten a lot better. No weight gain or low sex drive. Life isn't sunshine and rainbows on Viibryd. I still have hard days and I still get anxious, but I feel like the medicine is doing what it is supposed to do! I'll definitely be staying on it and continuing to do therapy and self-care."

• Isc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2021

Vilazodone for Depression "I was taking Viibryd for 3 weeks and stopped because of the horrible insomnia. Sleeping pills that normally could put me to sleep-trazodone, Ambien-didn't work for me at all. The worst thing is that now, almost one month after stopping the medication, my insomnia is still very bad. On some nights, I can go to sleep with trazodone. On other nights, I can't fall asleep even after 10 mg Ambien. I feel that Viibryd somehow totally destroyed my sleep/wake cycle. Surprisingly, the only thing that works for me are herbal supplements: valerian root and CBD. But they leave me very groggy the next day. Viibryd is probably the worst medication I ever tried."

• cmt...
• January 5, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "Started my dose 7 days ago. The first three days were fantastic, and by day 4, I felt as normal as I have in two years. Now, I am having the racing thoughts, electrical zaps, and insomnia. I was struck with some strange illness 2 years ago that no doctor has yet to explain. My neurological symptoms of the illness have been a challenge at best (constant muscle twitches, head fog, stinging sensations, lack of coordination, sleeplessness, etc.). Well, all of this took a toll on me emotionally as a man. I have 4 children, a wife, and three businesses. I was put on Zoloft 2 years ago and stayed on it for 6 months, but the sexual side effects and the nausea were too much at the higher doses. Hope I can get through the break-in period, and this works."

• pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "10-20 mg start pack: Day 2, I had a random muscle twitch in my upper outside thigh (gone now). In addition to depression, I also normally have anxiety, which I believe the medicine is making worse. My jaws tighten, and I feel as if I have non-stop TMJ. The pain is so sharp in my left jaw that it wakes me up at night. Also, intermittent ringing in my ears. I regularly have to relax/reposition my jaws due to the pain and tightening. I have strange stools-not diarrhea but soft and textured. Insomnia is bad. I can get to sleep quickly but wake up at the slightest sound and have trouble getting back to sleep. Constant dull headache. Just went up to 20 mg and will see what happens. It's day 8, I'm more anxious and still depressed. No improvement."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2017

Vilazodone for Depression "This was the worst, made the worst choice in trying this new pill. In one month, I did the change slowly. I have bad headaches, I can't sleep, I have the worst taste in my mouth, ringing in my ears, very moody, and crying all the time. We don't smoke, and all I smell no matter where I go is old ashtrays. Never again, so back on my Lexapro. Don't try this, it's not worth it."

• Abb...
• March 13, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "I have been on the Viibryd for a month. I have had nothing. I feel no different than before I started. No side effects and no change. Recently, I have been on the 40 mg for 2 weeks now, and I cannot sleep, and I wake up soaked in sweat. This is my first attempt at an antidepressant, so maybe it is not the right one for me."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2021

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "The medicine helps a lot and works really well, but this medicine constipates me really, really bad, like to a point where I’ll go 4-5 days without a bowel movement, and the only times I could poop were when I took stool softeners and laxatives. I’ve been off of it a month or two now, and I feel like it's ruined my whole digestive tract for good. I’m on the same medications I was before I started the Viibryd, and I was having no issues using the restroom, and now, even though I’ve stopped taking it, my digestive tract is still messed up. My doctor said that it’s an unusual side effect and rarely does anyone say anything about it. It also made my insomnia worse, I take sleep medicine, and it kept me awake even with the sleep medicine."

• Ban...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 15, 2017

Vilazodone for Depression "After trying several other medications, Viibryd does help with my depression. Unfortunately, I have had many side effects including insomnia, vivid abnormal dreams, night sweats, and numbness in my hands. I have been taking 20 milligrams a day for almost a year. My depression has started to increase, and I am hesitant to increase the Viibryd to 40 milligrams a day because I am afraid the side effects will get worse. The drug manufacturer offers a very good rebate program on their website. I get a $100 refund from them each month, so my cost is only $115 per month."

• Mel...
• November 22, 2011

Vilazodone "I have been taking Viibryd for about a week now, and so far can't tell a lot besides not sleeping and having night sweats only on the 10 mg. So far, not sure if it's right for me or not. I have taken everything, and the only thing that has worked for me is Lexapro, and I was on 10 mg for a year, then was on 20 mg for another year, but just wasn't working anymore, so I am going to give Viibryd a good shot before quitting. Think I will start taking it in the morning and see how that goes."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2018

For Depression "I've been taking vilazodone for about 15 days. At first, my doctor wanted me to start with 10 mg and head up to 20 mg in about 10 days. I'm very sensitive to medication. No other antidepressants have been effective for me. When I started with the 10 mg, I had some side effects like other antidepressants, mostly anxiety and feeling a little bit worse. So we agreed with my doctor to go down to 5 mg. And see what happens from there on. Well, since I'm so sensitive to medication, the 5 mg is doing very well. I feel very calm with more energy, no anxiety, and very much in control of myself. It does cause a little insomnia, but that's solved with a 0.25 mg clonazepam at night. For me, this is the first antidepressant that has given me such good results. My doctor told me that if I have to stay with the 5 mg dose and it's good enough for me, there is no problem to continue that way. Very nice to read all the experiences, very helpful thanks to all of you."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2021

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "I had been taking Nafazadone for 20 plus years, and it worked great. It was taken off the market, and my doctor switched me to Viibryd. I’ve had so many side effects, including light/sound sensitivity, insomnia, anxiety, loss of sexual interest, and loss of smell. In fact, the only thing I smell is burning diesel. I’ve done 20 mg for almost three months and can’t stand it any longer. Any suggestions would be welcomed."

• Fla...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 8, 2021

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on Viibryd for almost 2 years. My mood swings are extreme. I start crying and can't stop. I start laughing and can't stop. I laugh at things I shouldn't laugh at. My insomnia is terrible. I get anywhere from 1-4 hours of sleep a night, which causes headaches from lack of sleep. I have recently developed muscle pain and severe joint pain. My heart rate is high, and my blood pressure has gone up. Nightmares are really bad and scary. My brain is in a fog, and memory loss is extreme. I'm not sure if this tinnitus is a result of the drug, but I never had it before taking it. It has been the most effective drug so far, but the side effects that I am experiencing now are not worth it. I do not and haven't had any of the digestive issues I've read about. I've been on several different medications for 40 years and hospitalized twice. I am going to wean myself off Viibryd. I need to find another drug that will work. My doctor retired, so I have to find another."

• Isc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2021

For Depression "I had vilazodone prescribed for depression. The good: eased my emotional pain. The bad: my sleep became gradually worse as I started viibryd, and, after three weeks, I could not fall asleep at all. I would be awake till 2-3 AM, and no sleeping pill would put me to sleep. The only thing that works is a good dose of rum (which is the last thing you want to take with sleeping pills). This is highly unusual for me, as normally I fall asleep quickly. The ugly: insomnia persisted after stopping the viibryd. I stopped it almost 3 weeks ago, and still couldn't fall asleep today."

• Vii...
• December 27, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started on Viibryd after having a DNA test done where I found out other medications aren't effective for me due to the way my brain processes them. The first week was fine with no symptoms and no noticeable changes. When I went up to 20 mg, I had terrible crying spells, couldn't sleep at night, had muscle aches, insane migraines, was exhausted, irritable, and my anxiety worsened. I lowered myself back down to 10 mg, and the symptoms lessened. My doctor told me to take the medication with dinner and a full meal. After reading other reviews, the symptoms may have been so bad since I wasn't taking the medication at the exact same time each day. On 10 mg, I can function but feel as if I'm not on any medication at all. I'll be switching meds ASAP."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2021

Vilazodone for Depression "Viibryd is god-awful. I started on 10 mg for a week, and it made my anxiety and depression so much worse. I constantly had racing thoughts, flu-like symptoms. Made me feel like a zombie, and I was up for 3 days before I switched to a new medicine. I am still having a little trouble sleeping, and I've been off it a week and a half. Please, if your doctor tells you about this medication, do yourself a favor and STAY AWAY!!!"

• Iam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2022

For Anxiety "Just started it. I might have ADD, which is the reason I have terrible anxiety. When you can't focus, you get inside your head and go insane with all the thoughts running inside. I am currently on a low dose of Klonopin, which I hope to stop in the future, and I'm on Adderall XR 20 mg. Thinking about asking for a lower dose of Adderall XR twice daily since I metabolize it quickly or try Dexedrine ER, which I hear is less jittery than Adderall. Stimulants work, but right now I have high blood pressure that has been there before Adderall. I guess my mind is all wound up with racing thoughts and lack of sleep. I hope I don't have to go on a mood stabilizer like Lamictal, but may consider if Viibryd and Adderall XR alone do not resolve things in 4-6 weeks."

• Anonymous
• September 8, 2011

Vilazodone for Depression "I am on Viibryd and I've had diarrhea, and I cannot sleep at all."

• Hea...
• August 2, 2014

Vilazodone for Depression "Diarrhea, nausea, insomnia, muscle aches, restless leg syndrome"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2015

Vilazodone for Depression "I have been on different SRIs for over 15 years, and I couldn't take this one. Even at 10 mg, the insomnia was ridiculous. I think this drug was also the cause of my chest pains. Quit after 2 weeks."

• Anonymous
• November 26, 2011

Vilazodone for Depression "I tried Viibryd. It helps my depression, but even with three sleep aids, I don't get any sleep."

• Kal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "Diarrhea, diarrhea, diarrhea... gas and terrible stomach cramps... nausea... brain zaps... insomnia... I will not be continuing this medicine."

• Ban...
• January 13, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "Horrible. Only used it. I took it for 2 days, then stopped. It made me nauseous, anxious, antsy, and I could not sleep whatsoever. Will not be taking again."

• mka...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2025

For Anxiety "I shifted from Lexapro to vilazodone. Very effective. Taking at bedtime. No insomnia."