Vilazodone and Upset Stomach: What Users Say (Page 2)

• kbc...
• December 29, 2013

Vilazodone for Depression "My mother and I were put on this medication at the same time, and while she loved it and had almost no side effects, it caused everything from a constant upset stomach and nausea to insanely scary nightmares for me. It didn't help my depression or anxiety at all."

• 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."

• don...
• July 4, 2014

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "The first few weeks, it seemed to improve my depression. I almost felt normal again. Then, wham! I started crying about everything-happy, sad, or for no reason at all, and although the feelings of 'hopelessness' were gone, I felt I was worse than before. I have been diagnosed with early-mid AD, and perhaps that explains the odd reaction. I haven't seen my doctor since this odd reaction began, but I intend to see him. I have also suffered severe gastric distress while on Viibryd."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2018

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "I spoke too soon. This is the worst medication I have EVER taken. For 8 days straight, 24 hours a day without any break, I have been nonstop nauseous to the point my face turns pale white, horrifying nightmares, sleep paralysis, no appetite, vision blackout with “zaps” or “pressure” feeling in my head. Extremely high blood pressure, with pressure behind my eyes, which concerns me about angle closures, with it said in the med pamphlet can cause glaucoma. Which causes blindness. Difficulty understanding, hot and cold, flu-like symptoms, weakness, anger/rage, uncontrollable crying, blurred vision, pain throughout the body, excruciatingly painful burning sensation in my stomach always. Seeing things that are not there... these have been symptoms I’ve experienced every day and night with no break for 8 days. Almost went to the ER several times, I weaned myself off this med. This is poison to my body. I was so hopeful for this medication too."

• La ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2015

Vilazodone for Depression "I'm a 45-year-old male. Tried Zoloft, Lexapro, but this medicine has made a huge difference in my overall mental state. I never thought I was depressed, but I had severe anxiety and panic attacks to the point of almost passing out. High-stress job and various changes in the last year, but this medicine is wonderful. I notice the gas issue and stomach issues, but nothing really that bad or intolerable. My thoughts raced a little at the beginning, but I'm 3 weeks in and honestly noticed feeling better within the 1st week. I still want sex every day, so it's good in that department!"

• Ben...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 13, 2019

Vilazodone "I've had fairly extreme anxiety issues since forever. I have tried a lot of different combinations of drugs and a bunch of SSRI-based things. Viibryd is the only non-benzodiazepine that's made a difference for me. I take 40 mg daily and haven't noticed any side effects personally other than an upset stomach the first 2 months of taking it. It's been life-changing for me. There is a pretty mild withdrawal if I miss one day, it feels like a moderate hangover."

• Anonymous
• February 25, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "My doctor switched me to Viibryd due to the weight gain on Lexapro, telling me Viibryd was supposed to be considered 'weight neutral.' I started off the first couple of months with a 20mg dose, and it was a little effective, but my anxiety that the Lexapro was so effective in dealing with was back. Last month, my dosage was increased to 40mg, and so far it is working well. No depression nor anxiety on this dose. Additionally, my sex drive is back, and other sexual side effects are gone. However, I gotta say... it causes me upset stomach pretty often, as well as diarrhea."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2020

Vilazodone "I am in recovery. I've never taken an SSRI that had an effect on me like Viibryd. My doctor gave me samples of Viibryd for my anxiety; I took one and I felt high. My stomach hurt. My heart and mind were racing. I was not acting like myself. I threw the rest out. These are not for people in recovery."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "I was taking 20 mg of Trintellix and loved it besides stomach aches. For whatever reason, I asked to switch. My doctor decided Viibryd was the one, and let me tell you, it was NOT. Explosive diarrhea, and when I say explosive, I mean you better not leave your house. Terrible insomnia, and when I did sleep, I had insane dreams. The worst side effect was a super high heart rate and BP. I woke up in the middle of the night and had my husband take my BP, it was 173/98 with a resting heart rate of 123. This sent me to the ER, then to a cardiologist... that was my average BP and HR for the following three weeks until it was out of my system. Now I am back on Trintellix, and the occasional stomach ache is a dream compared to that nightmare."

• All...
• September 19, 2012

Vilazodone "I love Viibryd! I suffer from social anxiety and occasional depression. I also have pretty nasty PMS symptoms. This medicine has helped me a ton! I am not snapping at my kids, no longer stressed, and does not affect sex drive. I haven't noticed any food cravings either, so no weight gain like with Celexa! I haven't had any bouts of sadness either, plus I do have more energy. I did have an upset tummy the first 2 days, then fine. Definitely take with food! Protein and carbs!! Love it!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

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

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Dan...
• November 20, 2019

For Anxiety "Bad experience taking this drug vilazodone for anxiety and depression. 1) Side effects starting it were mostly stomach upset and some headache. Not too bad. 2) Switched from Lexapro to this, then on Viibryd 20 mg for 1 month. At first, I thought it was working, but as time went on, my anxiety got worse. It got much worse than it had ever been without medication. My depression got worse as well. It got to the point where some days I would feel intense anxiety all day, couldn't eat, and had to take a clonazepam just to calm down enough to sleep. 3) Getting off of this medication was so hard for me. Dropping down from 20 mg to 10 mg, over four days, I went from irritable to moody to severely depressed and crawling out of my skin. I went right back up to 20 mg, and over the course of a couple of days, those severe side effects went away. Eventually got off it, but very slowly."

• 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."

• 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?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 14, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "I have been taking this since March in the mornings. 20 mg. Almost everything else gave me horrid side effects. I also take 30 mg Remeron at night. Thanks to those who gave the heads-up about peanut butter, protein, beans will work in a pinch, I discovered. That made the stomach problems go away like magic! Still depressed, but getting better, this is the 1st time that any medicine has worked. I have been depressed for years. I can now laugh again, hope this works for a long time."

• 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."

• Fin...
• June 24, 2012

Vilazodone for Depression "Viibryd has been an effective medicine for me. I've never been on an antidepressant before and was a bit wary of being on one for my newly diagnosed depression. Thanks to my doctor, he told me how to take this properly to avoid negative issues and have success. I started 10 mg for 2 weeks and 20 mg the next 2 weeks. I did have stomach issues, but he told me I would because of a chemical called serotonin that is made in the stomach but travels to the nervous system to regulate my mood 'strange', therefore, I would feel gassy, but that did go away after a week of my body adjusting. Also strange was that despite feeling gassy, I was out with friends who I surprised with my presence at another friend's party. It felt good to be out! I am staying on 20 mg."

• T I...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 1, 2019

Vilazodone for Depression "I started this medication, Viibryd, for depression about 5 years ago. It worked great until the last 6 months. Lots of tummy pain, short-term memory loss, and the worst thing is the nightmares I have if I miss a dose. It is like you know you are in a dream and can’t wake up. In the dreams, I am trying to wake up, I start trying to scream to get out of the dream. It is like the devil trying to kill you in your sleep. But now, I am having the dreams even while taking the medication. My doctor is taking me off of it slowly now. My advice is, don’t start it unless you know you are only going to be on it for a short time. I have lots of headaches, stomachaches, short-term memory loss, and I am now, in the past month, feeling like something is crawling on me all the time."

• Shy...
• January 8, 2021

Vilazodone for Major Depressive Disorder "I can only speak for myself when I say that Viibryd has changed my life for the better. I had been off medication for years, wanting to deal with my anxiety and depression naturally and try to help myself overcome it. I have social anxiety and have had a hard time all my life interacting with others, making friends, etc. I was struggling in my life trying to deal with it, I had goals that I wanted to achieve and didn’t think that I’d be able to get there with my social anxiety, so I decided to take the step to get back on medication in order to help with it. The first week or two, it did upset my stomach as my doctor had warned, luckily, I did not suffer from any other side effects like others have. I cannot say enough good things about how this has helped my social anxiety. I have become more outgoing than ever before, talking more at work, making friends with coworkers, etc. I am afraid to come off of it, though, as I fear I may resort back to my shy, hermit ways."

• 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."