Viibryd for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Sar...
• July 17, 2019

"Okay, so I have MDD and have tried Paxil, Zoloft, and Buspar. The Paxil made me aggressively angry all the time, like ready to fight. Zoloft made me more depressed, and Buspar was like a sugar pill and didn't do a thing. But this Viibryd has helped so much. I don't have manic episodes anymore, and I can enjoy music again. I'm painting again. I have energy and motivation. The only thing is, it kind of has made me have a 'won't take any crap from anyone' kind of mindset - I don't know if that's good or bad. I guess good in a way because I won't let people walk all over me anymore. I can finally stand up for myself."

• mrs...
• November 12, 2019

"I have tried several of the mainstream medications for my MDD that did nothing but cause terrible bruising, hallucinations, insomnia, irritability, increased depression, etc. I had given up on finding the right medicine for me. This was my last attempt at trying a medication before I decided to avoid them due to being let down so many times. I took a genetic test that showed I only had three medicines that were compatible with my body. I started on 20 mg and only had minor GI tract upset. THAT IS IT! After four weeks, I could tell the medicine was working as I had become MUCH less tearful. After seven weeks, I am raising it to 40 mg and know this medicine was the best option for me. I have been able to have an overall sense of happiness, I don't have nearly as many depressing days, and my interest in daily activities has returned. I am SO grateful for the genetic test and this medication. It has given me my life back."

• Thi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2016

"Was on Celexa but came off because of horrible side effects such as lack of focus and EXTREME memory loss. I suffered in class because of this, I could not retain anything I learned, and it didn't make me feel happy, just numb. I stopped it a few years ago. Started 10 mg Viibryd a couple of months ago, and I feel happier, more focused, and more ambitious than ever. I use it alongside Vistaril for anxiety, and it's incredible. For how bad of a rep it gets, it's been a life changer for me. I am doing amazing in school now, and I just generally feel right all the time now. Occasional brain zaps at night, but they are infrequent. The payoff of this medicine is just too great to let a couple of minor side effects stop me from taking it."

• Eri...
• December 9, 2014

"I switched from Effexor to Viibryd, and I was doing fine the few months or two. Then all hell broke loose. The last two months I was on Viibryd were absolutely horrid. Extreme irritability (usually for no reason), felt like I HAD to scream or I'd explode out of my body, constantly fidgety and restless, etc. My depression exhibits itself via my temper, so one of the most important reasons I take a depression med is to help with controlling that anger... Viibryd made it so much worse after the first few weeks."

• eye...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 19, 2014

"Viibryd has been the best medication I have taken for my depression. I have tried a few others and had terrible results. Viibryd seems balanced. I feel more stable. Although I do have trouble with insurance covering the medication for some reason. I have great insurance."

• Ell...
• February 9, 2016

"I have been taking Viibryd for three weeks now. I started on 10 mg with food and instantly had severe diarrhea, dizziness, and just felt a little mentally absent. I went to bed that day, already feeling mental relief from lifelong MDD. My doctor had me reduce to 5 mg for two weeks, which I did, and taking the pill with food and reducing the dosage helped tremendously. I am up to 10 mg now, and I feel absolutely amazing. The happiness that was mine as a child has returned. I am so glad to find this medication. I thought I was managing well enough with natural therapies and meds but hit rock bottom this season with no unusually difficult things happening in my life. Science can be the miracle."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2015

"I've been taking Viibryd for 5 weeks, and my mood seems to be much more stable. It's nice to not have constant feelings of despair. The one problem it's giving me is extreme nausea and vomiting. Even so, the positive effects from Viibryd are great, and I'm more than willing to keep taking it despite all the nausea."

• lul...
• February 18, 2016

"I began taking Viibryd at the suggestion of my doc to use in addition to bupropion. After having been prescribed different antidepressants, the one drug that seemed to work to mostly maintain my mood was Wellbutrin. Though it worked well, from time to time, crippling depressive episodes would bleed through. I have been taking 10 mg Viibryd with 150 mg bupropion per day, and that works very well for me. I haven't had a single episode that I couldn't deal with, even having gone through a death in my family and financial upheaval."

• Wat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 29, 2017

"I've been battling MDD for 20 years. I'm 32. If you can name it, it's been prescribed to me. I went through a two-month period of constant suicidal ideation in 2015 and was put on 40 mg Viibryd. It saved my life, career, and sanity. I've been taking it as prescribed for 1 1/2 years and my depression doesn't control my life and thoughts anymore. I still get situational depression, but it doesn't spiral like it always used to. I experienced no side effects. Highly recommended if you want to try something new."

• Mt...
• August 30, 2016

"I'm a 37 y/o female and was prescribed this after a suicide attempt. Took just a few days, but I feel the best that I have in a very long time. I can't tell you the last time I had the energy, enthusiasm, or clarity that I have now. I've been on so many different antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications that I've lost track of what all I have been on. Best medication in combination with 5 milligrams of Abilify!!! I feel like I am getting my life back. I truly feel like my life has been saved. I did have loose bowels off and on the first two weeks, but now on week 3, it is getting better. My guess is, like any other antidepressant, some people respond in a positive way, and others respond in a negative way. Nature of the beast of depression!"

• Kil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 19, 2018

"Best medicine I’ve ever had. Got out of the Marine Corps in 1986. I’ve been on various anti-depressants, and this is the best I’ve ever had. Perfect alignment with my misalignment in my cranium. On other meds, I’ve had 3 episodes of suicide idealization. I’m not even concerned about it anymore. I’m level-headed, not screaming at people, not being a total a-hole to my family. This medicine is a blessing to me."

• Len...
• November 16, 2015

"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."

• Nym...
• November 15, 2014

"I've been on Viibryd (40 mg) for a few months now, for major depression/anxiety. Before that, I took Prozac, but I felt like it had stopped working. The Viibryd is working well for me. I have more good days. I don't feel sedated, just more positive and functional. As far as side effects, I get an upset stomach if I don't eat before I take it. I took it right before bed one time and had a really vivid nightmare, so I try to take it early in the day. When I do miss a dose, I feel withdrawal more than I did with Prozac. Overall, it's effective for me, but I have to be more careful to avoid side effects."

• MIS...
• February 16, 2017

"This drug was miraculous! It was as if I was waking from a 5-year nightmare. I was 'normal' again for the first time in YEARS! HOWEVER! Medicare won't let me have it, and I certainly can't afford $300 a month on a fixed income. Why do they 'give' you samples, 'free' 30 supply, but then rip it out from under you for $$$$$$? Now I'm on a generic Prozac, and Lord only knows where THAT was made, and 'it ain't a workin!' I WANT MY VIIBRYD!"

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

"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!"

• Dre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2019

"I had the gene psychotropic test done. I had been on 14 different antidepressants over the past 28 years, and I either couldn't tolerate the side effects, or they made my MDD worse. Starting real slow for Viibryd at just 5 mg with breakfast, and after just 9 days, it's starting to help my energy, and I'm not so easily angered. A little GI upset, and it makes me sleepy, but then I have more energy overall. It was 1 of just 3 that the gene test said may work. So far, so good!"

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2014

"I've been on Viibryd for less than 2 months. My depression is gone, and I handle my anxiety better, but I feel disconnected and confused 80% of the time. I forgot how to write a check and get hot water several times. I also become very shaky, and I feel like nothing is real, and it takes everything in me to stay sane. It's working and making me worse all at the same time, and I'm not sure if these side effects will go away or not, but I work a lot, and I can't afford to not function. Viibryd is helpful and harmful to me right now, and I'm not sure what to do. I'm going to stick with it for 12 weeks, and if the negative side effects don't go away, I'm going to switch."

• RLC...
• October 2, 2019

"I have been on several antidepressants: Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and started taking Viibryd 3 years ago. It worked very well for me, and I am taking 40 mg-the highest recommended dose-but now I have developed resistance to it, so I am getting tired a lot, sleepy, etc. I will be weaning off with my doctor's help and starting a new one. I wanted to say I am sorry to hear from some of you that you have had severe side effects. That was not the case for me. Some mild stomach upset initially...I remember feeling a good feeling, alert even, like someone was shining a flashlight on my brain. It felt good after feeling so down. I also take Lamotrigine for anxiety, and the two worked very well together as well. I would recommend this drug for anyone who has suffered from major depressive disorder. It is worth trying because the results can be so positive! I was able to return to work full-time and maintain my job well."

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

"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!"

• Sya...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2020

"Within 3 days, it gave me paralyzing existential thoughts and induced OCD. Dealt with this and other side effects like paranoia for about 2 weeks after stopping use. Please never take this drug if you don’t have a psychiatrist that can closely monitor you and help you if you have an experience like mine. 2 days on it, I saw my therapist, and she told me to get off of it ASAP because every one of her patients that had taken it felt suicidal. I have never had a medication mess me up this badly."

• Jec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2022

"Best thing that happened to me. I was plagued by depression for many years. Hopeless and suicidal. Repeated episodes of crying and unable to get out of bed. I tried every antidepressant out there. I felt even worse on them. I had a DNA test for psych meds. I only could take two different brands. Tried the first one, Pristiq, and it raised my heart rate. Switched to Viibryd. It was like the dark cloud lifted after 2 weeks. I have been on this med for 3 years and haven’t had a depressive episode since. I’m on 40 mg. The only issue I had the first week was stomach issues."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2016

"I was prescribed this after a nervous breakdown while an inpatient at the hospital. I have zero side effects, well, perhaps I'm a bit more 'flighty.' It does not numb me like other meds have done in the past. I feel like I'm living my life again and enjoying my loved ones. I'm on 20 mg, I hope the doctor will increase it to 30 because I feel near the finish line but not 100% there yet."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2016

"30 y/o female struggling with OCD/MDD/GAD since 14 y/o. The pack I received started 1 wk at 10 mg, then 1 wk at 20 mg, then the next 2 wk at 40 mg. The second week, I was actually feeling hopeful that I may have found a medication that works for me again. Things quickly changed once I started the 40 mg dose. I wake up in a stupor-like fog that takes me about an hour to get out of. My dreams are so vivid and intense that I have difficulty shaking from them. I am now experiencing sexual side effects, dizziness, and very bad leg cramping. I almost got into an accident this morning because of the fog that I was in. Ironically, I was going to pick up this medication. Returning to the 20 mg dose until I can see the MD again. Seemed to work at a low dose, now scary."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2020

"I've taken antidepressants for 30 years. Over time, even the best ones lose effectiveness for me. I've recently been described as 'medication resistant.' I recently took Viibryd for 10 weeks. It was a pure nightmare. My side effects included debilitating nausea, diarrhea, increased and immobilizing anxiety, increased depression, suicidal thoughts, generalized weakness, inability to focus, and memory loss. I spent days either in bed or on the couch. I was completely nonfunctional. I didn't even realize how bad things were until I weaned off of it. I lost 20 pounds in three months from an inability to eat. After 2 weeks completely off of Viibryd, anxiety is almost completely gone. This experience is nothing like anything I've ever had on any antidepressant before. It was severely debilitating. Never again."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2023

"A big no! My doctor tried to convince me to take it for 4 months. I finally said, fine, I will give it a go because nothing else was working. So here I go and take the first dose. It sent me into major mania! The night I took it, I was laying in bed thinking this is nice, it already seems to be making me happier. Then I just got too happy. I felt like I was climbing walls. I finally fell asleep. The next morning, I woke up and felt like I had already had too many cups of coffee. I was jittery and hyper. It literally hurt my body as well. It was so bad I cried because I couldn’t handle it. Now, 4 days later, I still have some mania! Just be careful because this is a side effect. I had to call a nurse, and she told me that I just needed to stop taking it and drink lots of water to flush it out. Still isn’t out."