Viibryd and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2019

For Depression "I had very high hopes at the start of this medication for depression. For the first several weeks, I felt awesome. Then, my anxiety reared its ugly head (I know this med is used for MDD only). My sex drive was nonexistent, and it was terrible (think going from Niagara Falls to the creek in your backyard growing up in the worst summer drought in history). I get pretty agitated pretty quickly. I started Paxil today, hopefully, it gives me some relief!"

• Nol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 29, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I’ve been on this medication for about 1 year after taking generic Zoloft for years. I currently take this with lorazepam and just added buspirone. I’m wondering after reading some of the reviews if it’s not making my racing thoughts, anxiety, and panic attacks worse as I wake up in panic."

• the...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2021

For Depression "When my doctor upped the dosage to 40 mg, I had a terrible manic episode. Worst experience of my life. Thought I was dying, felt like I was leaving my body, could not speak except gibberish, felt no control of myself. Felt like an anxiety attack x 100. Had to be driven to the ER. Before this, I felt extremely numb on this medicine in a scary way. Like I literally felt indifferent to everything."

• she...
• November 3, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Noticed I am more anxious than before I started taking it. Luckily, I haven't had nightmares or GI issues so far, but I've only started one and a half weeks ago. From what I've seen from reviews, it's all about the individual, I guess."

• Gho...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Was on Viibryd 40 mg and didn't see a positive change until 8 weeks into it. I got depressed/anxious after one month, and they increased the dose to 60 mg. I got depressed/anxious again after about another month. Just doesn't work. Never truly felt back to normal or that sense of well-being. WAY too expensive. One positive thing is that it didn't make me feel sleepy compared to all the others (Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac)."

• Jui...
• March 5, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I just weaned off Lexapro 20 mg after a year, the withdrawal was horrible... flu symptoms, anxiety, mania, headaches, and brain zaps. I'm on day 2 of Viibryd 10 mg. I almost feel euphoric. I'm happier, anxiety and mania are almost gone, energy boost, clearer thinking. Only downside so far has been restless legs while trying to sleep, but so far I'm seeing an improvement!"

• jer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2019

For Depression "Total garbage. Had an adverse reaction to Viibryd that included everything except for death, coma, and seizures. Syncope was so bad I didn't want to use the bathroom or even get out of bed. Almost said I was suicidal so someone would take care of me. ER described it as the flu, anxiety, drug reaction, vasovagal reaction due to constipation even though I had the runs and a bunch of other stuff."

• MDa...
• May 3, 2021

For Depression "I took Viibryd for a total of 11 weeks, 5 mg for 1 week, 10 mg for 2 weeks, and then 20 mg for 8 weeks. Sleep was the big issue. I was unable to sleep with assistance on this medication, and so after 11 weeks, I decided it wasn't for me, and it was time to stop. I'm taking a number of different medications in order to help me sleep, but I would wake up at 2 a.m. every night and then toss and turn. In the beginning, I couldn't sleep at all, and it was frightening and very scary. The other big issue was from the first dose I was not able to get an erection. So sleep and ED and at 20 mg not controlling anxiety. I was put on Klonopin (as a rescue) to help with sleep and anxiety, and I'm now off the drug and going back to Paxil, which allows me to sleep through the night and get an erection."

• ble...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2012

For Depression "Medicaid covers this! I'm ending week 3 on Viibryd - 2 weeks on 10 mg, finishing the 1st week on 20 mg. Had lots of tummy trouble after the 1st dose (diarrhea, slight nausea, lots of bloating & gas), but it has lessened, but not good yet. I take it with lunch. (Also on Synthroid - empty stomach in the morning, Wellbutrin - 450/day x 10 yrs) Main other side effects: a bit more anxiety, electric-zappy/restless legs in the evening (getting better), other muscle twitches at first, trouble getting to sleep (worse after dosing up to 20 mg). I do feel a little more energy and a little more positive. Not interested in food during the day after taking Viibryd, mostly due to upset tummy. I get HUGE cravings for sweets in the evening (must be after it wears off)."

• 33r...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on Prozac for 25 years, but it no longer helps my depression. After the first 20 mg dose of Viibryd, I became flat of affect and very edgy, mean. On the second day, a strange worry about every little detail about life on Earth started. I began a worry loop about losing my job, my brain started replaying every interaction I had with other humans and started feeling paranoid. By day 3, I felt like screaming and running down the street. I've never had a reaction like this. The mental worry loop it induced was terrifying. Day 4 was worse. I stopped taking it on day 5. This was a very scary experience."

• kwe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2013

For Depression "Was on this medication for 5-6 weeks. Titrated up to 40 mg, but this made my anxiety so bad (mostly physiological) that I went back down to 30 mg. Was only on 40 mg for a few days. Got my first brain zap and accompanying psychosis with full-blown auditory hallucinations. That's when I knew it was time to quit. Viibryd isn't as bad at inhibiting sexual desire as other SSRIs, but it STILL does! For anxiety, this medication wasn't helpful, but I did notice myself in a more positive and upbeat mood (for what that's worth). After spending a total of 4-5 hours researching this drug and hearing about what it's like if you forget to take your dose (even if you're an hour off) - I was scared straight. Weaned myself off FAST (5 mg reduction per night)."

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

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."

• DbL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2017

For Depression "Have been on most antidepressants since 1996, Prozac worked but then wears off (just discontinued 3 weeks ago). Viibryd at 10 mg first week helped, increased to 20 mg as instructed. Have weakness overall, heart palpitations, dilated pupils, annoyed easily, unable to achieve the big O, gut feels awful and bloated, cervical dystonia is aggravated. I have not had diarrhea but cramping. Jittery feeling, thoughts of being better off dead for a few days now. Have only been on this med for 3 weeks... not sure what to do..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2012

For Depression "I've been taking this medication now for 3 months, and I've noticed my depression is a lot better. I do get down when PMSing (more so than normal). I'd rate it higher if it weren't for the electric shock feeling I get through my body if I don't take it at the same time every day and my lack of a sex drive. I've tried Zoloft (worked for 4 months or so and stopped working for me) and Effexor (I felt constant rage in my chest), so far, the Viibryd is the best of the 3. I also have post-traumatic stress disorder, so now I am looking to see if it's possible to add a medication to the Viibryd for this as it does not help for PTSD. I take Xanax occasionally as needed for anxiety."

• tsz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2018

For Depression "This drug is terrifying. I took it for 2 days and woke up the second day with uncontrollable leg shakes - had to take Xanax immediately and was late to work because I had to wait until the Xanax kicked in. Will never use this drug again - made my anxiety through the roof and was jumping out of my skin. Be careful!"

• tay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2012

For Depression "When I first started taking this, I was hoping this would work well for me, as I've read a lot of reviews and heard mostly good things. The first three weeks were good. I was starting to feel that it was starting to work, but after that, things got horrible. I had anxiety and panic attacks all day. So bad that I wouldn't leave my house. It took me a few days to realize that it was Viibryd. These panic attacks were bad. Woke up with them, went to bed having them. I didn't want to stop taking it, so the next day, I took half, 20 mg, and they stopped. My doctor wants me to just stay on the 20 mg, but I didn't think it's doing anything. I'm in my fourth to fifth week. Things almost seem to go back to when I started."

• Ter...
• July 6, 2017

For Depression "I was on this med for about 2 months. During that time, I started losing my hair and ended up losing quite a bit of it, especially on the frontal part. It did give me more energy, but I also had a hard time keeping my anxiety in check. I don't remember having the customary side effects, and my body seemed to tolerate it quite well. If it hadn't been for the hair loss and anxiety issues, I probably would have stayed on it. I decided to go back on Paxil again a couple of days ago because I really had few problems with that, except for weight gain if I don't watch myself."

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

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."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2023

"I have OCD, and my doctor suggested Viibryd after trying multiple other medications. I took the lowest dose (10 mg) because I tend to have reactions to medicines easily. I was on this medication for about 6 months without it doing much. A month ago, I got the courage to increase to 20 mg, and the side effects were very troubling. After a few days of taking it, I started getting brain zaps when I tried to go to sleep at night. The zaps were very uncomfortable and made me very anxious. The zaps kept me up at night and would actually wake me up out of my sleep sometimes. I also started to have vivid, very distressing dreams that would also wake me up. The brain zaps and dreams happened every night. It was a shame that I was having these side effects because I felt a slight change in my OCD, which no medicine has done in almost 2 years. My doctor said the brain zaps were a very rare occurrence. Take that as you will."

• Fer...
• October 12, 2017

For Depression "The first week of taking 10 mg of Viibryd, I did okay with the exception of diarrhea; then the anxiety began to wane. I still had 'anger issues,' so the doctor upped the dose to 20 mg a day. That was okay for a couple of weeks until all of a sudden, I have terrible anxiety, very bad nightmares, bruxism (clenching teeth), and bad headaches. I try not to clench my teeth, but I go right back to clenching without realizing it. I dropped the dosage down to 10 mg a day and I'm still not doing well. I'm about to call the doctor and tell him what the side effects are and to choose something else...or nothing at all."

• Ria...
• September 24, 2021

For Depression "I took my first 10 mg dose of Viibryd 7 hours ago with food, and I feel so nauseous. I have diarrhea and a bad headache. I woke from my nap feeling starved with restless legs. I need to eat but am too nauseous. I also feel tight in my chest as if I've taken an Adderall, causing my anxiety to spike, and my jaw feels tight. This is a very powerful medication, and I hope these side effects go away because I do feel more energy, as I've been depressed for years."

• dpa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2018

For Depression "Taking this drug was the equivalent of being unmedicated. My mood declined, anxiety was up. It's the same thing as the last time I cold turkeyed an SSRI and stayed off for 8 weeks, except I was taking an expensive pill."

• Bam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "This is a horrible medication. Within months of taking it, I became agitated and very depressed, and my anxiety level was definitely at the top level. Things didn't get better, the longer I was on it, the worse I felt. I had bad side effects: dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, jerking in my body. I started jerking one day and got dizzy and fell and broke my foot and dislocated my heel. It was a bad break, and it's a side effect from that medication. My life went from okay to bad, so after surgery is when I started putting it all together-the why everything started getting so bad. My health problems were so questionable, I didn't know what was going on with my life until I realized those pills. When I first started taking them, that's when one of my problems first began. I had bad nightmares, just things that seemed so real. I couldn't wait to wake up and dreaded falling asleep."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2021

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."

• Anonymous
• June 7, 2016

For Depression "My wife started taking Viibryd and she got every bad side effect. Violent, angry, mania, and paranoia. That is truly the drug from hell! She would scream at me for hours and then started hitting and slapping me. I had to move out of the house and get an apartment, and we are probably getting divorced. Viibryd ruined my marriage..."