Viibryd for depression
So about 10 days ago I finally had my appointment with the Psychiatrist to see what could be done about this major case of depression I’ve been under for the last 3 months. My GP had given me a script for Welbutrin to try in the meantime and while it did help a little, it didn’t come close to helping enough. My psychologist decided to try a new medication for treating depression – Viibryd.
I’m not a fan of trying to the latest and greatest new drugs, I’d rather go with tried and true first. Let someone else be the guinea pig!
Alas, I think I’ve tried all the tried and true depression medications… so now it’s my turn to be the guinea pig.
Viibryd for Depression Treatment
It seems that my new psychologist is rather “cutting edge” when it comes to meds and the first direction she went was with a VERY new antidepressant Viibryd. After reading up on it, it seems that it in some ways does the job of both a typical SSRI med but then also works similar to Abilify, affecting SSRI’s two ways, via the usual channels and then also through the 5-HT1 receptors.
She was hopeful this would work, and I was as well.
I’ve learned the hard way, that it’s best to research a med BEFORE you take it, rather than finding out really bad side effects the hard way. It seems like doctors are always happy to tell you that a drug has minimal side effects (and most do for MOST people).
I’m not most people and I’d told this Dr that I’m what I call a 2%er. If a drug has a negative side effect for 2% of the people, I will likely have that side effect. After doing a cursory Google search on this drug, I discovered a few things:
1. There is very little info out there about this drug. It’s so new that it’s not even in the lists on some of the major drug list sites.
2. It was just approved in January 2011 and just made available in the spring; making user reports and reviews of viibryd from those who have reached the full dosage for any length of time almost non-existant.
3. It has minimal side effects, including almost no sexual side effects (that’s something you never see in a depression med). The most reported side effect is intestinal upset.
So, I gave it a try, taking my first dose that Friday after my appointment. The Pdoc gave me a 30 day sample pack, starting with 10mg, eventually reaching 40mg (if tolerable).
Review of Viibryd for depression
The week before this appointment I’d been having a terrible week, breaking down crying just about every day over nothing. I freaked out on my husband and cried on him for hours. The poor guy didn’t know what to do. This occurred again Saturday (dose 2). Sunday was still a little rough, but not nearly as bad.
By Monday (dose 4) I was feeling so much better; calm and cool. I can’t say I was to the point of feeling really happy yet, but it was just a nice calm. I was experiencing the stomach upset and lower GI issues that I’d read about. But, these are common with new meds and I figured they would go away after a few days.
Over the course of that first week, I felt something I hadn’t felt in the 3 months of this great depression, something akin to sexual feelings. If you’ve ever dealt with major depression, you’ve likely gone through the periods where you just really didn’t care about sex. The only thing related to sex that I cared about was how the lack of sex was affecting my husband (and thus potentially our relationship).
Only once in the first 10 days taking Viibryd have I been really anxious or agitated. I think it was day 8 when I woke up just totally agitated and ended up taking a xanex just to calm myself down. I evidently needed it as it actually knocked me out for a little while (much needed nap), and I woke up feeling much better.
It’s day 10. Today was my third dose at 20mg (halfway to full dosage) and I can honestly say that I woke up feeling good. I actually got on the treadmill (like I should) and walked with no issue. I was happy when I woke up.
Last night, I jumped my husband.
I am hoping I’m not speaking too soon, but at this point I’m feeling like Viibryd may be giving me my life back.
Reading user reviews (at the one site where I could find them), I see few people getting to 40mg and staying there. It seems that most end up returning to 20mg, I’ll find out this coming weekend how 40mg and I will get along.
I worry (as I do with any drug) about the long-term effects. I wonder this even more so with something that is so new, if there are long-term effects, it will be those of us early users who will find out about them.
I think back to so many drugs that have hit the market and seemed like some sort of wonder drug, only to have them recalled years later when the long-term effects are discovered. That part does scare me, but now this drug is what I need in order to start returning to life again.
*EDIT/UPDATE* –
For those hitting this page, without reading my full blog I wanted to share the rest of the story and extend this Viibryd review.
My journey with Viibryd ended shortly after I hit the full 40mg dosage. Evidently, I was getting too much Serotonin since I was also still on Savella for fibromyalgia.
The second day on the full dosage of Viibryd I ended up in the ER with chest pains and found out my blood pressure was extremely high. Over the next week it remained extremely high until my Dr took me off the Viibryd. She agreed that it may have been a slight case of Serotonin Syndrome (I was also starting to have muscle twitches again and some other symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome).
In 2012 I made some major changes to my diet, and after a few months I was able to come off all anti-depressants and am back to just my basic Fibro meds and I’m doing ok. I’ve made an effort to get out more and see people and spend time with friends. That has helped way more than any med ever did. For those finding my blog for the Viibryd review, I wish you luck. I do think this is a good med and I think had I not had the interaction issue I might have done well on it. If you are considering it, I’d give it a try.
– If I need to give antidepressants a try again, Viibryd will be the first one I ask to try (without any additional SNRIs).
Deidra says
I’ve been on Viibryd for over two years now, on 40mg and am doing better than I was. I had tried many anti depressants in the past, and was on Fetzima (for depression) and abilify (for anxiety). Then my insurance stopped covering the abilify, and I needed something for my anxiety. My Dr. then put me on the Viibryd for both the depression and anxiety, and do fine. I also have fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS, and other related ailments that come along with these, so I don’t get out as much as I used too, so there are days I get down, but I only cry when I should cry, and I’m laughing again. Even with the IBS, the Viibryd hasn’t affected my condition any more than any of my other meds. I try to watch what I eat, and take probiotics. Hope this was helpful to someone.
Ricky Stephanie says
So I have battled depression since my teen years and also have anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and ADD and lets not forget the constant pain from Fibromyalgia, so as you gets I am quite a mess most the time..lol…I tried Savella, it made me suicidal and crazy, I tried Cymbalta didn’t make me suicidal but did cause me to be an angry, crazy, raving b*tch (I didn’t notice it but my Fiance and Mother insisted I get off that med) so been managing my pain without the typical Fibro meds, I was taking Celexa for many months I am thinking about 1 1/2 yrs and it stopped working for me, so my family Dr recommended Viibrid to me I was put directly onto 40mg and after 2 weeks was noticing some sexual side effects(still wanted and enjoyed sex but couldn’t achieve orgasm) so I talked to my Psychiatrist about it Friday and she suggested I start taking a smaller dose of 20mg and see if it helps. I am noticing a difference and I am hoping full sensations return soon
Julie says
I hope the lower dose works better for you. I’m actually off of all anti-depressants now (thankfully). After hitting rock bottom shortly after trying Vybrid I finally started looking for non-pharmaceutical answers and have since found that changing my diet has been the best thing I could ever do. Since Jan of 2012 I’ve been gluten-free and that has made a huge difference in how I feel. I’m now living like a normal person again instead of someone with Fibro. I still have occasional bad days and storms still get to my nerves really bad, but as far as a full on flare lasting more than a day, I haven’t had one. The few 1-day flares I’ve had could all be attributed to either having had gluten the day before or to a really bad PT session.
I’m also dairy/egg/whey/yeast free as those all affect me negatively in some way (mostly IBS issues). It might be worth looking into and elimination diet to see what foods might be bothering you.
Greg says
I seem to be a bit late to the party, but I’ve been on Viibryd for what I believe is about six months or so. I was on zoloft before that and entered a full on zombie state. I couldn’t handle it so my doc asked if I wanted to try vybriid. Desperate for anything else I took it. At first, you get the normal things with starting dose and when you’re increasing: nausea, GI, and for someone who already has a relatively weak (read: Italian) stomach this was not very fun. Eventually though, after being constant at twenty for a few weeks I started to feel a lot better. Not nearly as much zombie, a lot more energy and enthusiasm for everything. I went up to 40 but couldn’t handle the GI problems and it put me on edge. I took myself down to 20 without telling my doctor for a month and felt so much better, and he was just happy knowing I was. At this point though, I’m starting to think about weening off of it. Like all SSRIs, there is definitely a cap to my emotional range, which can be good some days and not so great on others. For those who are unhappy with their current meds, I would say you should try viibryd and see how you feel after a month on 10-20, but I’m not a doctor in any form so you know what to do first. If I missed a dose of Zolofot I would cry for no reason throughout the day (Until I realized I missed it.) With this, if I miss a dose I just feel shitty and groggy all day, but it is MUCH more bearable. Thanks for listening. Just fyi, I also take 60mg of vyvance with it.
Male straight 18 Southern California, take my 20mg in the morning to avoid insomnia.
PinkPantySlave says
Been on 40mg Viibryd for 6months and all was well. I now have low energy chronic fatigue/pain is returning ,was completely gone, high anxiety with anger. Probably the most irritating symptom seems to be when my brain feels like I missed a dose is the only way I can explain it. Basically it can be 6hrs before I am due another dose but I am getting brain quivers which are like mild currents coming from the base of brain stem out to my limbs ,kinda like a TENS unit, my hair stands up on my arms and legs with goosebumps. Mild psychotic episodes where objects become something else or objects like a picture will come alive. If I go ahead and take another dose after starting to exp the issues everything is normal. Also I am grinding my teeth really bad.
Sadeed says
I am on vibrant too. I finished my 10mg. Only problem was nausea. On my 3rd 20mg my blood pressure went up. Mostly diastolic . It was 98. My usual diastolic is 78-80. I stopped the medicatin and my blood pressure went down. On next day I started again with my 4th 20mg. My bood pressure went up again. I stooped taking it and decided to go to my doctor. See what he says.
Sally ONeil says
I was on Prozac for about 15 years, trying other meds at times but always going back to prozac because it worked best. Then, three weeks ago I went on Viibryd. I had not researched it much and had not found the many forums that I’m finding now, and I suppose that’s good because I can say what happened to me was not a pre-formed bias.
I took Viibryd for 9 days-7 of 10mg and two days of 20mg. I had a constant headache, poor sleep with all the nightmares, thinking I was screaming out loud only to wake up with partner sound asleep next to me. Has plenty of nausea and diarrhea, which I did know about. Saw so many floaters in my eyes my vision was impaired. Felt so spaced I couldn’t drive. No energy, crying frequently, anger to the point of throwing things, depression worse, twitching muscles, aching in every joint…..at day 9 I said that’s it and went off it. NOTHING is worth taking this kind of drug with such severe side effects. I resumed prozac.
Viibryd side effects reminded me of interferon, a chemotherapy drug I took for Hepatitis C. They should pull Viibryd. I think it’s dangerous. This is day 5 after stopping. I have a headache all the time, can’t sleep well at night, feel drugged out and numb to emotions, have vivid dreams, although no nightmares. have nausea and loss of appetite. I am wondering how long this will last? Viibryd has a half-life of 25 hours, which is the time it should take for half the drug to leave the system. It should all be out of my system by now. I am drinking copious amounts of water to flush my system. I am starting to wonder of something permanent has changed me? That’s a nice, paranoid, and hopefully unfounded thought. Has anyone else experienced this?
Douglas says
I started Viibryd after welbutrin stopped working for me. I basically spent 2010 and 2011 in state of manic anger and anxiety- hating everyone and everything. Luckily I have an upbeat personality and a great sense of humor and am a very good actor (I think) so I was able to continue to work and appear normal. However I stopped going out (limiting myself to a lunch or dinner with friends once in a while.) I was filled with anxiety about driving or being in unfamiliar places and had minor panic attacks in places strange to me.) Sex did not exist for me- with others or by myself, which was strange because sex was something I always enjoyed. I started with the viibryd sample about 2 months ago and am up to the blue 40mg a day. MY LIFE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER- remarkably so.
I can talk to strangers and friends- I go out, am not filled with rage when I drive, am interested in sex- I smile and am interested in others. For me the Viibryd has been pretty miraculous- the only complaint I have is that my plan does not cover it and I have to get approval – which I hope happens, because it really works for me. I really haven’t had any bad side effects- it feels a little “speedy” for me, my metabolism works faster; I can focus MUCH better and I feel better about myself. Before Viibryd- I CRAVED carbohydrates; now I still love them but there is less craving.
I seem to have lost a little weight.
Thank you for this forum- it has helped me greatly and hopefully sharing my experience will help someone in return.
Douglas gay white male 49 central florida
Brock says
You are so on point with your comments and opinions regarding Viibryd. At first I was reluctant with trying the new medication because of the horrible GI side effects I read and heard about. Of course at first, I did experience some nausea and stomach discomfort, but I simply endured that until they eventually subsided. I have suffered from major depression and social phobia since I was in high school and have seen, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, counselors, LGBT therapy and have taken every anti-depressant that the FDA has approved and probably a few that they haven’t – LOL. Anyway, my body was incapable of handling the long list of side effects, but probably would have helped with the chronic depression and anxiety otherwise. I am still on the 10mgs of Viibryd and about to increase the dose to 20 mgs, so please wish me luck with that. I’m trying not to think or read about the side effects of increasing the dosage and simply seeing what occurs, if anything, by the change. I hope this will be an optimistic move on my part, but I have to try in order to make that judgment, I suppose..
Brock /gay 45 Atlanta
Julie says
I hope it continues to work out well for you. I really feel like the issues that caused me to stop taking it were more a combo of it with other meds I was on leading to a really bad situation.
Angela Matthiessen says
I have been on Viibryd now for three weeks. I am up to 20mg and will likely not go higher. At first, I had tremendous energy and was excited about filling my summer with exciting things to do. It brought out youthful energy. I felt high anxiety, but not the kind that scares you, more of a positive kind. I also took xanax during this time to sleep well, otherwise I couldn’t rest deeply. The dreams were and are still crazy! At first I had a few out of body experience type dreams, then it calmed down a bit. Some nights I still have weird ones. I now sleep pretty well without extra meds. A huge difference for me is I need less coffee or red bull to keep alert during the day and also, unfortunately, when I drink beer or wine, I get immediately lightheaded. Then my mood depresses and don’t sleep well. I try to avoid it mostly, but I have always enjoyed having a few beers with my hubby. Also, my stomach is upset and I have a metal like taste in my mouth. I usually something starchy and it gets better.
I have been on anti-depressants pretty much off and on since I was 28. I am 45 now. I have gone off during pregnancies and also a few years ago. I am being primarily treated for anxiety and the only real drug that helps is Paxil. I have tried them all, thank God for Paxil. I would still be on that if I had more energy and less weight gain. The energy level was depeleted!
For now, I will stick with the Viibryd and see if the stomach upset goes away. I do have energy, but not sure if I like the other side effects. My doctor always has to remind me of what i complain about with each one. Isn’t it funny how quickly we forget.
Oh, I forgot to mention I have also tried natural methods like amino acids and certain vitamins. They do help, but I had to take a LOT of them. Easier with a little pill.
Anyway, good luck. I will keep you posted with any other side effects.
Eileen says
I stumbled upon this blog because I’m writing a business-development style research paper for a to-be-determined brand of antidepressants.
All I can say is, congratulations to all of you! As a Health Leader at the college I attend, these posts and your progress have just made my day =) Thank you for the inspiration, and I sincerely wish you the best of luck.
Robin says
I have never needed anything before, but after three major events close together I found myself crying all the time. My Dr. put me on Viibryd. I’ve been on 10 mg. for about three months, but I never went up to the 20 mg. I felt good enough. I’m wondering if I should try the 20 mg.
mitzig says
I have been on Viibryd for 5 months now, and it has been a lifesaver. I have previously had success with brand wellbutrin, but insurance quit covering it and I reacted badly to generic. Tried Prozac but got minimal relief. Within days of starting Viibryd I noticed a difference in my chronic fatigue. I have been at 40 mg for several months and depression is gone and CFS is under control. I did have some mild GI side effects for about a week each time I increased dosage, but they are gone now. I sleep very soundly but do have vivid dreams, some of which are a bit too intense, but nothing I can’t live with. I wake up in the morning and actually feel rested, something that hasn’t happened in 20 years! Obviously, everyone reacts differently, but for me this drug is close to perfect. Also no sexual side effects and no weight gain either. I just feel like me again!
Julie says
Mitzi, that’s awesome! I think if they’d taken me off of the other SSRI’s I was on I probably would have done well with it, but that wasn’t the case. Now, I’m working to get off all of them (and as many of meds as I can). Actually, I am off all of the SSRI’s now. I’ve been off of Savella for almost 3 weeks now and doing excellent.
Lona Shepherd says
I have been on Viibryd now for over 4 months. 3 of those at 40 mg. I have to say when I switched from Lexapro to Viibryd it was a nightmare and I had mood swings extremely bad. Finally I leveled out and things were looking well in the beginning. I have had an emotionally stressful year so I wanted to try something different. Since being at 40 mg for over 3 months, I seem to have lost sight of myself. I do not have extreme emotions, true, but this also means no true laughter, happiness, joy. I seem to just go through the day and if I get upset or mad about something, I can really blow it out of proportion. That’s not me! So I have talked to my doctor and I am slowly going back off to see who I really have become after being on anti-depressants for awhile and the go from there. I will not sacrifice joy so there will be no tears. I recommend a very slow withdrawal, if I miss meds by just an hour or two it can effect my emotions. Mostly irritability. This medicine effects me like that alot. Someone is always asking me, have you taken your meds? Ugh! Yes! So, I have decided to reclaim me! For me God is part if not all of that! Good luck to all of you out there and God Bless!
HunchMonkey says
I took 20 mg of Lexapro for 12 years with no problems. My GP sent me to a shrink because I was having marital problems and thought it might be time to switch meds. The shrink put me on Cymbalta and I spent 3 days in the hospital with severe stomach pain which ended up bing liver problems. The shrink immediatly switched me to viibryd. I’m on day 7 of the starter pack and feel like I’m crawling out of my skin. And that’s only at 10 mg. Has anyone else experienced this?
VibrydUser says
Yes my full story is posted somewhere above but viibryd consistently made me feel terrible and on edge all the time. I was not able to sleep and snapped at everything. But I had a doc who had me take 10 mg for a week, 29 mg for a week, and then 40 for the rest. I only made it about a month before deciding it wasn’t worth it but she had me withdraw in THREE WEEKS. Now I’m really crawling out of my skin and honestly don’t know how ill make it through this next week…
Julie says
Jillybeanish – since they are both serotonin based you really shouldn’t take them both together. If you haven’t tried Savella, I’d try it first and see how you do with it before trying Viibryd.
jillybeanish says
I too am reading all the forum information because I need to try something different – I just can’t decide if it should be savella or viibryd. I also have fibro as well as depression and anxiety. It appears that taking savella and viibryd won’t be an option.
Traci says
I really hope your optimism is warranted. I am debating trying this stuff but cannot tolerate even less energy, more confusion, sleep disturbances and the idea of daily dhiarea and nausea even for a few days is making me want to puke right now. I went off all my old meds because of long term side effects and little or no improvement in the depression over 20 years. Yeah, I am no quitter. Thanks for your input.
Julie says
For those hitting this page, without reading my full blog I wanted to share the rest of the story.
My journey with Viibryd ended shortly after I hit the max dosage. Evidently, I was getting too much Serotonin since I was also still on Savella for my Fibro. The second day on the full dosage of Viibryd I ended up in the ER with chest pains and found out my blood pressure was high. Over the next week it remained extremely high until my Dr took me off the Viibryd. She agreed that it may have been a slight case of Serotonin Syndrome (I was also starting to have muscle twitches again and some other symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome).
Since then, I’ve come off all anti-depressants and am back to just my basic Fibro meds and I’m doing ok. I’ve been making an effort to get out more and see people and spend time with friends. That has helped way more than any med ever did. For those finding my blog for the Viibryd review, I wish you luck. I do think this is a good med and I think had I not had the interaction issue I might have done well on it. If you are considering it, I’d give it a try.
Misty Goering says
Savella caused my blood pressure to go up *really* high and it wasn’t working for me at all so the doctor took me off of it and put me on Viibryd. I have only been on the Viibryd 7 days at 10 mg and I haven’t noticed a n y t h i n g — no side effects and not ‘feeling’ any better. I will start taking 20 mg tonight and then I’ll see my doctor again at the end of the month. I really hope that it helps me because I am really needing to get my life back. Thank you for sharing your story.
Julie says
Are you still taking Vybrid? If so, how is it working for you?
VibrydUser says
I took Lexapro for about two yrs and loved it…until it stopped working. When I talked to my doctor she immediately switched me to Viibryd, claiming it had little side effects and would help give me my libido back. The first week was miserable with nauseau and headaches and I stopped sleeping at night for the whole time I was taking it. There was no change in libido and I was actually more irritable and depressed than before. I finally decided if I was gonna be depressed on the meds I might as well go back to being depressed off them and hey maybe i’d even develop another eating disorder and lose all the weight i’d gained on viibryd. I told the doc and she gave me another starter pack so I could wean myself off the same way I got on. What bothers me about that is that I went straight from lexapro to the 10 mg of viibryd with no withdrawals, so shouldn’t I still be weaning from there? I haven’t been for the last week cuz well I have no more med and it has been TERRIBLE. I keep having breakdowns and flipping out and I’m SO DIZZY. I wish my doc knew what she was doing because I don’t know how much longer I can handle this. If you haven’t taken viibryd yet be very careful with it!
Julie Ryan says
Most everything I’ve read and heard from Drs is that there is no “weaning” period needed if you are going from drug to another, only if you are coming off entirely.
I’m sorry you are going through all of this, I hope you find something that works.
halloweenchick2 says
Thanks for all the info. I, too have had interactions with meds, which may explain why he’s tapering me off and stopping another med while I start this one. I haven’t had much luck with any of my meds. I either have bad side effects or they don’t work at all. I hate changing meds.
can be very hard on me weaning off the old ones.
Julie says
Yeah me too. So far it’s really helped my anxiety. I’ve only had one day of breakthrough anxiety where I needed to take some xanex. I’m hoping that stays the same when I upgrade again at the end of the week.
Becky says
ooooo…anxiety is already too much of a problem for me! At least you are getting some temporary relief and feeling a bit better for now!
Julie says
The lack of longterm success I’m seeing via updates on http://www.chipur.com have me a little worried. I really hope it continues to work for me. We’ll see what happens next week when I try to go up to 40mg. I’m seeing a lot of people reporting an increase in anxiety the longer they take it, which worries me, as well as a decrease in the sex drive at the higher doses.
Jackie Diosomito says
Just started this med.. On day 4 of the dose pack. You’re info is greatly appreciated. Did you take it at night or in the morning? I already have trouble with insomnia and am taking it in the AM.. My Doc said try taking it at night?? I just hope it works!! And .. Hope you continue feeling great’
Julie says
I don’t recall whether I was taking it in the morning or at night. I am now off all anti-depressants, thanks to major changes in my diet. Please read my more recent posts in my blog. Thanks to removing gluten and dairy, I’ve been feeling so much better overall.
josh Holbrook says
This stuff gives me terrific sweating episodes. Yeah the drug makes you happy like kid again but the sweats.. Scary
halloweenchick2 says
My doc just changed me to this med and I will start it tomorrow. I’ve had trouble with certain meds causing excessive(to the extreme) sweating, especially at night and I hope I don’t have that side effect. Thanks for the warning. He didn’t even tell me any side effects, i’m having to look them up. Nervous about the stomach upset effects, as I’m on meds for GERD and also have IBS as part of my Fibro. Don’t know why he changed me from my old med,m as I thought it was working. and he took me off my muscle relaxer when I told him my muscle spasms, cramps and tremors were getting worse. ??? Just want to get through this ’til my follow up visit, as I’ll be seeing the NP at that one, and she has a pain disorder herself and can relate better than the other dr.
Becky says
Thanks for the update, I’m so happy for you and hope it continues to work. If it does… I may give it a try too! 🙂