Viibryd: An updated user’s journal

should i try viibryd

Well, it’s finally here. Millions of people have placed a lot of hope in Viibryd. And who could blame them? It’s touted as a revolutionary antidepressant with an excellent side effects profile…

I began writing about Viibryd (vilazodone) four months ago. It hit pharmacy shelves last week, and now the rubber meets the road.

How ’bout we keep a running journal of your experiences with Viibryd. You comment on the articles (including this one) and I’ll do the updating in this piece. I’ll also chime in with info I find important.

What we’ve learned about Viibryd

Thanks to your hard work, sacrifice, and sharing (and a smidge of my research) we’re learning things about Viibryd on a daily basis. Let’s get after it (in no particular order)…

  • A heads-up effective July 2: I’m reading more and more comments detailing lower GI issues (cramps, diarrhea, bloating, etc.), feeling spacey, sluggishness, fatigue, and headache. Remember, Viibryd directly influences serotonin and is a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist. Some 80% of our serotonin supply is located in the gut, where it’s used to regulate intestinal movements. 5-HT1A receptor agonists decrease blood pressure and heart rate. I don’t believe these symptoms will be permanent for most, but given the action of the med it’s gonna’ take some getting used to.
  • From Viibryd’s Precscribing Info – “Viibryd should be taken with food. Administration without food can result in inadequate drug concentrations and may diminish effectiveness…The absolute bioavailability of vilazodone is 72% with food. Administration of Viibryd with food (high fat or light meal) increases oral bioavailability…”
  • A reader’s psychiatrist recommends taking Viibryd in the a.m.
  • There’s a lot of med-switching going on. That we know of so far, new Viibryd users are leaving behind Effexor, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro…
  • Psychiatrists have been hesitant to prescribe it because they’ve never heard of it (the fact that some haven’t heard of it continues to amaze me). Several have demanded a two month wait. Many readers have found new psychiatrists. By the way, I wonder how much of the hesitance is grounded in psychiatrist’s $$$ relationships with other Big Pharma firms.
  • Psychiatric nurse practitioners may be a prescribing alternative
  • Many worldwide are placing their hopes in Viibryd. I’ve received emails from readers from Australia, Pakistan, the US, and the UK.
  • International availability is up in the air. However, Viibryd is listed on internationalpharmacy.com
  • I feel badly for our Pakistani reader. Pakistan won’t allow internationalpharmacy.com to ship. Any ideas? Let us know.
  • In a July 8 email to me from the Viibryd launch team – “…Forest does not have plans at this time to expand Viibryd’s approval beyond the US.”
  • Most new Viibryd users are being started on 10mg with a goal of moving up to 40mg asap
  • A 30-day supply of 40mg Viibryd is $156.99 at Walgreen’s (US) – $470.89 for a 90 day supply. In New York City, with insurance, an unknown dosage and supply (I’m thinking 10mg for 30 days) went for $60. A chipur reader from Florida got a price of $50 with Humana insurance before getting a sample package.
  • For info regarding Forest Pharmaceuticals’ (a subsidiary of Forest Labs) prescription assistance program call 800.851.0758. Or you can click here and download an assistance application. A reader shares you get your doc to sign it, send it in, and a three month’s supply will be sent to the doc’s office.
  • Viibryd and vilazodone are listed on Medco Pharmacy’s med roster (medcopharmacy.com/866.830.3883). I’m being told Viibryd is “covered.”
  • Sample packets are available.
  • A reduction (elimination) in sexual side effects seems to be the #1 reason people are looking to Viibryd.
  • Reports are coming in of ramped-up libido and sexual sensitivity. Resolution to delayed ejaculation issue (including intensity) has also been reported.
  • A reader’s psychiatrist suggested Viibryd may work well for anxiety. Another reader has reported a reduction in anxiety. Yet another is reporting some assistance with OCD.
  • Some are reporting having a bit of difficulty with initiating sleep – nap and nighttime.
  • We’re getting some reports of weight gain and increased appetite – some especially for sweets.
  • I’m going to say it again and again. Everyone’s experience with Viibryd will be different. And I really believe many of the negative symptoms we’re hearing about may well decrease or disappear over time. Of course, some will not – and Viibryd won’t be the drug of choice for everyone. It’s understandable that anyone who’s turned to Viibryd for relief will be watching their progress and side effects like a hawk – there’s just so much at stake. I’m suggesting, keep your hypersensitivity and subjectivity in mind as you formulate and act upon your opinions and judgments.

Let’s close

So, we’re off and running. I’ll keep this update piece crankin’ as long as you contribute (comment or email). I’m thinking there’s a lot more to come…

In the meantime, watch your meds switching/initiating strategies and techniques (work closely with your psychiatrist/physician). And continue to see your counselor and maintain those healthy lifestyle habits.

Though in most cases an amazing gift, meds aren’t the total answer.

Hey, be sure to read the tons of comments below.

As long as you’re here, why not review the hundreds of Chipur titles?

  • Dschell June 23, 2011, 12:59 pm

    I have been on Elavil, Zoloft, Remeron, Lexapreo and now Pristiq. Every one has caused sse. Would wellbutrin and Remeron decrease these sse or would i be better off trying the new viibrtyd?

    • chipur June 23, 2011, 3:28 pm

      I appreciate your visit and comment, Dschell. Off all the antidepressants, Wellbutrin (bupropion) has the fewest sexual side effects. Re Remeron (mirtazapine), I’m not so sure re sexual side effects; however, I have to wonder because it has a sedating quality like trazodon (Desyrel) – and it manipulates serotonin. By the way, Wellbutrin doesn’t influence serotonin, which is likely why the sexual side effects are fewer.

      • Bonnielpeters June 23, 2011, 5:01 pm

        Just wondering how one would get the sample packs?  My psychiatrist says no one has been by with samples.  Also, is there going to be any prescription assistance?  I am currently taking Pristiq and have a card which provides savings of 50%

      • chipur June 23, 2011, 6:05 pm

        First of all, thank you for visiting chipur and commenting. To my knowledge there’s no other way to get a sample packet but through your psychiatrist or physician. He/she can contact their rep to get samples. Here’s the number for Forest Labs prescription assistance: 800.851.0758. Please let us know what you find out, okay?

      • Rosemary July 10, 2011, 8:47 pm

        my doctor stopped receiving lexapro samples and has now been getting viibryd which is really the only reason I’m switching.  He says the reps are getting around and pretty soon most docs will have it.  nag your doc

      • Rosemary July 10, 2011, 8:47 pm

        my doctor stopped receiving lexapro samples and has now been getting viibryd which is really the only reason I’m switching.  He says the reps are getting around and pretty soon most docs will have it.  nag your doc

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:14 pm

        Being a good “nag” has its upside.

        I received an email from a psychiatrist last week – he puts it well. “My patient is the CEO, I’m a consultant.” Run the by your docs!!!

      • Sherri July 22, 2011, 4:27 pm

        I also was taken off of Lexapro because my doctor was supplying me with what my insurance wouldn’t cover.  I’ve been taking 40 mg.of Lexapro for years.  I was abruptly taken off of the Lexapro and started on Viibryd.  I was supplied with the starter pack and a coupon for my first months supply.  I am currently on day 11 which is still the 20 mg. so I have a while to go before being on the recommended 40mg per day.  Well, back to abruptly being taken off of the Lexapro. I’ve been experiencing some of the worst withdrawal of my life.  I won’t go into the dreadful details, but please, if any of you have to go off of a SSRI or any other psych med, do it slowly.  I knew better, but thought that since I was starting the Viibryd immediately, the side affects would be minimal.  I was very wrong.  I have even been considering checking myself into the psychiatric hospital.  Unfortunately, I can’t say much about the Viibryd at this point, but will report back in a few weeks when I have more of the drug in my system.  Sherri

      • chipur July 22, 2011, 10:57 pm

        Thanks for visiting and participating, Sherri.

        Bammo! Right? SSRI cessation can be a fanny-kicker. Hey, if you feel you need an inpatient psychiatric stay, so be it. But don’t know if your insurance carrier will okay it (hope so).

        We’ll be here for you as you continue on. Please keep us posted, okay?

        Bill

      • Ginny July 23, 2011, 3:18 am

        Hang in there, Sherry! My thoughts go out to you as I too hav experienced horrible withdrawals from Cymbalta. In fact, they were so bad I just went back on Cymbalta just to make it stop. I’m rooting for you! BLESSINGS

      • chipur July 23, 2011, 7:32 pm

        You know it seems like only yesterday that duloxetine (Cymbalta) was the “all that.” “Wow, a dual reuptake inhibitor,” we all thought.

        Thanks for your visit and comment, Ginny…

      • Paula July 26, 2011, 10:11 am

        Hello Sherri, I tapered off Lexapro in one week, i.e. went from 20 mg for 7 yrs to 10 mg for a week and immediately began my Viibryd 30 day pack.  Well, I’m on day 4 of the “wonder med” and have had diarrhea for the first 2 days, then today felt my heart racing, chest hurting, gastro disturbances, and was so dizzy (“whooshing in my head) I could hardly stand.  I don’t know if it’s coming off the Lexapro or starting the Viibryd.  All this is to say that tonight I took 10 mg of Lexapro in an attempt to gain some control of this until I can call my Dr. in the am.  I did not know Viibryd was touted so highly, (never heard of it until my Dr. gave me the sample pack in attempt to get better results than Lexapro) so I had no grand illusions about it.  Now I’m afraid of it.  I thought tapering one week off the Lexapro was enough, but perhaps not. It seems you are having a rough time getting off of it.   Now I feel very let down as just going to 10 mg of Lexapro greatly lessened sexual side effects.  I read one could expect even better results with Viibryd.  What to do now?  I would like to keep trying it but I’m only on 10 mg, a lonnnng way before 40 mg.  I’ll talk to my Dr. when his office opens.  I’m very disappointed in the SE of Viibryd at early outset. Gee, I hate to throw in the towel on a drug with promise, but don’t know if I can keep going like this, can hardly function.  Will try to post again with what I decide.  Thanks for listening.
        Paula

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 3:32 pm

        Hi Paula! Welcome to chipur and thank you for your participation.

        I’m sorry you’re having a tough time with Viibryd. Good idea – chatting with your doc. Would you mind checking back in and sharing some insight with us???

        Bill

      • Pd Neko August 3, 2011, 4:16 am

        Those side effects are exactly what happens to me when I miss a couple of doses of Lexapro. I am starting the Viibryd today…we’ll see how it goes.

      • chipur August 3, 2011, 6:02 pm

        …and we’ll be here to read your reports, and help in any way we can! Thank you for visiting and participating…

        Bill

      • Katie August 4, 2011, 3:44 pm

        Hi Paula. I’m on day 1 of Viibryd – 10mg. I have been taking Lexapro for 6 years, been on 30mg the last few. My dr. is doing one week of 20mg for the Lexapro weaning, then one week of 10mg. Maybe just one week was not long enough? I know Lexapro withdraw can be nasty. Keeping my fingers crossed about this new med…Good luck to you.

      • K.M. August 10, 2011, 9:29 am

        I started this med about 3 days ago and have not been on anything else for about 4 months…It is making me feel beyond dizzy and I too have diarrhea…hopefully like you said it will go away soon.  I take it at night because I have always taking my antidepressants at that time to avoid sleepiness…but I felt like WOW….my kids and husband were laughing at the sluggish goofy things that were coming out of my mouth…look forward to see what you say.

      • chipur August 10, 2011, 3:43 pm

        Thanks for your visit and comment, KM. Nice of your family to be so – well – supportive. At least there’s a spirit of humor in the midst of a not so funny situation.

        My bet is you’ll see some relief and I hope you keep us posted.

        Bill

      • Solson50 August 12, 2011, 2:37 pm

        My Dr. took me off Lexapro over a month’s time while I started with the lowest dosage of Viibryd. Slowly went down on Lexapro and up on Viibryd. Had no side effects whatsoever. I think that’s the way to do it. Hopefully you’ll feel better soon.

      • Tap Dancer August 23, 2011, 4:54 pm

        Sherri,
        I just read your information on line and my doctor gave me Viibryd. I haven’t taken it yet because I scared of it. Can you please tell me how you are doing since you have been on it? I am currently taking sertraline and it is not doing anything for me

      • chipur August 23, 2011, 7:33 pm

        Hi Sherri…

        Appreciate your visit and comment. I’ll tell ya’, there are tons of “how are you doing” comments here.

        Please continue to post…

        Bill

      • Tap Dancer August 23, 2011, 4:54 pm

        Sherri,
        I just read your information on line and my doctor gave me Viibryd. I haven’t taken it yet because I scared of it. Can you please tell me how you are doing since you have been on it? I am currently taking sertraline and it is not doing anything for me

      • Solson50 August 12, 2011, 2:32 pm

        My psych nurse practioner has given me two one month’s supply of Viibryd so it is out there. I am having better moods with it than i did with Lexapro. Some gastrointestinal distress but nothing I can’t live with. I also take buproprion but she will be swiching that  to Abilify. Got a card for a years discount on them. Good luck….you may want to ask why your Dr. isn’t getting any samples. Mine has had them since they were approved.  Good Luck!

      • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:46 pm

        Great input, Solson50. Thanks for your visit and participation.

        Glad all is going well thus far. Would you mind sharing more detail on the “card for a years discount?”

        Bill

      • JaniceRose June 28, 2011, 3:01 am

        Hi Chipur,
        Update: Day 8 and so far each day had terrible headaches, tired and diarreha. Trouble sleeping from day one, on day two took at night, much worse. So went back to mornings and still felt tired, so on day 3 added 75 mg. of welbutin and that seemed to help a bit with the lack of energy.

        Today is the first day I didn’t take welbutrin and the first day I didn’t feel tired all day. Actually felt pretty good. Definitely am behaving more social, never felt that on other AD medication and I have taken the gammet.

        Good news is the sexual feeling is coming back, not the desire yet, but I can pray. Yippee. For the real bad news as far as I’m concerned. They say it is weight neutral but I have been gaining weight this week. This is not usually a problem for me but I was interested in this med because of the lack of sexual and weight issues.

        Is anyone else finding that they are gaining weight or feeling more like eating? I don’t think it’s just not being depressed, it almost feels like when I was on the earlier antidepressants, I’d take one and just gain weight. Didn’t happen to me with effexor or welbutrin.
        Please fill me if anyone else is having this problem.
        Thanks,
        Janicerose

      • Gregory June 28, 2011, 5:19 pm

        Yes. For me there is a increase in the need for sweets.

        Being mindful of that and keeping fruit around.

      • chipur June 29, 2011, 2:10 am

        Smart move, Greg…

      • D.D. August 28, 2011, 12:37 am

        Like Gregory, I am suddenly avid for sweets and I’m not usually a sweet eater. I’m also diabetic so this is a real problem for me. Been on Viibryd about two weeks and am having to take a nap every day and am tired all the time, Also dizzy and spacy a bit. I was planning to drop it and go back to Effexor, particularly re the spaciness. I’ve tried about 80% of the SSRI’s as well as Effexor and all of them make my ADD problems a million times worse. My shrink said he’d never had another patient who complained of concentration problems  but it was a relief to read on this site that cognitive functions suffer from SSRI’s. His comment made me feel like I was imagining things, but the comments here about interference with learning,etc made me feel more normal. I mean, without a stimulant to counteract I actually cannot read on any antidepressant and reading is the solace of my life. Can  I ask if anyone who also has ADD is on a medication that does not make it worse? No wonder I have 0 respect for doctors. This guy doesn’t know enough about the meds he prescribes so he tosses off a comment that makes me feel like a freak.  But like I said, I was going to give up on Viibryd but the possibility of it being less disruptive of cognitive functions will keep me going a while longer..But the food cravings and tiredness will have to go.

      • chipur June 29, 2011, 2:24 am

        I’m hoping some chipur readers will chime in on the weight gain/eating piece, Janicerose. I sure appreciate your update and hope you’ll continue to participate…

      • rosemary July 10, 2011, 8:50 pm

        I gained twenty pounds on lexapro.  tried to cut in half for that reason and it was a disaster.  I am in the process of switching over and I don’t feel an increased appetite.  In fact I don’t feel much like eating. 

      • rosemary July 10, 2011, 8:50 pm

        I gained twenty pounds on lexapro.  tried to cut in half for that reason and it was a disaster.  I am in the process of switching over and I don’t feel an increased appetite.  In fact I don’t feel much like eating. 

      • Terri July 2, 2011, 1:35 pm

        Yes, I’m eating more.  I believe it is because I have headaches and I’m trying to make the headaches go away by eating.  Tylonol is helping a little with the headaches.  Am switching from Cymbalta to Ziibryd because of efficacy issues.  Transition is rougher than expected.  I’m on day 8. 

      • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:38 pm

        Hang tough, Terri. We’ll be here for you. Keep in touch for support…

      • JT in DC July 3, 2011, 4:18 pm

        Terri — check out some of the data out there on Tylenol and other pain meds affecting anti-depressants. They reduce the effectiveness of anti-depressants. I’m sure Bill might be able to add some more info….

      • chipur July 3, 2011, 5:32 pm

        Good catch, JT. I’m going to provide two links to chipur articles. The first one discusses NSAIDs squashing the effects of SSRIs https://chipur.com/2011/04/29/nsaids-squash-the-effects-of-ssris/ And go figure, I did this piece just a few days ago – after reading a report that anti-inflammatories are effective antidepressant add-ons. https://chipur.com/2011/07/01/antiinflammatories-for-depression-yeah-okay/ Interesting stuff. I’m thinking the anti-inflammatories referred to in the second piece are not non-steroidal. Hmmm…

      • edward July 14, 2011, 8:14 am

        Please note that Tylenol is not an NSAID.  It is used for pain and fever.  It does not treat inflammation.  If Terri is getting headache relief, Tylenol is a good choice.

      • Judy in CA August 25, 2011, 7:19 pm

        Thanks Bill
        one does have to be scratching their heads at this point but you pointing out upper GI Bleeds with Sr.s is helpful to me b/c of ulcer i had and healed with treatment of a abx that then caused C-Diff. But………we keep limping forward don’t we. I do appreciate your research as i’m so tired of doing it for so many years. Thanks again.
        Judy

      • chipur August 26, 2011, 12:35 am

        ;)

      • Passionflower July 14, 2011, 5:42 pm

        Hi,
           I’m on day 2 I have taken in the mornings feel tired, but based on post decided that it woudn’t help with my sleep. Are you on 40mgs yet? Has the tiredness left you yet?

      • Mike August 25, 2011, 5:39 pm

        I started Viibryd 17 days ago, using the sample pack. I weened off of Lexapro 40 over 2 weeks. I noticed a decreased appetite, which is good, as I always felt hungry on prior meds, Haven’t lost any weight, which would have been nice, but haven’t gained any.

  • kcgirl_58 June 25, 2011, 3:36 am

    Hi. I have been taking Lexapro 20mg for many years along with clonazepam for the last year for anxiety. I started taking Viibryd yesterday. And stopped the Lexapro. I usually take my lexapro at night so I took the viibryd when I ate dinner because the directions indicate to take it with food. I did not sleep very well last night.  Today at work I felt a little lost, could not focus on anything or concentrate. I took it again tonight we will see what happens tomorrow. I am a nurse so it is critical that I do not miss anything. I looked for forums on the internet your website is the only place I was able to get any information. Besides the Viibryd website. So far nobody has anything posted anything on the web about side effects. And I was able to get a sample packet from my psychiatrist it is a thirty day packet that titrates the dose every week.  One of my concerns is I tried abilify with the lexapro and it did nothing but give me a headache and a new pill to take. 

    • chipur June 25, 2011, 8:40 pm

      Hi kcgirl! Thank you for your visit and comment. Glad chipur could provide information for you. Well, looks like we’re all going to learn about Viibryd together – side effects, efficacy, etc. I’m really hoping you’ll keep us updated re your experience – it’s important! Yeah, the Abilify thing. I’m sure it’s indicated as an SSRI augmenting agent for many – but who wants to take an antipsychotic if it isn’t necessary? Again, thank you for visiting and participating…

      • Tracymathes August 5, 2011, 12:48 pm

        HI…I am on day 4 of Viibryd.  i have been taking prozac for years.  My dr. just thought this may be a perfect drug for me.  i don’t have too many priblems with prozac other than sex drive and wondering if it really effective.  I have been experiencing headaches and dizziness and fatique.  Not sure if it is def. from Vib but not sure i wanna keep going with it and risk more side effects and also the huge price tag on it!!  hmmm…think I may bail!  I HATE fatique more than anything!!!

      • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:46 pm

        Excellent input! And thank you for your chipur visit. Couldn’t blame you one bit, though four days doesn’t an experience make. But, hey – your dime your dance floor! Will you let us know which way it goes?

        Bill

    • michellelee s June 29, 2011, 8:07 am

      I started taking Viibryd today (well, more like 8 minutes ago) and just read the pamphlet that came with my sample and it says “Viibryd can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly.”  That’s probably not much of a help for actually dealing with it but at least it’s a known side effect).  If it gets really bad you should report it to the FDA (1.800.FDA.1088), not to be mean or make them take it off the shelves or anything but since it’s so new the more info they get about “real” people’s reactions (not the clinical trials) the better.  If I’m not mistaken the FDA kind of keeps track of that stuff and if enough people report it they’ll make the company issue a stronger statement about it so people can make a more informed decision about if they want to take it (i.e. I opted not to take Prozac because of how common sexual side effects are and took Welbutrin instead, sorry for TMI)

      • chipur June 30, 2011, 4:37 am

        There’s no such thing as TMI on chipur. You had something on your mind and you expressed it well. I think it’s a good idea to keep the FDA informed of unusually nasty side effects. And your Prozac example is perfect. Not only a well informed choice on what not to take – but you found a med you knew had very few SSEs. Good research!

        Thanks for your visit and comment, michellelee…

        Bill

    • Kevin Anderson July 5, 2011, 3:40 pm

      Hi kcgirl,

      Sounds to me like you may be getting withdrawal from the lexapro. I’m not sure you can just stop taking one med and start another, as there will be withdrawal effects from the last, and startup effects from the new one.

      If you look online for lexapro withdrawal there are many discussions on it.

      • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:34 pm

        Nice input, Kevin. I mean, who knows. Certainly the elimination half-life of Lexapro has to be taken into account in terms of cessation ick – but then the Viibryd is crankin’ up serotonin stores, as well. My best advice is to keep in touch with one’s prescribing physician – and stick to the agreed upon protocol. Thanks for your participation. It all helps…

    • D.D. August 28, 2011, 12:44 am

      I would especially like to hear folks’ comments re Viibryd’s anti-anxiety success, since I take an antidepressant mostly for its anti-anxiety functions.  Thanks.

  • JT in DC June 25, 2011, 1:07 pm

    Does anybody use Medco (or forced to use Medco) as their pharmacy? I did a search for both viibryd and vilazodone on the Medco site and it said that no medication could be found with this name.

    • chipur June 25, 2011, 8:33 pm

      Hi JT. Thank you for your visit and comment. I called Medco customer service at 866.830.3883. The customer service rep told me Viibryd and vilazodone are both listed on their roster.

  • Trevor June 25, 2011, 9:04 pm

    Day 4 on Viibryd.  Kcgirl58’s comment about not sleeping very well when she took it at night sounds familiar.  While I haven’t taken mine before bed yet–I will tonight–I have noticed that when I try to nap in the middle of day or sleep at night, it’s not that easy to fall asleep.  Will take Benadryl tonight with my Viibryd to help induce drowsiness. 

    • chipur June 26, 2011, 2:53 pm

      Thanks for the heads-up, Trevor. I think I’ll put the sleep issue on the update list.

      • rosemary July 10, 2011, 8:52 pm

        also clear vivid weird dreams

  • Greg June 27, 2011, 6:33 am

    Hi guys,

    First off, I wanted to say that Forest Labs is not really marketing this new little pill until Lexapro goes Generic. They don’t want to kill off sales just yet. They also don’t want to sell a ton of Viibryd in order to pay less to Clinical Labs which they bought out. With that said, is it any wonder your finding most info here on this site about Viibryd? For the next year, Viibryd will be mostly marketing via word of mouth from seekers such as us looking for a better AD with a good side effect profile.

    I am on day 12 with Viibryd. I am hesitant to give a full review as I am slowly going off of my Klonopin. (and that sucks) I owe the Viibryd for giving me the confidence to do so. It seems to give me less withdrawal symptoms. It’s still a bit painful however.

    All in all, I’m liking the Viibryd. My sex drive is not totally back, but I have had some feeling back and that’s a good sign. (This is the main reason for myself having interest in Viibyrd)

    I’ll post more soon,

    Greg

    • chipur June 27, 2011, 4:18 pm

      Thanks, Greg! You’re a loyal reporter and it’s appreciated. Good catch on Forest’s strategy. Incidentally, they also market Celexa. Keep us updated…

  • Trevor June 27, 2011, 2:40 pm

    Day 5 on Viibryd, 20mg.  My sex drive is fairly restored already.  And no delayed ejaculation. Forgive me if I’m being  too specific here, but I even shoot a bit further. When I make it up to 40 mg, I’ll be sure report if this remains the case.  

    Constipation from Cymbalta all but a memory.  

    • chipur June 27, 2011, 4:14 pm

      Great info, Trevor. Okay, it’s a bit graphic – but, hey, how else are we going to know the facts? Right? I’ll add your info to the formal list in the piece…

  • Sashazad1 June 27, 2011, 3:47 pm

    hi,
      how can pakistani people get viibryd,Ablify and buspar reduces my anxiety but not powerful i did read chipur’s articles about viibryd that it is very powerful,internationalpharmacy in thier list pakistan not mentioned so they deny

    • chipur June 27, 2011, 4:09 pm

      Hi Sashazad! I’m very concerned about your situation and have tried to find ways for you to secure Viibryd. So far I’ve not succeeded. If anyone can help Sashazad, please chime in. Thank you…

  • Karriewright June 27, 2011, 4:31 pm

    I was just curious if the 156.99 price at Walgreens was after or insurance or without it. Does anyone know if most insurance companies are approving this med? I have blue cross blue shield. Thanks! I’m very hopeful to learn more!!!

    • chipur June 27, 2011, 5:48 pm

      Hi Karrie – welcome to chipur and thank you for your comment. My understanding is the price you mentioned is without insurance. We got a report from a woman in New York City who secured Viibryd for $60 with insurance. So I’m thinking it’s covered (at least by some insurance companies).

      • Nader_jwd June 27, 2011, 6:54 pm

        Im currently on Celexa for anxiety and 1 month into it I dont feel much. Im always sweating, irratible etc. Ive tried countless antidepressents and the only one that seems to work is effexor xr but ive had a poop out effect. Is Viibryd a SSRI or does it fall under the same category as Effexor
        ? Weight gain?

      • chipur June 28, 2011, 1:54 am

        Hi Nader_jwd! Viibryd is indeed an SSRI. However, it’s also a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist. Effexor influences serotonin and norepinephrine. Viibryd doesn’t directly kick norepinephrine. Thanks for your visit and comment…

      • Karriewright June 29, 2011, 11:18 pm

        Thank you! So glad I found this webiste!

      • chipur June 30, 2011, 3:42 am

        I’m glad you found it, as well. So keep coming back, okay? Thanks! Bill

      • Jan Stacey August 19, 2011, 11:10 pm

        I’m currently on the maximum dose of Effexor, with 10 mg of Abilify daily.  I’ve been taking them for years.  I am very depressed lately, and I’m interested in Viibryd.  I can hardly function.  I am wondering if MediCare pays for Viibryd, as it does my Effexor and Abilify. (I have a small co-pay with those meds)  Thank you.

      • chipur August 20, 2011, 1:20 am

        Hi JS…

        My gut feeling is Medicare will pay for Viibryd. But I’m thinking it depends on what plan you have. Here’s a link to a good place to start. http://plancompare.medicare.gov/pfdn/FormularyFinder/LocationSearch#

        Bill

  • Mma047 June 27, 2011, 8:28 pm

    I am a physician assistant in family medicine. The drug reps are out in full force promoting Viibryd now. They have been telling us for months that they would no longer be sampling Lexapro anymore becasue it was going generic. (most of suspected that a “new and improved version” or something new as coming down the line) Low and behold Viibryd is now here. Lexapro won’t go generic until Jan. of 2012. I am interested on how it works and the patients side effects. Check with your family provider to see if the medicine might be right for you. They may have more samples availble in the next few weeks.

    • chipur June 28, 2011, 1:58 am

      Great input, Mma – from a valuable perspective. I sure appreciate your visit and participation. Any updates down the road would be welcomed…

  • Anonymous June 27, 2011, 9:56 pm

    i just started a combination of xanax/viibryd…i haven’t had any problems at all.regardless of if i take the xanax before bed, i have no trouble sleeping. the delayed ejaculation that i experienced with previous anti-depressants (zoloft, wellbutrin) is definitely no longer an issue, which is great. i feel a bit more drive to get out and do things as well. im only up to 20 mg a day, but so far, so good.

    • chipur June 28, 2011, 2:03 am

      Hi Mattleeeeee (I counted the e’s)…

      Super information. And I’m really glad to hear your sexual side effect has resolved, as well as feeling a bit more – well – chipur. Thanks for your visit and comment…

      Bill

  • Matt June 27, 2011, 10:34 pm

    Just recently started taking this medication (on day 6) for MDD. Other than Diarrhea and head aches, I have seen no change except I can hardly stay awake when im at work and I cannot sleep when Im in bed.. I’ll give it a full month, and ill try to remember and keep you guys updated on Chipur if you would like

    – Matt, first Chipur reply

    • chipur June 28, 2011, 1:49 am

      Hi Matt…

      Sure appreciate your chipur visit and comment. Your updates are important to all who stop by, so keep it going if you will.

      Sure, sounds like things have gotten off to a slow start, but I’m glad to read you’re giving it a full month’s go. We’ll be here for you…

      Bill

    • chipur June 28, 2011, 1:49 am

      Hi Matt…

      Sure appreciate your chipur visit and comment. Your updates are important to all who stop by, so keep it going if you will.

      Sure, sounds like things have gotten off to a slow start, but I’m glad to read you’re giving it a full month’s go. We’ll be here for you…

      Bill

  • Barney June 28, 2011, 1:19 am

    Been on the drug for 4 days now, it was available at Rite Aid in Upstate NY. Was wondering if it takes 4 to 6 weeks for results common with most anti-depressants?  Good luck all

    • chipur June 28, 2011, 1:44 am

      Hi Barney! Thank you for visiting chipur and commenting. Thanks for your update, by the way. You know, I think 4-6 weeks is fair for a results time frame. In fact, I’d expect a whole lot of results in 4-6 weeks. Of course, you’ll realize some benefit along the way. Nice hearing from you…

    • Poorwhiteguy34 June 28, 2011, 1:49 am

      Probably 2 weeks you’ll see results, 4-6 high efficacy and so on. 

      • chipur June 28, 2011, 2:00 am

        Got my vote, PWG!

  • kayla June 28, 2011, 3:10 am

    Hey my name is Kayla, im 18 years old, and was just perscibed Viibryd 3 days ago. I as diagnosed with Panic Disorder when i was about 14, so its been a tough 4 years. I have been perscribed Cymbalta, Welbutrin, and now i just switched from Lexapro, which i had a horrible reaction too. I was recieving to much Seratonin, which then started causing symptoms of extreme fear and paranoia, not  good at all. So my dr. perscribed Viibryd, and i hope to god it works, its been a really tough road for me, especially since i have been dealing with panic disorder from a very young age. Doc said Viibryd doesn work like the SSRI that i have been taking, so will see how this works. Will keep updated about my journey :)

    • JaniceRose June 28, 2011, 3:27 am

      Kayla,
      Good luck, I know how scary that panic feeling can be. I hope this med helps with that. It is suppose to have antianxiety property but I can’t tell you that I am feeling so calm, like it has made others. Not anxious either, but then again, that’s not one of my big problems.
      Let me know  how it goes for you and if you experience any weight gain. I am concerned about that even though they say it isn’t suppose to cause gain, I am definitely experiencing it.
      Thanks

    • chipur June 29, 2011, 2:20 am

      Hi Kayla!

      Thanks for sharing so much info with us. You know, my first panic attack smacked me upside the head when I was nine. Derealization and the whole nine yards. Panic and generalized anxiety disorder ripped through my life like a knife through butter. But guess what? I won. I’m almost 57 and haven’t messed with over-the-top anxiety for years. So there’s hope, kid! By the way, much more hope than when I was growing up – not nearly as many resources back then. Your doc is correct – Viibryd’s action is different than the current SSRIs. Hang in there, I hope things work out for you, and come to chipur for support…

      Bill

    • Dave M July 26, 2011, 2:12 am

      Kayla,
       
           I admire you for taking control of your panic at such a young age. I had my first attack at 15 while smoking pot (or at least it was supposed to be). It was the most severe attack I ever had and it altered my life drastically. I almost didn’t make it through that day. I was afraid to get help because I didn’t want my parents to know what had triggered my anxiety. I dealt with the problems alone for 10 years until another attack on a flight from NY to Boston (that almost ended with me hopping out the emergency exit) gave me the wake-up call I needed. I only wish I had taken the steps to help myself when I was younger. It’s been an interesting 5 years since then with it’s ups and downs, but life can be “normal” again. I think you’ll find that although our anxiety can make us feel helpless, we build a strength within ourselves that most people will never know.

      Bill,

          Your blog is amazing. The community of support you’ve built here is nothing short of incredible. So many people use forums to be negative, but you’ve created a place where people can be comfortable being constructive and caring. Thank you.

      On the topic of Viibryd, I know most of us have been searching for the magical SSRI that has no sexual side effects. It’s led me to turn my back on them in favor of klonopin for years. Unfortunately I’ve seemed to have hit the wall with benzos and need to give my body a switch. Maybe this drug will be the real deal. I’d like to encourage men who are feeling exaggerated SSEs to have their testosterone checked. I did and it turned out to be quite low. A few injections later and I felt like I imagined a 30 year old should. One pill may not be the complete answer no matter how much we want it to be. It may sting your wallet, but a visit to the endocrinologist can be as beneficial as a trip to the psychiatrist. 
               
      -Dave

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 3:23 pm

        Hi Dave…

        Thank you for your visit and participation – and the kind and encouraging words.

        You know, it’s interesting – I used to participate in forums, doing what I could to help, and – yes – to get the chipur name floating about. But I stopped some time ago because I couldn’t stand the negativity, and I just didn’t see anyone being, shall we say, redirected – much less someone actually committing to some manner of change.

        The length of this “forum” was not intended (don’t get me wrong, I’ll take it!). I mean, it’s actually a comment section, not a forum (which exists here https://chipur.com/forum/ – had to get that in). But I hit a vital piece of subject matter when I began writing about Viibryd this past March – and here we are. I’m just thrilled for everyone this piece turned into what it has.

        The tone of what’s presented here? Well, it’s a very cool bunch of chipur readers! Have I intentionally tried to set said tone? I suppose – but that’s just the way I am, and how I write.

        Again, thank you for such complimentary words!

        Your message to Kayla – and all chipur readers is strong. Ah, another cannabis-generated anxiety veteran. Same happened to me, though my first attacks hit when I was nine.

        I’ll underscore your tip to visit with an endocrinologist. I have twice in my emotional and mental health adventure – nothing found, but you just never know.

        Super post, Dave – and I’m appreciative…

        Bill

  • curiousandexcited June 28, 2011, 8:04 pm

    Hello!
    I just got a sample from my dr…. does this work with dopamine in any way?

    • chipur June 29, 2011, 2:08 am

      Hi Sadie…

      Thank you for your visit and comment. I’m not sure, but you may be referencing bupropion (Wellbutrin). It’s a norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor. To my knowledge, Viibryd does not directly impact dopamine.

      Bill

    • TomS July 1, 2011, 8:40 pm

       I read somewhere that the mechanism of action had a indirect effect and slightly increased dopamine, but most likely to such a subtle degree it might not have any clinical effect.  As Chipur stated, there are quite a few augmenting agents (such as Wellbutrin) that can be added on if you need more of a dopamine boost.

      • chipur July 2, 2011, 5:45 pm

        Thanks for your input, TomS. Re dopamine – here’s a link to wikipedia’s take on it. Very interesting reading – and when we’re looking to impact any of the neurotransmitters that effect mood/anxiety, knowledge is power (especially with so many hucksters out there trying to make on buck on b.s. supplements). It may initially come off as biobabble, but if you take your time with it, it’ll fill in a lot of blanks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

  • Lestigall June 28, 2011, 8:52 pm

    Day one…3 hours serious diarrhea… Twenty eight years of off and on every med that has come out. Drs. put me on and after a year or two I take me off because of side effects. Weight gain, sexual side effects and losing my soul are something I don’t want to spend the rest of my life living with. I hope this can be something I can tolerate longterm.

    • chipur June 29, 2011, 2:01 am

      I’m so sorry you’re having some icky side effects, Lestigall. And losing one’s soul is absolutely out of the question. I hope Viibryd is the med you’ve been longing for. Thank you for your chipur visit and participation…

      Bill

      • Trevor June 29, 2011, 8:55 am

        Day 6 or 7? I’m somewhere around there. Like the many SSRIs before this one, I have little appetite on Viibryd too. I wonder how much more so this will be the case when I go up to 40mg. Not worried, though. Zoloft did the same it’s optimal dose, and it’s kind of nice choosing food without a powerful urge behind each consideration.

        Sexual urges are a different story. I’m desiring like I did when I was in my early 20’s. It’s not a compulsion I can’t switch off or anything but rather a refreshing return of some of that sexual enthusiasm that other ADs had always suppressed. Other ADs not only seemed to reduce sensation in the genitals, but it always felt like the pathways leading to them were narrower. It was also difficult to fantasies because I couldn’t sustain a visual in my head for more than a few seconds. With Viibryd, it’s all improving so far.
        Anxiety: not unless I have too much coffee.
        Sleepy during the day? Nope. And I don’t seem to need more than 1 cup a day. With all the other ADs, I drank it all day long.
        Memory: not perfect but an improvement over Cymbalta.
        Reluctant to go up to 40mg because things are fairly well balanced right now. Will go up to 40mg anyway.
        Best to you all.

  • Horse3333 June 29, 2011, 11:48 am

    is there anyone from florida that have been able to secure viibyrd ty

    • CAROLEE August 15, 2011, 5:46 am

      TO HORSE3333… MY PSYCHIATRIST GAVE ME SAMPLE PACK.& IF I STAY ON IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. MAKE AN APPT. I’M IN FLORIDA.GOOD LUCK. CLEE

  • Whittabitt75 June 29, 2011, 3:06 pm

    First dose of Viibryd yesterday.  And Lestigall was on the money – 3 hours into it, serious diarrhea.  I’m a little nervous about today’s dose.  Definitely waiting to get home before I take it!  I’ve been put on AD’s before but have always been angry about it and stopped taking them as soon as I started feeling like I had a better grip on things. 

    And since I quit smoking 1.5 years ago, the 25 extra pounds that are refusing to budge no matter what, certainly aren’t helping my moods.  I’m defintely NOT interested in taking an AD which will cause weight gain OR sexual side effects.  (I would rather slice off pieces of my own a$$ than take a pill which causes me to gain weight.  So I’ll be watching that VERY closely.  I have finally found a doctor who believes me.)  My doc said I’m her first patient for this med so she’s interested to see how it works as well.  I was glad to be her guinea pig. 

    I’m also a little concerned because chemical dependency is a pattern in my family and I’d like to avoid that if possible.  Not interested in being dependent on any pill, period.  Anyway, the depression/rages are much worse this go around so I guess I’ll take this one for a full year like my doctor wants me to.  As long as I don’t start gaining weight.  Talk about depressing…

    Anyway…thanks for the site.  Obviously user reviews aren’t readily available other places yet…

    No sleep problems for me either (of course, I’m taking ambien for that problem…)

    Glad to know I’m not going crazy,
    W

    • chipur June 30, 2011, 4:24 am

      Hi Whittabitt…

      Great and detailed info. Thank you for your visit and comment. I love it – “I have finally found a doctor who believes me.” Your point is well taken.

      I mentioned this just a bit ago. Why not have your doc check-out these comments – yours and others. What better way to learn about the impact of the med? Hmmm…

      Bill

      • Whittabitt75 June 30, 2011, 1:14 pm

        Thank you and you are most welcome.  Great idea to give my doctor a heads up on this site.  I’ll pass the information along.  Thanks again…

        Day 2 was no problem.  No jogging to the loo…didn’t get “hungry”, but not like I had no appetite – was more like I felt full longer.  So that’s not bad.  Not at all.  I do seem to have a different sort of headache lurking around the edges this morning.  More of a whole head thing instead of localized like usual… (migraines – yay) Still – not anything I can’t deal with.  And I’m hoping, like the OTHER business, it goes away within the next day or so as well. 

        Can’t tell any MOOD differences but I didn’t expect to notice any change on that front yet.  I have asked the hubs to pay attention (poor guy) because I know that slight changes are easier for those around us to notice than for us to notice ourselves. 

        I have felt a little more “scattered” than usual…again, hoping that goes away too.

        Thanks again…
        W

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:30 pm

        ;)

  • TommyJay June 29, 2011, 4:11 pm

    I just wanted to report my experience so far.  I’m on day two of 20 mg after being on 10 mg for a week.  I did have explosive diarrhea on the second day that lasted a few hours, but I haven’t experienced that since (could have been unrelated).  I have felt spacey/sleepy (and somehow kinda speedy at the same time) for the first 4 or 5 days, and feel that way again now that I’ve upped the dose.  I’ve been consistantly bloated since the first day.  No trouble sleeping.  I have a sneaking suspicion that my belly is getting fat, but it is probably too soon for that to be related to the Viibryd.    The spacey/sleepy/speedy feeling also at times comes with a little paranoia.  Not a lot, but more than my usual.  Unfortunately at this point I have yet to feel any therapeutic effect, but it’s early.  None of these side effects are awful, but I will be happy when they go away.  I’ll check in in a few days.  Good luck, all! 

    • Moomsy3 June 29, 2011, 9:26 pm

      I can’t agreee ore with all that you said. I don’t think the belly gain is a coincidence. I never have belly fat and have been proud of a flat stomach most my life with little exercise. Since viibryd (day 10) my stomach is bloated and blubbery in places I neveer saw. I don’t even recognize this shape. What the hell is happening.
       
      I am still on 10 mg. and afraid to go up to 20mg because the spacey feeling has finally left but I do feel very weak, it’s been hard to do my regular exercise. Just don’t feel strong. Also a bit anxiety that I never had on effexor. Dont’ like that.

      As for the sex, better feeling but no desire still. I’ll let you know how it goes in this arena. My mood is pretty good, not depressed but wouldn’t say I’m a ball of happiness either because I have so much diarrhea and sometimes just feel physically awful. I am praying it gets better. I am now trying to be super careful with what I eat. My clothes fit the same but my mid section is definitely growing.

      • TommyJay June 29, 2011, 10:19 pm

        I totally feel weak too!  I usually exercise 4 times a week, but since taking Viibryd (9 days) I’ve been to the gym once.  I just can’t do it.  The bloat is most def because of the drug, but I’m not sure about the belly fat.  Hang in there JaniceRose.  All of these side effects will most likely go away.  

      • chipur June 30, 2011, 3:45 am

        Got my vote, TommyJay! Let me ask you something. Are you sure you can’t get to the gym? What would happen if you forced yourself? I mean, the worst that could happen is you’d cut your workout short. Worth a go? Bill

      • TommyJay July 1, 2011, 2:38 pm

        If I was doing cardio, I would.  But as I’m lifting weights, I can’t lift enough for a long enough period to make any improvements.   I appreciate the intended kick in the pants, though.  :)   

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 5:30 pm

        Hey, only your best interests at heart…

      • chipur June 30, 2011, 4:14 am

        We’re with you, Moomsy3. Take it slow and cautious. I’m not your med provider, but in spite of wanting to go up to 20mg, maybe you ought to continue to chill on 10 for a bit longer. I mean, charging forward is one thing, but what’s the point if you’re simply not comfy with it. Keep us updated…

      • JaniceRose July 4, 2011, 12:24 am

        Thanks Bill,
        I agree with the slow going. I’ve been at two weeks tomorrow and just took a 20 mg. today. Felt good except a bit spacey again. Hope this will go away. If I can adjust, I will stay at the 20 mg. and not go higher. I fear any higher will just make me more out of it and especially weaker. I know what Tommy means. You just have to experience it. The weakness is so profound. It’s not that you don’t want to go to the gym because you are depressed, you just feel so weak and shakey that you don’t have any strength. I take pilates on a machine with a trainer and I could hardly lift the resistance weight I was previously doing before viibryd. It was ridiculous. Legs feel like jelly a lot and the headaches are severe. Good news, the sexual feeling is definitely back, just wish the desire would come back too. Maybe that happens later :)

      • chipur July 4, 2011, 2:52 pm

        Thanks for your report, JaniceRose. Hey, you gotta’ start somewhere, right? Seems to me that having the sexual feeling back would inspire desire (like that rhyme?)….

    • chipur June 30, 2011, 4:20 am

      ;)

  • TommyJay June 29, 2011, 4:13 pm

    Oh!  I am also uncharacteristically not-horny.  Not unable to perform in any way, but just not so interested.  Not sure if it’s related to the Viibryd yet.

  • Dumbonut79 June 29, 2011, 8:01 pm

    Hello to all and I thank you so very much for the reports!!!  I have also joined the Viibryd family (playing Rx game for depression and anxiety and PTSD for 17 years now)…took my first dose last night.  Didn’t notice any difference in sleep, a bit tired today but tolerable, and (thankfully with fingers crossed while knocking on wood) no diarrhea. Went on this without knowledge of the increased sexual behaviors but am very excited for that to return.  Oh how I’ve missed you my dear friend!  Also wondered about the apetite/weight game.  Very disappointed to read the input on that.  I have gained weight recently in places I haven’t held it in the past and pray to whatever’s out there not to gain any more.
    As with other AD I’m sure there will be suprises around every corner….I just hope they are FINALLY ones to save my life (or help me have one)!  Updates to come…much luck to all!

    • chipur June 30, 2011, 4:17 am

      Awesome stuff, Dumbonut. Sharing is absolutely everything. We’re definitely a community and provide such a great service to each other. I’m all for saving your life – and seeing you have and embrace one, as well…

  • Lestigall June 29, 2011, 10:00 pm

    Day 2 and diarrhea is gone though not eating much…too scared. Could not go to sleep last night despite 100mg Trazadone. I feel pretty good today but I am very cautious after yesterday. Took Viibryd first thing in the morning with a little to eat so I hope I can sleep tonight.
    I am so glad that others are posting what they are going through. I am my doctor’s first too. Information is needed just to let us know we are not crazy. Sometimes it really is the medicine and not ME! 

    • chipur June 30, 2011, 4:09 am

      Welcome back, Lestigall. Community is everything, don’t you think? You know, decades ago I was having a tough time with some very upsetting intrusive thoughts. I was absolutely devastated – not so much by the thoughts, but the notion I was apparently that “sick.” And then I learned others were experiencing what I was enduring – and they weren’t absolutely insane. Man, I was so relieved. And then the insight gets passed on. Years later an acquaintance shared some scary thoughts with me. I filled her in re what I’d gone through. She almost passed out with relief and gratitude.

      Hey you know what? Why not have your doc check-out this comment forum. What a great way to dial him/her in on what’s going on with you – and others.

      Bill

  • Meteoroid June 29, 2011, 10:09 pm

    Hello, I want to give a big thanks to Bill for the website and all the posters for their comments. There is simply no other place I have found with this level of information on Viibryd. I just took my first dose last night and want to share my experience. I have been on Celexa and then Lexapro for many years and they have worked wonderfully for me. However. the sexual side effects are a huge draw back. 

    The doc said to lower my Lexapro from 10mg to 5mg for the first week while taking the standard starting dose of 10 mg of Viibryd. It was a bit harder to get to sleep last night so I took some Benadryl. When I woke up I felt a little bit wired up and a bit agitated. Like I had a strong cup of coffee. I got a similar reaction when I would go up in dosage on Lexapro or Celexa and It would go away in a few days. Hopefully this will go away the same way. Since I am getting over a bit of a stomach bug I can’t say if Viibryd is causing any problems there or not.

    • chipur June 30, 2011, 3:50 am

      Hi Meteoroid…

      Thanks accepted for the website. Now my thanks back to you for visiting, commenting, and providing such great info. I like the way you’re connecting the initial side effects dots. You’re using your past experiences to make sense of something new. Nice touch! And good insight re stomach bug. Sure as heck could be the issue.

      Keep coming back, okay? Your input is valuable…

      Bill

  • Neek June 30, 2011, 2:40 am

    Hi everyone–I took my first pill around noon today after getting a sample pack from my doctor. I felt very sleepy quickly after taking it and pretty much remained that way up until about an hour ago. I made my husband go on a walk with me just to get out of the house. We usually walk a bit and jog a bit. I didn’t have the energy to even think about jogging and we had to shorten our walk because I just didn’t have the energy I usually have. I had one bout of bad diarrhea earlier, and also felt like I was going to pass out several times after getting up too quickly from where I was laying down. I’ve had that happen before, so I knew I was fine. I also had a restlessness and tingling sensation in my legs for a good part of the day. This is my first time to take an AD in ten years. I got on Prozac back then for post-partum depression. It really helped, but my sex drive was shot, which my husband tends to take very personal. I’m hoping Viibryd doesn’t effect me that way…..we’ll see. Oh, on a good note, I felt less anxious today than I have over the last few days.

    • Trevor June 30, 2011, 3:32 am

      Going on day 10. (Was off by 3 days on my last post)
      The constipation factor did clear up when I went off Cymbalta, but there has been a bit of belly bloating lately. I honestly can’t tell if this is Viibryd-related or just the natural metabolism of a 38 year-old man. I’ve been on AD’s since age 22, and spent most of those years with a small, medicated-away appetite. Same with Viibryd, but food is not burning off so quick at the moment. The Viibryd or just me?

      BTW, is anyone here up to 40 mgs yet? I’d be interested to know what that’s like for them, symptom-wise.

      • chipur June 30, 2011, 3:41 am

        Hi Trevor! Dang, if you’re experiencing the effects of a 38-year-old metabolism, what the heck are my almost 57-year-old workings doing to me? Hang in there, man. Let a bit more time go by before drawing any conclusions. ;)

      • Trevor July 1, 2011, 6:24 am

        LOL  Thanks, Bill.  Good plan.  Observe but not conclude.  Day 11’s inconclusive observation is that for the past two day’s, I’ve noticed I have a stronger urine stream. Considerably stronger. The reason this seems noteworthy is that I’ve never really had a strong urine stream on these pills, even with a full bladder.  If this remains the case, it would certainly support the supposition that those other AD’s either narrowed all manner of plumbing down there or perhaps caused a slight swelling of the prostate that inhibited the flow of anything through the urethra or something.   I did have a doctor tell me I had a swollen prostate a couple years ago when I was on one of those AD’s that had particularly bad sexual side effects.  His advice at the time was back to my psychiatrist and get on a different AD.   
        Time will tell. 

        BTW, Life begins at whatever age we are, yes?  Damn the metabolism.  :)   

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:36 pm

        “Time will tell.” Yes! As it always does. I’ll tell you, I know for a fact that life begins at whatever age we are. It’s on my About page – after years in the biz world, I decided to pursue my passion and life’s work at age 49. Went back to grad school and earned my counseling credentials. Best decision I ever made (besides fathering two children). Thank you for your ongoing participation, Trevor…

    • chipur June 30, 2011, 3:36 am

      Hi Neek…

      Glad you stopped by and participated. Yes, I appreciate it – and so do other chipur readers. Good catch on knowing your initial symptoms are par for the course. Let’s not forget – we’re impacting serotonin here, and more. It’s bound to cause some icky initial side effects. Again, thanks for contributing and keep coming back…

      Bill

      • Kayla June 30, 2011, 7:24 am

        Day 4 of Viibryd… I have been experiencing exteme dizziness when getting up, close to passing out once… I’m still on 10mg, and 20mg of lexapro, my guess is body is just adjusting. But I pray to god that I won’t experience weight gain. I’ve had tht problem my whole life, and when I was on Seroquel I gained 12 pounds in 1 month :(.. Hope hope hope :)

      • Greg June 30, 2011, 9:21 am

        You’re taking both at the same time? I don’t think that’s a good idea Kayla. Is this what your Doctor advised?

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:27 pm

        As much as, in many cases, we maybe disappointed and frustrated by docs – they do serve a few purposes. This is one of them. Good point, Greg…

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:25 pm

        My hopes are with you, Kayla. Fortunately, Seroquel Viibryd is not…

  • Drggabhart June 30, 2011, 1:06 pm

    My one concern is weight-gain . . . I am struggling with this issue as part of the underlying depression. Hmmm, counterproductive if it induces the cravings to rachet upwards! just would like to know if anyone has more than the 5-7 lbs common in studies . . .
    Geez, I so want this to work!!

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:29 pm

      The weight gain concern is significant, isn’t it? And why wouldn’t it be? Here’s a link to the first in a series I did some time ago on meds and weight gain. https://chipur.com/2010/07/15/mood-anxiety-weight-gain-damn-antidepressants/

    • Pmta2000 July 1, 2011, 4:37 pm

      The studies showed that only 0.9% of patients experienced a weight gain of more than 7%… Placebo was actually higher with1.2% gaining more than 7% of their own body weight.

      Hope that helps…

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 5:20 pm

        Danged helpful. Good info and it’s appreciated. I think everyone’s walking on eggshells just a bit re side effects – which is more than understandable. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it is with meds for the emotional/mental health disorders. As Trevor said, only time will provide the answers we’re looking for. Thanks for your visit and comment…

  • Jameston June 30, 2011, 6:54 pm

    I’ve been on Viibryd now almost a week. I was taking SAM-E prior. I have some experience with Lexapro. I didn’t like the spacey feeling Lexapro gave me and the inability to concentrate really effected my job. I never stayed on longer then a month.  One thing I did notice about Lexapro is that it felt like it kicked in quick.

    I’m up to 30MG. I ramped up pretty quickly. 10MG for 2 days. 20MG for 3 days. I’m on 30MG and it’s today is day 8. I haven’t really had many sides except some diahrea which really only happened when I upped the dose to 30MG.  No sexual side effects at all. Energy is good and I’m sleeping. No headaches. I don’t really feel like it’s working too well though.  I’m hoping that things improve over time. I know it’s too early to tell. Am thinking to going up to 40MG in a few days.

    • Greg June 30, 2011, 7:17 pm

      I think it’s pretty important to stick to the instructions on a pharmaceutical if you want it to work properly. Seems like you’re rushing things maybe?

      • Chris Moore James July 1, 2011, 2:08 am

        This is a great site I’m glad I found it. You’re right I should of probably followed the protocol. Tomorrow is actually day 9. I guesss I’ll stay on 30mg for another week and then up it to 40 the beginning of week 3. I was just anxious for it to start working.

        Im hoping it kicks in soon.

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:21 pm

        ;) ;) ;)

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:32 pm

      Thanks for your visit and report, Jameston. Please keep us updated…

  • Ava June 30, 2011, 7:21 pm

    Did the 7 days of 10mg and now had my 2nd dose of 20mg. The first week was total hell with diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Right now not so much diarrhea but still have the stomach pains. I also have a severe case of stomach bloating. So the GI symptoms is the major problems. But I also have had a pretty bad headache for the last 2 days (20mgs). And edgy is the word for me. I don’t have problems sleeping though that’s at least a good thing. I do feel “spacy” and fragmented, unable to concentrate more than a few minutes.
    Hopefully all this will subside as my body gets used to the medication.

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:34 pm

      Hi Ava…

      Sure appreciate your visit and comment. Pardon the pun, but my gut is much of your misery will subside as your body, indeed, gets used to the med.

      Bill

      • Ava Shaw July 11, 2011, 3:11 pm

        Hi again. I am now on 40 mg for 3 days now. The GI discomforts are minimal now. I still have the headaches so I’m taking tylenol daily now for that. No weight gain or increased appetite noted. But something new I have noticed and I’m not sure it’s related or not but I have started to have very very noticeable hair loss!!!. It’s very scary. This has never happend to me before. Not just when shampooing or brushing my hair but on my pillow in the mornings.

        The only other med change has been Bystolic was added for HTN and arrhythmia about 6 months ago. What do you think?

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:11 pm

        Well, unfortunately, we don’t have a track record on the hair loss issue and Viibryd. Serious hassle. I’m sorry, Ava.

        Re Bystolic and hair loss? You may find this link helpful http://www.healthgoesup.com/articles/387/1/does-bystolic-cause-hair-loss-1.html

    • Carmella329 July 22, 2011, 4:12 pm

      I took my first dose last night and so far the only complaint is nausea. I have some diarrhea, which i can handle but the nausea is horrible. Did you have any nausea? Any input would help..Thanks!!

  • Faith Tipsword June 30, 2011, 9:53 pm

    I just got my packet today and after reading all of the comments on this medication I must admit, Im a bit aprehensive to start it. I have tried different AD’s like most of you have. This is the one the Dr said had the least sse. The problem I see with the Viibryd for me is the “not so clear thoughts” and feeling “spacey”. I have MS, so I am kind of like that anyway. I am worried about the unable to sleep as well. I am fatigued all the time and do work full time. If unable to sleep, am concerned if I will be able to get up and drive and perform my job duties as needed. I also have very bad panic attackes. The Dr seemed to think this would help as well as with the depression. I was told to take this in the evenings, but maybe around 12N would be best and would not inhabit my sleep any. Im not sure what do at this point. Any recommendations would be appreciated!! By the way, this is a great informational page!! :)

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:42 pm

      Hi Faith! Really appreciate your chipur visit and comment. And I’m glad you’re finding it helpful. I’ll tell ya’, there isn’t a whole lot of Viibryd info floating around out there. And there’s no track record, being a new med. So what are folks supposed to do? Well, they can come here for info and encouragement. I’m glad you did…Bill

    • Dumbonut79 July 1, 2011, 10:37 pm

      Hey Faith~
      I can understand the apprehension.  However, not everyone experiences the same side effects (I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that).  So far I (still knocking on wood) have not had any that some have reported.  Ya never know!  You could be a lucky one!  Hang in there and I say give it a shot!  Good luck!

      • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:14 pm

        Ah, the plot thickens…

  • Nicole June 30, 2011, 10:43 pm

    several days in now and the nausea didn’t happen today!

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 3:56 pm

      Yessssssssssss!

    • Carmella329 July 22, 2011, 3:43 pm

      Nicole…did you have nausea when you started Viibryd? I just took my first pill last night and i am a little sick to my stomach. I have been on many SSRI’s in the past and Prozac made me sick but it gradually passed. Thanks for any input…

      • chipur July 22, 2011, 10:45 pm

        …and thank you for your visit and participation! Sharing is caring – right???

  • Anonymous June 30, 2011, 11:04 pm

    Swallowed my first dose at 3pm today.  Thanks so much for this forum, Bill.  My doctor gave me a sample pack on Monday afternoon and the comments helped me prepare for what are already unpleasant (or more accurately embarrassing) side effects.  By 4:30 pm I felt a tightness in my chest that seems to have mostly subsided already, along with an edginess or irritability that hasn’t subsided.  By 4:45 pm my intestines started to gurgle and I didn’t dare run any errands on the way home from work.  At 5:30 I started to feel spacey and almost dizzy.  This too has subsided and then come back again.  It’s 7:00 pm as I write this and I don’t dare leave the house for fear of being far from a bathroom.

    I wish I had found your site and read your Easy Neurochemistry Lesson a few days sooner though.  The main reason I saw my doctor Monday was because with his blessings in all the bright, sunny confidence of springtime I had gone off all meds at the end of May (the most recent being nortriptyline as a combination migraine prophylactic and AD) and my migraines had started recurring on a daily basis.  I couldn’t tell how much of the accompanying depression was due to the migraines.  He prescribed a beta blocker (propranolol) which I had begun taking on Monday evening.  It would have been interesting to see if the viibryd all by itself would have eased my migraines as you explained “activation of 5-HT1A receptors decrease blood pressure”.  Or did I completely misunderstand?

    I’m a 52 year old female and have suffered from depression (major recurrent and dysthymia) since the age of 14.  I didn’t get treatment until age 40, 10 months after the birth of my second child.  I’ve taken many different kinds of SSRIs, SSNRIs and one tricyclic AD.  I liked my first couple weeks of zero meds.  I could taste my food again.  I could really “feel” another person’s grief or frustration.  I could be more present in the moment and really listen to my kids.  But it didn’t last.  Things got bleak and hopeless again.

    Here’s hoping this stuff is better than the previous meds.  I’ll update in a week or so.

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:01 pm

      Hi Woeisme (let’s see if we can help turn that around – though it’s a clever handle)…

      You’ve endured much, as have tens of millions world wide. Amazingly, I don’t think those who don’t deal with a mood or anxiety disorder really “get” the strength and courage we possess. Heck, we at times don’t give ourselves credit.

      I respect the courage and resilience you’ve produced over the past 38 or so years. And I’m glad you visited chipur and decided to participate.

      Come on back…

      Bill

  • Faith Tipsword June 30, 2011, 11:19 pm

    @ whoisme, you felt all of this with your first dose? Im thinking maybe I should not start this medication. Hmmmm….dont know which is worse sometimes-the medications for depression and anxiety or just dealing with the problem.

    • Anonymous June 30, 2011, 11:40 pm

      I’m used to the spacey part.  That has happened with every SSRI in the past and always subsides.  I suspect this will also.  I had hoped to just “deal” from the vantage of maturity and greater wisdom, but the brain chemistry just won’t allow the fog to lift without help.  Good luck to you which ever way you decide to go.

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:08 pm

        I’m used to the spacey part, as well. But I’m just a natural space-head ;)

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:07 pm

      Hi Faith! No doubt, this depression/anxiety/meds bit isn’t for the faint of heart (and it certainly can make us light-headed). We’re all courageous and strong, though things can become rather dicey. You raise a great philosophical question – the aggravation of meds or symptoms??? I imagine there are many, many, many who wrestle with the same internal question and dilemma. I’d really like to know what you come up with…Bill

      • Faith Tipsword July 3, 2011, 9:23 pm

        Hello Bill,
        I have decided not to start the Viibryd. I am going to call my Dr on Tuesday and ask to start something else. I have been on many different anti-depressants and I just dont like the side affects this one may have. I understand that all have the good and the bad, but I havent heard much good on this particular drug. I believe I told you in my first posting that I have MS, so that alone can make a person depressed. Not only the MS but also, I lost my husband 2 years ago to a massive heart attack and lost my dad last year suddenly. Then appx 3 months ago I had a TIA. Along with the panic attacks that have gotten much worse since the TIA. Zoloft, I found to be a great anti-depressant as well as Nortriptyline. I went off of the Zoloft due to sse and the Dr took me off of Nortrptyline due to weight increase. I have already been seeing a GI Dr due to some severe abdominal pain, and I see no reason to add fuel to the fire. I will keep you posted on what my Dr does. …Faith 

      • chipur July 4, 2011, 2:36 pm

        Hi Faith…

        Sounds like a well-informed and solid decision. I can’t think of too many meds that are right for everyone. And, of course, things get dicier when it comes to psychotropics.

        I deeply appreciate your participation and hope you find other chipur articles that attract your attention. Your contributions are valuable…

        Bill

  • Curiousandexcited July 1, 2011, 12:30 am

    I have taken 2 days of 10mg so far without any bad side effects!

    • Grimmch36 July 1, 2011, 1:34 am

      I am 40 and have been dealing with depression, suicidal tendencies, and anxiety for as long as I can remember. I have been taking welbutrin xl 300 for about 3 years..,along with Ativan 1 mg to help with the anxiety. I started to notice an increase in mood swings, agitation, and having less desire to participate in everyday “joys”/activities. Ok so long story short.. Took my first dose of The Viibryd starter pack today. Can’t say that I enjoyed this day. Definitely had the GI side effect, headache, leg cramps, and a little bit of chest tightness. The chest tightness is the only side effect that really concerns me. Does anyone else have this? Wondering if this is the anxiety coming back and if I should take my Ativan to help it. Don’t know if I want to take this med. I am a single mom with 2 kids and being agitated, anxious, and depressed isn’t an option either.

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:20 pm

        Hi Grimmch…

        First of all, thank you for your visit and comment. As brief as it’s been, doesn’t sound like a pleasant ride thus far. Haven’t been hearing chest pain comments, but nothing surprises me when it comes to side effects – and it may be temporary. if it persists, I’d sure run it by my physician. You know, the mood swings/agitation biz concerns me a little. I mean, it could be a sign of the anxiety just temporarily returning. Now, I don’t know if this is the case, but we know antidepressants can generate degrees of mania (easy now, ur not crazy) in those enduring bipolarity. Hmmm. Well, just a few thoughts. Why not touch base with your doc? Certainly understand the single mom factor, and respect how you care for your children…

        Bill

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:08 pm

      Your rock, Sadie. Keep us posted. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m curiousandexcited…

  • Sean July 1, 2011, 1:00 am

    Just started tonight on 10 mg – got free month of samples from pdoc.  Was taking 40mg of prozac and 60mg of adderall most recently.  Had a 20 mg prozac this morning and took the 10mg of Viibryd tonight- starting tomorrow, I’ll drop the prozac and continue with the V titration pack.  Suddenly in a fantastic mood, but I can’t imagine it could be related to the V.  Either way, I’ll take it. 

    I’ve been on the whole gamut of meds over the years – each with different degrees of success.  I always end up back on prozac.  While not ideal, it’s given me the most relief with fewest side effects.  But this sounded like it may be better with less s/e.  I can’t imagine full remission, but if there’s a chance, I’ll take it.  I’ll keep people informed.  BTW, I also use medco and when I called, they told me it is covered as a third tier drug at 75 bucks copay a month (ouch).  Beats paying full price though.

     

    • TomS July 1, 2011, 9:47 am

       Hi Sean, you remind me of myself.  I do end up mostly on Prozac.  Unfortunately, I’ve had to take it a long time and it doesn’t work as well as when I first started taking it.  I do am going to be taking Viibryd, I’m not seeing the same mental clarity I had like when I was on prozac, but maybe it will get better?

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:40 pm

        Hi TomS. Thank you for your visit and comment. This med stuff is goofy, isn’t it? You know, I’m kind of thinking the mental clarity piece will improve in time. My gut is it’s a transitional issue. Glad you could connect with Sean’s situation. That’s what this chipur biz is all about. Keep us posted, okay??? Bill

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:12 pm

      Hi Sean…

      Super info, particularly the Medco piece. Thank you for that. I’ll make sure it becomes part of the permanent update info.

      I appreciate your visit, comment, and participation…

      Bill

  • Neek July 1, 2011, 2:20 am

    Day 2 was worse than day one as far as the diahrrea goes. I had fetal position, rolling around and moaning type cramps for about an hour. Other than that, i felt ok. ;) No headaches like some of the others and no chest tightness, thank goodness. I hope people keep posting, it’s really helpful.

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:23 pm

      Major drag! Been there a few times – ouch! “Other than that, I felt ok.” Funny. Glad you’re still participating, Neek…

  • Lestigall July 1, 2011, 4:02 am

    Day 3 was really good. Trazadone 100 mg helps sleep because I seem to be more awake. I am also slightly spaced out. Emotions are muted like with other ssri I have taken. I am going on this med from 6 weeks of no meds so everything is Viibryd. GI stuff is much better for me after the first day. Warning to anyone starting this med, if you can, time your first dose on a day you don’t work. I’m sure if I had worked that day, I would not have been able to leave the restroom for several hours even to go home. It was the worst I have ever had in my life. Thank God and hold my breath it is gone. I also am experiencing muscle cramps in my legs but they are not too bad.. Just another beautiful side effect.
    Thanks so much to everyone that keeps posting. People just don’t get it unless they have lived it.

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:26 pm

      Bam! “People just don’t get it unless they have lived it.” What else needs to be said! Well, okay, we still need the updates from everyone. Nice advice on timing the first dose on a day off. Thank you, Lestigall!!!

    • anxious2 July 5, 2011, 7:09 pm

      Are you having “cramps”? in your legs? What I have had in the passed with other ssris’ is like restless legs. I think I fear this side effect as much as others. I am interested to know if this has been a side effect? I have not started my sample pack yet as I am just so apprehensive.
      anxious2

      • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:47 pm

        Hi anxious2! Well, strange skin sensations and joint pain were reported in the clinical trials. But that does not equate to an automatic on your side of the fence. Has it been a side effect since Viibryd hit the market? I’m sure it has. Has it not been a side effect? Absolutely. I can understand your hesitance – really. But if you have a shot at feeling better – and can stop Viibryd whenever you’d like – maybe a gamble is in order…

  • Guest July 1, 2011, 4:04 am

    FYI Viibryd should be taken with food. Not for toleration but for bio availability. 
    Follow the tritation or your Dr instructions.   

    • Kayla July 1, 2011, 8:58 am

      Day 6… I was extremely dizzy and spacey today.. Especially when I get up too fast. It’s like all my blood rushed from my head, pretty bad. But I’m still in high spirits knowing this is all just apart of adjusting and withdrawl from lexapro dosage. So I will be ok :)

      • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:36 pm

        As I said in a previous thread. I’m just naturally spacey (at times)…

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:30 pm

      Sounds like excellent advice to me. Thanks for your visit and participation, TBI.

  • Drggabhart July 1, 2011, 11:50 am

    Day one with Viibryd made me think of my ex-husband . . . like that little signal to my inner psyche that said; “This may not be a good match ole’ girl”  Well, into the 40mg’s now and each day I simply feel worse. Worse as in: Disconnected, irritable, agiatated, NO appetite for any thing but sugar, can’t sleep . . . in a word, like hell. I actually felt better on nothing.

    My plan is go to Lexapro or Cellexa. (I don’t have anxiety.) My problem is the developement of depression after a long mental seige of life. I have not taken the Viibryd today and note the above symptoms are less right before I take the med. I am jumping ship with Viibryd this morning. It may be great but, just not for my system. 
       

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 4:47 pm

      You know something? You’re doing the right thing – for you! You’ve given it a go, taken notes, swirled it around, and made a decision. I admire you for that kind of clarity. Hey, that’s just how it goes (unfortunately) with meds for the emotional/mental health disorders. Such a crap-shoot (pardon the pun). I/we will sure miss your contributions – thanks for all you’ve given us to date. By the way, I love the ex-husband comparison…

  • mop July 1, 2011, 1:59 pm

    I started Viibryd last night.  I’ve been playing medication roulette for seven years.  I haven’t been on an anti-depressant for the past four when my doctor switched me to Seroquel.  That drug has done little but destroy my creativity, clarity of thought, and level of energy, but I was too scared of what might happen if I stopped it, even as it cost me thousands of dollars out of pocket for very minimal actual relief.  Now, I’d do anything to get rid of it.  I’m in the process of switching over to Lamictal, but the Seroquel will still be in the cocktail for at least a month.  It’s a total fluke that I was given the Viibryd starter pack — I went in to a new psychiatrist to see what could be done and he had a stack of them on his desk.  It makes me feel a little like a guinea pig.  And I’m skeptical because SSRIs have done nothing for me in the past, nor did adding Abilify to Seroquel, which I tried for about a year.  But then maybe I just haven’t found the right combination of things.  Going into this med change I was hopeful that I could be on less rather than more.  I’d rather work through mood cycles than feel like a zombie.  

    So far my side effects have pretty much matched everyone else’s experience, but it’s still early.  I’ve never simultaneously gone up on two new medications, so I’m bracing myself for serious physical discomfort over the next week or two.  Will keep you posted.

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 5:28 pm

      Hi Mop…

      First – thank you for your chipur visit and comment. Participation makes chipur helpful to everyone.

      What a drag that you feel as though you’ve played medication roulette for seven years – and the guinea pig feelings. I empathize. We can only hope that treating the emotional/mental health disorders will become an exact science one day.

      Sounds like Viibryd is a hopeful medicine for you, and I hope it does the job – those atypicals and Lamictal can’t be much fun.

      I’m glad you’ve volunteered to keep us posted – knowledge is power!

      Bill

  • TommyJay July 1, 2011, 2:34 pm

    Hey Bill!  Is it better to post updates as a reply to my previous post, or start a new comment?  I’m new to forum commenting.  For organizational purposes I would assume I should attach to a reply, but for time-line purposes, I would think new comment.  I’m on Day 11 so, I’d like to get that info to the people who need it.

    • chipur July 1, 2011, 5:32 pm

      Hi Trevor! You’re doing a fine job and I appreciate your care and participation. I suppose if I had to choose, I’d say post a new comment. How’s that? I think it may be a bit more visible, as well…

  • achelelover July 1, 2011, 8:37 pm

    I just got the sample pack from my doctor and took my first dose about an hour ago. Will let you all know it goes this week. Before I obtained the sample pack my Dr wrote me a presciption, it was $50 with my insurance(Humana) in Florida, for those of you interested.

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 5:30 pm

      Hi achelelover…

      Really glad you visited chipur and participated. Excellent info re insurance. I’ll include it in my “update update” later today…

      Bill

  • OIFVET July 1, 2011, 10:00 pm

    I’ve been living with some sort of anxiety disorder for over 10 years now. It started out as seperation anxiety from my family when sent overseas the first time. The military put me on a high dose of Zoloft. Anti-anxieties are unheard of in the military. Seperation anxiety turned to generalized anxiety disorder, depression, P.T.S.D., OCD & I guess I’m a hypochandriac. The VA has guinea-pigged me on so many meds that I’m not even gonna waste time typing them all out. Right now, I’m on Seroquel, Propranolol (a beta blocker for high BP & anti-anxiety properties) and Clonazepam. I’ve been on this 3 med regiment for years but have never had the full relief I’m looking for and “real” therapy thru the VA is a joke, but it’s free. Anyway, My Doctor team (pyschologist and psychiatrist) have teamed up and are trying to get me to start this new medicine. The only AD that I think “might” have helped me in the past was Lexapro so I’m debating on which of these two to add to my regiment. I don’t like the fact that Viibryd decreases body temp cause I’m already a cold person. I took myself off of Seroquel cold turkey cuz I want less medications, not more. Boy, was that a bad idea. Suffered severe withdrawals for two months and am back on it but at a lower dose. Any suggestions between Lexapro and this new drug?

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:11 pm

      Hi OIFVET…

      First and foremost, welcome to chipur – and your pitching in with participation is really helpful.

      Lexapro (escitalopram) is marketed by Forest, same as Viibryd. It’s significant that the patent on Lexapro will expire March ’12, so a generic would follow. Of course, Forest knows that and I’m sure was motivated to get Viibryd cranking as soon as possible.

      Re anxiety – Lexapro is FDA approved for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Though I’m sure Viibryd could well prove efficacious for anxiety, at this point it would be an off-label application (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). And it has no real track record, as yet.

      I think the sexual side effects issue is a huge factor. Viibryd is touted to have few, Lexapro (being just an SSRI) is known to produce many.

      How frustrating for everyone that meds selection for the mood and anxiety disorders is such a crap-shoot. Nonetheless, that’s the way it is – and we have to support each other.

      Here’s a link for Lexapro info – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escitalopram

      Bill

      PS Notice I dodged making a direct recommendation. You know, I’ve learned it’s really a matter of personal choice – and I don’t want to introduce my subjectivity into someone else’s equation. Now, if it was Lexapro v. battery acid I’d step up…

  • TomS July 2, 2011, 12:22 am

     Does Foggyness/dizziness go away?  When I start ramping up the dosage, I feel kind of foggy with a slight dizziness feeling.  It kind of feels a little like being stoned and my thinking is kind of cloudy and slow.  Does this go away or is this part of the side effect?

    • Gregory July 2, 2011, 5:37 am

      I noticed this as well. I tried to go up to 40mg’s and felt very weak as well. Like my legs were jello.

      I’m back down to 20mgs for a bit.

      • Anonymous July 2, 2011, 11:19 am

        Gregory,

        Have you gotten mood improvement yet and did the weak legs happen for awhile at your lower doses?  

      • Gregory July 3, 2011, 5:51 am

        HI there,

        Early on at 10mgs I just felt a nice tingly sensation in my legs. Almost a body high. At 20mgs I had 2 nights of restless legs. When I tried 30mgs I felt like my legs were jello. Now, I’m back down to 20mgs and still a little weak in my legs.

        I do feel a bit spacey at times, but also feel rather calm. I’m taking less of my Klonopin now that I’m on Viibryd. There seems to be a decent effect on anxiety. Mood is not so bad, but maybe not as happy go lucky as I’d feel on prozac.

        I refrain from a full review just yet as I am having a bit of Klonopin withdrawal and also going through the early states of this drug.

        One thing to say is that with Viibryd, you actually “feel” something. With prozac, I just felt my mood improve. (but sex drive waaay down) With Viibryd, there are body sensations, spacey feelings, weakness, calm feelings, etc. Lot’s really going on. My hope is to acclimate to the drug and get mostly the beneficial aspects of the drug.

        My guess from reading all the responses is that a lot of people will stop taking this drug do to these early side effects. Some will push through of course and maybe see good results. I’m a little concerned that I’m not seeing people say….

        I feel great!
        Wow, my sex drive it totally back and I feel better than I ever have!
        I’ve tried everything, and this is the only one that works! I love you Viibryd!

        Not one comment like this yet. I’ve seen plenty of those on forums about other drugs. Will we see this happen with Viibryd?

        Anyway, still sticking with it and hoping for the best.

        Greg

      • chipur July 3, 2011, 5:38 pm

        I was encouraged to read achelelover’s and Neek’s most recent comments. Hang tough, Greg. And I sure appreciate your willingness to share…

      • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:33 pm

        Sounds like an informed (to say the least) good decision…

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:15 pm

      My bet is it’s a temporary side effect…

  • Demi July 2, 2011, 3:48 am

    I am on day 3… I am having some positive results already, but I noticed the same side effects as others mention. 

    1.    Sometimes I am spacy and scatterbrained. 
    2.    I feel a little wired
    3.    Stomach issues, I did not have the horrible problems described here, it felt like I took a Zpack    dose the first day and then really no noticeable problems on day 2 and 3.  I always take my pill with a morning shake with 30g of protein.  Maybe the high protein helps with the discomfort.
    5.    Lack of appetite yet I am retaining water/bloated…  I can tell its all water though
    4.   I am having sleeping issues, both falling asleep and staying asleep.  I am going to take 25mg of trazadone tonight and see if that is enough to get some rest.

    Otherwise I feel noticeably brighter, with increased energy and a gittyness I haven’t felt in awhile.  

    I post next week with an update if nothing major happens before then.

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:30 pm

      Sure appreciate your visit and comment, Demi. Very factual and hopeful. Will look forward to your future updates…

  • Horse3333 July 2, 2011, 11:40 am

    hi all started viibyrd yesterday no side effects i feel good waiting on sex drive and ability to return cant wait lol on a personal note bill u sustained me thru this yr truly an angel on earth sorry for the gussiness lol

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:36 pm

      Well thank you, Horsey One. All of you mean very much to me – and are helping chipur become the haven of sharing/learning/relief/healing I’d hoped it would be…

  • achelelover July 2, 2011, 1:20 pm

    I’ve had Viibryd in my system for 16 hours now, no crazy side effects to report of. Maybe a little constipated, but I expect this kind of thing when starting something new. If anything, I’m in a pretty good mood. I’m taking the second dose around noon today, so I’ll keep updating. :) 

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:37 pm

      Thanks, achelelover. I’m all for keeping craziness at bay…

  • chipur July 2, 2011, 3:17 pm

    Good morning my wonderful chipur readers. Will be making my daily comment replies in a few hours. Don’t want you to think I’m slackin’ off ;)

  • Sashazad1 July 2, 2011, 3:32 pm

    my problem not seemed to be solved

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:43 pm

      Hi Sashazad…

      Your problem is certainly unique. chipur readers – Sashazad lives in Pakistan and is trying to secure Viibryd. Seems he’s going to need a scrip from a US doc. I’m doing some research, and have sent several emails to some sources for ideas. Anything anyone can do to help him would be appreciated…

      Bill

  • MedQueen July 2, 2011, 3:39 pm

    Am switching to Viibryd after many years on prozac 40mg.   Recently tried Pristiq – 50mg for 2 weeks, then 2 weeks of 100mg.  Did absolutely nothing for me.  Am also on 150mg of wellbutrin twice a day. Have 3 more days of weaning off pristiq before starting my sample pack at 10mg.  Am so glad I found this site, although for an admitted hypochondriac, reading about all the possible side effects…I think I’m starting to feel them already!!  LOL.  Will keep you all posted.

    • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:46 pm

      Funny! Well, for someone who leans toward the hypochondriactic-tic-tic (geez, don’t start reporting tics) I’m thinking you’re doing well. Good info and fun perspective. Me thinks you have what it takes to emerge. I’m glad you found this site, as well…

  • achelelover July 2, 2011, 5:24 pm

    Okay, took my second dose this morning and I’m feeling GREAT. No lie, maybe a tad anxious, but I’m in a great mood. I was really scared to take it after I read all of the comments on here, but I’m having a very positive experience so far. The one side effect I have noticed (not a big deal at all) is a sort of “tenderness” on my left arm. I get this when I try a new medication, usually, I’ll get tender spots that go away after a few days. 

  • Lestigall July 2, 2011, 5:25 pm

    I give up. This med is not for me. The GI problems have come back and sleep is a real problem. Haven’t had much sleep in the last two nights. I don’t know if there is an interaction with Trazadone or just the Viibryd by its self, but at night I am having serious leg and other muscle cramps. My fingers even hurt. I even had a little constricting in my throat that came on suddenly and I took 2 benadryl to handle it. Don’t get too worried, I had an eppi pen next to me and my husband was ready to take me to er if it got any worse, but benadryl did the job. The worst problem is I am so spaced out I think it is dangerous. My eyes are blurry and are not focusing well. Yesterday I had to drive an hour and my reactions were so slow it was dangerous. I think my body is giving me too many signals that Viibryd is not for me. Lexapro had side effects but worked well for me overall. This new medication has way too many initial side effects that no other drug I have taken has had. That can not be healthy for me and I am not willing to stick it through until more is know about this drug. Sorry guys I am quitting taking it after just 4 days of 10 mg.

    • Julie July 17, 2011, 11:59 pm

      These reports scare me. I have so many of these symptoms already so it’s so hard for me to know what may be increased by this med, or may just be recurrence of issues I already have (blurred vision, tingly sensations, brain fog, etc).  I get so frustrated with so many meds and not knowing what may be causing what side effect, or what is really a side effect and what is a symptom anymore.

      • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:14 am

        Great post, Julie. It’s very difficult to sort things out, I know.

        Is it a new side effect? Is it an issue I’ve already been dealing with? Is it a rebound effect? And on and on. And then there are the emotional manifestations of holding onto so much hope for the new med. What if it doesn’t work?!

        I wonder if this would help. Don’t worry about anyone else’s issues – just focus upon yours. Yours in the present, not what may hit down the road! Take the time to write each of them down. And then categorize them – ongoing symptom, familiar side effect, potentially new side effect, will likely dissipate, and so on. It may take a day or two, but I think it will help you organize what’s going on in your mind and body – and provide some structure and calm.

        Just a thought…

        Bill

  • chipur July 2, 2011, 6:27 pm

    Reading more and more comments re lower GI symptoms and feeling spacy…

    Remember, Viibryd is directly influencing serotonin and is a 5HT1A receptor partial agonist. Some 80% of our serotonin supply is located in the gut, where it’s used to regulate intestinal movements. 5-HT1A receptor agonists decrease blood pressure and heart rate.

    I don’t believe these symptoms are permanent for most, but given the action of the med, it’s gonna’ take some getting used to…

    • Thegman509 July 18, 2011, 5:56 am

      Hey I been having the spacey feeling and I’m tired I take it at night, with a lil Melatonin 1.5 mg but I wake up at least 4-7 times not for long periods usually 5-10 mins. If i take it in the day I’m way to tired I deliver for work in the evenings and I’m beat, if I do my 30 min walk I’m tired worse. I start 40 mg tommorrow I hoping the tired goes away. The series make me tired but 7 yrs ago they didnt, I could add a lil wellbutrin for energy but tends to make me more anxious any advice, I wanted this med beaches it said insomnia so figured it wouldn’t make me tired what can I do this is my last good been through all the meds and I ain’t trying the atypicals again no way I have g.a.d. not bipolar or schizo

      • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:32 pm

        Any suggestions for Thegman, chipur readers???

  • Lestigall July 2, 2011, 7:02 pm

    OK, I will try a few more days and try Cloazapam for sleep. Could my blood pressure med be reacting with Viibryd to make my muscles hurt so bad a night? I take it at night. I wonder…I will try another day.

  • Trevor July 2, 2011, 7:07 pm

    Day 12.  You know you’re depressed when it’s a bit hard to leave the house.  That’s where I’m at, but it’s not overwhelming.  I’m also in that medicinal fog a lot of the other folks here have described, but it’s not so bad I can’t keep with with conversations or follow television or book plots.  Yes, this may be a sort of no man’s land period, but I’m going to stick this out for at least 6-8 weeks.  I remember years ago when I was waiting for Zoloft to work, I felt exactly the same.  Sure, there was the GI upset in the first few days (it went away), then the sleepiness and the fog. Then around day 22 the Zoloft began working.  The medicinal window opened, as they say, and I felt fantastic.  I’m going to give Viibryd a chance to work.  
    (And no, I’m not a paid shill from Forest Laboratories.  ha.) 

    • chipur July 3, 2011, 4:37 pm

      Neither am I, Trevor. I admire your determination…

      • Trevor July 6, 2011, 7:34 am

        :)

  • Lestigall July 2, 2011, 7:16 pm

    Thanks for sharing. I will try to stay with it. I have never used Zoloft but I have tried almost all other ones. Was more worried about weight gain with zoloft so never tried it. I have to admit I remember the days of elavil, meloryl, and lithium. Those really sucked worse that this. I also remember being hospitalized for one and half years where they were using shock treatments for seriously depressed. Thank God my parents said no to that. They really have come a long way with meds in a relatively short time. Thanks Trevor for the prospective.

    • Trevor July 3, 2011, 12:37 am

      Hi, Lestigall.  The first week, I used a little Klonapin or Benadryl for help sleeping.  Usually did the trick.–Btw, Klonapin can be constipating/bloating for some.–I used Zoloft as an example earlier because it was the first AD I ever went on and, for me, the one that I did the best on all except for sexual side effects.  So since I feel mostly the same at day 13 on Viibryd as I did on Zoloft day 13, I’m holding out hope Viibryd might end up being better than Zoloft ever was. Time will tell.–Also, I never had weight issues on Zoloft, but I guess some people have.
       This is an interesting experiment.  No one (here) has been on Viibryd long enough to talk about the day they felt it begin working.  Here’s hoping it actually might.  Like you, I’ve tried just about all the other meds, too.  Some cross-overs felt immediate (from one SSRI to another SSRI) and some were like starting from scratch (SNRI to SSRI).  I’m happy you’re going to stick it out a bit longer.  I don’t mean to diminish the importance of reporting strange side effects to your doctor nor to influence your decision if the side-effects are too much for you.  I just remember wanting to quit Zoloft before it had begun working.  Best to you!Trevor      

    • chipur July 3, 2011, 4:38 pm

      And thank you, Lestigall, for sharing such detailed and personal info with us…

    • chipur July 3, 2011, 4:38 pm

      And thank you, Lestigall, for sharing such detailed and personal info with us…

  • Meteoroid July 2, 2011, 11:44 pm

    I am on my fourth dose of 10mg today. It is hard to gauge if what I am feeling is due to the Viibryd or the effects of weening off the Lexapro. I was taking 10mg of Lexapro before the switch. Following the doc recommendation I am taking 5mg of it and 10 mg of Viibryd. When I go up to 20mg of Viibryd I will be stopping the Lexapro. 

    So far I don’t seem to be having any problems with my stomach or GI tract. I am feeling spacey and have has some headaches. Its hard to tell for sure but I think those side effects are getting better. Certainly not as bad as on the first day. Tylenol helps with the headaches. I have been having a bit more anxiety though. Generally I think things are getting better. I have always been very sensitive to changes in my SSRI dose. Even a change of 2.5mg of Lex would take me a few day to get used to and 20mg was about as high as I can stand. So I want to point out that others may not have as hard a time of things as I am.

    Its hard to know if I am getting more or less serotonin then before I started changing these meds around. One thing for sure is that its not the same amount. I would certainly love to hear from others taking Viibryd about the positives they are feeling. Is improving mood, decreasing anxiety, less sexual side effects, ect? Also for those who were taking an anti-depressant before how did your doctor recommend you switch? Did you cross taper or just stop taking it? 

    • Dumbonut79 July 3, 2011, 1:38 am

      Meteoroid~
      While I can’t fill you in on any positive side effects yet (tonight is 5th dose).  I did want to reply to your cross tapering question.  I am on 400mg of Lamotrigine and discontinued use of 150mg of Wellbutrin.  Viibryd had taken that spot now.  No tapering of the Wellbutrin though, just quit.

      • chipur July 3, 2011, 5:10 pm

        Wow! Just knocked off the Wellbutrin. That’s significant, especially since there’s nothing in Viibryd that replaces its action…

  • Anonymous July 3, 2011, 1:24 am

    3 doses into sample pack.  GI distress still a problem.  Arms and legs feel weak and have a very slight ache to them.  Feels like its almost to the bone.  Very lethargic, staring into space for lengthy periods of time without moving a muscle.  Spacey.  Have trouble getting to sleep and staying that way, although Ambian helped me sleep last night.

    To be fair, I am also only 5 full days into a prescription for a very small dose of propranolol to stave off my migraines.  My first two days on that (before the Viibryd) weren’t bad though.  The very first dose of propranolol made my jaw relax and teeth unclench.  I don’t know if I can separate all the symptoms and attribute them to the correct culprit/med.

    What really concerns me the most is that the viibryd made all that tenseness return.  My teeth are clenched again.  There is a tense irritability in my head that is not migraine.  The lethargy is a big concern.  These are all depression symptoms that are typical for me and it feels like the viibryd is initially making them worse.  I don’t recall on any other SSRI that my symptoms ever got worse before they got better and I fear that might be the case here.  Can it work that way?  Worse before better?

    • chipur July 3, 2011, 5:08 pm

      First of all, nice catch on at least realizing you may not be able to attribute symptoms to the correct med. That’s one tough call.

      How can I put this without sounding like a Forest Labs payee, and I assure you I am not. If anything, I’m very cautious re Big Pharma. I don’t know that it’s fair to say, “…Viibryd made all that tenseness return.” It may be that the way your body is adjusting to Viibryd is allowing some symptoms to return (temporarily) – and there may be a significant emotional component playing out, as well. After all, there’s a lot at stake here in terms of relief and hope. Regarding, “I don’t recall on any other SSRI that my symptoms ever got worse before they got better…” Viibryd isn’t just an SSRI – it has the 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist piece. And that makes it very different. All I’m trying to do is help you hold on to some hope for what may be a very cool med.

      Your participation is really appreciated…

  • Neek July 3, 2011, 3:27 am

    Today is day 4 for me. No stomach problems-hooray! Still a little bit spacey and dry mouth too. I definitely felt a lift in my mood today. I’m a teacher so I’ve been off for the summer. I have spent a lot of time laying on my bed this month which is not normal for me at all, but I haven’t been myself in a few months. But today was different. I took my 10 year old son fishing. Then we hung out in the pool for a couple of hours and we even had a wrestling match in the living room (I can still take him down). There was a lot of laughter and connection and it felt great. He loved that I was spending time with him just talking and having fun. The difference I felt was that I was really enjoying the day and didn’t feel like I just wanted to go to my room and shut the world out. Lately, I had been “going through the motions” in whatever I was doing. Today was the first in a long time where I didn’t feel that way, there was definitely a spark. I feel like it’s too early for the Viibryd to be helping, but I can’t deny the change.

    • chipur July 3, 2011, 5:17 pm

      I’m smiling ear-to-ear for you. Even wiped a few tears. Thank you, Neek. What a pretty report…

  • achelelover July 3, 2011, 1:12 pm

    I just took my Day 3 dose. All seems to be going VERY well. I seem to have a little bit of an upset stomach, but I’m also withdrawing from 5mg of lexapro as of yesterday, and I’m super sensitive to any medication changes. I also get the feeling that stomach issues won’t be a permanent side effect. My mood has been excellent. I’m also coming off of Remeron(I was up to 45mg and have been cutting it in half the past few nights), I started to feel that it was giving me bad mood swings. The past few days, between cutting the remeron down and taking Viibryd, I have been in a great mood. I’m starting to think this one may be a keeper! Also, no spacey feelings as of yet and I can concentrate just fine. I will keep you all updated.

    • chipur July 3, 2011, 5:22 pm

      Thank you, achelelover. I’m pleased you’re finding relief and promise. We’ll look forward to your coming reports…

    • Terrysart July 3, 2011, 11:20 pm

      Question, I stated viibryd 6 days ago, 10 mg. and stipped 30 mg remeron. My physician advised me that I may have initial sleep problems going off remeron. My question, does viibryd contribute to sleeplessness, and how long will the GI problems last ? i’ve been having a quesy feeling, belching and diarrhea

      • chipur July 4, 2011, 2:46 pm

        Hi Terrysart!

        Welcome, and thank you for participating. Regarding your doc’s comment re Remeron (mirtazapine) and sleep. I’m thinking he’s referring to Remeron’s hypnotic action. In fact, it’s often prescribed for insomnia.

        If you look at Viibryd’s prescribing info, you’ll see common adverse reactions during the clinical trials. Numero uno was diarrhea, followed closely by nausea. Insomnia was on the lower end of the list.

        Hope that helps!

        Bill

      • Terrysart July 4, 2011, 10:11 pm

        I will give it a few more days. i just don’t feel like myself. I also have achy arms and feel lethargic. I am starting 20 mg tomorrow.

      • chipur July 5, 2011, 1:58 pm

        Fight the good fight, Terrysart. And if it doesn’t work for you – it doesn’t. What more can you ultimately do, or ask of yourself???

      • Terrysart July 6, 2011, 12:43 am

        Feeling a little better today, although having trouble sleeping, which may be due to stopping remeron a week ago. I will try the 20 mg tomorrow. No great mood change yet, a bit more energy athan the first few days.

  • chipur July 3, 2011, 4:31 pm

    Hi everyone! Just a heads-up. If you haven’t read Viibryd’s Full
    Prescribing Information, please do. There’s so much there that addresses
    a lot of the questions and concerns I’m catching in the comments. Hey, I
    want you to keep coming back – but knowledge is power! Here’s the link
    http://www.frx.com/pi/viibryd_pi.pdf

  • chipur July 3, 2011, 4:31 pm

    Hi everyone! Just a heads-up. If you haven’t read Viibryd’s Full
    Prescribing Information, please do. There’s so much there that addresses
    a lot of the questions and concerns I’m catching in the comments. Hey, I
    want you to keep coming back – but knowledge is power! Here’s the link
    http://www.frx.com/pi/viibryd_pi.pdf

  • chipur July 3, 2011, 6:48 pm

    Thank you for your visit, chemobrain. And the information you’ve shared is incredibly informative, albeit heart-wrenching.

    chipur readers – can you imagine having to deal with what chemobrain describes, after enduring what generated it in the first place? No doubt, this phenomenon merits attention and ongoing recognition and research. Does anyone have a personal, family, or friend experience to share?

    I’m glad you’ve been able to pick-up some tidbits re understanding and managing SSRI use. I can only imagine how accustomed you are to making your way through pain to secure a measure of relief. I’m pleased you’ll return and share reports with us. Again, thank you for your visit and participation.

    chipur readers – here’s a link to get you started on understanding post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment, aka chemo brain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-chemotherapy_cognitive_impairment

    Bill

  • Anonymous July 4, 2011, 10:47 am

    Some mood elevation after dose 4 yesterday afternoon.  GI distress is improving.  Pretty sure I would have quit after 3rd dose if it weren’t for this forum.

    • chipur July 4, 2011, 2:54 pm

      Well, I hope that ends up being a good thing, bobbiestacey (can’t bring myself to call you “woeisme”). I’ve always said that community brings so much strength and power to its members. And that was chipur’s mission from the get-go…

      • Anonymous July 31, 2011, 6:32 pm

        For privacy reasons, would you mind deleting your response above?  Thanks.

      • chipur August 2, 2011, 6:03 pm

        Handled!

  • Trevor July 4, 2011, 11:14 am

    2 weeks on Viibryd.  Took my first 40mg dose last night.  I think my body is really getting used to this med.  Sure, I’ve still got very little appetite and a strange sleep pattern, but my social anxiety is very low.  Been surrounded by relatives all day and I haven’t felt the usual need to hide in my bedroom every half hour.  I’m cool as a cucumber, even around the proverbial obnoxious family drunk who insults everyone.  
    I’m excited to think that if this med knocks out my depression too, I can get back to working on all those goals and dreams and projects that depression put on hold.
    Happy 4th of July to all. 

    • chipur July 4, 2011, 2:56 pm

      Trevor…

      You’ve been such a strong participant and have helped many. I sure appreciate your willingness to share. I’m glad things are turning around for you. How ’bout that anxiety piece? You, as well as so many others, deserve it.

      Happy 4th to you, as well…

      Bill

      • Trevor July 6, 2011, 6:58 am

        Thank you, Bill.  You and everyone else posting here have been just as beneficial for me.  

      • chipur July 6, 2011, 2:57 pm

        ;)

  • green_life July 4, 2011, 1:40 pm

    Anyone knwos when Viibryd is hitting the shelves in Canada?

    • chipur July 4, 2011, 2:59 pm

      Hi green_life! Thank you for visiting and commenting. I don’t have the answer, but will pursue it, okay? And, heck, chipur readers are great – they may provide the answer before I do. Bill

  • chemobrain July 5, 2011, 4:34 am

    here’s what might be an interesting tidbit for some of you… some of the “gi distress” has been familiar- so i went and looked at the inactive ingredient list– “lactose monohydrate”–  that’s right, a milk sugar derivative… we’ll have to see- but this drug may not be for those of us who are lactose intolerant– with so much of that common today, it’s a wonder that they couldn’t have manufactured this drug with a different product?  ug.

    • Meteoroid July 5, 2011, 5:19 am

      I saw that too as I was reading the info on my sample packet when I first got it. I had to laugh because I am a bit lactose intolerant. So far with the 10mg dose I haven’t noticed any problems due to the lactose. If it is giving anyone else trouble though there is an easy fix. They make tablets of lactase emzine that you swallow just before consuming milk products. Those of us who are lactose intolerant don’t naturally make lactase emzine so all this does is give us what others have normally. I have used them for years now and they work every time, and have no side effects. They are OTC and pretty much every pharmacy or supermarket has it. 

      • chipur July 5, 2011, 2:07 pm

        And there you have it – the power of community. Thank you Meteoroid!!!

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 2:06 pm

      Good catch, chemobrain. Lactose monohydrate is a common medication filler. My understanding is those who are lactose sensitive tolerate the small amounts well. Guess you can’t have your lactose-free cake and eat it too. ;)

  • hazmats July 5, 2011, 8:50 am

    I’m on day 7 of 10mg.  I’ve had GI complications, though not diarrhea.  My appetite has increased and presumably my metabolism as well, since I’ve actually lost weight due most likely to my obsessive eating habits.  I assume it’s causing the headaches and loopy sensation I’ve had.  When I move my head quickly, I get dizzy.  I’m somewhat indifferent to these effects; I care much more about the sexual side effects.  I think that’s going to be a problem as well.  At the lowest dose I can already tell that there is something different in the quality of my orgasm.  Penile sensation is slightly different as well.  Libido is down.  So what, out of the 170 n, 2.9% had decreased libido (5), 2.4% abnormal orgasm and 1% had additional SSE.  I guess I’m in that small crowd.  What a surprise.

    Don’t get your hopes up for a panacea.

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 2:10 pm

      Hi hazmats. Sorry to read you’re still experiencing the SSEs. I agree with your caution-statement at the end of your comment. However, I’m not so sure your SSEs issue won’t resolve. Let’s see – I sure hope it does. Thank you for your visit and participation. Bill

  • Mandiee July 5, 2011, 2:48 pm

    Hello,
     I am new to all of this!…I am 23 and I have been recently, (well maybe longer than I realize)..Ask and recieved help for my “moods,”  I have been feeling not like my self lately, very frusterate, and at times I just want to “Freak- out” well, I also have a daughter, just turned three and my doctor gave me a Viibryd, I am exicted because I hope it works! I would really like to feel Happy more, and calmer… I am only on day 5- So, I am not sure of the side effects, I really just feel the same, except for today, I felt a burst of energy, but that could of been the coffee, :-) Well I hope that everything goes good, I Have never had any other meds before, so I would really like some in-put.  ..Thanks *

    • Hopeful July 5, 2011, 4:34 pm

      I too am in Manidees shoes.  I myself have known for a long time that I just dont feel right and am not myself.  So last week I finally went to the doc and was prescribed Viibryd.  I have never been on any drugs like this before so this is all new to me.  I just took my day 5 dose and so far, besides for the GI problems, which seem to be getting better, I have started to feel something change.  I cant quite put my hand on it yet as I really dont know what I should be feeling but the other day I had an episode where I just was relaxed and much more chatty with people.  I have 3 young sons, 6 and under, and feel like i have been more calm with them and not getting agitated as easily when they start to get on my nerves.

      I guess I just dont know yet.  I think I am starting to notice some changes but just cant confirm for sure just yet.  I guess I will really know for sure once i start taking the 20 and 40mg doses.  I do hope it helps though.  Have been living like this for way too long now.  I am glad I found this site.

      • mandiee July 5, 2011, 5:06 pm

        Well..I would say we are on the same page. Let me know if you have any side effects. And I will do the same. I’m happy for this site too. P.s my doc. Said people usually notice a change around the third week. So keep me posted:-)

      • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:07 pm

        Sweet comment, Hopeful. I appreciate your visit and participation. Well, I guess most of us “just don’t know yet” when it comes to psychotropics. Sounds like you’re the recipient of some sort of positive effect – so carry on. Yes, I’m glad you’re feeling some nice (albeit, curious) things. I’m sure those three young sons of yours are glad for you, as well. Please keep us updated. Thank you for your visit and participation. Bill

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:26 pm

      Evening, Mandiee…

      First of all, I sure appreciate your visit and participation. I respect and have great empathy for your “new to all of this – ness.” I’m sure it can come off as very overwhelming. But you asked for assistance for your “moods” and you got it. So let’s see how things pan out for you.

      As I’m sure you know, Viibryd is a new med. And though it shares a component of the newer generation of antidepressants, it has an additional action that may serve you well.

      Take it a day at a time – sounds like you’re doing all the right things. And always know chipur is here for you. Actually, chipur readers are – and they’re very responsive. Keep us updated.

      One more thing. Do you see a therapist? Something to think about…

      Bill

      • Mandiee July 6, 2011, 1:00 am

        Well thanks for your response. No I do not see a therapist. Maybe I should but lucky me my childhood doc. Is the one who wrote me the prescription. He’s known me since I was born and I trust him. He is easy to talk to and I feel I can be honest without being judge. But you are right it is something I should think about and will do promise. I also have one good friend who I can really confined in and know I can completely open up too. So …hopefully that will be enough. Also this site should really help too…thanks again.

      • chipur July 6, 2011, 2:38 pm

        We’re here for you, Mandiee…

  • MedQueen July 5, 2011, 3:21 pm

    Have just taken my first 10mg dose.  Am anxiously awaiting the oft-mentioned explosive diahrrea!
     I am the hypochondriac (remember me?) so I will do my best to keep the imaginary side effects at bay. I will let you know later in the day how I’m feeling.

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:30 pm

      Oh, yeah. I remember you. And you’re an excellent and valued contributor, MedQueen. Well, heck – if the explosion comes, be thankful you aren’t constipated ;)

  • achelelover July 5, 2011, 4:07 pm

    Just took my Day 5 Dose of Viibryd. Yesterday I noticed that I was a bit on edge , easily startled, but those are the only side effects so far. So far so good! Still in a very good mood. 

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:00 pm

      You’re a trooper, achelelover. Your reports are so meaningful to all who are checking-in. And you know what? I’m still in a very good mood, as well…

  • cupcaketh July 5, 2011, 5:00 pm

    I am on day 6 of Viibryd.  I generally respond with tummy anxiety to most meds.  I have felt a constant burning sensation in my stomach since beginning this med.  I do believe the burning and churning is what’s keeping me from sleeping at night.  I am comfortable moving up to 20 mg when the dosage suggests too but I would love to hear from some people who are feeling better as they stay on it.  I haven’t noticed too much of my anxiety changing since I am having an anxious tummy.  Otherwise no noticable side effects to report! 

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:37 pm

      Don’t know what you were taking, or still are – but Day 6 is early. I’m thinking you know that. Good connection – the stomach ick and poor sleep. You’re likely spot-on. It would sure bother me. Can’t name the participants off the top of my head, but we’re receiving some very nice reports here. Sure appreciate your chipur visit and participation, cupcaketh (I like it – and them). Bill

    • Trevor July 6, 2011, 6:52 am

      Cupcaketh:  you’re having those tummy side-effects when taking your Viibryd with food?

      • chipur July 6, 2011, 2:57 pm

        Good catch, Trevor. Fooooooooooooooood. Gotta’ take Viibryd with it for max benefit!

  • Whittabitt75 July 5, 2011, 7:02 pm

    Alright…made it through the long holiday weekend WITHOUT wanting to “reach out and touch” anyone.  Ok…not much.  Ha! My doc said this should help with that.  I’m hoping so.  Will take my first 20mg dose this evening.  No adverse side effects for me since that first day – really hoping that stays the same.  Have noticed I’m gradually feeling more balanced and capable of “dealing” with things that come up and not so frantically out of control.  So, everyone else in my house is breathing easier too.  Thank you guys for beign here and keeping us all posted!  Oh…after one week – appetite is normal – neither increased nor decreased.  Weight has stayed the same… WHEW!  Energy levels seem to be creeping up though…so that’s a good thing.  :)

    • MedQueen July 5, 2011, 7:37 pm

      Thanks for the encouraging words Whittabitt.  I am so glad for this website!

      • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:50 pm

        And this website is so glad for its readers and participants. It’s nada without all of you…

      • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:50 pm

        And this website is so glad for its readers and participants. It’s nada without all of you…

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:41 pm

      Sweet report, Whittabitt75. I enjoy your writing – detailed, well expressed, and you use humor well. Glad we could be here for you. Keep us posted…

  • Whittabitt75 July 5, 2011, 7:02 pm

    Alright…made it through the long holiday weekend WITHOUT wanting to “reach out and touch” anyone.  Ok…not much.  Ha! My doc said this should help with that.  I’m hoping so.  Will take my first 20mg dose this evening.  No adverse side effects for me since that first day – really hoping that stays the same.  Have noticed I’m gradually feeling more balanced and capable of “dealing” with things that come up and not so frantically out of control.  So, everyone else in my house is breathing easier too.  Thank you guys for beign here and keeping us all posted!  Oh…after one week – appetite is normal – neither increased nor decreased.  Weight has stayed the same… WHEW!  Energy levels seem to be creeping up though…so that’s a good thing.  :)

  • anxious2 July 5, 2011, 7:15 pm

    Are you having “cramps”? in your legs? What I have had in the passed with other ssris’ is like restless legs. I think I fear this side effect as much as others. I am interested to know if this has been a side effect? I have not started my sample pack yet as I am just so apprehensive.anxious2

  • anxious2 July 5, 2011, 7:38 pm

    One of my big problems is having anxiety.  I have much fear of side effects. I have insomnia now and would not want to take something that would make that worse. I am reading all the posts trying to make the decision wether to take the plunge or not. I really want to know about the anxiety issue and the sleeplessness. I have been living with so much anxiety that I don’t think I could stand any more.. Thank you all for posting your expeiriences.It helps so much to have a place to go for answers. Is it better to start in the morning or the evening?

    • chipur July 5, 2011, 11:54 pm

      anxious2…

      You are not alone in your fear. All of us have experienced it re meds at one time or another. Heck, I remember some 30 years ago being prescribed some sort of benzo – I forget what it was. I got the danged scrip filled and carried the bottle with me wherever I went, but didn’t have the guts to take a one. And never did! We’re funny folks, aren’t we? Ah, but that’s what makes us so loveable. Let me ask you something – are you taking meds now? Would you mind revealing what you’re taking? Bill

    • Neek July 6, 2011, 12:00 am

      Hi anxious2. I noticed a decrease in my anxiety on the first day and have continued to have less (compared to before taking Viibryd) everyday since. I will up my dose to 20 mg tomorrow and am hoping it keeps getting better. My anxiety was pretty bad, so I’m happy with the results so far.

  • Dschell July 5, 2011, 8:07 pm

    I am still on the fence about whether to go off Pristiq and Remeron. They are the only AD I am taking @ present. My PDoc told me the Pristiq and Remeron would eliminate the SSE but no such luck. I actually do not sleep very well since starting the Pristiq. What combination AD and sleep aid would I suggest when he returns my call?The Viibryd posts are not very reasurring about elimination of SSE.

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 12:00 am

      Well, no disrespect intended toward your PDoc – but I wouldn’t have the guts to tell a patient a certain med or combo would eliminate SSEs. But then again, I’m a therapist, not a physician. Tough call on what to suggest to your doc. Only thing I can say for sure – the fewest SSEs are reported with bupropion (Wellbutrin). Of course, it impacts norepinephrine and dopamine – not serotonin. I realize Viibryd has had only two eight-week clinical trial periods. But Forest is standing by the next-to-none SSE thing. Hmmm…

  • ihateworking July 5, 2011, 9:06 pm

    Hello, I just want to thank everyone so much for posting your experiences.  I’m waiting for my doc to get back from vacation so she can switch me from Pristiq to Viibryd, which we’ve planning to do for a while but had to wait till it shipped to pharmacies.  Your feedback is incredibly helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to keep us all updated.

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 12:12 am

      ihateworking (cute!)…

      Sure glad you stopped by – and participated, no less. chipur readers are cool, to be sure. Be sure to keep checking-in. And when you start on Viibryd, let us know how things go. And then you’ll be helping others.

      Bill

  • Meteoroid July 6, 2011, 12:17 am

    This is the last day of the 10mg for me, I will be taking the first 20mg pill tonight. I was taking 10mg of Lexapro. This last week I took 5mg of lex and 10mg of Viibryd. This whole shift has been difficult for me since I am so sensitive to medication changes. I strongly suspect that 10mg of Viibryd is not equivlent to 5mg of Lexapro and that some of the symptoms I have been displaying are due to a bit of SSRI withdrawal. Its hard to guess if I have more or less serotonin floating around and what the 5-HT1A receptor agonist action is responsible for. 

    So after a full week here is what I have to report. I have been feeling light headed and a bit dizzy. I have been getting a bit of brain zaps when I turn my head but it is not as bad as when I have missed a few doses. That is the worst side effect so far, if they would go away I would be pretty happy about Viibryd. I am getting a few headaches too. I have a bit of IBS so I can’t really say if Viibryd is causing any GI problems. At any rate I have not been having a very hard time with the GI symptoms, the are very mild. My mood isn’t great, I have had good moments and bad moments. My anxiety level has been a bit higher then normal. The good news is that I do have more sensitivity down below. Hopefully as I continue to raise the Viibryd and lower the Lex I take this gets better. My weight and appetite has been pretty neutral. Its pretty much about the same. 
    I will definitely continue to let all of you know how it continues to go for me. I really appreciate how others are sharing what they are going through too! For those on 20mg and 40mg how are the sexual side effects?

  • Demi July 6, 2011, 1:53 am

    Another Update since I said if anything new or interesting occurred I’d let you know…   
    I am finding this medication to really take cravings for nicotine away.  I have been on the gum for almost a year now.. its been much more difficult this time to totally abstain from nicotine. Anyway I noticed that the last two days (6 and 7) I have been “forgetting” to chew a piece of gum until almost 11 am.  In the past I was waking up and popping one right away, usually consuming about 8 pieces a day.  Today i had two pieces of gum, yesterday no more than 4.   This is a nice surprise!

    GI Stuff comes and goes, I felt good all weekend, had a bad day today..

    RLS – aack I hate it… I’ve been taking temazepam since the Trazadone in low 25mg doses wasn’t helping with sleep(I get too hung over on higher doses) and that seems to do the trick in getting rid of the RLS and the sleep problems…

    I have RLS every night regardless of whether I take an SSRI, but this medication does increase it a bit, but less so than any other SSRI I have taken.  

    Overall I am happy and can certainly deal with some Hershey squirts for a few weeks!  ;-P

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 2:41 pm

      Nice report on help with staying off the smokes. Go figure! Well, if bupropion (Wellbutrin), another antidepressant, can do it – why not Viibryd? I (used to) really love Hershey bars, by the way..

    • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 5:47 pm

      all my anxiety and depression issues started when i stopped smoking 6 1/2 months ago.
      now on first 20 and finding the same in 8 days……no missing as much.
      how long have you quit smoking? Guessing it’s been a year on the gum? did you stop cold turkey and start the gum?
      I used wellbrtrin for a week before and 2 weeks after and then nothing.
      Love to hear from you
      Judy

  • anxious2 July 6, 2011, 1:58 am

    You asked what med I am taking now. I am not taking any antidepressant. I have had the restless leg symptom with SSRI  meds before so am not wanting to repeat any of that. I went to the doctor today and told him I thought I was depressed and he whipped out this sample of Viibryd and said it was just what I needed. Now that I have done reading I am not sure it is at all what I need. I have only been taking Ativan .25 once in awhile now when I can’t stand the anxiety anymore. But my life has stopped at this point with the symptoms I have. I have insomnia, I wake up with palpitations, and have anxious feelings. . I know the doc meant well but I have so much fear. I had a bad reaction to Cymbalta and Effexor, so I feel like I have nowhere to turn. I just thought he might be right.

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 2:45 pm

      Thanks for the report. Boy, it’s a roll of the dice, isn’t it? The cavalier way in which your doc presented Viibryd to you isn’t cool at all. No explanation of how it works? Side effects? What happens if you want to discontinue? Yes, uncool (but all too common, especially with PCPs).

      Ever worked with a therapist???

      Bill

      • anxious2 July 6, 2011, 11:21 pm

        I told the doctor that it is a new med so would probably not be covered on my insurance and he said “that’s ok I have lots of samples” So yes I think he was kind of just pushing something new on me. No I don’t have a therapist. Thanks for your input.

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:54 pm

        You know, chipur readers are reporting it is covered on their insurance. One mentioned Humana, the other didn’t name names. FYI!!!

  • Anonymous July 6, 2011, 2:35 am

    I was just prescribed Viibryd today.  I’m going to wait until I return from vacation to start taking it, due to the uncertainty of side effects.  I would like to share my experience with this new med.  I have taken almost every antidepressant in every class except the MAOI Inhibitors.  I was treated for 20 years with treatment resistant depression….tons of meds, ECT, and a Vagus Nerve Stimulator implant. I was diagnosed about 7 months ago with Bipolar Disorder.  Currently going through constant medication changes.  I have been off an antidepressant for several months, due to the evidence that antidepressants can make bipolar worse.  My doctor thinks I should give Viibryd a try.  I look forward to sharing my experience for anyone who wants to hear it.  Thanks!

    • BoundtoConquer July 6, 2011, 6:00 am

      Looking forward to reading your progress…

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 2:50 pm

      Hi yewneek1 (clever)…Thank you for visiting chipur and for your detailed report. You’ve certainly been through much.

      Curious. You’ve been diagnosed bipolar – and started on Viibryd (after being off antidepressants due to your bipolar disorder). Are you taking a mood stabilizer (lithium, Seroquel, Depakote, etc.)?

      Of course we want to hear what you have to say. Sharing and learning are what make chipur rock (…and roll).

      Bill

  • Anonymous July 6, 2011, 2:39 am

    I forgot to add, misdiagnosed with Treatment Resistant Depression for 20 years until the revelation that I am Bipolar.  What a waste of so many years of my life!

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 2:53 pm

      So noted. All the more reason to dig in and grab a huge chunk of it!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Trevor July 6, 2011, 7:31 am

    Day 15 and on 40 mg now.  I’m definitely not depressed at the moment but I’m not super enthusiastic about anything, either.I know it’s too early for that, of course. 
    **No anxiety, but I’m still a bit shy around strangers.  I remember with Zoloft I could talk to anybody and went from introvert to extrovert when it began working  and stayed that way for a couple years.  Again, too early. **I’m only a small fraction as obsessional as I would be off meds, but I’m feeling none of the crippling anxiety that accompanies those thoughts.   **Maybe It’s just the adjustment to 40mg (the “optimal level”), but my sex drive has dipped a bit. And last orgasm was achievable, but a little delayed. ** I only had GI upset the first day on Viibrid.  No diarrhea but a lot of churning.  Took one Immodium abd it never came back.** I’m only nauseous if I eat too much.  Not much of an appetite, so I kind of have to force myself to eat.  Of course, junk food is the exception.   It never looks gross.**I’ve never had a single episode of Restless Leg Syndrome.  Then again, I exercise.  Does that help prevent RLS?
    **Like everyone here, I’m waiting for something really neato to happen.

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 3:01 pm

      Moderate exercise is known to help. Excessive work may cause more problems…

  • Aussie July 6, 2011, 11:03 am

    Hi, any idea when it will be available in Australia

    • chipur July 6, 2011, 3:03 pm

      Hi Aussie. I will be contacting a media rep at Forest today. Will ask and reply, okay? Thank you for your visit and comment…Bill

      • green_life July 7, 2011, 3:19 pm

        Chipur plz ask about Canada also.

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:39 pm

        Will do. Left voice mail yesterday. Will pound them ’til I get a call back…

  • achelelover July 6, 2011, 3:15 pm

    Day 6, I doubled up on the 10mgs this morning so I just took my first dose of 20mg. I feel happier and like I have a better hold on my emotions. I still feel a bit paranoid and on edge, but that’s the only bad side effect to report so far. We’ll see how the 20mg goes in the next few days!

  • disneybabe July 6, 2011, 3:47 pm

    I was just prescribed Viibryd yesterday. I’m anxious to begin, although a bit nervous about going off my current meds (Wellbutrin and Zoloft). I am changing because my husband confronted me about my extreme lack of libido last week; we’ve been married 3 years and he’s going nuts with the prospect of spending our lives together with my complete lack of excitement in the bedroom. After doing some searches online, I found this blog and became very interested in Viibryd. My psychiatrist was slightly hesitant to prescribe; I will be the first to try it from their group. She is having me cut my (50mg) Zoloft in half for 2 days, then stopping it and the Wellbutrin (300mg) altogether and starting the sample pack of Viibryd the next day. My biggest concern is that I will experience “brain zaps” with the removal of Zoloft…I’ve suffered with them many times before during med weaning and changes, and they are miserable. My doctor has said that the Viibryd should take the place of the Zoloft and prevent them from happening; have you heard anything about this?

    I appreciate this blog very much! I look forward to sharing my experiences with the medication here. Thank you!

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:25 pm

      Hi disneybabe!

      Thank you for your visit and participation. I’m glad you’ve found a sense of comfort here, and hope you, indeed, share your experiences with us down the road.

      I must say you’re quite a wife, being willing to switch meds upon your husband’s “confrontation.” I only hope he finds some way to give in return.

      As a “zap” veteran, I know how much you want to avoid them. And I think your doc has it right. In theory, the Viibryd ought to handle the zap issue.

      Well, let’s see what happens. Be sure to keep us informed. Sharing, and subsequent learning, is what makes chipur so strong!

      Bill

  • MedQueen July 6, 2011, 4:14 pm

    Just took my second dose of 10mg of viibryd.  No side effects  yesterday.  Today feeling a little groggy, but can’t definitely say it’s from the viibryd.  Just a slight GI problem. (not explosive).
    Just to update new users, I took paxil for many years, then switched to prozac 20mg, upped to 40mg and added 150mg Wellbutrin 2 x/day.  After several years on this combo, my lack of energy and desire to do anything, prompted me to ask my dr. for a new med.  He gave me a sample pack of pristiq.  Took 50mg for 2 wks and 100 for 2 wks.  Did absolutely nothing to me or for me.  He then gave me a sample pack of viibryd. (The rep had just been in and I think I’m the 1st patient he gave it to).  Have a question – Do I still have the pristiq in my system?  

    As for the sex drive – Been married 24 years, am a woman and 56 yrs. old… Need I say More.  Would be a miracle if it ever came back, but my husband is hoping!!!

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:28 pm

      We’ll all keep our fingers crossed for the both of you!

  • chemobrain July 6, 2011, 4:35 pm

    old man sitting underneath the acorn tree,
    says, “all these things in life are true”-
    life is suffering, suffering, is life.
    be happy with the small things that come to you.
    they will be coming to you.

    – johnny clegg
    south african songwriter

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:29 pm

      ;)

  • Mandiee July 6, 2011, 4:55 pm

    Well today is Day 6..and well just notice the GI…:-/ however staying positive because they are much better today than yesterday. Morning has been slow but this afternoon started to fell a little jittery..think its because I’m hungry. I did eat breakfast this morning because I read the med is better with food..and I did notice a difference today.

    • Guest July 7, 2011, 3:23 am

      Viibryd needs to be taken with food, the bio availability reduces to almost half when not.  
      good luck 

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:54 pm

        Thanks TBI. Yes, yes, yes…

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:30 pm

      Glad you underscored the food thing. Take Viibryd with food! It isn’t just a side effect thing, either. Makes it work better…

  • Keepinon July 6, 2011, 8:46 pm

    Hi~  I just found this site.    I was on 50 mg zoloft and 150 wellbutrin for about 5 years.   I slowly gained about 30 pounds and decided I had to stop.  After several attempts at getting off zoloft over the years, I weaned off very slowly.  I literally cut little pieces off for about 5 months and still had some weird zaps and disorientation for about 2 weeks at the end.   I stopped Wellbutrin cold turkey with no problems, other than a bunch of my hair falling out (how weird is that???)  Now, 4 months later, I am sinking into depression again, so my doc gave me a starter pack of viibrid this morning.  I appreciate all the comments, so I will know what I might experience.  I am going today to get the lactose intolerant stuff and have cancelled early morning appts for a week : )  I am very hopeful…. and I hope I don’t crave alcohol like I did on the zoloft or gain my 15 pounds back!    I am not on any psych meds at all at this point, so my only variable is the viibrid.  I look forward to reading everybody’s posts every day to keep me feeling alive and supported.  Thank you all

    • Keepinon July 7, 2011, 3:13 am

      ViibrYd!  oops!

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:41 pm

      Hi Keepinon…

      Welcome to chipur. Glad you stopped by and decided to participate. Your name speaks well for your dedication and drive (I’m thinkin’).

      Keep us informed regarding your Viibryd experience. I know it will be so meaningful to you if it works out well. And why shouldn’t it?!

      We’ll be here, available to keep you “feeling alive and supported.” And I know you’ll do the same for others…

      Bill

  • Sean July 6, 2011, 9:32 pm

    Just finished the first week today – so I guess it’s 20 mg starting tomorrow.  I’ve had no major sides so far.  Some diarrhea, but compared to constipation, it’s preferable for me – but it hasn’t been severe anyway.  I notice delayed ejaculation – I’m a little worried that this might get worse as the dose rises.  At the same time, I still must have prozac in my system because of the long half-life (stopped it a week ago when I started this), which could be contributing.  I’ve been really sleepy at work at times – night time sleep is not bad.  A little spacey – but better than some other SSRIs I’ve taken.  Mood is decent.  I feel a little bloated, again not awful.  I think it may take some time to really get a handle on whether this will work, but I will periodically post long the way.  Thanks to everyone for the comments and to Bill for the board/making me feel welcome.

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:45 pm

      Great report, Sean. Good catch on the Prozac half-life bit. It’s a factor. So it sounds like it’s onward and upward for you. I’m glad you’re finding meaning here and feeling welcomed. You are!

  • nuthatch July 6, 2011, 11:14 pm

    Just got my sample packet of Vilbryd today. Took the first 10 mg with dinner and will take reduced dose of Pristiq later tonight. I am going to Chicago for the weekend to meet my partner’s kids and may rethink taking this  again until I get back as I already feel a bit dizzy. That may be power of suggestion! My had depression as a young woman and it came back full force in ’93 after my late husband’s open heart surgery. Paxil worked for about 12 years then began to diminish in effectiveness. After a few false starts I was prescribed Pristiq but by that time I was nearly suicidal from poor medicine management. It took a full year to return to somewhat normal. Why, you might ask, would I change for another med. Well I am 73 and in a new relationship 10 years after my husband’s death. We both desire to be sexually active. He is and I am up to a point. Just would like it to be better for both of us so I am going to try this. If it doesn’t suit me, so be it. But it’s worth a shot.

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:51 pm

      By gosh, it’s definitely worth a shot. Good for you! You know, maybe it’s a good idea to wait until you get back from Chicago to get going. Nothing you couldn’t handle, I’m sure. But why sign up for potential inconvenience if you don’t have to? Good timing – I was in Chicago (that toddlin’ town) last week visiting my children.

      Sure appreciate your visit and comment. Keep us up-to-date…

      Bill

  • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:55 am

    Caught up in client work all evening, chipur readers. Will get back on track with my comment replies Thursday a.m. Sorry…

    • Frogmen313 July 7, 2011, 12:55 pm

      Hi all i have a question, if a person feels really good and everything is fine why cant they just stay at the 10mg? Cause i know we develope tolerance overtime!

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:00 pm

        Hey, if one feels really good and everything’s fine at 10mg. 10mg it is! And you know, it’s the same with, say, Zoloft. For some, 50mg does it. For others it’s 100. Great hearing from you Frogmen313 (all 313 of you). Come on back! Bill

      • Frogmen313 July 7, 2011, 4:34 pm

        Hi, chipur u sure are a very intelligent and friendly person. I hope u are gettin paid for this :)

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 5:13 pm

        Well, thank you. Hey, once you’ve been in the trenches and endured the fury a mood/anxiety disorder can unleash – you tend to want to do all you can to help others get through it….

    • Frogmen313 July 7, 2011, 12:56 pm

      Not to intrue on ur personal life dr chipur, but may i ask do u take medication? And how for how long? Vy the way i am talking about anti depressents

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:32 pm

        No intrusion perceived. First of all, my buddies were/are panic and generalized anxiety disorders, anxiety-associated depression, and alcoholism (26.5 years sober).

        Began taking the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) imipramine (Tofranil) in 1989. Switched to paroxetine (Paxil) about three years later. Switched to sertraline (Zoloft) – oh – several years after that. Valium and Klonopin mixed in, but it’s been a long time.

        By choice, I began weaning off sertraline a month ago. I am presently med free – and asymptomatic. But that doesn’t mean my leaning toward the anxious has gone away – it never will. And that’s okay, ’cause I’ve learned to manage it and keep it in its own sweet little place.

        Thanks for the respect; however, I’m not a doctor. I’m a master’s level licensed counselor. Just for the record.

        One last thing. Speaking of my meds adventure, in about three hours I’m posting a piece on the events that turned my anxiety-ridden life around. Cool stuff…

        Bill

    • Frogmen313 July 7, 2011, 12:58 pm

      Dr, i stopped prozac for 6 month and now i can hardly sleep. The reason i stoped prozac was because of sse. But i might have damaged my brain cause i tapered too fast an now experiencing extreme fatigue. I take 5 htp at night and i am doing better. I am wondering if viibryd will change everything. By the way the prozac sse really freake me out!

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:35 pm

        Again, I’m not a doc – but I’m not thinking you damaged your brain. Can’t promise Viibryd will “change everything,” but if I had the choice – Viibryd or Prozac – I’d go with Viibryd…

    • Frogmen313 July 7, 2011, 1:01 pm

      Dr. Not to intrude on ur private life, but i am very curious u mentioned panic attacks, and may i ask if u have taken any medication for that?

      And if a patient tAke 10mg viibryd and they feel good why cant they just stay at 10mg? Because as a long time user of prozac i know it eventually poop out!

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:36 pm

        Answered your meds question. And, yes, if 10mg does the job – gotta’ love it.

      • Frogmen313 July 7, 2011, 9:03 pm

        Thank u so much for answering everyone of my question :)

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:11 pm

        Don’t you hate it when politicians dodge questions? And now you know why I’m adamant about answering all questions – to the point…

  • Gutzy1 July 7, 2011, 12:41 pm

    I’ve been taking cymbalta for about six years and feel as though its not working anyore. Dr is starting me on Viibyrd. I’ve decreased my Cymbalta( Can really feel the effects) and tonight I start the dose pack starting with 10mg. I’m a little nervous about starting a new medication since I don’t know what if any side effects it will have on me. Hoping for the best. Glad to have found this site to share exeriences.

    • Mandiee July 7, 2011, 1:29 pm

      Well the only side effect I have found so far is the GI issues. But I have to say much better I’m on my last 10mg today. Start 20mg tomorrow. Also I just wanted to comment that my Dr said to take it in the mornings because it will give you a little energy so sleeping might be harder if taken at night…just so thoughts..however I am new to all of this and this is my first medication…so I’m hopeful that it is for the better and make my life happier and easier.

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:37 pm

        Thanks for sharing your doc’s thoughts re taking it in the a.m. I’ll add that to the article, Mandiee. Stay in touch…

      • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:37 pm

        Thanks for sharing your doc’s thoughts re taking it in the a.m. I’ll add that to the article, Mandiee. Stay in touch…

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 3:57 pm

      Hi Gutzy1 (and you are definitely gutzy)! Don’t blame you for being a bit nervous about this med adventure. But the side effects profile of Viibryd is about as good as it gets. Soooo, just know we’re here to support you, okay? Keep us updated…Bill

  • Sean July 7, 2011, 3:35 pm

    Has this med been around for awhile in Europe?  I’ve been trying to find user experiences based on that assumption, but haven’t found any.  Does anyone know if this is the case, or is it new everywhere?

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 4:40 pm

      Brand new stuff, Sean. Only “record” of any kind would be the two eight-week clinical trials – and some two-weeks of use. Wild, huh?

      • Sean July 8, 2011, 2:52 pm

        That is wild – I was joking to myself yesterday that I hope I don’t become part of a class action suit against Forest, lol.

        This question may be asking too much for a med with such a short existence, but: Is there a reasonable chance that my body will acclimate enough to have the sexual side effects fade?  I ask because I’ve gotten mixed answers on this question regarding ssri’s in general.  Seems as though the common response is that all s/e’s tend to fade except weight gain and sexual.  However, I did have less sexual side effects the longer I was on prozac.

      • Sean July 8, 2011, 2:57 pm

        BTW… I’m also a “friend of Bill” (saw your post about being sober up there).  18 years for me.  Maybe we could chat more sometime about meds and sobriety in general.  I think it can add a level of difficulty to the whole thing.

      • Guest July 11, 2011, 2:07 am

        there was a third 52 week open label trial 

  • BoundtoConquer July 7, 2011, 3:40 pm

    Hi there! I am so glad that I found “chipur”. My doctor switched me to Viibryd on Tuesday and I spent that evening reading what little is available online and came across this page. Im anxious to read everyone’s journey and to share my own. With that being said, I took my first 10mg Tuesday night. Had just a little bit of an upset stomach. When I woke up yesterday, the brain zaps were pretty bad. They lasted all day. At one point, I think I ran a little fever because my skin was hot to the touch. I didn’t confirm with a thermometer tho. I felt pretty crappy all day so I just hung out at home. I found I was a little more on edge with the kids. I just kept telling myself that it’s gonna be worth it in the end, even if I was feeling like a Labrat! Today is better, so far. The brain zaps aren’t NEAR as bad. I’m kinda feeling like getting out of the house, which is very unusual for me these days. (I’ll update tomorrow as to if I actually got out or not.) Until then, I encourage everyone to stay strong and visit here frequently for encouragement!

    • Keepinon July 7, 2011, 4:53 pm

      Hi~  I just started Wednesday, so it will be interesting to see how things go.  I have a mild upset stomach but no brain zaps….  I laughed at your Labrat comment because my husband called me “guinea pig” when I told him I was the first person the doc has prescribed this for!  Good luck!

      • BoundtoConquer July 8, 2011, 3:15 am

        Yes, I have to say, Labrat is fitting for what all I’ve been put on over the years. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ve finally found “the one”. Is it really too much to ask to just be “normal”? Ha!

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:00 pm

        Not too much to ask at all, B2C. But then, define “normal”…

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 5:23 pm

      Inspirational, BtoC. Tough work, dealing with a mood/anxiety disorder. The general public has no clue! Yes, stay strong and come on back for encouragement and support. chipur will be here!!!

    • Meteoroid July 7, 2011, 11:48 pm

      Hi BoundtoConquer, I am a bit over a week ahead of you. You mentioned that you switched meds. Were you on another SSRI before starting Viibryd, particularly one with a shorter half life? With the brain zaps it sounds like you are getting a bit of withdraw. I am making the switch from Lexapro and my first few days were rough. On my doctor’s recommendation I took half my dose of Lexapro for the first week and the standard 10mg of Viibryd together. Even then I don’t think 10mg of Viibryd gave me as much serotonin re-uptake as the amount of Lexapro I cut. I would suggest that you talk to your doctor about cross tapering between your previous SSRI and Viibryd. When I changed my dose to 20mg Viibryd and 2.5mg Lexapro two days ago I felt much better, I think I am getting closer to the re-uptake action my brain was used to.

      • BoundtoConquer July 8, 2011, 3:12 am

        Hi meteoroid! I have been taking 100mg of Pristiq for about 4 months and my Dr told me on Tuesday that I could just stop taking it and begin on the Viibryd. I agree, the zaps could be from stopping cold turkey, but, I was following his direction. Today wasn’t as bad as yesterday, however, I did end up having to take .25 xanax to try to stop the zaps so that I could function better with the kids. I’m hoping that I won’t have them at all tomorrow. As far as how I felt in general today, it was up and down. I can say that I had a “makeup party” with my 3yr old and up until now, my depression would not allow me to do even these slightest of activities with her. So, I’ll continue to push forward in hopes of being able to be the more involved mommy that I’ve been longing to be!

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:59 pm

        Sweet! “Makeup party” with your 3yr. How good is that? Thanks for sharing, B2C…

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:59 pm

        Sweet! “Makeup party” with your 3yr. How good is that? Thanks for sharing, B2C…

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:26 pm

        Thank you, Meteoroid. Super-helpful info for B2C (I just came up with that moniker)…

  • achelelover July 7, 2011, 3:43 pm

    Day 7: Yesterday I took 20mg for the first time after 5 days of taking 10mg. Yesterday and today I definitely felt/feel “wired.” I think this will probably decrease as I get used to the 20mg. I’ve been taking just a fraction of the 45mg remeron bars, and my depressino and mood swings have all but ceased since I decreased remeron and started viibryd. My sex drive is still normal. The remeron helps me sleep, but I could honestly sleep without it. My big problem is OCD, and so far I’m finding it easier to shift away from my obsessive thoughts and ignore them.

    • chipur July 7, 2011, 5:15 pm

      Great report, achelelover. And an OCD bonus! I’ll add that to the article itself…

  • Bellita1 July 7, 2011, 5:25 pm

    I have been on lexapro for years. I am now slowly going off of it and am on 10mg of viibryd. I took lexapro for anxiety and panic attacks. Nothing else worked. I am hoping viibryd works because off sse of lexapro.  So far I have a had no side effects on viibryd other then an upset stomache for a day or 2 in week one. The sse is starting to go away. But, I have been like a yoyo on viibryd with my anxiety. I feel nervouse and anxious then a mild panic will grip me. I hope that the mdicine will work, because I don’t want to go back to lexapro, but the anxiety is tough.

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 2:51 pm

      Hi Bellita1…

      As a panic and anxiety vet – nicely under management – I’m just naturally interested in your progress. Give the transition some time – your body’s going through some changes. Doesn’t surprise me at all that you’re experiencing some heightened anxiety symptoms. Try assigning it to the transition, not Viibryd.

      Thank you for your visit and keep us posted…

      Bill

  • Nicollerodgers July 7, 2011, 6:26 pm

    Hello All, 

    I am new to this site, and I came across it to find out more information about Viibryd as well. I’ve been taken Effexor XR 150mg for about 3yrs. It didn’t feel like it was enough and I still had my break downs. My doctors bumped me up to 300mg with no effect..actually my depression got worse because my husband deployed. 

    So yesterday he gave me a trail package of Viibryd. He told me that it doesn’t have any sexual or weight gain side effects and it should help my depression and keep my mood swings under control. 

    So as of now I just took my first pill 10mg. I will be taking 10mg for 7days..and upping my dosage as the trail package says while tappering off of the Effexor. 

    I read that others had issues with concentration at work, and falling asleep at night. I take 40mg of Addrell XR of ADHD and 2mg of Clonazepam at night for sleep and RLS. So my run with the Viibryd will be different than others probably. 

    But I’m going to remain positive about this medication…because I’ve been feeling so bad (even suicidal) on the Effexor so anything has to be better. 

    I will come back and update everyone in a few days! I am greatful or this site! 

    • Nicollerodgers July 7, 2011, 6:38 pm

      holy cow sorry for all the spelling errors and the horrible grammar! 

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:04 pm

        fuhgedaboudit

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:02 pm

      Hi Nicolle (1 c/2 l’s)…

      I’m very grateful you stopped by. You have a lot on your plate, don’t you? Yes, your situation does sound a bit different than others’ – but with the emotional/mental health disorders – and psychotropics – what’s normal?

      Keep us posted as the days ensue, okay? And stay vigilant regarding the suicidal ideation piece. Don’t mess around with it – you feel it, you secure immediate help!

      Bill

  • Tqbinfinity July 7, 2011, 7:43 pm

    Does the upset stomach/diarrhea go away? 

    • Neek July 7, 2011, 9:27 pm

      I personally had the GI problems on days 1 and 2 (10 mg) and then was ok for a few days. Yesterday was my first dose at 20 mg and I did have the GI problems again, but it was fairly mild compared to days 1 and 2. I haven’t had any problems today. So for me, it seems to be a side effect that goes away fairly quickly. If I do get GI problems again when I up my dose next time, I expect it to go away just like it has so far.

      • Tqbinfinity July 7, 2011, 10:27 pm

        Thanks, I hope you’re right. It didn’t bother me much on 10 mg, just a ltitle. But now i went up to 20 mg and my stomach is quite upset

      • Meteoroid July 8, 2011, 12:13 am

        For most people, including myself they do go away. Like Bill said there are a lot of neurons in the gut that use serotonin. These meds (SSRIs) throw their ability to coordinate your digestion off a little bit by increasing serotonin. The good news is that for most people it this disruption isn’t permanent. Our bodies figure out something is new going on and compensate. I found pepto bismol helps, others have said Imodium works too. 

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:22 pm

        …and that’s the attitude to have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • MedQueen July 7, 2011, 8:31 pm

    I’m on my 3rd day of 10mg.  The mild GI side effect I experienced yesterday seems to be gone.  I seem to start getting alot of energy at night.  Has anyone tried taking it before bedtime?  I’m wondering if that might help give me a boost during the day and help me sleep better at night. 

    • Bellita1 July 7, 2011, 9:31 pm

      I take it at dinner time with food. I haven’t noticed being tired, I do have trouble with sleep, but I think that is me and not the medicine.

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:24 pm

        Great comment! You’re being open-minded, Bellita1. Yes, it isn’t always the medicine – and our bodies will often nicely adjust…

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:09 pm

      You-are-theeeeeeeeee-queen…

      • MedQueen July 8, 2011, 11:13 pm

        Thank you sir.  Nice to get the respect I deserve (Just Kidding).  I’m on day 4 and seem to be a little calmer.  Still waiting for energy to kick in.  Did you drink alcohol while taking AD’s?  I have my glass or two of red wine most nights and don’t seem to have a bad reaction with the viibryd.

    • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 5:56 pm

      I take mine with dinner and i have slow mornings and energy at nite so I’m not sure.
      I was thinking of switching mine to the am?
      who knows????

  • TommyJay July 7, 2011, 9:04 pm

    I’m in the middle of week 2 of 20mg (was on 10mg for a week before that.).  The plan was to go up to 40 mg after a week of 20, but I still felt AWFUL and wanted to wait.  I’m just now starting to come out of the heinous side effects from upping to 20mg.   These were my symptoms:  Bloated, sleepy, weak and extremely jumpy.  Impatient to the point of having to breathe to calm down.  And sooooooo depressed – and by that i mean just absolutely lifeless and apathetic.  It’s a testament to my desperation that I’m pushing through this.  I am happy to report that all of the side effects have gone away sans sleepiness. Also, I’m still feeling more apathetic than I’m used to.  On a positive note, I am feeling less anxious socially.  It kinda feels like this med has slowed everything down around me, as to make it easier to join in.  The positive effects are not enough to make me stay at this dose.   However, I’m nervous to up the dose to 40mg, as that will most likely bring all these initial side effects back.  But, I guess it’s too late to stop now.  I WILL be waiting for my body to acclimate to the 20mg before going up.  Maybe I’ll just do 30mg instead of 40mg.  Regardless I will keep ya’ll posted.  I hope I didn’t scare anyone off trying this med.  Everyone is different, and you never know until you try.  Good luck all!

    • TommyJay July 8, 2011, 2:04 am

      Also, I should note that I’m taking it at night, because the side effects were so bad. That made me feel better during the day, but I’ve been sleeping like crap. I’ve occasionally been grinding my head into my pillow so hard that my pillows slide out and off the bed. However, as with the other side effects, that has mostly subsided. I really hope this drug is worth it… btw, I’ve had similar, intense reactions to ssri’s before, but I didn’t see any of them through like I’m doing with Viibryd.

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:46 pm

        Stay tough, TommyJay!

        You know, I have to share – I endured decades of crippling anxiety and took several meds, including benzos, to manage it. Of course, med numero uno was alcohol (almost 27 years sober).

        In spite of my struggles I never had it as tough as those enduring a severe mood disorder. I work with mdd and bipolar clients all the time and have always loved and admired their (your) determination. I never had to deal with antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, or anticonvulsants for the sake of mood management. Whole ‘nother ballgame – and I’ll do all I can to support those on the playing field.

        You’re awesome…

        Bill

      • nuthatch July 20, 2011, 8:00 pm

        Congratulations on your long term sobriety. I share that disease with you and have nearly 37 years now. Hard to believe but true. 

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 3:43 pm

        Thanks, nuthatch. Time flies, doesn’t it? Nice job!

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:20 pm

      Thanks, TJ. You know, you mentioned a key word in all of this – plan. You obviously had/have one, and the cool thing is you’re willing to be flexible with it. Glad to hear you’re free from the bulk of the side effects.

      No doubt, desperation causes us to do things we’d never thought imaginable. I mean, I think it’s at times about really having no choice (well, we do but as bad as things are the alternative is worse).

      I think your dosing strategy is sound and I’ll look forward to your updates. By the way, I appreciate your statement of “difference” at the end. That will be really helpful to others.

      Bill

  • Meteoroid July 8, 2011, 12:17 am

    Does anyone know if it is okay to split a Viibryd pill in half? I don’t think they are time release capsules so one would think its okay. Just wondering because people are talking about doses other then 10, 20, and 40 mg. 

    • TommyJay July 8, 2011, 1:47 am

      My doctor wrote me a script for 10mg. So right now I’m taking 2 pills. Next I’ll take three. Then ill get a new script. :)

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:28 pm

      My gut (again, pardon the pun) is splitting a pill would pose no prob. You guys know I’m not a psychiatrist, though. However, like you – I’ve been around the block a few times. ;)

      • dramatoni July 20, 2011, 11:28 pm

        My doc told me that if I felt that 20 mg. was working, I could cut the 40s in half and stay at 20.  (I’m on the sample packet.)

      • Julie July 20, 2011, 11:38 pm

        Mine said the same thing, more or less.  That if I got to 40 and needed to back down I could just cut the 40’s in half. 

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 3:54 pm

        Bingo! That’s the answer we’re looking for – can cut 40s in half. Thanks, dramatoni…

  • Barney July 8, 2011, 1:41 am

    Started at 20mg and I’m on day 14 now. My side affects have been diarrhea mid way through, also feeling lethargic, and sleepiness during the day, sex drive is low although performance is heightened. I am also currently taking Lamictal, a mood stabilizer…per my docs opinion my mood stabilizer has affected my results of Viibryd.  I know its difficult for all of us and I know drug cocktails tend to make us wonder what is and what isn’t truly affecting us.  Thank you for everyone’s honesty. Hearing everyone’s comments helps me to fell that I’m not alone. Best wishes stay strong.

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:34 pm

      Hi Barney! Great comment – it means a lot to me. I’m sure it will to others, as well. The psychotropic two-three–four step is treacherous biz, to be sure. Sure isn’t for the faint of heart.

      Yes, “stay strong!” And you’re not alone…

      Bill

  • Seth July 8, 2011, 1:59 am

    Day one of Viibryd.  Been taking 20-30 mg’s of Lexapro for years along with Klonopin.  Have been doing pretty well for awhile and looking to reduce Klonopin as well as find my old libido.  I haven’t really tolerated effexor or cymbalta type anti depressents so have been sticking with the Celexa then Lexapro train for years.  Glad to find the site and will report my findings and results as well as read up on the posts.  Starting at 10mg, stopped Lexapro today and will go up to 40mg by the end of the month.  I am the guinea pig for a trusted MD to whom I see every three months and decided it was time to change it up as all in all, things have been pretty good except for the sexual side effects of Lexapro and Klonopin

  • Seth July 8, 2011, 2:23 am

    Thanks to all who post on this site and kudos to Chipur for being so kind and informative.  Trying to stay positive and not think about side effects for now.  I literally stopped Lexapro yesterday and started Viibryd today.  I’m actually a little excited.  Just curious if anyone can help with a question or two.  Due to a recent case of bronchitis and tonsillitis I am currently on antibiotics as well as a steroid based inhaler.  Will these have any effect on the transition and efficacy?  Second as I have GURD, I take protonix (similar to Nexium) every other day, anyone else take this with Viibryd?

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 3:55 pm

      Hi Seth! Thanks for your visit and comment. I just perused the literature and I don’t see any interaction issues. Naturally, you doc is the authority, but everything looks good to me. Keep us posted, okay? Bill

      PS: Thanks for the acknowledgement. “Aw shucks”…

      • Seth July 8, 2011, 5:00 pm

        Thank you Bill!

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 12:28 am

        ;)

  • Trevor July 8, 2011, 4:01 am

    I think it’s day 17??  Been on 40mg a few days.  Very tired and thinking slow.  Memory isn’t very sharp.  I think I’m going to go back down to 20mg for a few days and see how I feel.  I used to cut 100mg Zoloft pills to 75mg, so it shouldn’t be a huge deal.  If/when the antidepressant effect kicks in, I can always readjust. 

    I kind of wanted to stick with the recommended dosing schedule and report how it feels accordingly, but this is too foggy at the moment.  Anyone else want to be that pioneer?  ha

    • Trevor July 8, 2011, 4:11 am

      I forgot to add the positive:  I’ve lost 3 pounds on Viibryd without trying.  Kind of nice to see my belly going flat again.  I doubt I’ll ever return to Cymbalta or Pristiq.

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:01 pm

        “Dude, you’re ripped!”

      • Trevor July 9, 2011, 10:04 am

        LOL!

        Far from ripped. Just sans the Cymbalta baby bump.

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:53 pm

        Gotcha’

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:53 pm

        Gotcha’

      • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 6:21 pm

        Trevor

        Responding to a month old post
        Are you still on the V and are you still losing weight?
        I put back 40 #’s when I stopped smoking  6 1/2 months ago and that’s when the depression and weight gain started.
        Judy

  • Bpositive July 8, 2011, 4:37 am

    I just got my sample today from my family doctor.  I’d not heard of Viibryd before today.  I had asked about going on Lexipro, since Zoloft isn’t working very well anymore. The other meds I take are adderall, xanax, hydrocodone, plaquinel, diovan, prilosec, and mobic. I hate taking so many meds but I have fibromyalgia, sjogrens, arthritis, ocd, add, and ptsd.   The mental issues either began or were made worse by my husband’s suicide two years ago. So I hate taking the drugs but I know I do really need them…hopefully not forever! I’m really concerned about a drug interaction but surely my doctor considered this.  I want to be excited about starting Viibryd but from reading all the posts, it looks like the side effects are pretty bad after all.  My doctor told me to go completely off my Zoloft (150 mg) and start taking the Viibryd tomorrow at the sample dose of 10 mg. I’ve read that others are taking half doses of their previous meds for a few days before they completely cut it off.  Is my doctor right?  (Come on…we all know they’re human too! ;) )  Ohhhh…what to do??? I’m one of the few people who don’t want the positive sexual side effects since I am celibate!  lol  But I would love to feel something besides pain again…I’m so happy I found your site so at least I have an idea of what to expect! Thanks! 

    • Seth July 8, 2011, 3:31 pm

      I was told to stop Lexapro and begin Viibryd immediately.  One can expect some amount of discomfort, but it’s not unusual to have an aggressive stop/start as the Zoloft will be in your system for a little as the Viibryd starts to work.  Remember that most side effects are usually present early and go away in time.  Also, it’s very common that helpful sites like this focus a little more on some negatives as the folks who have really good experiences with a new drug tend to be happy it’s working and not post on blogs:-)  Anyway, as Viibryd is brand new (I’m on day 2 and woke up feeling psuedo hungover) it’s great that we have Bill and each other to discuss this with.  I can say from experience though that when taking a new medication, one has to try to be excited about it as it can only help.  If things get really bad, you will know.  But expect a transition period and perhaps speak with another physician or have a chat with your current one about interactions as you are certainly on a cocktail that may have you going up, down and all around. 

      • Passionflower July 14, 2011, 5:34 pm

        Hi I am taking it day 2 feel spacey and tired in the morning because I see taking it at night doesn’t help sleep

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:10 pm

      Welcome Bpositive (is that a frame of mind or blood type?)…

      I’m glad chipur has provided a service for you. Tough decision(s), to be sure. How ’bout this idea? Ask your doc to read the article and comments. Then ask once more – is this the right med for me? And re-confirm the transition protocol. How ’bout it?

      Keep us posted…

      Bill

      • Bpositive July 8, 2011, 6:11 pm

        lol…frame of mind AND blood type.  Thanks for the encouragement!  I’m truly happy I found you all!  I wish I had been fortunate enough to find a site like this when my husband went through his medication ups and downs with bipolar.  I will keep the attitude positive and hope it all works for the best!
        Thank you!!!
        Jeannie

  • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:44 am

    Hi chipur readers! For those of you wanting to know when (if) Viibryd will be available in Canada and Australia, stay tuned. After calling Forest yesterday, I’ve been contacted by a rep from the firm assisting them with the Viibryd launch. We’ve now exchanged emails and I should have some sort of answer shortly.

    Will catch up on my comment replies later this morning. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

    Bill

    • Chris July 8, 2011, 9:23 am

      CALLING ALL FOREST REPS.Viibryd in Australia would be so great.Lets hope for a launch down under very very soon, I’m sure it will be a great help to everyone here in Australia.

      Thanks Bill for all the work your doing for us.This website is awesome,looking forward for some more info.

      Kind Regards,

      Chris

      • Davidjod July 8, 2011, 11:40 am

        I too live in Australia and have previously posted on the site about the availbility. Incidentally I recently placed an order through international pharamacy and am waiting its arrival. I have a script from my local GP and am hoping I will be able to clear it through customs when it arrives. I will keep you posted.

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:20 pm

        Nice strategy, Davidjod. We have a reader from Pakistan who tried the same thing with international pharmacy and a Canadian service. Couldn’t get it done. I feel badly for him.

        Will let you know what I hear from Forest…

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:20 pm

        Nice strategy, Davidjod. We have a reader from Pakistan who tried the same thing with international pharmacy and a Canadian service. Couldn’t get it done. I feel badly for him.

        Will let you know what I hear from Forest…

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:18 pm

        Hang in there, man. The rep from Forest’s PR firm seemed pretty cool. I’ll bring you an answer as soon as I get one…

  • Gutzy1 July 8, 2011, 6:41 am

    Took my first dose around seven and 30mg of cymbalta( for 7 days ), I feel like someone beat me up. My back feels like I’ve pulled muscles, upper thigh began to burn and I felt alot of anxiety. I’m guessing and hoping that it’s from decreasing the cymbalta. Has anyone else had withdrawl symptoms from cymbalta? Also, I’m wide awake.

    • Trevor July 8, 2011, 7:38 am

      Hi, Gutzi.
      I had no withdrawal from Cymbalta.  I was taking 30mg of Cymbalta everyday and then simply switched to 20mg Viibryd. –I know it’s recommended we begin at 10mg Viibryd but I didn’t get the sample pack; just a 30 day supply of 40mg which I snapped in half for the first 14 days.  

      “Took my first dose around seven and 30mg of cymbalta( for 7 days )”   Do you mean you switched to 10 mg Viibryd after having been on Cymbalta for 7 days or that you took them both together for 7 days?  If it’s the latter, I could certainly imagine taking an SSRI and an SNRI together could produce symptoms.   And were you on 60mg  of Cymbalta previous to the 7 days on 30mg?

      The wide awake part I understand.  Viibryd gives some folks a bit of insomnia.  If that continues, you may want to take it in the mornings.  Anyway, I should really be letting Bill (chipur) answer your query.  He’s been tallying Viibryd symptoms for a long while.

      • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:16 pm

        Nice job on this one, Trevor. I’m curious to read gutzy’s reply…

      • Trevor July 9, 2011, 10:14 am

        Thanks :)
        Yeah, I’m curious, too.

    • BoundtoConquer July 8, 2011, 1:23 pm

      I’m so glad you shared your symptoms. I have been waking up for the past two mornings with my back aching all over. All I could think of was that I had somehow slept wrong. To hear your back aches makes me think it may be more to it. I’m curious to know if anyone else has experienced this….

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:13 pm

      I’ll guarantee tons of folks have endured (and overcome) cessation symptoms from Cymbalta. Hang in there, Gutzy1 – you’re coming by this misery honestly…

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:15 pm

      I’ll yield to Trevor’s reply…

  • Mandiee July 8, 2011, 1:14 pm

    Well I started my first 20mg today. Day 8.. yesterday I notice towards the end of the night getting ” frustrated” again more than I have been in the past week. So i believe that it was time for the higher dosage….I’m excited to see how my moods progress anyone on the 40mg already?? If so, how’s it working?? Think all will be well when I finally reach that point. Haven’t noticed any side effects today…GI issues have calm down a lot..yah!!!

    • chipur July 8, 2011, 4:21 pm

      Nice!

  • Lestigall July 8, 2011, 1:52 pm

    Day 10 and now at 20 mg. I haven’t posted in a while because I am not as obsessed with side effects. Must be working at some level. I am continuing to read all the posts and really feel for everyone. The diarrhea comes and goes, but is not as bad as the first day. Trevor is on to something because my restless legs have gone away since I started walking in the evenings. I still have mental confusion and foggy brain, but not as bad. My energy level is great. No naps. I switched from trazadone to Cloazapam to help sleep at night and that was the best switch. I felt something very wrong with the two of them together. Best news is the constant crying has stopped. My son in law deploys to Iraq today, but I’m not crying at every thought like I was before meds. I’m like that off of meds. Very over emotional and depressed. Today I am just sad and able to be strong for my daughter like I should be. I have to admit, I really thought about giving up, but the side effects are starting to wean and I am feeling pretty good. I believe because this is such a new drug I have been over obsessed with the side effects and that has caused much more heightened awareness of my body and what is happening. I still caution about the explosive diarrhea in the beginning. That definately was not in my head.

  • Out of hope July 8, 2011, 2:40 pm

    My doc gave me Viibryd yesterday and I’m not sure if he is just out of ideas, or he didn’t consider the fact that I already suffer from the side effects that are possible from Viibryd.  I have SEVERE IBS, my blood pressure already runs 90/60, I have headaches on a regular basis, I have to watch my weight as I am pre-diabetic and any weight gain can make me diabetic, I have trouble with concentration and memory,  my energy level is always very low and I already suffer from severe insomnia – to the point where sometimes I can go weeks where I’m only sleeping 2-3 hours a night and that’s with the help of a benzo.  While the sexual side effect thing is great for more people, its going to add to my frustration, because as my doctor knows, my boyfriend is on Prozac with no sex drive so that’s not a bonus.  I suffer from med resistant major depression and just got off Pristiq (which took me 2 months to get used to the side effects) – he kept saying hang in there – which didn’t work either.  The only med that has ever worked on my mood was Remeron, however my other doctors took me off of it because it made me diabetic and it completely screwed with my periods (my monthly cycles – I went 6 months without a period and my ob/gyn said that wasnt healthy).  It put 60 lbs on me in 3 months – and I’m 5’0.

    • Mandiee July 8, 2011, 4:31 pm

      Just some thoughts…well this is my first med so I don’t know.much.but I can say that I haven’t had any side effect accept for the GI problems..howvever they are pretty much gone now. I started my 8 day today 20mg…my doc told me there is no weight gain with this med. He also told me to take it in the morning with a little something to eat cause it gives you energy and I haven’t had any problems sleeping.. so be hopeful I’m sure it will work.. also I have to say my moods and aniexity have been better much easier to let things go.

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 12:28 am

        Thank you, Mandiee – sweet report. You expressed your thoughts very well…

      • Passionflower July 14, 2011, 5:37 pm

        Hi do you take in the morning or night and did it make you tired the first week?

  • Mamagump July 8, 2011, 5:37 pm

    Hi, I started the starter pack for Viibryd 8 days ago.  Today I start 20mg of the Viibryd.  I am taking it for Panic Attacks, Depression, and Borderline Personality Disorder.  Switching from Cymbalta to Viibryd has been hard.  The side effects are unpleasant, but I would rather have some of the side effects than have Panic Attacks and Rage any day.  I was on 60mg of Cymbalta and 50mg of Topamax.  My Pdoc had me quit the Topamax with out cutting back on it and then cut the Cymbalta down to 30mg for a few days when I started taking 10mg of the Viibryd.  I have not taken Cymbalta for four days now.  I can’t help but wonder if quitting the Cymbalta has made this transition harder.  Last night I had the worst Panic Attack that I’ve ever had.  I almost went to the ER.  My left side of my neck and left arm hurt worse than it ever has during one.  Has anyone ever had severe neck and arm pain on your left side due to a Panic Attack?  Is anyone else have increased panic attacks?  Does anyone else have high blood pressure during a panic attack?  I have horrible fears of dying, side effects, etc. 

    Side Effects:  Dizzy, GI problems, slowed thinking at times, increased anxiety, unable to sleep, headaches but not to bad, nervous, and probably some others.  Like I said I would rather have some of these than have the Panic Attacks and Rage that I have been experiencing for several months. 

    The reason the doctor is trying me on Viibryd is, because we have tried almost everything except shock therapy.  I have done counseling for 4 years and have taken a break from it for now.  I have been on over 15 different medications in the last 5 years.  The meds will either work for a little while and quit working or I am allergic to them.  I tend to be allergic to everything.  I don’t know if being allergic is more mental than physical.  The Panic Attacks and Rage are very debilitating.  This road to recovery has been long and hard.  It has been extremely rough on my family, marriage, work, relationships, and me.  I am 34 years old and have suffered for a very long time.  I hoping and praying that the Viibryd gives me some relief.  Pray for a light at the end of this tunnel. 

    • chipur July 9, 2011, 2:21 am

      Hi mamagump…

      Thank you for visiting and participating. Always nice to welcome someone new.

      Yes, you’ve fought long and hard – and your courage and determination are admirable. One of the things to keep in mind with quitting Cymbalta – especially if anxiety is the major issue – is you’re losing the norepinephrine piece. So certainly, that can make things a bit tougher. I don’t think that’s a permanent issue, by the way.

      Keep after it, and keep coming back for encouragement and reporting. We’re here…

      Bill

    • Seth July 9, 2011, 8:03 am

      Mamagump…I can emphatically say that in the past I have had panic
      attacks similar to what you describe.  My heart especially feels tight
      and then the left arm and neck feels weird.  I have a fear of death as
      well and thus, the panic attack increases and I have trouble breathing
      and focusing.  I’m sure my blood pressure must rise at this point.  But
      you know what?  I’ve never died, passed out and eventually, it passed. 
      This happened so many time to me over the years (we are close in age),
      that after awhile, I was able to control it better by realizing that
      this is usually symptomatic of something specific, and changes in
      medication can certainly be a symptom.  I’m not a doctor, but I can only
      surmise that the transition will bring some problems in the short run
      and it’s one of those hang in there, mind over matter things where you
      have to find a way to remember that panic attacks, though horrible, are
      not life threatening.  If it helps, I stopped Lexapro and immediately
      started Viibryd and have not have had attacks.  I am up at 3am in the
      bathroom, butt on fire, with GI problems from the transition writing
      this, but that too shall pass. 

      Just remember, you had the worst
      panic attack ever last night, almost went to the ER, but you are still
      here.  For me, I try to find a way to break the cycle when having a
      panic attack…I call someone, grab a pen and write how horrible I feel
      and have even gone back and read those entries during an attack to
      remind myself that it passes and I’m not going to die.  I feel for you
      because I know that when the attacks happen it feels like death is
      coming and nothing seems to help.  But we are still here.  Hang in there
      and let’s hope this new medication is an improvement.

      • Mamagump July 9, 2011, 10:40 am

        Thanks so much.  I sure hope the Viibryd helps with the panic attacks.  I will say at times I feel very calm and relaxed.  I sure can understand the GI symptoms.  I have been up in the middle of the night having to go to the bathroom and then I’m wide awake.  My pdoc said he has had a lot of people quit taking Viibryd due to the GI symptoms.  He suggested I quit taking it if I didn’t like the side effects, but I told him I would rather stick it out and see how it works.

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:54 pm

        And that’s because you’re a mountain of toughness, MamaForest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:54 pm

        And that’s because you’re a mountain of toughness, MamaForest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Horse3333 July 8, 2011, 5:50 pm

    day 10 feel great no depression anxiety or ocd no side effects sexual ability restored yea! hope it stays this way good luck to all of you btw im a 49 yr old married female hi again bill keep up good work

  • chipur July 8, 2011, 8:33 pm

    I received an email just a few minutes ago from the firm handling Viibryd’s launch – “…Forest does
    not have plans at this time to expand Viibryd’s approval beyond the US.”

    • Davidjod July 9, 2011, 12:16 pm

      Hi Chipur. Thanks for the update. I am quite surprised by this however. As this drug has a unique profile and, the potential to be a blockbuster I would have thought they would like to tap into the international market…

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:57 pm

        Yeah, go figure. Well, me thinks that may well change their minds after they get a good bit of consumer use under their belt. I think they’re kind of playing it safe just now. Hmmm, we’ll see…

  • chemobrain July 8, 2011, 9:01 pm

    i’m on day 8, and just bumped up to 20mg.  i’m having occular/visual disturbances.  has anyone had that?  thanks so much…

    • MedQueen July 8, 2011, 10:37 pm

      Yes, Ever since pristiq and now on viibryd, my eyes are always bloodshot and strained and my eyesight is kind of fuzzy at times.

    • JT in DC July 9, 2011, 5:02 pm

      Yes, I’ve had some slight visual disturbances. For a second I thought I was getting a migraine (the visual aura usually precedes a migraine), but eventually the visuals went away. Also had a bit of blurry/fuzzy vision too. Not to make light here, but they were similar to the visual disturbances that occurred when I took ecstasy back in my younger days. Ecstasy effects what else: you guessed it, serotonin.

      By the way, I’m able to keep my migraines in check by avoiding MSG and aspartame/Nutrasweet. Both are flavor enhancers (MSG for savory/salt and Nutrasweet for sugary) and they effect neurotransmitters in your brain. Funny how a lot of this is all interconnected (depression, serotonin, migraines, etc.). Aspartame is the absolute worst though.

      • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:26 am

        LSD – serotonin!!!

    • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 6:28 pm

      I’ve been having that but had it before i started this drug
      my am vision is blurry tho
      is yours
      it get the oracular aura
      Judy 

  • Lestigall July 8, 2011, 10:56 pm

    I thought it was just me, but my eyes are fuzzy and I am having to use my reading glasses for my computer which I never have had to do before.

  • chipur July 9, 2011, 12:39 am

    chipur readers, how ’bout this. I received an email out of nowhere this afternoon. The writer has given me permission to anonymously post what she had to say…

    “Hello Bill – just my two cents, I participated in the clinical trial 5 years ago and it changed my life, no side effects, no haziness, or zapping personality. I am so excited that is it now available.”

    She went on to say in a second email…

    “Depression is in my DNA, my biological mother slit her wrists when she was 8.5 months pregnant. So she obviously suffered with much depression. Totally mis-medicated as an adolescent and young adult, I used exercise since literature shows exercise can be helpful. However exercise no longer provides relief, so it is serotonin depletion for me.
     
    Honestly, I felt totally like myself for the first time being medicated on vilazodone. I know it wont be the same experience for others, but for me, it made the difference. I really equate this as being the Prozac of the 21st century, however with the possiblity of folks being treated the first time, relieving relapses. I am a triathlete and need to be able to fully function and this allows me to.”

    Sweet…

    • BoundtoConquer July 9, 2011, 5:00 am

      I find this VERY interesting and encouraging. Thank you for sharing!!

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:50 pm

        ;)

    • Seth July 9, 2011, 8:04 am

      Fantastic!!!

    • Trevor July 9, 2011, 9:55 am

      Yes, thank you for posting that! Great to know.

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:53 pm

        I found it very touching and hopeful. Had to share…

    • Mamagump July 9, 2011, 10:50 am

      Thanks for sharing this.  It is very encouraging.  Are there postings on the web where other people who were in the trial say how they responded?  I haven’t been able to find anything.  I’m just curious to see what they had to say, but they probably aren’t supposed to say anything.  I would imagine that would be part of the agreement for being in the study. 

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:56 pm

        Yeah, I’m with you on that. And as much as I love you guys, I ain’t gonna’ research it. Imagine my surprise, though, when I opened that email…

      • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 6:31 pm

        HA agree with you as the ‘God Wink’ of her email was wonderful and thanks for posting for us.
        Judy

  • BoundtoConquer July 9, 2011, 4:56 am

    I’m kind of all over the board with tonight’s update…. Tonight i took my 4th 10mg dose. Today was a MUCH better day as far as side effects go. The only thing that I suffered with was a couple of low-grade brain zaps but they were short and pretty dull. I woke up with more energy than I have had in about two years. Got the kids up, dressed and out the door by 9:00! We spent the day at the park, toy store and getting ice cream. I think the best thing for me was that at any given time today, I was always “in the moment” with whatever we were doing. I can’t even remember the last time that I’ve been able to be that way. My anxiety and racing thoughts have always deprived me of that, but not today!! I was actually able to enjoy my three Kiddos to the max without thinking about a hundred other things. On the other hand, at about 3pm, I received a call that a family member had passed away. This of course put an end to our fun day and I’ve been dealing with this since the call. Now I’m wondering how I will truly be able to tell if the Viibryd is working over the next few days when we will be attending the wake and funeral. I guess this will put the meds to the test!! I’ll update again tomorrow, if the Lord is willing!

    • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:50 pm

      My condolences, B2C. You know what? Do what you have to do over the next few days – and don’t worry about monitoring the efficacy of Viibryd. Might just be a welcomed relief…

  • Seth July 9, 2011, 7:59 am

    Mamagump…I can emphatically say that in the past I have had panic attacks similar to what you describe.  My heart especially feels tight and then the left arm and neck feels weird.  I have a fear of death as well and thus, the panic attack increases and I have trouble breathing and focusing.  I’m sure my blood pressure must rise at this point.  But you know what?  I’ve never died, passed out and eventually, it passed.  This happened so many time to me over the years (we are close in age), that after awhile, I was able to control it better by realizing that this is usually symptomatic of something specific, and changes in medication can certainly be a symptom.  I’m not a doctor, but I can only surmise that the transition will bring some problems in the short run and it’s one of those hang in there, mind over matter things where you have to find a way to remember that panic attacks, though horrible, are not life threatening.  If it helps, I stopped Lexapro and immediately started Viibryd and have not have had attacks.  I am up at 3am in the bathroom, butt on fire, with GI problems from the transition writing this, but that too shall pass. 

    Just remember, you had the worst panic attack ever last night, almost went to the ER, but you are still here.  For me, I try to find a way to break the cycle when having a panic attack…I call someone, grab a pen and write how horrible I feel and have even gone back and read those entries during an attack to remind myself that it passes and I’m not going to die.  I feel for you because I know that when the attacks happen it feels like death is coming and nothing seems to help.  But we are still here.  Hang in there and let’s hope this new medication is an improvement.

    • chipur July 9, 2011, 4:52 pm

      Excellent insight and advice! IT WILL ALWAYS PASS, NO MATTER HOW CLOSE TO DEATH WE THINK WE ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 7:54 pm

      Seth great idea to write down feelings and go back to read during an attack
      these are new to me but think this is a great tip
      reading this a month later how are you doing on the drug now in Aug?

      • chipur August 18, 2011, 11:10 pm

        Judy – to expand a bit and to help others, how would you put it into action?

  • achelelover July 9, 2011, 1:47 pm

     

    It’s so interesting to read all of your comments. I feel for
    all of you and wish you the best of luck. Today is Day 4 on 20mg. Two nights
    ago I stopped taking Remeron completely (I’ve been trying to taper down from
    45mg) and yesterday I felt pretty bad. However, as soon as I started to keep
    myself occupied I pulled myself out of it. Today my eyes hurt a bit, but like
    most of you, I can’t tell if this is due to my withdrawal from the drug I’m
    leaving or the viibryd. I suspect the remeron. My sex drive is still kickin’,
    hooray! I look forward to bumping myself up to 40mg. Side note, I had diarrhea
    for the first few days but as I suspected, that was temporary. I don’t have a big
    appetite on viibryd so far.  I took around 20mg of Remeron last night. I think I was taking myself off too fast…

    • Anonymous July 9, 2011, 3:52 pm

      Hi All. Just wanted to say that like many of the posts I’m reading, I found Chipur when I went looking for info on Viibryd as I’m now on day 3 of 5mg (my doc is starting me slow, I guess.)
      Slight stomach discomfort.
      I’ve been on 6 ssris in the last 6 years. They work at first (some better than others), and then another major depressive episode will find me.
      Hoping this may be something different because med changes SUCK!
      Thanks for sharing with me, it does help.
      Thanks Bill; I appreciate the info you take the time to post and the replies.
       

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 5:02 pm

        Well, thank you prntmkr (???mkr. come on, what do you make?)…

        We’re all in this together, aren’t we? You just keep on comin’ back, read, and contribute. And the whole world will be a wonderful place (anyone feel like hurling? actually, that’s not such a funny question, is it?).

        Thank you for your visit and comment…

        Bill

      • Anonymous July 13, 2011, 1:56 pm

        Prints! I make prints when I’m not depressed. Haven’t made too many lately, but hopefully one day……And yes, I did hurl, but not alot.

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:17 am

        What kind of prints?

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:17 am

        What kind of prints?

  • JT in DC July 9, 2011, 4:56 pm

    PLEASE READ: I may have some insight on to some of the weird side effects people are feeling right now, as I’ve been on so many meds (or combination of meds) over the years.

    I’m currently off the lexapro 100% as of one week. My depression and the physical ailments associated with my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (possibly Fibro?) kicked in immediately after getting off Lexapro. (Stiff painful back and neck being the two biggest obstacles to getting thru the day). I went up immediately to 20 mg of Viibryd and that took care of those pain issues.

    I’m “accidentally” on 40 mg of Viibryd because I started taking 2 of the 20 mg every morning (I thought they were the 10 mg). Needless to say I felt a JOLT of the medicine when I started with the 40 mg. I’m also currently taking 300 mg of Pristiq (the “new” version of Effexor) that I’ve been on since December. I don’t think Pristiq is  very potent for my depression and would like to eventually go off Pristiq altogether and just stay with the Viibryd.

    Now the actual antidepressant effects of the Viibryd have not fully kicked in yet, but I am definitely feeling SOMETHING every day while taking it. It reminded me of the Buspar/Remeron combo that completely put my depression/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome into remission for 2 years back in ’99-’01.

    The feeling that many of you are describing (sleepy yet speedy, jumping out of your skin, but not really anxious) that feeling is from the 5HT1A-partial agonist side of the medication. This partial agonist mechanism is very, very similar to Buspar. Buspar is an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) medication that is non-habit forming. It’s not unpleasant, and in many ways is much more preferable to being depressed, but there definitely is a weird almost paradoxical feeling going on. I have energy, but I could just as easily lie down and take a nap. I’m apathetic at some points of the day, but I also can find the drive to accomplish things I didn’t dare tackle a week ago.

    To recap what other have said: remember Viibryd is even more targeted as an SSRI than Prozac or any other ones. Once the anti-depressant effect kicks in over the next couple of weeks as you adjust to the highest level, it could really benefit many of us better than Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro or the SNRIs (Effexor, Pristiq, Cymbalta) ever could. Plus the 5HT1A partial agonist part of the equation will have an anti-anxiety effect that the other meds never could touch. Viibryd should be an improvement over Buspar.

    If there are any doctors/medical experts that can explain these mechanisms better than I can that would be beneficial. And to all my fellow readers on here, please, please, please bear with these side effects. They will lessen in the next couple of weeks. And as long as you know why you are feeling some of them, it will give you comfort during the transition.

    Lastly, many of us are going off other anti-depressants. There are withdrawal side effects that can be very unpleasant. Do not confuse these withdrawal symptoms with the side effects of the new medication. Good luck to everyone.

    • Meteoroid July 10, 2011, 12:06 am

      Thank you for posting this, it makes a lot of sense! Did you find that the sleepy yet wired feeling you had on the Buspar go away or get better with time?

      • JT in DC July 10, 2011, 12:31 pm

        Yes it definitely diminished over time, although Buspar had to be taken 3 times a day! So each time I took a dose of Buspar I would get that “tinge” for maybe a few minutes and then it would go away. So yes, it definitely diminishes. The combination of Buspar + Remeron at the time definitely kicked my depression away for about 2 years. I wasn’t a fan of Remeron’s side effects though and the Buspar by itself did not work. I’m really encouraged by what Viibryd promises.

        Went out to dinner with friends last night. I found that I was in a good mood, but very mellow, very relaxed. One thing that I’m noticing as the “veils” of depression lift away is how I can sense the “intrinsic” nature of things. The food tasted better, I felt more “connected” with strangers passing by our outdoor table. Not necessarily “empathy” but more of a child-like wonder that I used to have when I was younger.

      • Meteoroid July 11, 2011, 5:30 am

        Thanks for your reply. I took Buspar a few year ago but it was a low dose. I remember when the doc bumped it up to a higher dose I would get a “tinge” too. So we lowered it down again. I am revealed to hear that buzzed feeling diminished over time. I’m glad to hear you are doing better!

    • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:25 am

      Thanks JT for a detailed report and explanation. I’m thinking you knew this, but buspirone (BuSpar) is a 5-HT1A receptor agonist. A little over a week ago, doctorz, a psychiatrist who stops by on occasion, suggested the addition of buspirone to one’s SSRI as sort of a “poor folks” Viibryd…

      • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 8:02 pm

        Thanks for explaining this as JTs post and yours make a lot of sense to me. Nice to know that Drs. and Psychiatrists stop by……….:)

      • chipur August 18, 2011, 11:33 pm

        Those tricky rascals! But we catch ’em, don’t we? And don’t think for a moment that reps from Forest Labs (marketer of Viibryd) don’t take a peek on occasion. Okay, I know they do because I’ve received an email or two…

  • PED July 9, 2011, 5:05 pm

    Hi, I’m new here but have been reading the site for about a week. Thanks for all the good info from you fellow brave guinea pigs! I hope the folks at Forest are reading this and tallying up what we say since the trials were so short. I’m also the first of my pdoc’s patients to try this drug and she had no idea what was going to happen – just insisted that it was a good drug with minimal side effects. I stopped 45 mg of Remeron over 5 days to transition to Viibryd. I’m now on Day 5 of the 10 mg. The first 4 days were rough – I barely moved off my couch and just read a lot. Yesterday I took some Pepto bismol to calm my stomach and that helped a lot – had 2 doses all day. I’d suggest getting some pepto right away for those of you just starting. I haven’t felt many other side effects aside from a mild headache. My pdoc said to take it in the AM with FOOD (minimum half a pb sandwich) but today I ate a Zone bar and no nausea! Thank god because that was awful to endure. I also take 450 of Wellbutrin and 4 mg of Klonpin to sleep. I have MDD, PTSD, anxiety, and borderline disorder so I have a lot going on. I’ve been on about 20 meds over the past 20 years and many didn’t work for me. I am hypersensitive to the side effects and spent a lot of time self-medicating with pot because it seemed to be the only thing that helped my depression, but led to a 25 year addiction. I’ve stopped that now and joined AA. I’m hoping that not using drugs or alcohol will enable this drug to work better. Today I’m volunteering to do art with kids so I hope the nausea stays away. Keep the info coming – it really helped me a lot. Also to those of you who have family deploying – my heart goes out to you. I’ve been through 2 deployments and am pretty sure that made all my illnesses worse.

    • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:34 am

      Welcome to chipur, PED, and thank you for your contribution.

      Well, if the folks at Forest were wise you’d sure think they’d be following these comments. This info exists nowhere else on the web. But you know, it’s interesting – I had an email exchange with a rep from the Viibryd launch team regarding availability in Canada and Australia. I told her about chipur and the quantity and quality of the Viibryd comments coming in – and she didn’t say word one about the matter. I’ll guarantee if I were marketing the med, I’d be all over chipur.

      Keep coming back and update us, okay?

      Bill

    • nuthatch July 20, 2011, 8:11 pm

      Congratulations on your sobriety. My sobriety is my most precious possession. Few people really understand that alcohol and pot are depressants. It is sort of counter productive to take anti depressants and depressants at the same time. :~)

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 3:44 pm

        Good point. Curious thing, though. Cannabis has stimulating qualities, as well. It’s a weird combo…

  • chipur July 9, 2011, 5:40 pm

    Announcement!

    chipur is a young – and growing (thanks to you) – blog. I’ve tried implementing a forum in the past, but it didn’t take off. Well, stubborn as I am, I’m giving it another go.

    Continue commenting here on Viibryd, if you’d like. Or you can create a topic in the forum – on Viibryd or absolutely anything (within reason).

    Yes, there will be glitches in the beginning. But if you let me know what they are, I’ll handle them quickly.

    Here’s the link https://chipur.com/forum

    Thank you for your readership and loyalty…

    Bill

  • Cxd3212 July 9, 2011, 6:43 pm

    I’ve been on Prozac for 10 years for anxiety and depression. It’s worked pretty well over the years for both, especially for the anxiety. In the last few months though, I’ve been feeling depression coming through. Unmotivated, tired…etc. I told my psychologist and she gave me sample pack of Viibryd. She didn’t know much about it but I decided to try it. When I mentioned Abilify, she was hesitant because of side effects for Caucasian women (facial tics). So I stopped my Prozac and started Abilify on July 6. It’s only been a few days, so far no side effects.

    • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:40 am

      Hi Cxd3212…

      Sure appreciate your visit and comment. I’m having a problem connecting something here (‘course, it could be because it’s 239 a.m.). How does Abilify fit in? Are you now taking it or Viibryd?

      Bill

    • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 8:21 pm

      Are u taking abilify or viibryd? And if viibryd i didnt know it can cause facial tic, to me thats scary

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:05 am

        Hold on there, Frogmen (all 313 of you). These days, I wouldn’t be surprised if Betty Crocker chocolate cake mix can cause facial tics. Don’t buy in, okay???????????????

  • chipur July 9, 2011, 7:45 pm

    For those of you who want to put a face and voice with the name, uploaded a chipur intro on YouTube…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQX8Di1BK1A

    • Kayla July 9, 2011, 9:43 pm

      So I just took my last 20 mg of vibryd today. But I woke up with extreme panic and anxiety this morning. I get severly bad nausea when I get anxiety, so it got so bad a threw up. It hasn’t been this bad in a while so I’m pretty dissapponted. the worst part of it all is today is my 18 th birthday :(. All I want to say is why me? .. But then again why not me? I would really appreciate some prayer, thank you all for listening to my venting :),

      • chipur July 9, 2011, 9:59 pm

        Happy Birthday, Kayla. I’m so sorry it has to be like this for you. Go on and say “Why me?” for the next hour or so. And then it’s on to kicking some serious butt!

        I’m working on 57-years-old and have enjoyed so many years of calm and peace. But when I was your age, I floated in your boat. Here’s to some nice tomorrows, okay? They’re there for you…

        Bill

      • Frogmen313 July 9, 2011, 10:00 pm

        Thats horrible, what i would do is lower the dose, or stick out another day. I hope u make it :)

      • Meteoroid July 10, 2011, 12:50 am

        Hi Kayla, congrats on turning 18 and happy birthday! It sounds like we have similar types of anxiety. I too sometimes wake up with a feeling of anxiety and panic. I also get nausea from it as well. What you are dealing with is completely normal.
        Its natural to be a little jumpy when we wake up. Especially if we go to bed with concerns or worries in our thoughts. Sometime if I have a big day ahead of me, or had a bad day the previous day feels like a flood gate has been opened. All these concerns hit me at once. I don’t feel like I can handle any of it. But if I force my self out of bed and give myself some time to recover then it isn’t so bad.

        It sounds like you have good reason to be anxious. You are changing medications. There are side effects that are not pleasant and can be a bit scary. We worry about if they will work or not too. Then there is your 18th birthday. Its a big day and its normal to feel both good and bad emotions about that. I remember my 18th birthday, it was fun but also quite a bit difficult for me.  So please know that you are not alone in feeling this way, there are plenty of us out here who deal with these problems too. :)

      • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:54 am

        Really sweet reply, Meteoroid. Thank you…

      • Kayla July 10, 2011, 7:10 am

        Thankyou so much :). It really does make me feel better, knowing that I’m not alone. But it just is the worst feeling that we both know all to well lol. I know that my worry for leaving for college isn’t helping the situation either, especially dealing with my panic and anxiety alone :(. Your reply really made my day so thankyou.. Hopefully we can both persevere :). God bless :)

      • PED July 10, 2011, 3:50 pm

        Hi Kayla, Most colleges have a disability support program. Your panic and anxiety qualifies you for support from them if you self-identify and ask for help. You might find that will help smooth the transition to the new lifestyle and give you someone to talk to while there. College can be the best years of your life if you work hard and don’t let the anxiety keep you from making lots of new friends. Good luck. 

      • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:34 pm

        Here! Here!

      • Meteoroid July 11, 2011, 12:19 am

        PED is exactly right. You might be surprised to know that there are a lot of people who have mental health issues like us who go to collage. So universities make many resource available. It might reduce your anxiety to do some research into what services your university offers. Also remember that even though you will be at collage you can pick up the phone and give your friends and family a call any time. That helped me a lot when I was in collage and grad school.

  • disneybabe July 9, 2011, 10:47 pm

    I am on Day 2 of my starter pack (10mg). I haven’t had any GI issues (which I totally expected after reading everybody’s experiences here); I took the pill with my regular toast and peanut butter. I am, however, RAVENOUS. Can’t seem to get enough to eat! Also, by 8:00 last night, I was completely exhausted! Totally weird, as I was expecting the insomnia that many people have; I already suffer from insomnia anyway, so was pleasantly surprised to be able to sleep so well! I stopped my Wellbutrin 300mg and Zoloft 25mg 2 days ago, and so far, so good. I guess we’ll see how I’m faring in a few more days…..

    • disneybabe July 9, 2011, 10:51 pm

      I do have a question for others…any experiences with taking Viibryd and drinking alcohol? I’m not talking heavy drinking, just a glass or two of wine, or maybe a beer…..?

      • Meteoroid July 10, 2011, 2:00 am

        I know it says on the prescribing info not to take it with alcohol. I quit drinking when I started taking Viibryd but did have a beer on the fourth of July. I got a bit of a headache. If you talk to your doctor or pharmacist about it please let us know what they say. I think I may know why you may be so hungry. You said you stopped Wellbutrin. I was on Wellburtin for a while and it made me a bit anorexic, I just had no desire to eat at all. That is one side effect of the medication. So it could have lowered your desire to eat and now your appetite is at a normal level again. Also the Wellbutrin gave me insomnia, so stopping it could be a reason why you are feeling more sleepy.

      • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:53 am

        Hi DB. I can’t recall just who, but a reader commented not long ago that he knocked down a few beers while taking Viibryd – and blew lunch everywhere. The prescribing info suggests avoiding alcohol while using Viibryd.

      • Keepinon July 10, 2011, 4:09 pm

        I have always enjoyed and been able to tolerate a lot of wine…. but now?   not so much!  2 glasses at dinner and I started to feel dizzy and queasy!   Unheard of for me, but probably a good thing in the long run.  Quality, not quantity!  (day 5 and tummy upset not so bad, but sleeeeepy)

      • MedQueen July 12, 2011, 4:34 am

        I have a few glasses of wine every night and there seems to be no interaction with the viibryd.

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:49 pm

        Well, just because the prescribing information advises against it, it isn’t a black box warning – and there’s no law against it. So,hey – have at it…

  • MedGrrl July 10, 2011, 4:26 am

    Wow! A lot to take in and I am hopeful that this drug may work for me:) I was told about it today by my P Doc and was thrilled to have a new choice as like many of you I have worked my way down the med chain and its a long and tiring process for some of us. Recently I went off for about a month and thought things were great until BLAMO I didn’t want to leave my house and all I could do was eat my way to sleep as to not use recreational drugs;(
    I will pick up my samples of Viibryd (name is hysterical) Friday and start over weekend. I hope to get support here and keep seeing those updates. I tend to freak out with any body symptoms and bail on ad’s but this time I am bringing in a support crew to help me cope.
    Best to all of you on this journey, to help yourself is a beautiful thing be proud:)

    • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:57 am

      Hi MedGrrl – and welcome. You think “Viibryd” is hysterical? How ’bout “doodycalls?” Ah, what the heck, right? Sure appreciate your participation and look forward to more input down the road. Glad we could/can be supportive…Bill

  • Tmn223 July 10, 2011, 4:20 pm

    hello all..i know that viibryd is being pushed as a sex friendly antidepressant..however, if you remember in the past few years or so, cymbalta and pristiq were both supposed to have hardly any sexual side effects.if you look at the studies under the prescribing information for viibryd, it is not much better than pristiq or cymbalta as far as clinical syudies vs placebo. although i have not tried viibryd yet, i did try pristiq and cymbalta and they both gave me the typical sexual side effects of all the previous ssris i have tried. i am currently on luvox 200mg which seems to have the least sexual side effects of them all..so i am reluctant to change because me and my wife are trying to have a baby….any thoughts?

    • Frogmen313 July 10, 2011, 4:25 pm

      i still suggest you give viibryd a try because u never know! and beside what else can we do we are stuck with taking anti depressant probably for the rest of our lives :(

      • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:42 pm

        Assuming his depression/anxiety aren’t under management and the Luvox’s SSEs profile isn’t good enough…

    • chipur July 10, 2011, 6:39 pm

      Hi Tmn. Thank you for your visit and comment.

      Well, I guess my first thought is – if you’re experiencing few SSEs on Luvox why change? Especially if you and your wife are trying to have a baby. I’m assuming your depression and/or anxiety are under management.

      It’s not surprising the folks at Forest would tout the fewer SSEs profile of Viibryd. And the clinical info you discovered doesn’t surprise me either. I mean, let’s face it – few to no SSEs sounds very appealing. Let’s see how things pan out.

      Bill

  • Mamagump July 10, 2011, 8:11 pm

    Last night I took my 9th dose of Viibryd.  I am now up to 20mg a day.  I decided to try to take it at night, because when I first take it I get tired for a few hours.  I’ve been having a hard time sleeping and a lot of insomnia.  I called my pdoc last night, because the muscle spasms and pain were horrible.  He said to take benydral and see if that helps with the muscle spasms.  Well, I ended up in the ER.  Very high blood pressure, severe muscle spasms, and weakness.  All blood work, EKG, and chest x ray were fine, except for my potassium.  They think my potassium levels are low do to the bad diarrhea, which would cause the muscle spasms, twitches, body jerks, and high blood pressure during these episodes.  I know it’s panic related also, since I was freaking out over the horrible muscle spasms.  I had been drinking Gatorade on Friday and Saturday to help with the loss of electrolytes due to the bad diarrhea, but I never thought of low potassium.  This is the first time I have ever been told my potassium was low, which is a little scary for me, since potassium is so important for our body health.  I never realized what all potassium does for our bodies.  Anyway, I would suggest anyone having bad diarrhea to make sure you get enough potassium and electrolytes.  Just another thing to consider during the transition of med changes.

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:12 pm

      Great tip. Thanks, Mamagump…

  • rosemary July 10, 2011, 9:05 pm

    That actually sounds rather serious.  we can all micromanage changes in our bodies…set that “virus scanner” in motion…but an er visit.  geez.  I’m in the process of switching from lexapro to viibryd for financial (sample) reasons.  I think I’m doing okay on the fifth day of .5 lex and 10 viibryd.  No appetite change…joined a gym.  THREE WORKOUTS NO CHANGE!!!  kidding.  Need to cut carbs especially beer…(Thank you bill)  also, not for nothing…gatorade seems to give me really bad gastrointestional issues all on its own. Rosemary

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:15 pm

      “…joined a gym.” Excellent. The beer thing? (glad to help)…

  • Jason July 10, 2011, 9:22 pm

    Day three on Viibryd for me.  The only side effect I’ve noticed is restless legs.  The last two nights I had the urge to move my legs around while trying to go to sleep.  I tried not to move them around, but it’s almost like trying not to scratch when your itching bad.

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:19 pm

      Buddhist nun and Tibetan Buddhism teacher and author, Pema Chodron…“The root (of mindfulness practice) is experiencing the itch as well as the urge to scratch,
      and then not acting it out.”

  • Momof2 July 10, 2011, 9:25 pm

    I just started 5mg 5 days ago of viibryd. I am starting 10mg starting tomorrow. So far so good with only slight tummy upset- no big deal. That side effect has ready passed but am expecting a little more as I increase the dose. But I have a question that I haven’t seen addressed… With some ssri meds I get extreme neck tension, jaw tension and then horrible tension headaches. It gets so bad that I have to discontinue. Anyone else heard or know of this??? I feel like I am already feeling better on viibryd and don’t want to quit but it is starting to happen!! Ugh!! It happened on zoloft also… Thanks.

    • Meteoroid July 10, 2011, 11:43 pm

      Yeah I know what you mean about the jaw clenching and tension headaches. When I would go up in dose on Celexa I would get them too. They would go away in time but on higher dose they wouldn’t.

      • momof2 July 11, 2011, 1:28 am

        thanks Meteoroid for responding.  I think I will really have to watch the dose. Just when the depression lifts, the tension thing starts.  And then, I lower the dose and the depression returns.  Sigh….

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:23 pm

      Hi Mommy…

      Interesting comment – and symptoms. It’s not clicking in terms of my personal or clinical experience. Dunno. If it’s happened with “several meds,” could it be it’s not a med issue, if you will. More of a stress/tension/down-to-the-bone hope issue?

      Bill

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:40 pm

      From a topix forum…

      “…you need to research SSRI-induced jaw dyskinesias and dystonias, or SSRI induced orofacial movement disorders, or variations on that theme; in a study with healthy volunteers on a serotonin booster antidepressant, I believe 50% showed this movement disorder within 2 days (Healy). It’s a neurological adverse drug effect.”

      Here’s a link to the thread…
      http://www.topix.com/forum/drug/celexa/TPFA003R3C2I57C0P

  • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 12:31 am

    Just got my Viibryd! hopefully my sex drive will not be effected after i get on this new anti depressent. From what I read here and what I see on the prescripition lable, I will be expecting upset stomach and nausea! OUCH hopefully after I experience it that will pass over time! and the long term side effect of taking this drug is unknow! another OUCH!

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:42 pm

      Well, heck Frogmen (all 313 of you), at least you’ll be able to turn to sex as a coping mechanism…

      • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 8:28 pm

        Yeh that would be awesome!

  • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 12:34 am

    also while getting it from my doctored he cautiond me that it is very new and that he is going to do blood work to monitor my progess! and if anything abnormal comes up we have to do something! this doctor is very responsible and he does not want anything bad happening to me on the viibryd!

  • rosemary July 11, 2011, 1:12 am

    @frogmen…we never know the long term effects…my take is what can I do not to kill myself NOW.  And not to feel sick in the meantime?  We have been dealt a shitty hand.  We have to play it when new cards come along.  Good luck to you.  I’m starting to wonder if my weight gain from ssri came from the ssri or from being too depressed to actually get out of bed.

  • Chase July 11, 2011, 1:47 am

    Okay, I am on week three of Viibryd and have discontinued my last dose of citalapram two days ago. It has been an amazingly easy transition from one to the other.  Usually I get anxious, gastric distress, and have episodes of dizzyness and “electric” shocks to my central nervous system (not sure how to describe this particular sensation, other than to say it is not pleasant.)  None of that with Viibryd.  I have had no noticeable side effects to the Viibryd yet.  However, I have not yet had my sex drive return.  I imagine it is too early to judge as I just discontinued Citalapram.  I am anxious to see what happens and will keep you all posted.  As for positive feedback, I think I feel a little less anxious and more sociable on Viibryd.  Story developing…

    p.s. If it works for you, you might try serazone if you have SSE.  It wasn’t effective in controlling MY depression but maybe it will work for you.  My sex drive returned immediately.  Turns out crying in bed is even less sexy than a delayed orgasm…so I had to stop taking it.

    Good luck everyone.

    • Dennis July 11, 2011, 2:20 am

      Please be careful about advocating Serzone. In terms of it’s side-effect profile it was indeed remarkable in that it literally enhanced both sexual responsiveness and improved the quality of ones sleep… but it was later all but taken off the shelves for catalyzing hepatitis. p.s. When I refer to hepatitis I mean that literally: “hepa” aka liver and “itis” aka inflammation, i.e. hepatitis refers to “liver inflammation”  p.s. 3 days into Viibryd…1 bout of diarrhea, a little kind of “depersonalization” spaciness but other than that: not bad! d

      • Chase July 11, 2011, 3:09 am

        You are right.  However, a good doctor will only prescribe it with blood tests to monitor your liver.

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:03 pm

        I can live with that…

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:03 pm

        I can live with that…

      • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 3:39 am

        I been looking at zerezon and the fda still has not pulled it off the market, also how can fda aprove it? And the toxic liver effect is only known years after serezone use! Amd plus the company that made serezone knew it is toxic to the liver, i cant help we are taking a big risk with viibryd too!

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:00 pm

        Good catch, Dennis. Thank you for visiting and participating…Bill

      • Sadbuttrue July 20, 2011, 4:21 am

        I would be careful advocating ANY medicine in general. Viibryd may end up being the next med pulled off the market. Nobody knows. Serzone IS a viable option for some who have found no relief from other AD meds. 

    • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 3:12 am

      That serzone is so promising except the side effect of killing u! I am pissed thats actually the best anti depressent!

    • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 3:12 am

      That serzone is so promising except the side effect of killing u! I am pissed thats actually the best anti depressent!

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:03 pm

        Always something, right???

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:03 pm

        Always something, right???

    • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 3:15 am

      And serezone is discontinued in the is because toxiticity to the liver!

    • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 3:15 am

      And serezone is discontinued in the is because toxiticity to the liver!

      • Chase July 11, 2011, 10:49 am

        It is still manufactured and sold as Nefazodone HCl by Teva USA.The
        FDA reports one case of liver failure per every 250,000 to 300,000 patient-years.  For me, this was an acceptable risk considering the potential life-quality improvements.  I engage in far more risky behaviors like driving and riding my bike. Again, if it worked on my depression, I would have continued to take it. I am not  a  doctor so I wouldn’t presume to recommend any prescription.  Just sharing my experience.

        PS – It is 4 in the morning and I am blogging.  What does that tell you about Viibryd and insomnia.  I hope this particular side effect doesn’t last.

      • Chase July 11, 2011, 11:06 am

        Speaking of evaluating the risk of certain activities, I thought this might help to put things in perspective.

        Activities that increase chance of premature death by 1 in a millionsmoke 1.4 cigarettes (not per day — total!)spend 2 days NYC (from air pollution)spend 3 hours in a coal mine (accident)travel 10 miles by bicycle (accident)travel 300 miles car (accident)travel 1000 miles by jet airplane (accident)travel 6000 miles by jet airplane (cancer from cosmic rays)live 2 months in stone or brick building (cancer from high average radiation)eat 40 tablespoons Peanut Butter (cancer from aflatoxin)live 2 months with a smokereat 100 charcoal-broiled steaksdrink 1 yr Miami water (chloroform H2O)30 cans sacharine soda live 5 years at boundary of US nuclear power plant (cancer from radiation)live 20 years near PVC plant (cancer from vinyl chloride)live 5 miles from nuclear plant for 50 years (nuclear accident)

        Source: Bernard Cohen, Carnegie Mellon University

      • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 1:54 pm

        U stopped serzone because it didnt help u with ur depression? Its funny cause my mom workes for teva pharmacautical haha! And she also happens to be a chemist. I hope ur insomania does not last! Cause right now i really dont need the insomania either!

      • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 1:57 pm

        Thank u for this long listed info! I hope viibryd works for ur depression and also does not cause sexual side effect! Good luck buddy!

      • Dennis July 11, 2011, 1:11 pm

        Well expressed: Thanks for the update. Serzone worked terrifically for me years ago after the initial week of fatigue side effects each time I titrated up but it’s therapeutic effect did not last long. It was like having my psychic window opened onto a sunny world only to have it close up again. d

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:05 pm

        Your PSs are great closers…

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:04 pm

        Country discontinuations were in ’03, I believe…

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:04 pm

        Country discontinuations were in ’03, I believe…

    • Dennis July 11, 2011, 1:15 pm

      Does anyone else have red watery eyes as a side effect?

      • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 1:55 pm

        I did read somewhere that says long term side effect of viibryd could be eye damage! I just hope it is not true!

      • Frogmen313 July 11, 2011, 3:38 pm

        Hey i just read an article according to it, eye problem is a rare side effect that accurs in 1 out of 100 people. And the more serious cataract accurs in 1 out of 1000 people!

      • Chase July 11, 2011, 7:20 pm

        Only when I combine it with my medicinal marijuana :)

      • Keepinon July 13, 2011, 3:14 pm

        Glad I saw this…. Yes, my eyes are weirdly watery…. not red, though.  Strange side effect, right?

      • Keepinon July 13, 2011, 3:14 pm

        Glad I saw this…. Yes, my eyes are weirdly watery…. not red, though.  Strange side effect, right?

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:31 am

        Well, that’s better than one’s bladder being “weirdly watery”…

      • Keepinon July 14, 2011, 6:08 pm

        Hah! 

      • Julie July 14, 2011, 4:30 pm

        I already had eyes that were constantly dry and red, so I don’t think I’d notice a difference (well, maybe if they suddenly got watery).

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:57 pm

      Hi Chase…

      Welcome, and thank you for participating. Excellent comment, by the way. The final sentence in your p.s. is priceless.

      chipur readers – be careful with nefazodone (Serazone). Low probability, but some very serious liver issues may be involved. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefazodone

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 5:57 pm

      Hi Chase…

      Welcome, and thank you for participating. Excellent comment, by the way. The final sentence in your p.s. is priceless.

      chipur readers – be careful with nefazodone (Serazone). Low probability, but some very serious liver issues may be involved. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefazodone

  • Racheal Rae July 11, 2011, 5:50 pm

    I’ve been on Viibryd for 10 days for post partum depression/anxiety, as soon as I went up to 20mg I spent this past weekend as sick as I was when I was first pregnant. And I was so sick that I needed an IV for 16 weeks! The only difference was where stuff was coming out. I stopped taking the drug for a day, then started taking 10mg again. Still stomach upset but no diarrhea. Horribly painful gas and no appetite and burning, constantly hungry feeling are still there. I know, no appetite and constantly hungry, what?? But it is hard to describe.

    Anyone else still have the stomach upset at 10mg? What did your dr do? I have a call in to mine telling her I am done if she can’t do anything for the upset stomach. So far we’ve tried Zofran (anti-nausea med) and that isn’t helping.

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:17 pm

      Thanks for your chipur visit and comment. Welcome! Could use some help here, chipur readers. Any experienced input for Racheal Rae?

      • Seth July 13, 2011, 4:03 am

        I’ve had very similar things happen at 10mg’s.  Day 7 and combating a bacterial infection and really feel oddly dehydrated (though it is super hot where I am) and upset stomach pretty much daily in some form or another.  I found a very simple solution…drink water like it’s your job.  The days I have done that it’s been much better and really helped with nausea and diarrhea.  Start early in the day…first thing in the morning and just keep going and going until about two hours before bedtime…just so you don’t have to wake up and urinate.  I also take a half tab of Imodium and find that to “handle” things without it plugging me up.

      • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:32 am

        I’m still lovin’ the name portion of your email address. Oh, yes – really nice advice…

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:17 pm

      Thanks for your chipur visit and comment. Welcome! Could use some help here, chipur readers. Any experienced input for Racheal Rae?

    • Trevor July 11, 2011, 9:07 pm

      Hi, Racheal Rae.  
      At day 14, I went up to 40 mg from 20mg….and then back down to 20mg around day 16.  I just couldn’t deal with the complete lack of appetite, nausea when I did eat and the overall feeling of being on Thorazine. Those symptoms quickly went back to the manageable levels when I switched back to 20mg.  Now at day 20 of Viibryd, and still at 20mg, I’m going to stay just where I am for the time being. 

      As for your question, at 20mg (the level I began Viibryd on) I had a really upset stomach (some diarrea, no vomiting) for a day. After that, it was just a bit of low-grade nausea. As time went on and I adjusted to the symptoms, my stomach  only gets upset when I eat too much.  The gulf between my body’s need to eat and the nausea struck a compromise and I’m able to eat normally, for the most part. I’ve lost a couple pounds, but big deal. ha  

       

      Hope you find relief at whichever level is best for you.  :)  

      • Racheal Rae July 12, 2011, 12:25 am

        Doctor finally called me back. We are going to take a week off of all meds. Kinda reset my system and see about retrying 10mg or going to a completely different drug. At this point, I have to stick to SSRI’s because of another condition I have, but I’ve tried almost all of them and the side effects of sleepiness or sleep paralysis do not work when you have a little one who wakes up in the middle of the night every night.

        Here’s to a looooong week of withdrawl symptoms only to restart the process!

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:44 pm

        Well, shoot, RR. I’m sorry you have to deal with that. Please return for support, okay? You hereby have my permission to – in written form – yell, scream, “woe is me,” cuss, spit, etc.

        We’re here for you…

        Bill

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:44 pm

        Well, shoot, RR. I’m sorry you have to deal with that. Please return for support, okay? You hereby have my permission to – in written form – yell, scream, “woe is me,” cuss, spit, etc.

        We’re here for you…

        Bill

      • Racheal Rae July 12, 2011, 6:40 pm

        Just sent a message in to my therapist. Day two and I already want to return to “bad habits.” Not good!! I don’t think I’ll last a week with no meds at all! I’m still slightly sick to my stomach but I can’t care for my 4 month old like this.

        I hate this part of being a lab rat.

      • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:48 am

        A major drag, I’m sure. Hang toucg, Racheal Rae. You’ve given us so much, and we’re here for you!!!

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:08 am

        Thank you, Trevor. Glad to see you back…

  • Sleepless_30 July 11, 2011, 6:06 pm

    I’m on my 6th dose of 20mg and I am generally pleased with everything expect the restless leg issues that keep me (and my husband) up.  Has anyone had this side effect and found a successful way to manage it?  Thank you.

  • Sleepless_30 July 11, 2011, 6:06 pm

    I’m on my 6th dose of 20mg and I am generally pleased with everything expect the restless leg issues that keep me (and my husband) up.  Has anyone had this side effect and found a successful way to manage it?  Thank you.

    • Racheal Rae July 11, 2011, 6:17 pm

      I’ve had restless legs since I was a kid! I finally decided to try out a weighted blanket and that has made a HUGE difference!! The problem is that they are expensive so if you can sew or if you know someone who can sew, I can send you the pattern I used!

    • Racheal Rae July 11, 2011, 6:17 pm

      I’ve had restless legs since I was a kid! I finally decided to try out a weighted blanket and that has made a HUGE difference!! The problem is that they are expensive so if you can sew or if you know someone who can sew, I can send you the pattern I used!

      • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:23 pm

        Sweet offer, Racheal Rae. Thank you for your kindness…

      • anxious2 July 11, 2011, 11:56 pm

        Racheal Rae I have restless legs and would appreciate the directions for the blanket you made

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:39 pm

        This is so cool. Thanks again, Racheal Rae. And I’m glad you’re asking for help, A2.

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:39 pm

        This is so cool. Thanks again, Racheal Rae. And I’m glad you’re asking for help, A2.

      • Needmercy July 12, 2011, 12:08 am

        I have RLS too and would love to have your pattern!  What did you use for the “weight”? needmercy@hotmail.com  Thank you!  :)

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:40 pm

        Thank you for visiting and participating, Needmercy. Glad you could find some relief here…

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:40 pm

        Thank you for visiting and participating, Needmercy. Glad you could find some relief here…

      • Sleepless_30 July 12, 2011, 1:17 pm

        I would LOVE the pattern.  Thank you so much!  sleepless_30@yahoo.com

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:55 pm

        You know, there’s a pattern forming here………………………….

      • Keepinon July 13, 2011, 3:01 pm

        Hi~
        I have a 12 year old with Aspergers that had a lot of trouble sleeping…. until I bought him a weighted blanket (I don’t sew).  I found several sites after googling weighted blanket and sensory integration tools.  I met a woman who made one out of sturdy cotton fabric and the sand/rocks you put in pool filters.  I don’t know where she got the sand/rocks… pool co. maybe?  But it is washable.  The one I bought is supposedly weighted cotton… whatever that means.  I have not washed it yet, but it weighs about 40 pounds and WORKS!  He loves it.   Good luck!

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:28 am

        Thank you, Keepinon. I believe it was Racheal Rae who’d provided a link for a weighted blanket. Great info!

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:26 pm

      Be sure to check-out Racheal Rae’s offer…

      • Racheal Rae July 12, 2011, 6:39 pm

        Take three… Apparently I can’t add the web address??

        If you google “craft nectar weighted blanket” It is the link called “calming the senses.” The pdf is further down on that page…

        hopefully this reply works /fingers crossed.

      • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:46 am

        Again, I blew it. RR’s comment with the link has been approved.

  • cupcaketh July 11, 2011, 6:14 pm

    Just wanted to update everyone.  I am on my 4th day of 20 mg and feeling GREAT!!!  The anxiety has been less and less of an issue on my mind (which is what causes the anxiety in the first place!!! for me anyways!) Still have the burning and churning feeling but it’s tolerable. Slight headaches but they come fast and go fast.  All in all I’d say I’m liking it!  Will come back after the 40mg dosages taken!  Keep it up users.  I think this is a fabulous find!

    • chipur July 11, 2011, 6:25 pm

      That’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it (uh-huh uh-huh)…

  • super robot girl July 11, 2011, 8:46 pm

    I just started my first dose of viibryd…10 mg. I am really hoping this works for me. I always went back to prozac because I couldn’t tolerate the side effects of the other antidepressants. I hated the sexual side effects of prozac and I also gained a lot of weight on it but I just figured it was better to be chubby and functioning than skinny and miserable.  Recently the prozac stopped working for me and my counselor told me about viibryd. I talked to my psychiatrist today and was going to ask him about it and he suggested it before I had a chance. I’m crossing my fingers! 

    • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:07 am

      And ours are crossed for you. I appreciate your visit and comment…Bill

  • Trevor July 11, 2011, 10:20 pm

    Day 20 on Viibryd. 

    Doing okay. The med is holding me together just fine but I’m still waiting for that sunny moment that comes when I realize an antidepressant is finally working.  It could be tomorrow or a couple weeks from tomorrow.  

    Question:  Has anyone else here ramped-up to 40mg and remained at that level longer than a week?  I did 3 days at 40mg and dropped back to 20mg because I couldn’t handle the fog.  Assuming that that 40mg is the optimal dose based on the feedback from drug trials, I can’t help but wonder if I did myself a disservice by taking it back to 20mg. 

    • Bellita1 July 13, 2011, 2:46 pm

      I am on 40mg. No fog or anything like that. I started taking it a lunch instead of dinner since it was keeping me awake. This strategy seems to work. I have a little GI, but nothing really.  Unfortunatly, my problem seems to be that it may not be working the way I need it. My anxiety and fear levels have been up. And when my anxiety is up, I have difficult time – lots of worry and not much joy.

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:22 am

        How much of your anxiety can be attributed to the expectation of it all? There’s so much on the line for you, Bellita – at least by your perception. Right?

  • Meteoroid July 12, 2011, 1:15 am

    Alright time for another update! I have been on 20mg viibryd and 2.5mg of lexapro for the last 6 days. On Wennesday I will be giving 40mg at try. So far this week has been better then last week. I am not having any GI problems any more, I haven’t even needed to take any pepto bismol. I’m still depressed and anxious but its not as bad this week as last week. I am still feeling a bit loopy and spacey. Also I am a bit jittery. I am still having trouble getting to sleep. Today I took my dose in the morning instead of at night so we will have to see if that help. I am hopeful that when I increase the dose things get better because when I went from 10 to 20mg things got better. At this stage I can say that with the dose of 20mg viibryd and 2.5mg lexapro the sexual side effects are noticeably less then when I was on 10mg of lexapro. More libido, more sensitivity, and less of a delay to orgasm. I will let you know how that changes when I go totally off the lexapro and increase my dose to 40mg viibryd.

    • Frogmen313 July 12, 2011, 2:40 am

      Wow souds like u are getting bak ur libido! Thats fantastic! I too had delayed ejaculation on prozac and i hated that! Sounds from listening to the people on here delayed ejactulation will not be too much of a concern with viibryd!

    • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:46 pm

      Nice report, Meteoroid. And good news on the SSE front! Thank you for being such a willing and loyal “sharer”…

      Bill

    • Anonymous July 14, 2011, 8:37 pm

      Hi,
          How has taking Viibryd worked taking in the morning.I’m on day 2 and spacey during the day, but  I have read post that taking at night would keep you up. I take a Xanax at night to sleep, but I don’t want to take forever. Please advise, Thanks

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 8:51 pm

        Hi Passionflower 1…

        I’m sure readers will dial you in on their experiences. But as I recall, taking Viibryd in the a.m. is the recommendation. A psychiatrist has even confirmed that.

        I agree, taking Xanax long term for sleep is not the way to go…

        Bill

  • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:11 am

    Hey Troops! Gonna’ take some Bill time for the rest of the evening. Will catch up with your comments in the a.m…

  • Gutzy1 July 12, 2011, 5:04 am

    It’s day four on 10mg and still on 30mg of cymbalta for 3 more days. About 2 hours after taking Viibryd I feel wide wide awake. Also feel twinges of anxiety. I do feel more calm most of the time. My sex drive is coming back after five years. Yeah Five Long Years!! LOl. Reading all your posts throughout the day makes me feel not so alone, for that Thank You.

    • super robot girl July 12, 2011, 10:19 am

      Yay returned sex drive!! I am so happy for you gutzy1. Thank you for posting that. I am hoping mine will return too. Its been so long.

      • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:54 pm

        Very encouraging news, isn’t it?!

    • chipur July 12, 2011, 2:52 pm

      And you’re not alone, indeed! I’m glad you’re enjoying some nice results on the SSE front. Man, “Five Long Years.” Your partner better get in shape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • MedQueen July 12, 2011, 1:49 pm

    Just took my 1st 20mg dose of viibryd.  Am hoping for more energy in addition to the increasing calm already felt on 10mg.  As to the sexual issue – Remember I am the 56 yr old female, married 24 years with no sex drive.  i figured it would take a miracle to get it back and after Sat. nite….MIRACLES DO HAPPEN.  My husband said he could now die a happy man!

    Question for Frogmen – Do you remember where you read about the potential eye damage in some patients.  That is of great concern to me, as my eyes have been staying bloodshot all day.

    Will update you all as to the 20mg effect.  I’m also keeping my fingers crossed that the sexual awakening wasn’t a fluke!

  • Mandiee July 12, 2011, 4:27 pm

    Hello all…I just wondering if anyone else is super tired… feel like I need something to boost my energy. Feeling okay other than being tired. Hopefully I will pick up soon. Only on the 20 mg..day 12.

    • Keepinon July 12, 2011, 6:25 pm

      Yes!!  The sleepiness is a bummer.  I feel exhausted just walking from the car to the grocery store!  The bad thing is, the more I feel sleepy and tired, the less I want to exercise and the more tired and weak I become.  Drag.  Especially for my dogs who are patiently waiting for a proper sweaty slobbery dog walk!  I am only on day 7, so I don’t know when or if the sleepy exhausted thing will go away.  Tummy is feeling less rumbly, though, so that is good. 

      • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:41 am

        Hmmm, (me still thinks it will)…

  • Bpositive July 12, 2011, 4:57 pm

    Hey new friends…This is day four on the 10 mg. tablets.  The only thing I feel is a bit restless on the inside while still feeling tired on the outside.  Does that make sense?  I haven’t had the tummy troubles…I can remember some vivid dreams that were really weird but not scary so I think I can handle it.  Do you think they will go away?  Best wishes to you all!  :)

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:36 am

      Bpositive…”Hey new friends…” I like it. Re the dreams – I have no doubt they’ll go away. I have such dreams when I’m overly tired or over-stressed. I accept them as part of the package, and really don’t pay any attention to them. Hang in there! Bill

      • Bpositive July 14, 2011, 5:56 am

        Thank you, Bill.  I am glad to hear that.  Last night I dreamed we were under attack by other countries and were hiding to stay safe. Airplanes were dropping bombs, etc… Kind of fun to remember my dreams as long as they aren’t too scary!  

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:06 pm

        Hey, maybe you could become the next end-of-the-world prophet and make millions???

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:06 pm

        Hey, maybe you could become the next end-of-the-world prophet and make millions???

    • Leilani July 17, 2011, 1:34 pm

      I feel the same way! I have lots of energy but feel tired as well… But I know it will go away… The dreams, however, probably won’t. I was on Prozac for two years and the dreams never went away, you kind of get used to them and in some weird way sometimes look forward to what bizarre journey you will go on next haha!

  • Dschell July 12, 2011, 5:09 pm

    I got off of Pristiq because of 3 straight nights of Insomnia. Went back on 10mg of Lexapro. Question for the members?  Where is it written that you have to take the maximum dose of Viibryd? With Lexapro and several other AD I noticed the best dose is a lower dose. I take the reccomendedd dose of 10 mg and not the full strength dose of 20 mg. If you feel much better on 10 mg of Viibryd why not stay on the  the lower dose to see if you continue to feel better? 

    • MedQueen July 12, 2011, 6:26 pm

      I agree.  

    • Keepinon July 12, 2011, 6:27 pm

      That is a question I have, too.  I was in good shape on only 50 mg of zoloft for several years and I know people that require over a hundred mg to feel any better.  

      • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:44 am

        When I sobered up almost 27 years ago, 1-2 meetings a week did the trick. I knew people who needed the same number of meetings a day to keep it together. Ah, our differences…

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:40 am

      Ah, Dschell – “it is written…”

      But you’re right – it isn’t! Reads like sound strategy to me. I mean, given the differences in every human brain, how could a standard dosing be realistic and efficacious for everyone? Heck, for that matter – how could compounding pharmacies stay in biz?

      Nice observation! Bill

  • Anonymous July 12, 2011, 8:45 pm

    Took my 13th dose of sample pack today (6th day at 20 mg).  I’m afraid to bump to 40 mg on Thursday.  The GI distress is better, but still comes and goes.  I’m taking it with a lactose pill and have almost entirely avoided dairy for several days but still having problems.  The tension headaches and fatigue are the hardest part.  I discontinued a small dose of propranolol a week ago after finding my pulse at 50 and less.  While better for discontinuing that I am still having a lot of fatigue.  I may go back to a previous SSRI or SSNRI that worked for mood in the past and just live with the side effects again.  I’m off to get my blood pressure checked to see what it’s like on Viibryd alone.  I believe that the warning sheet said that it can lower blood pressure as well.  I may not be the right candidate for this medicine and just don’t know if I can afford several more weeks to find out.

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:53 am

      You know, woeisme – perhaps you aren’t a candidate for the med. That’s very difficult for me to write because I know you had/have such high hopes.

      Can’t help but wondering – what would happen if you went back to 10mg for a time? Or (and I know this sounds really creative) what about 15mg. Granted, you’d have to do some pill cutting, but perhaps worth it?

      We’re here…

      Bill

  • Trevor July 12, 2011, 9:37 pm

    Day 21.  Whoa.  Wait a sec. Could it be?  I’m not particularly depressed today.  Is Viibryd finally beginning to work?  Something is propping me up today.   I’m not on anything else.   More later when I figure out if this is  authentic or what.  

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:54 am

      Shazam! You might be on to something, Trevor. Keep us posted…

      • Trevor July 13, 2011, 2:51 pm

        Thanks, Bill.  Will do.

  • vibrant July 12, 2011, 10:25 pm

    hi all – i’m on day 8 – just went up to 20mg.  unless i’m imagining things i feel like my depression has lifted a touch already.  i agree with all the other posts about feeling tired, yet amped up at the same time.  Viibryd is a good name for this drug.  i feel like i’m sort of humming or vibrating throughout the day.  i also like other posters have felt sort of tired on and off thru the day, but then strangely have insomnia at times during the night.  have woken several times around 2am, 3am for short spells.  i usually do not have insomnia so this is a new thing for me.  i’ve read other posters saying that they are prone to insomnia yet they are sleeping fine with this drug.  just shows how everyone reacts differently.  i am still VERY hungry often.  i’ll be checking the scale frequently in the next few weeks.  if it goes up, i think i may need to bail!  also, i felt achey the first few days i started – that went away – but now i’ve upped it to 20 and feel achey again.  i meet with my dr. at the end of the week – will tell her i want to hold tight at 20 for a while.   we’ll see…

    • Smilyhappymebk July 13, 2011, 3:51 am

      Agreed on the feeling tired, yet amped up part…day 7

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:05 am

      Ah, Big Pharma – great pill namers, don’t you think? I remember an early 70s bit George Carlin did on med names. He proposed the next birth control pill be named “Embryno.” Too funny.

      Liked your point about how we all react differently to medicines. In my book, the same principle applies to dosing…

      Bill

  • Guy July 12, 2011, 10:44 pm

    Hey all. I’m New here. I’ve been taking Effexor for three months now, but due to my libido taking a vacation, my doc switched me to Viibryd. I’m on day 6 and boy am I constantly dizzy. At first it was bowel troubles, now it’s extreme dizziness and headaches. Also tired and awake at the same time. Trouble sleeping. I’m not sure if this is withdrawls from the Effexor, or just getting used to the Viibryd. Ugh.

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:09 am

      Well, could be either. Not being able to pin the tail on the med donkey is one of the reasons why psychiatrists at times hesitate to prescribe two antidepressants at the onset of depression treatment.

      Hang in there, Guy. Let us know how you progress. Thank you for your visit and comment…

      Bill

  • Guy July 12, 2011, 11:34 pm

    Ok. I just looked it up. (Sorry if this has already been discussed) But These symptoms of dizziness and vertigo have been reported by many people as a withdrawl symptom of Effexor. Mine are lasting for hours at a time. I can’t even turn my head without feeling dizzy. I’m not using Effexor again. This is awful. I hope the Viibryd is better.

    • Meteoroid July 13, 2011, 2:39 am

      Yep it very well could be withdrawal. Are you starting with 10mg of viibryd and working up? You can do what is called cross tapering. Where you slowly wean off the effexor as you increase the viibryd. That is what I did and it helped. Of course you should talk with your doctor. Let them know what your symptoms are and that you think you may be going through a bit of withdrawal. They can help you come up with a schedule of doses. 

      • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:29 am

        Excellent advice, Meteoroid. I’m kind of thinking you’ve been around the block a few times…

      • Guy July 13, 2011, 2:01 pm

        Yes. Started on 10 mgs. I move on to 20mgs on Friday. I was on 150mgs of Effexor. My doctor said to lower dosage to 75 and start Viibryd and to cut Effexor completely out after the first week.

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:13 am

      Well, at least with Viibryd you’re only manipulating one neurotransmitter – serotonin. Effexor hits two (add norepinephrine). Again, keep us updated on your progress…

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:13 am

      Well, at least with Viibryd you’re only manipulating one neurotransmitter – serotonin. Effexor hits two (add norepinephrine). Again, keep us updated on your progress…

      • Guy July 13, 2011, 1:56 pm

        I’ll do that. Woke up this morning feeling a bit better. The vertigo isn’t as bad as it has been, and Ihave been able to function. Contacted my doctor and he said it sounds like it could be withdrawl. I’m gonna keep taking the Viibyrd and see what happens. Start the 20mgs on friday. I have been feeling more sexual urges since starting Viibryd. More to come.

  • Guy July 12, 2011, 11:40 pm

    They call it “Brain Shivers”.

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:16 am

      How ’bout “Neuro Noogie?”

    • Keepinon July 13, 2011, 3:08 pm

      I took several months to slowly wean off zoloft because it made me so sick and dizzy and loopy…. and the “brain zaps” freaked me out.   I got honked at a lot in my car that last month because of all the withdrawal symptoms that made me spaced out!  Yikes!   I hated having the depression come back full force, but I personally could only handle one med at a time.  I am on day 8 of Viibrid and am very hopeful….  Good luck! (My driving has improved, thank God! : )

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:29 am

        Great story. I’m sure all in your community are feeling much safer…

      • Humanslie4 July 14, 2011, 10:44 pm

        I know the feeling Keepinon. I am also hopeful. Good luck to you as well.

  • GC July 13, 2011, 1:47 am

    I probably should chime in here as I have been on Viibryd for about 2 weeks now ending my 20mg stint tonight.  I would agree that the GI symptoms are probably the worst side effect. For me, the 2nd big one was excessive sweating.  Both gone in the 1st week.  I would say that my depression is lifting a bit.  I’ve noticed my cognitive abilities improving where I now can think through problems that previously were overwhelming.  I am, as others have posted, leery of jumping up to 40mg.  I might wait till Friday and work through the side effects on the weekend.  I’ve been on everything including ECT so I have a lot riding on this working.  I can honestly say that the side effects of this drug are so minimal compared to everything else I’ve taken.  I have never been able to tolerate any medication like I have with VB.  I hope this reaffirms a bit of confidence for those who have struggled tolerating medications in the past.  I’ll be watching your responses and will post in a week or so to keep folks up to date.

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:21 am

      Hi GC…

      Thank you so much for your visit and comment. I was touched by your words “…I have a lot riding on this working.” People outside of our world just don’t understand, do they?

      Your encouraging words will be meaningful to many here on chipur. Thank you for posting them, and we’ll look forward to your reports…

      Bill

  • Michael10364 July 13, 2011, 2:31 am

    i was interested in viibryd until i tried buspar recently. buspar helps many with libido but it actually made mine worse and made my mind pretty blank. its supposed to help with libido because of serotonin partial agonism and ive figured out that effect from the buspar is no good for me. i took hydroxyzine, which is much like buspar except for its not a serotonin partial agonist and it didnt have the bad effect on me like buspar did. so now im scared to try buspar since med side effects stick with me after stopping them since my brain is weird. i took buspar 2 months ago and still feel like i did 30 minutes after taking it. blah

    • Michael10364 July 13, 2011, 4:54 am

      i meant…. “now im scared to try VIIBRYD because when i discontinue a med, the side effects stick with me” my brain is weird.

    • chipur July 13, 2011, 5:27 am

      Hi Michael! Thanks for coming on board and participating. So you’re saying you don’t want to give Viibryd a go because of its serotonin receptor partial agonist action (like BuSpar)?

      • Michael10364 July 13, 2011, 6:16 am

        yep, that’s it. i’m going to keep my eye on what people say about it though and see if it’s similar to buspar though. i just wish my experience with buspar had been better. it has scared me away from viibryd for now.

      • Michael10364 July 13, 2011, 7:38 am

        haha chipur, i see that you go on the yahoo!answers site….. something about a reader in pakistan?

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:09 am

        Ya’ got me. Well, was doing all I could to help the poor guy. I feel badly – I couldn’t come up with anything…

      • Guest July 14, 2011, 12:50 am

        FYI in theory buspar is a partial agonist on the 1a-receptor post synaptic, Viibryd acts on the 1a receptor on the pre synaptic side, just fyi … 

      • Michael10364 July 14, 2011, 1:27 am

        ohhh thanks for that bit of info:)

  • Seth July 13, 2011, 4:22 am

    Just chiming in on day 7 at 10mg’s.  I have been feeling great after a direct shift from 20mg’s of Lexapro.  Chalking up the GI things to side effects that will go away as will some feelings of being amped up in a good way without anxiety.  I decided to change meds as for one, I have been in a good place with my anxiety and depression and also because I had been on Lexapro for years without really knowing how much it was working or not but just have really felt my libido and sensitivity on the sexual side plummet in the past year.  The past week has been great on that front.

    As mentioned felt great for the first 6 days.  Yesterday I totally swung the opposite.  I had been traveling for work (I’m a touring musician) for two months and upon return was just exhausted and got sick with bronchitis and cold and flu.  I started Viibryd concurrently with antibiotics and think I just didn’t give myself chill time to rest.  I have been feeling overwhelmingly tired but still engaged in social activities that kept out late last night.  I did feel “weird” for the first time yesterday and when I finally went to sleep I had some really heavy dreams and woke up feeling horrible.  If I didn’t have some experience with anxiety, I would have had a panic attack.  I do notice when I wake up in the morning I’m not necessarily depressed but I feel out of it for a half hour to an hour.  Also experiencing muscle aches, but could be from cold/flu stuff.

    Took most of the day to sleep and planning on stepping back to really rest up tonight and tomorrow, but now my head’s churning a little.  With the Lexapro moving out of my system (I hear it’s faster than most) and the Viibryd probably starting to ramp up, trying to stay positive, but so curious as to why
    I suddenly had such a down day.  I suppose it happens to us all and could be many things, but I can’t help but wonder if I’d be better off without anything (as I always feel great in the beginning of a med change but end up back on Lexapro as the other “dual” meds to agree with me) or conversely if Lexapro really is a good fit for me and I really didn’t notice and now that it’s leaving me, I’m going to feel badly.  We shall see. I think I simply need to rest and relax, not think about my to do list and heal up from being ill instead of overthink the med change.  I’m excited about Viibryd, just hope that tomorrow is a better day!

    • Guest July 14, 2011, 1:01 am

      Seth, ask your Dr about the VIIBRYD drug to drug interactions with the antibiotics your taking. there could be an issue with specific antibiotics.

  • chipur July 13, 2011, 4:46 am

    People – I am so sorry.

    I’ve allowed all comments to be approved without moderation. However, when someone offers a link for the first time, it forces me to approve. I missed it, and I apologize…

    Bill

  • Julie July 13, 2011, 12:42 pm

    I just started on Viibryd on Friday.  For the last few months my depression has been horrible.  I have Fibro and am already on Savella for that, so adding another SSRI has been an issue.  I got my GP to give me Welbutrin until I could get into to see a Pdoc and it helped slightly, but I was still having major crying jags and breaking down regularly.  I completely broke down in a major way every day from Thursday through Saturday of last week. As I said, I started Viibryd on Friday.  Sunday I started feeling a little better.  Yesterday (Tuesday) for the first time in months I felt a little sexual stirring.  I’m still on just 10mg, so I don’t know what will happen as I increase.  The only side effects I’ve had have been GI related. nausea and diahrea as reported.  I have lots of headaches anyway and have been having headaches the last few days, but it’s hard to say if it’s related to the med, or just me.

    • Guest July 14, 2011, 12:45 am

      How many milligrams of savella per day?

      • Julie July 14, 2011, 4:51 pm

        50mg 2xday. 

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:12 am

      Thanks for your report, Julie. Well, time will tell if it’s the med or you. Please keep us posted…

    • Leilani July 17, 2011, 1:23 pm

      How did savella work for your fibromyalgia? My cousin has it and was looking into trying it…. Are you taking Viibryd with savella?

      • Julie July 18, 2011, 12:17 am

        I am taking both, along with Welbutrin 150mg at the moment.  For me, the Savella worked really well for the Fibro when I first started taking it.  I’ve been on it for about 7 months now. The 2nd month I was on it I felt almost normal/ good.  My sex drive was doing well, I was feeling good, getting out, not hurting, etc.  Then I hit a wall at the end of March and that’s when I started getting really depressed.  I tried Cymbalta before Savella and it worked not quite as well, and had more side effects for me.  It was my Fibro doc who sent me to see a Pdoc for the depression. He (Fibro doc) wasn’t willing to add another SSRI to the Savella and preferred a pdoc make that decision.

        I’ve been hurting really really bad today (day 9 on the Viibryd) and after reading back through some of the comments here I’m wondering if it’s the Viibryd or just my Fibro flaring up.  It’s hard not knowing what’s a side effect and what’s a symptom.

  • Sean July 13, 2011, 1:27 pm

    Today is last day on 20mg (start 40 tomorrow).  Had a particularly stressful few days with some upsetting news about my son.  It seems as though things will pan out ok, but a rough time to say the least.  Fortunately my wife is a great person with a lot of strength (we barleycorners tend to marry the best partners, right Bill? ).  I almost lost it a couple of times, but didn’t – don’t know if it’s the med that was helpful or not.  I do feel the paradox of feelings people are talking about here (calm yet anxious, tired yet sometimes energetic, etc).  SSEs seem to be about the same as when starting (the destination is great, but the trip is a bit too long, and the road isn’t quite as straight as it could be – pardon the mixed-metaphored double entendre here, lol).

    I plan to ride the thing out, but I guess I’m having a little trouble having faith in it at the moment.

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:15 am

      Well, I thought I’d married the best partner all those years ago, but apparently she didn’t think so ;)

      • Bpositive July 14, 2011, 8:54 pm

        That made me sad…Hopefully you’ve found another “Mrs. Chipur”  that sees what a keeper you are…or seem to be anyway… ;)

      • Bpositive July 14, 2011, 8:54 pm

        That made me sad…Hopefully you’ve found another “Mrs. Chipur”  that sees what a keeper you are…or seem to be anyway… ;)

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 9:17 pm

        I’m replying this quickly because I hate to see someone unduly sad. You’re too funny, Bpositive – another “Mrs. Chipur.”

        Okay, I’ll open up a bit. I have two wonderful children (son: will be a sophomore in college – daughter: will start junior year in high school). When their mother and I divorced almost 14 years ago (separated a year before), I decided to wait on another relationship because I never wanted them to question my loyalties. You know, the old “Where did Dad go?” routine. Clinically, I’ve seen what that does to children/adolescents. And my decision paid huge dividends!

        I’ve missed the company and would pursue a relationship if the right woman came along. Apparently, the future Ms./Mrs. Chipur just hasn’t yet. All good things in time.

        Really, thank you for your sweet thought. Means much…

        Bill

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 9:17 pm

        I’m replying this quickly because I hate to see someone unduly sad. You’re too funny, Bpositive – another “Mrs. Chipur.”

        Okay, I’ll open up a bit. I have two wonderful children (son: will be a sophomore in college – daughter: will start junior year in high school). When their mother and I divorced almost 14 years ago (separated a year before), I decided to wait on another relationship because I never wanted them to question my loyalties. You know, the old “Where did Dad go?” routine. Clinically, I’ve seen what that does to children/adolescents. And my decision paid huge dividends!

        I’ve missed the company and would pursue a relationship if the right woman came along. Apparently, the future Ms./Mrs. Chipur just hasn’t yet. All good things in time.

        Really, thank you for your sweet thought. Means much…

        Bill

      • Bpositive July 16, 2011, 6:02 pm

        Oh good…my spirits have lifted!  I am sure your kids appreciate your choice to wait and it played a huge part in the wonderful people they’ve become.  I feel the same way about pursuing Mr. Bpositive…I am too afraid of finding Mr. Bnegative by mistake! ;)  Best wishes and may Mrs. Chipur come when when the timing is just right! 
        Jeannie

      • chipur July 17, 2011, 4:09 am

        Thank you, Jeannie. I sure appreciate your thinking of me…

  • Demi July 13, 2011, 1:36 pm

    Ok guys I just took my first 40mg pill two hours ago.  I feel a bit of GI issues cropping up again, I hadn’t had any problems in a week or so……  Gas/Bloating.. not pain or nauseousness….
    So far I am pretty happy with this medication, stomach issues aside I haven’t had an issue.   Not sure how effective it is on my depression, the mornings are still pretty raw and anxious… but I find myself “daydreaming” less about upsetting things during the day…

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:16 am

      Thanks for your report, Demi. Small and sure steps, okay?

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:16 am

      Thanks for your report, Demi. Small and sure steps, okay?

  • Bellita1 July 13, 2011, 2:36 pm

    I am on my 18th day of VB, 4th day at 40mg.  Side effects are minimal for me, but I am not sure the medicine is working for my anxiety.  I feel anxiety in the morning and a general uneasiness during the day. I want this to work becasue the SSE of lexapro were really starting to get to me.

    • Trevor July 13, 2011, 2:43 pm

      I can relate.  At day 22, my depression has lifted but I’m anxious.  Beginning to wonder if I’m gonna have to use Klonapin with Viibryd.  Would prefer not to.

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:20 am

        Hang on, Trevor. Boy, wouldn’t it be great if you could go without a benzo?

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:20 am

        Hang on, Trevor. Boy, wouldn’t it be great if you could go without a benzo?

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:18 am

      Are you taking Viibryd primarily for anxiety? GAD? Panic?

      • Bellita1 July 14, 2011, 8:11 pm

        I have GAD which causes minor panic – a general feeling of fear with physical symtoms of thightness in my chest. So it is not a full blown panic attic, just a chronic fear feeling. 

        Lexapro is the only thing that has worked for me. I am trying VB due to the sse of Lexapro.  It sucks because as I have gotten older my GAD has gotten worse, probably becasue I have more responsibilities with a family and all and I tend to be over responsible and take it all on. As you know, with GAD, this creates more to worry about.  But, also, most of the time I don’t know what the heck I am worrying about – I just feel anxious.

        When the medicine is working, my cognitive skills work better, but when it isn’t the CBT just doesn’t calm me down.

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:18 am

      Are you taking Viibryd primarily for anxiety? GAD? Panic?

  • mop July 13, 2011, 2:48 pm

    Hi all — I started Viibryd with Lamictal 2-3 weeks ago after coming off Abilify (still staying on Seroquel for the time being).  And it’s like someone flipped a switch.  There’s no other explanation for the elevation of my mood — I haven’t changed my behavior, haven’t been to my therapist yet.  I don’t want to speak too soon, but I think I might be getting closer to finding the right arrangement of meds.  I know antidepressants aren’t often prescribed for bipolar patients, but the relief I’m feeling now is worth it.  I cried for half an hour last night thinking about everything this illness has done to me, but they weren’t hopeless tears.  I know I can get better.

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:26 am

      Dang, mop – what a sweet report! I thoroughly believe you can get better, as well. Your spirit is inspiring. Yes, cry over the past – but shed a few for a lifting of the burden, and the life to come.

      Oh, ADs for bipolar can work well while taking a mood stabilizer…

  • achelelover July 13, 2011, 3:33 pm

    So this is my last day on 20mg before I bump up to 40mg. I feel as though I have my brain back. My obsessive thinking has greatly improved. I can’t wait to see what it’s like on 40mg. 

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:31 am

      Sweet! Snag that grey matter from the lost and found!

  • chipur July 13, 2011, 6:52 pm

    Brand new piece on antidepressant regimens and psychiatrist/Big Pharma ethics. It’s rather a rant – you’ll like it.

    https://chipur.com/2011/07/13/antidepressant-regimens-who-can-you-trust/

  • Trevor July 13, 2011, 7:30 pm

    Day 22 on Viibryd.  Woo-hoo! My depression lifted yesterday, I’m happy to report. I don’t know what it is about the day 21 mark but that was the same day Zoloft kicked-in, too, back in the day.  I feel pretty good. However,oddly enough, the anxiety that was pretty much non-existant up until now on Viibryd has reared its prickly head. I’m not panicky anxious, per se, but I’m worrying about every little thing way more than I should. I also tend to “perch” a lot, meaning I sit still whenever possible so as not to rock the anxiety boat.   Makes me wonder if the ingredient missing from Viibryd that would have caused Sexual issues is the same ingredient that handles anxiety–Just a theory.  My hope is that this anxiety is a temporary thing I’ll adjust to.  Meanwhile, I’ve decided to use a low dose of klonapin to take the edge off for exactly one week and then see if the anxiety still remains. 

    I can’t say enough about the wonders of having your depression lift on an AD and yet being almost totally functional sexually.  No delay in orgasm.  No waiting every other day to even attempt sexual activity.  

    Aside from the anxiety part, I’m pretty enthusiastic about this drug.  Also, the mental fog is dissipating.  I can focus better and keep track pretty well in conversations.  

    I hoping that anyone still short of the three week mark will hang in there long enough to let Viibryd lift their depression (assuming it takes 3 weeks for others, too) .

    More later.  :)

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:00 pm

      Doesn’t get a whole lot better than that, Trevor!

    • Keepinon July 18, 2011, 1:05 am

      Thank you thank you.  I am on  day 12 and am getting tired of walking and talking myself through my days, being hopeful…  You note is just what I came here looking for.  Now, I will get up and go do that new puzzle with my kids.  Come on day 21! 

      • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:32 am

        Get after it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Momof2 July 13, 2011, 8:00 pm

    Well I am on day 8 of 10 mg viibryd. He first 4 days I took 5mg the last 4 days I am up to 10 mg. I am feeling my anxiety lessen as well as depression!! I really am feeling good emotionally but the jaw clenching and tension is so bad I don’t know what to do. If you google ssri and jaw clenching , it is pretty obvious. Bill, you gave me that topix link but I am unsure- will it not go away? Will it cause permanent damage? I am soo bummed- I like the way it feels but I don’t know if I can continue. I hope you are all feeling the positive mood lifts also!! Nice forum:)

    • Frogmen313 July 13, 2011, 8:31 pm

      I am very happy for everyone as i hear so many wonderful news! Keep up the good work!

    • Julie July 14, 2011, 4:46 pm

      I have TMJ, too much jaw clenching can aggravate (if not cause a case of TMJ). If you’ve already got it, it can cause some major pain.  It can also hurt your teeth in the long term.  You can pick up a mouthpiece you can wear at night that will at least prevent tooth damage, and may also help cut down on the amount of grinding you do (depending on the mouth piece).  Mine is a custom made job by my orthodontist that not only prevents me from grinding but keeps my jaw in line while I sleep (also good for those who snore).  If you’ve seen the commercials for the anti-snore mouthpiece that covers both sets of teeth, mine is very similar to that.  I think that one on tv is only like $40 and may be worth checking into if you are having a lot of grinding at night.

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 5:04 pm

      I wish I could say the jaw clenching and tension will for sure go away. No can do. Permanent damage? Ah, come on Momof2, don’t go there. Don’t need you to be catastrophizing – we’re all too good at that.

      Instead of doing Internet searches re what something is and how bad it can become, why not search for articles re how to manage it? I’ll bet you’d find some for jaw clenching, etc.

    • Momof2 July 14, 2011, 7:22 pm

      Nicely said. Thanks. My psych dr had lowered the dose back down and we are going to SLOWLY increase again. Thanks for reminding me to not catastrophize!!! I am happy to hear of great successes so far. Keep it up guys!

      • chipur July 14, 2011, 8:48 pm

        ;)

    • Leilani July 17, 2011, 1:19 pm

      I have some jaw clenching as well, but it should go away. I have TMJ as well and have been taught to relax my jaw at night. As weird as this sounds practice steeping with your mouth slightly open so you relax your jaw. It helps ;)

      • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:26 pm

        Nice tip on a frequently experienced side effect…

  • chipur July 13, 2011, 8:22 pm

    Hey chipur readers! Gonna’ spend a few minutes looking over the comments. Will do more reading and replying very late this evening…

  • Bpositive July 14, 2011, 5:53 am

    Hello again…Has anyone had any problems with adrenaline rushes when being really tired?  I have been doing this the past couple of days.  It’s not a scary feeling…but a new one. Starts in my tummy and rises up to my chest.  Maybe it could be because I went off the Zoloft?  Today is day 5 for me.  I can tell I do feel happier… I’m sorry if someone else already wrote about the adrenaline rushes. I am so tired I didn’t take the time to search.  Bye for now!  :)

    • Anonymous July 14, 2011, 10:53 pm

      Am feeling more “up”, but a bit anxious. Maybe it will increase and even out as doses increase?

  • achelelover July 14, 2011, 6:11 pm

    Hello fellow viibryd users!

    So today I took my first dose of 40mg! The 20mg has been workign very well for my OCD. I feel as though I have my brain back! I’m very excited to see how 40mg goes. Still no sexual side effects, if anything, I may be a little “sexually enhanced,” but that could just be the good mood I’m in. The ONLY thing  I’ve noticed is a possible *slight* dip in the intensity of my orgasms. To be honest, I don’t really care. An orgasm is an orgasm. I still have a very high sex drive and the sex I’ve had the past two weeks has been, dare I say it, *amazing.*  
    The other side effect I’ve have is a “head rush” when I stand up quickly, but this seems to be fading.

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 8:45 pm

      Well, what more can you (or I) say? Pretty doggone good report. I’m happy for you, achelelover.

      Bill

  • BalanceMan July 14, 2011, 6:56 pm

    Viibryd 40mg now and feel great. Definitely had some GI my first week but not bad. I have been on Lexapro for 4 years and had no sex drive. I definitely have my mojo back switching to Viibryd! My anxiety is gone too. I have high hopes for this drug!

    • chipur July 14, 2011, 8:47 pm

      Hi BalanceMan…

      Thank you for the visit and your report. “I definitely have my mojo back…” Pretty cool. Keep us posted, okay?

      Bill

  • Gutzy1 July 14, 2011, 9:14 pm

    Tonight I will be starting 20mg of VB and I’ve been off the 30mg of cymbalta for 2 days and i’m going through horrible withdrawl. I feel like everytime I move my head I get dizzy. My BP is either to low or to high and my anxiety is horrible. I’m hoping that by starting the 20mg of Viibryd it will help with the withdrawl symptoms. I have noticed that I have more of a sex drive though. Good News.

    • Anonymous July 14, 2011, 10:50 pm

      You are having “brain zaps”. Hang on, they will lessen as you get they cymbalta out of your system. I had them going from one med to another and even though my doc warned me I was still unprepared for how intense it was.

      Day 2 of 10 mg. Doc started my at 5mg, but all it was doing was upsetting my stomach and I was feeling crappy as the zoloft was leaving my system, so after 4 days I went up to the 10.
      (Brain zaps were very mild this time). Keeping my fingers crossed (for all of us!)

      • Anonymous July 14, 2011, 10:55 pm

        PS: My brain zaps lasted about 4 days with one day that was pretty intense and then gradually went away.

      • Anonymous July 14, 2011, 10:55 pm

        PS: My brain zaps lasted about 4 days with one day that was pretty intense and then gradually went away.

  • Curiousandexcited July 15, 2011, 12:28 am

    Feeling anxious, depressed, very sleepy. Going to 40mg tonight (have to take it at night because it makes me so sleepy.) I am nervous about that.. Dr said I should finish out the titration pack to see if it gets better. Ugh. I don’t know.
    Wellbutrin was the only thing that worked for me, but it made my ears ring badly. My dr said that there is nothing else like WB since it is atypical for depression. I AM JUST SO TIRED!!!! I don’t do anything, can’t get out of the house, can’t exercise, can’t anything. Hopeless feelings are abound. I guess I need to suck it up and give Viibryd it’s shot. 2 more weeks.

    • Curiousandexcited July 15, 2011, 12:53 am

      Could EB-1010 (don’t know if inwrote that right) work similarly to Wellbutrin?

      • chipur July 15, 2011, 6:51 am

        Well, EB-1010 may well work in a similar manner to Wellbutrin (norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor). As you may know, EB-1010 is a triple reuptake inhibitor. Serotonin gets most of the attention; however norepinephrine and dopamine are manipulated, as well – all three in specific ratios.

        Here’s a link to the piece I did on EB-1010 https://chipur.com/2011/06/16/depression-research-a-triple-reuptake-inhibitor/. I will continue to follow it as it works its way through clinical trials…

    • Terrysart July 15, 2011, 4:06 am

      I took viibryd for 12 days, first at 10 mg. then 20. I had the the worst side effects of any medication I have ever taken. I had taken remeron, lexapro and serzone in the past; remeron most recently. I felt awful , with the side effects you describe  and then some, which did not really abate as time went on. First nauseous, diarrhea, terrible lethargy. I couldn’t get motivated to do anything. I agree about not being able to exercise. Then the headachy feeling started, Tired, but sleepless. I even had eye irritation. I had a miserable two weeks. The side effects had me feeling more depressed.  So bad, that I started to think – “What the heck would this drug do to me in the long run.”  i really couldn’t take it any more because I felt so ill the  two weeks were a loss.  I think I scared myself into quitting and decided to try natural alternative to my depression, activity and exercise. I am back in an cardio exercise class  a couple of times a week and back doing yoga. I’ve started to feel better it took near a week for my stomach to recover. I have energy again and no where near as depressed. I know that AD’s are necessary for serious depression, but viibryd really made me rethink my need.  

  • Mandiee July 15, 2011, 12:51 pm

    Well today I started the 40mg…feeling a little spacie at times…..but I can make my self bounce back… if that makes sense…

    • chipur July 16, 2011, 12:02 am

      Makes all the sense in the world. It’s no different than managing any of the unpleasant sensations you – any of us – may feel. In most cases, if we want to push it aside and carry on – that’s exactly what we do!

  • Sean July 15, 2011, 3:20 pm

    The past few days at 40mg has me splashing cold water in my face, drinking tons of caffeine, and even doing pushups at my desk trying to stay awake.  A couple of days ago, I took a break in the morning just to drive to the park and take a half hour nap in my car.  If i hadn’t set my phone alarm, I’d probably still be there.  WTF?  I’d like to take the rest of the month’s adderall supply today.  Might get me up to normal.  Anyway, has anyone had this experience and had it pass?  If I take it before bed, it keeps me up all night, so I switched from mornings to afternoons.  But it doesn’t always make me tired immediately (The last dose I took was yesterday at around 1pm).  It’s 11:20am right now and I haven’t even taken today’s dose yet, but I keep nodding at my desk.  Ugh!

    • Trevor July 16, 2011, 3:26 am

      Hi, Sean. I managed to regulate my sleep schedule by switching to taking it at night. That eventually had me sleeping through the tiresome window. I’m fairly awake now during the day now and don’t even wake up groggy. Hope you find relief.

      • Trevor July 16, 2011, 3:29 am

        P.S. Day 24 on Viibryd.

      • Trevor July 16, 2011, 3:29 am

        P.S. Day 24 on Viibryd.

  • Curiousandexcited July 15, 2011, 4:20 pm

    I decided to cut the 40 in half and took 20 last night and I guess I will take the other half sometime soon… I feel pretty ok right now, so I am afraid to mess that up.. I will do it anyway bc I am not giving up hope that this med COULD work for me and really kick in at any moment. See, I just had a hopeful thought right there… Hmmm. Good sign? I am going to start therapy again and seeing a new therapist later today. Hopefully it’s a good fit.
    Sometimes my anhedonia lifts a bit and I feel better, but sometimes I feel like I am on the verge of a “break”. I am going to hold on because the titration pack goes up to 40mg for a reason… Bc it may take that much and that long for some ppl.
    I need this hope. I remember a time when I was younger and trying different meds, and I just found one (Zoloft) that didn’t totally kill me and stuck with it. I can do that again, the thought of switching to another med is so despairing that I can’t do it again. I have tried so many in the past year that I can’t take any more letdowns. Viibryd still could be the one, I’ll decide that once the titration pack is completed.

    • chipur July 16, 2011, 12:05 am

      I’d sure like to know how things go with your new therapist. Any sharing of the orientation and adjustment process would be interesting to me. What did you like? What didn’t you? I’d sure appreciate an update.

      • Curiousandexcited July 16, 2011, 3:13 pm

        Yesterday was my first appt. with the new therapist. He seems nice, once was a member of the clergy, but decided his calling was in another vocation… So he began a counseling career. I feel like I have already unloaded so much of my past with other therapists, it’s difficult to start over each time with the story, I guess because I just want a quick fix NOW. Lol. Recalling and rehashing is tiresome, but I know it’s necessary.
        His practice is very casual, arty, homey… Which is ok, but I usually prefer a more structured/professional atmosphere… But I do like his friendly demeanor. He made me laugh a few times and you can’t really beat that. He has a lot of experience and one my dearest, oldest therapists from way back has retired and recommended him, so I will go back for another appt and see how things go. The only other downside is that he is about an hour drive from me, and that may not work in the long run.

      • chipur July 17, 2011, 4:07 am

        Thanks for the input, as requested. Well, all in all it sounds like you found a good counselor. Time will tell, distance and all – but it seems as though you may have found a good match.

        Oh, the distance thing. Let’s say you had heart trouble, and someone recommended one of the very best docs in the country – who happened to practice an hour away from where you live. Would it be an issue???

        Ah, those quick fixes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • chipur July 15, 2011, 8:50 pm

    Been having a few database issues, which may have caused this piece to be inaccessible at times. Under repair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • chipur July 15, 2011, 8:52 pm

    Just finished a piece on EB-1010, the “even-next” generation antidepressant. It now has a generic name – amitifadine! Wanna’ sign up for the clinical trials? It’s all in the article…

    https://chipur.com/2011/07/15/eb-1010-clinical-trials-anyone/

  • chipur July 15, 2011, 9:06 pm

    One last thing, chipur readers. Taking my Dad out for dinner for his birthday (87th). When I return, I’ll be spending my Friday night working on your comments. It’s a date…

  • Neek July 16, 2011, 5:31 am

    Hi everyone– it’s been a few days since my last post. I’ve been trying to think about what I was hoping for with this med, and what has been happening. I am on my 4th day of 40mg and most of the negative side effects are gone. However, I have gained a little weight already and my sensitivity during sex is down a little.
    I definitely feel like I’m cool, calm, and collected, and that’s a good feeling. It’s kind of like situations that could be considered a little stressful just aren’t to me. I’m handling everything calmly and feel relaxed. I am starting to do a little bit more too, like running errands,etc. Before Viibryd, I spent most of my time in bed with no desire to leave the house. So I am happy about the changes I’ve been experiencing, but I’m a little confused about whyI don’t really feel “happier.” Can anyone relate to what I’m talking about? I’m not sad, but I’m not really happy either. If I could only use one word to describe how I feel, it would be numb. Not in a bad way, but just a calm and relaxed way. Has anyone ever had that feeling? Am I over-analyzing? I haven’t been on an AD in over 10 years, so it’s hard to remember how I felt back then, like if I felt happier after taking it or if I just felt less anxiety. I don’t know. Any thoughts?

    • Curiousandexcited July 16, 2011, 3:21 pm

      I feel a bit numb as well, but other ADs did the same to me… All except Wellbutrin. That gave me a slight euphoric feeling of “lightness”, nothing major, but it was definitely nice. It gave me a bad side egg t’s though, an extreme increase of ringing in my ears. I liked it so much though… Maybe I can just get hearing aids and go back on it??? Lol
      Anyway, yes, I feel a bit “detached” from life right now, not particularly sad but not excited about anything.
      I am also getting terrible Restless Leg Syndrome sometimes, but all over my body. Let’s hope that goes away as well.
      Good luck to you!

    • GC July 16, 2011, 7:37 pm

      Neek, Is it possible that what you feel is normal??  Dealing with depression and anxiety can keep one in a hyper-agitated, emotionally intense state.  One can become accustomed to being in this state and the absence of this intensity could leave one feeling “numb”-relatively speaking.  I seem to be feeling a similar sensation but not like other ADs like prozac that truly left me feeling void of any emotion at all.  

    • chipur July 16, 2011, 10:15 pm

      Hi Neek…

      No, I don’t think you’re over-analyzing – I think you’re just trying to find the right words to describe a feeling that’s a bit unfamiliar. Do you think “numb” really does the job? I read “numb” and I’m thinking someone’s not really feeling anything. Sounds like you are, though, right?

      Bill

      • Neek July 16, 2011, 11:44 pm

        To Bill, GC, and Curiousandexcited–Thank you very much for responding. Bill–You are right, I am feeling something, and it is an unfamiliar feeling. I’m sure everyone around me is enjoying my new “go with the flow” mood, as am I. I guess I just picture my life 6 months ago when I was full of energy and felt happy, with no anxiety. With Viibryd, I don’t have the anxiety, which is really nice. But I just don’t have that pep in my step that I used to have. I want some energy and drive. Maybe I’m still adjusting to the medication and will get more energy later. I’ve been thinking about going to look for some energy pills or something along those lines, but I don’t want to do anything to interfere with the Viibryd. Do you know if that would be ok to try?
        GC had some really interesting things to say–an interesting perspective. At least I know that I’m not the only one feeling this way. “Numb” probably isn’t the best word to describe what I’m feeling, but I think they both understand what I mean. I definitely feel better now than I did 3 weeks ago, so I’m going to try and focus on that and take it day by day. I may not ever get that pep in my step back on this med, but I’m certainlty better than I was, and that’s a wonderful thing.

      • chipur July 17, 2011, 4:23 am

        I’d give it more time, Neek. And I wouldn’t assume you’ll never get that pep in your step. No way!

        I wouldn’t think using some sort of supplement for energy would pose a problem. Would I use “some energy pills” or something loaded with caffeine or other energy-producing additives? No. But if you knew your diet wasn’t bringing in the protein and other goodies you need, I’d sure turn to things like protein shakes, targeted vitamins, Boost, Ensure, etc…

    • Julie July 18, 2011, 12:24 am

      I’ve been thinking the same thing. At least I’m not feeling totally depressed and distraught, but I’m not really feeling happy either…like you said, just cool and calm.

  • vibrant July 16, 2011, 11:08 am

    hi – i think i just posted a message on the other board.  meant to post it here on the user’s journal.  anyone experiencing an increase in sweating?  i’m at 20mg about day 10 i think.   thanks.

  • Frogmen313 July 16, 2011, 5:51 pm

    Hi all just took my first 10mg of viibryd about 3hrs ago and i abserved no adverse reaction yet!

  • Bpositive July 16, 2011, 6:04 pm

    I just took my first 20 mg dose of Viibryd.  I have felt so much better since changing to Viibryd and I’m hoping the larger dose doesn’t change things for the worse.  I am a little apprehensive but am deciding to expect the best!  

  • Anonymous July 16, 2011, 6:06 pm

    After dose 13 a few days back I called my doctor and then gave up on the Viibryd.  I believe it turned out to be the wrong medicine for someone like me who has always had blood pressure in the low range.  I had begun taking propranolol (10 mg X 2 per day) a couple days before I started the Viibryd pack as a migraine preventative.  At Day 6 of 10 mg of Viibryd I gave up the propranolol thinking that it was the cause of how all my limbs felt like dead weight.  But by Viibryd dose 13, seven days later, my pulse was still quite low, my limbs were still heavy and my migraines were getting worse and worse.  After discussing it with my doctor I went back to 30 mg of Cymbalta (after a 5 month reprieve) and am taking 10 mg propranolol every other day.  My headaches have improved immensely already.  The first dose of Cymbalta brought me relief and mood lift and it’s getting better each day.  Cymbalta is not perfect.  I already knew that or I would not have quit it in the first place.  But for now I can function and I even managed to exercise today.

    Good luck to you all.  I hope this medicine works for many of you.  I’d say if I have anything worthwhile to have contributed to this forum it is the caution that if you have low blood pressure already, be advised that the Viibryd warning label states that this medicine can also lower it further.

  • Anonymous July 16, 2011, 6:06 pm

    After dose 13 a few days back I called my doctor and then gave up on the Viibryd.  I believe it turned out to be the wrong medicine for someone like me who has always had blood pressure in the low range.  I had begun taking propranolol (10 mg X 2 per day) a couple days before I started the Viibryd pack as a migraine preventative.  At Day 6 of 10 mg of Viibryd I gave up the propranolol thinking that it was the cause of how all my limbs felt like dead weight.  But by Viibryd dose 13, seven days later, my pulse was still quite low, my limbs were still heavy and my migraines were getting worse and worse.  After discussing it with my doctor I went back to 30 mg of Cymbalta (after a 5 month reprieve) and am taking 10 mg propranolol every other day.  My headaches have improved immensely already.  The first dose of Cymbalta brought me relief and mood lift and it’s getting better each day.  Cymbalta is not perfect.  I already knew that or I would not have quit it in the first place.  But for now I can function and I even managed to exercise today.

    Good luck to you all.  I hope this medicine works for many of you.  I’d say if I have anything worthwhile to have contributed to this forum it is the caution that if you have low blood pressure already, be advised that the Viibryd warning label states that this medicine can also lower it further.

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 4:12 am

      Sounds like a well considered decision, woeisme. You’ve been a great participant here. I’m inviting you to come on back to chipur for the other articles. Any ongoing input you may have would be super appreciated…

  • Anonymous July 16, 2011, 6:38 pm

    ok–4 days on 10mg; off zoloft. Stomach upset and I’m depressed. Have had a pretty severe headache for the last 4 days that advil isn’t touching. Headaches, anyone else?

  • Frogmen313 July 17, 2011, 12:47 am

    Its been 10 hrs since i took viibryd and i notice no side effect! And hopefully i can also get a good night sleep!

  • OkayRavioli July 17, 2011, 1:32 am

    I’m male, 25 years old, 175 pounds.
    Day 26. Nearing the end of my third week.
    Day 6 on viibryd 40mg.  MY SEX DRIVE LEFT ME AGAIN YESTERDAY. :'[
    Here’s my immediate Celexa history. (I’ve taken celexa, lexapro, wellbutrim, 5-HTP, and paxil,
    but I was back on celexa when I started viibryd.)

    *** ON CELEXA ***
    On Celexa 40mg I had no sex drive WITH GI issues. 
    It was hard to go BM, nothing wanted to come out, and I had bad gas.
    It did handle my anxiety. I’m prone to getting “knots” when in my belly when I worry.  Celexa
    completely took that way, but also the “thrill” feeling in your belly I associate with thinking
    about sex or thinking of something inspiring or beautiful.
     
    Celexa didn’t make me emotionless by any means, but it made things less… overwhelming, both
    good overwhelming and bad overwhelming.
    *** WEANING CELEXA, TAKING VIIBRYD ***
    I weaned off of celexa pretty quickly, and took viibryd before bed the day after I took my last dose of
    celexa, as the pharmacist said.
    FIRST FEW DAYS:
    Headaches, but tolerable.  My BMs went back to normal! 
    NEAR THE END OF WEEK ONE:
    I had one or two particularly good days where I felt amazing, but still had no sex drive.  Still
    celexa in my system, I assume.
    NEAR THE BEGINNING OF WEEK 2:
    My GI issues (mentioned above) came back. :( Viibryd must have built up enough to cause the same
    problem I think.
    NEAR THE MIDDLE OF WEEK 2:
    I began to feel “sensation” in my belly again, in that I could feel wholly inspired and
    overwhelmed by things.  I didn’t feel worried.  I think I could have *become* worried if I had
    sat and dwelled on something though.  I assume the celexa was nearly out of my system.
    NEAR THE VERY END OF WEEK 2:
    My sex drive returned.  I repeat, my SEX DRIVE RETURNED.  I woke up with an erection.  It was
    easy to get one.  It was easy to keep one.  It acted normal, the way I remembered it.  Celexa
    was OUT of my system.  I’m not sure viibryd was doing anything for me but giving me GI issues at
    this point.
    BEGINNING OF WEEK 3 (this last week):
    Started 40mg.  Second day on 40mg I stayed up until 2 am masturbating (you have to forgive me, I
    hadn’t done it in a while).  Took my dose with food, exhausted. Started having AUDITORY AND
    VISUAL “SLEEP STARTS” every time I tried to nod off, and nightmarish, racing vivid dreams when I
    managed to get to sleep. I did this twice, both times after staying up late (enjoying my long
    lost sex-drive).  They’re horrible. Still could feel overwhelmed by things – could probably have
    gotten a knot in my stomach if I had dwelled on anything worrisome.
    MIDDLE OF WEEK 3 (this last week):
    Fourth dose of viibryd 40mg.  WOKE UP THE MORNING WITH NO SEX DRIVE, and no “sensation” in my
    belly.  I can’t hold a sexual thought in my head. Feels like being on celexa now.  Anxiety
    simultaniously went away. Nothing worries me.  Nothing truly excites me.  I have emotions, just
    without the tops of the peaks and the bottom of the valleys.  Still have GI issues.  It’s like
    being on celexa.
    That’s where I am now.

    40 mg viibryd.  No sex drive.  No anxiety or overwhelming emotions. GI issues.
    I’m going to try dropping to viibryd to 30mg.

    • Frogmen313 July 17, 2011, 2:08 pm

      That really sucks, the drug is having such an up and down effect on ur libido’

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:09 pm

      Thanks for your visit and participation. Detailed, to say the least. Keep us posted re your progress…

      PS: I love ravioli!!!

    • Seth July 17, 2011, 10:04 pm

      Let us know how you go Ravioli.  It’s tough. I’m a little less sensitive when it comes to the SSE of SSRI’s but it the drop in my libido coupled with an overall state of wellness made me want to try Viibryd.  I have only been on the Celexa/Lexapro train and in 8 years I have rarely changed meds.

      I have experienced very similar things that you have in the GI, Dream/Sleep, and weighing the peaks and valleys of emotions that get taken away or given back when on Celexa/Lexapro.  We’ll see what’s what with Viibryd.  Just taking the suggested dosage and trying not to think too much about side effects.

      I’m on day 14?…20mg’s and the libido is better overall, but I haven’t been able to truly “test” it at this point as I’m not with a girl.  It’s possible you just had a bad day and even “normal” folks go through dips and peaks with emotion and sex drive.  I hear you though…keep posting.

      • OkayRavioli July 18, 2011, 5:52 pm

        My sex-drive came all the way back, 100%, right before I hit 40mg Viibryd.  Even while I was taking 40mg Viibryd the first few days my sex drive stayed with me.  But I feel this was probably the period of time between Celexa completely leaving my system and Viibryd building up enough to be effective.  Again, I lost my anxiety at the EXACT SAME TIME as my sex drive with Viibryd.

        I’ve been back down to 20mg Viibryd for the last two days. 

        My anxiety is back… but my sex drive still isn’t. 

        What gives! :’)

      • OkayRavioli July 18, 2011, 5:56 pm

        Oh, and I slept ALL DAY yesterday. (exaggerating a bit).

        I had long, drawn out vivid dreams that kept picking up where they left off when I’d wake up and drift back off to sleep. :)

      • Julie July 18, 2011, 6:39 pm

        What made you decide to drop back down to 20mg?  Seems I’m seeing that a lot with people not staying at 40, just wondering what it is at 40 that is hitting people wrong.

      • OkayRavioli July 19, 2011, 1:31 am

        The reason I’ve dropped to 20mg is because after four or five days on 40mg I had lost my sex drive again.

        Anyway, I feel the need to vent about something work related…

        Please feel free to ignore the following rant: 

        I’m sad to report that my anxiety has ramped up a bit over an incident with a disrespectful, obnoxious college student at work today.  “No, you can’t just yell out the F-bomb because I want to move you into the other room for a test so I can actually PROCTOR it.  No, it doesn’t matter that you had already logged onto the other computer.  I don’t care how long it took you to log on.  You’re done taking tests in my lab.” His response to being told he couldn’t test in my lab anymore… telling one of my lab workers that he “wanted to kick my ass” resulted in him getting banned from the lab I’m in charge of, and the free tutoring we provide. I was right to report him to MY supervisor to keep him out for good.  Hopefully he has the sense to not show up tomorrow… But he’s a regular and not too bright, so I’m getting a knot in my belly anticipating a scene when he strolls right on in for tutoring or another test…

      • Seth July 19, 2011, 3:07 am

        I know it’s easier said than done, but he sounds like a jerk.  Don’t let him worry you.  We are better than that and you don’t need to pre-grieve a scene that hasn’t yet happened. 

      • chipur July 19, 2011, 4:30 am

        Venting and ranting allowed! Sounds like a chump. So what will you do if he, indeed, strolls right on in for tutoring or another test? I mean, I wouldn’t think he would, but do you have an action plan – so you’re acting, not reacting?

      • OkayRavioli July 19, 2011, 2:33 pm

        I’ve discussed the situation with my supervisor… she said to send him to her if he comes in again.  Thanks for letting me rant and for the support. :)

      • chipur July 20, 2011, 6:02 am

        Well, I’m glad you have a plan. No charge for ranting (or support)…

      • Redevelyn July 19, 2011, 6:13 pm

        After a few months on a therapeutic dose of Luvox, my emotions returned and I no longer felt spacey, numbed, or as if all my feelings were across a river and I could recognize them, but I couldn’t reach them.  Also, MY SEX DRIVE CAME BACK — majorly.  So, just to say, it can still happen for you.  Four days is not very many.  It might take a while for your body to adjust to the medication.  Luvox is the only SSRI I had a sex drive on. 

      • chipur July 18, 2011, 9:46 pm

        Well, it’s just making you appreciate the sex thing all the more. I’m betting it will return soon…

  • OkayRavioli July 17, 2011, 1:50 am

    I’d like to add that I may be extra sensitive.  The first SSRI I ever took was Celexa, and the VERY FIRST 10mg pill I took took my sex-drive away.  Within the hour I couldn’t concentrate on a sexual thought or keep a solid erection.  Doctor didn’t tell me it might do this either, kept trying to blame it on my anxiety level, and the emotional shape I was in I believed him at the time.

  • JRC July 17, 2011, 2:32 am

    Hi all, so glad I found this page! It’s the only one out there with real reviews from real people!
    Here’s a short run-down of my experiences with anti-depressants:
    I’ve been on Prozac, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin at different points in my life over the past 7 or so years; had pretty annoying side effects on all of them, particularly sexual side effects while on Prozac and Zoloft. Most recently I was on Wellbutrin; it caused serious sleep issues, and seemed to amplify my anxiety. I felt jittery and anxious all the time. My Dr. suggested I switch to Viibryd, even though she didn’t have much anectdotal evidence about it, as she had just recently started prescribing it.
    Anyway, per her instructions, I immediately switched from Wellbutrin to Viibryd and started at the 10mg dose for the first week. I started taking the 20mg one week later. I’m two days in to the 20mg.
    Thus far, I haven’t had many of the GI issues I’ve read about on here; at least, nothing that has been debilitating. I’ve also not had issues sleeping, though I wake up every morning with a horrible headache. Those headaches seem to come and go throughout the day, and then get worse in the evening before bed. I’ve found myself having to take too many aspirin or ibuprofen pills every day to make the headaches go away, and I hate having to do so. The only other side effect that I’ve come across thus far is “brain fog” (at least I guess that’s what you’d call it). I’m having a very difficult time finishing sentences, as I can’t remember what point I was trying to make, or I’ll be unable to find the word I’m looking for. Perhaps the headaches are a side effect of the Wellbutrin leaving my system, but I really think that the memory issues are linked to the Viibryd. I really, really hope it goes away soon, though, because it’s starting to affect my work.
    I would love to hear any thoughts you may have about my side effects! Thank you!

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:15 pm

      Hi JRC…

      I’m glad you found the page, as well. Given the detail of your report, and willingness to share, chipur readers will also be glad you found it.

      Regarding your side effects – I’m really not reading anything I haven’t read from others (or experienced over the years).

      Side effects are real, I know. But we have to find ways to provide some diversion. We have to keep moving forward! There are tens of millions of folks who go on about their lives with some sort of acute or chronic malady they’d rather do without.

      LET’S KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!!

  • Meteoroid July 17, 2011, 3:30 am

    I have been taking 40mg for the past few days and it is not working out for me at all. I would kill for a good night sleep. I don’t know if it is the insomnia, Viibryd, or what but my depression and anxiety are coming back pretty hard. Also I am back to having no sex drive and anorgasmia. This medication has me way too wired up. I skipped last night’s dose and only took 10mg in the morning. My sleep has been so fractured that I feel like a zombie. The bottom line is that I NEED to sleep. I may try and take 20mg tomorrow. If I can find a balance between the side effects and the therapeutic effect that would be good. I know I can make up some of the ground by exercising more. And I was reading that they now think St. Johns Wort is safe to take with an SSRI. That might be of some help. Its hard to know what the next right step is.

    The really cruel thing is that I got to experience life with out the SSE’s for a little bit. It felt amazing, I felt like a man for once. Having an intact libido is such an ego booster. Now if this lower dose doesn’t work I have to choose between being depressed and anxious or being neutered. I would go off these meds in a second. But I have tried that in the past and it they were the worst times in my life. Damn it I wanted Viibryd to work for me. We put a man on the moon we should be able to figure out an AD that doesn’t have SSEs!

    Sorry for the rant. Its a Sophie’s choice type of question and I have lost too many good relationships to the SSEs. Its hard not to feel trapped in a way. I am going to give 20mg a try for a while. I hope I don’t need to go back to Lexapro. I will make sure to keep you all posted.

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:17 pm

      Rant away, Meteoroid. It’s healthy. And what the heck, you’re in a safe and understanding place here.

      Here’s to sleep and no SSEs…

  • scoobysnackn July 17, 2011, 3:58 am

    I am a…40 yr old female w/bipolar 2 and anxiety issues.

    I am on…Day 3 of the blister pack of Viibryd while still taking 50 mg of Pristiq (which will be discontinued after I reach 40 on the Viibryd). Side effects so far: vivid dreams (weird and disconnected), a poochy and bloated tummy (I’ve recently lost 25 pounds, so if this drug makes the scale move the other way – that’s a dealbreaker), and today I opened a package of Phillip’s Colon Health and threw the empty box AND new bottle of unopened capsules away in the trash! Thank goodness I figured it out at bedtime before the trash went out! What a space cadet I’ve become! Geez!

    This drug holds promise, but I’m wary of the weight gain and the brain fog. If these prove to be temporary, I’ll be thrilled as I am so tired of switching meds. I need to find a drug that can pull me out of the pit and help me not pull my hair out – literally :)

    Good luck to the rest of my vibrant Viibryd warriors! Sharing is caring, so post away!

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:20 pm

      Sharing is for sure caring! You’re perfect for chipur. Thanks for your visit, participation, and spirit, Scoobysnackn…

      Bill

      • scoobysnackn July 17, 2011, 11:23 pm

        Absolutely Bill. I’m grateful for this forum, and thank you for starting it.

      • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:01 am

        You’re welcome…

  • achelelover July 17, 2011, 4:26 am

    Hey all, I’m going to try dropping the 40mg to 30 and see how the sexual side effectd are on that. Also, I am thinking of up-ing my wellbutrin to see if that cancels some of this out…

    • achelelover July 17, 2011, 1:16 pm

      Okay, so being the crafty lady that I am, I cut up my viibryd to make it 30mg and upped my wellbutrin to 300xl. We’ll see how it goes on this cocktail. Let me elaborate a little more on sexual side effects. It’s not that I felt sexually DEAD on 40mg, I just had decreased sensitivity and it seemed more difficult to reach orgasm. Okay, so that is an improvement over something like Paxil or Lexapro or Pristiq or Cymbalta and everything else I’ve tried where I felt sexually DEAD and NUMB on pretty much any dose. 20mg of viibryd was helping my OCD, so if I need to I’ll go back to that. We’ll see how 30mg goes over today… 

  • Leilani July 17, 2011, 1:02 pm

    So before giving my viibryd review i wanted to give some background…I have tried lexapro, Prozac, wellbutrin, Ativan, and vyvanse. I was initially put on Ativan for chronic panic attacks and anxiety. After I had taken this, due to taking it to frequently, in was put on Prozac. Prozac worked great for me. I felt at ease and normal, however, it kept pooping put and I kept having to increase the dose. What that lead to was more sexual side effects, some eventual weight gain (after a year) and the inability to cry. I felt great but had zero sexual desire/function and did not really care about things I should. So my doctor switched me to lexapro… I did horrible on it! I was tired all the time, cried for no reason and had the same sexual side effects. Plus in one month I put on 15 pounds!!!!! So I was switched back to a low dose of Prozac with wellbutrin added on. Yes I had some energy (which was good) and my sexual side effect were definitely lower… However, wellbutrin made my skin feel like it was crawling and I got a weird twitch in my neck. I hated it. So my doc decided that maybe I have ADD and that’s why nothing seems to work for me. I loved vyvanse, the only problem was that if I forgot to take it, I couldn’t function and I hated feeling dependent… So back on prozac I went… Until Viibryd came out…

    So Viibryd… I am on the 20mgs now. I did a complete switch from Prozac bc it self tapers. From day two of Viibryd could feel a noticeable diffence in my mood! I felt more alive, had more energy, and less agitation. So far I love it! I take it in the morning with my breakfast and can feel a serge of energy as few hours after, I feel like for me it’s a mix of Prozac and vyvanse wi out the yucky side effects. On the 20mgs am still feeling good and my sexual function seems to be returning. I think I will probably stay on 20mgs for a while bf increasing to 40. The only side effects I have noticed have been dry mouth and some insomnia(I take lunesta so that helps). As for the diarrhea and nausea (the highest side effects in the package insert) I haven’t had any nausea and as for diarrhea, I have a “soft stool” in the morning and that’s it… Not bothersome at all. I am really happy with this drug so far, I’m know I am only in the second week but I cannot believe that I can noticeably tell that I feel better and different, normal, if you will. Motivated, happy, sexual, calm but still have energy and emotions!

    They say that the 5HT1A receptor is thought to regulate serotonin so that you get enough of it when you need it but not two much to make you a zombie, I can definitely tell this is going to be the case. In addition it is also thought to help with the “poop out” and the initial slow onset of typical SSRIs…. This has also been the case. I honestly felt this drug work with in a few days! (not placebo effect either, I’ve been on enough drugs to know the difference) so far so good!

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:26 pm

      Nice report, Leilani. Thank you for visiting chipur and participating. All are so much stronger in community.

      Incidentally, the addition of the 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist piece also helps with therapeutic lag – SSRIs are known to take some time to work.

      I hope things continue to go well for you…

      Bill

  • Gutzy1 July 17, 2011, 2:19 pm

    Well on day 3 of 20mg, I have some GI problems this morning I’m also on the zithromax for sinus infection so not sure if it’s the VB or a combo of both. My eyes seems foggy, like i can’t quite focus. My appetite has decreased and I almost forget to eat. (that’s not a bad thing) lol. Otherwise I feel less moody but still not feeling allot different. Hoping to see some improvements soon. My insurance doesn’t cover VB and it’s 179.00 per month. Hope the reps are giving my DR samples, otherwise this is all for nothing. One good note, My sex drive is in full force.

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:29 pm

      I’ll offer this up again (don’t know if it’s been helpful). Some time ago a reader said Viibryd is available through medcopharmacy.com. I’ve never used it. Is it the real deal???

  • Anonymous July 17, 2011, 5:59 pm

    Day 10 on Viibryd and so far it’s… interesting… I switched off of Celexa and Xanax XR, which was just making me sleepy and not helping as much with my anxiety as I would hope. I do feel calmer, although I am a little restless at night, having very vivid (Viibryd?) dreams, and some of the GI issues others have mentioned. I’m still on the 20mg tabs for another four days, and hoping my body can get used to the 40mg dose. Other than the flopping around at night, I do feel a bit more “with it” during the day. Glad I found your site and some other folks to discuss this with!

    • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:32 pm

      Well, I’m glad you found chipur, as well. As another first-timer said a few hours ago – sharing is caring. I’m really pleased this article has been so popular – so many are sharing, caring, and learning. Finding relief, too.

      Here’s hoping that night flopping subsides over time…

      Bill

  • chipur July 17, 2011, 7:05 pm

    chipur readers – the use of alcohol has been frequently discussed here. Just posted a summary of a new study re stress and alcohol. You’ll find it interesting. https://chipur.com/2011/07/17/stress-and-alcohol-strange-bedfellows/

  • Smilyhappymebk July 17, 2011, 10:09 pm

    I’m being a little cheeky here, but I find it very ironic that I do most of my reading and posting while in the bathroom.  No doubt that with me every time I start a dose or up going to the bathroom becomes an event:-)… rolling with it.  No major diarrhea though, which is good.

    • Frogmen313 July 17, 2011, 10:57 pm

      Does anyone here have issues with anxiety while om viibryd? Cause i am on my second day and i felt anxiety! Also my sleep is still bad does it ever improve?

      • super robot girl July 18, 2011, 3:08 am

        I had trouble sleeping for the first few days. I have been able to sleep better now (im on day 7) It seemed like the third night I slept better. I hope you can get some deep restful sleep soon!! sweet dreams.

      • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 1:29 pm

        Thank u for answering robot girl! I hope my insomania goes away soon! An i hope everyhing goes well for u on viibryd!

      • Julie Ryan July 18, 2011, 4:10 pm

        I’ve only run into bad anxiety once since I started, which isn’t bad considering it was almost every day before that.

    • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:01 am

      Excellent choice of words…

  • Julie Ryan July 18, 2011, 12:40 am

    Day 9 (second day at 20mg) and I seem to have plateaued.  My depression has improved greatly. I went from breaking down crying daily to feeling pretty calm for the most part.  I woke up Friday a bit agitated and ended up needing some xanex to keep the calm.  My GI issues seem to have calmed down for the most part now.

    My biggest issue after reading more comments here is not knowing what is possibly side effects of this med, and what may just be my usual issues acting up.  I have migraines and cluster headaches, I’ve had a cluster going on for the last week.  I have Fibromyalgia so that means lots of body aches, which have been awful the last week (but it’s also been a really stormy week which tends to increase my pain).  I’ve had an issue off and on for the last year of tingly sensations in my arms and legs. I woke up to those this morning for the first time in a long time (more extreme than ever before, and longer lasting).  Not only was I tingly in my arms and legs when I woke up, but it felt like I’d been connected to a live wire.  Again, I have no idea if these are related to the Viibryd or just recurrence of issues I already deal with.  I haven’t had a decent nights sleep in so long I can’t remember.  Muscle  relaxers used to give me about 4 hours of decent sleep, now I’m lucky if I get 2.  I was taking Ambien for this, but it stopped helping, so pdoc told me to give it a break and see if doing so for a while might allow it to work again at a later date.  With the lack of decent sleep, I’m pretty much always brain fogged, making it hard to concentrate on anything.  What I wouldn’t give for a good night’s sleep!

    • Frogmen313 July 18, 2011, 12:58 am

      Hi julian it sounds likebwe have the same problem! How long have ur sleep been bad? And did this start after u changed an anti depressent? For me my insomania started after i stoped prozac now my sleep is horrible! And i am hopong viibryd will bring my sleep back to normal!

      • Julie Ryan July 18, 2011, 4:02 pm

        My sleep has been progressively getting worse for years.  It started after a concussion about 4 years ago and just gradually gotten worse and worse.  For a while Ambien was helping pretty well, but it pretty much stopped (I tried the other sleep aids too and none of them did anything at all).  I tried Melatonin but it didn’t really help with the sleep just gave me really vivid dreams.  After reading some comments here, I remembered I had some Klonopin and took two of those last night. I got a little bit more sleep than I had been getting (maybe 5 hours).  I don’t think that this anti-depressant has really made my sleep any worse than it already was.  However, there’s not telling (at this point) if any of my other meds are negatively affecting my sleep.

      • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 12:30 am

        I too suffer from insomania, for the last 3 weeks, this is very new to me and it all started after i discontinued prozac because of sexual side effect! I am hoping i did not damage my brain by discontinue my medication for so long and now it is apparently clear to me i will have to stay on anti depressent for the rest of my life. And to be honest the sexual issue isnt a problem, how much i wish i can get some goo sleep!!!! Also have u tried remeron? I have heard great stories of it helping people sleep better!

      • Julie July 19, 2011, 1:01 am

        I’m not familiar with Remeron.  Previous Pdoc had me try Saphrys and it turned me into a zombie (I seriously felt like I’d been mummified when I woke up in the middle of the night hurting like hell).

      • chipur July 19, 2011, 4:13 am

        Remeron has a sleep-inducing characteristic. For the record, it’s a tetracyclic antidepressant.

    • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:31 am

      Uhhhhh – $10 million and I’ll see what I can do…

      • Julie Ryan July 18, 2011, 4:02 pm

        LOL! What I wouldn’t give for $10 Million!

      • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:40 pm

        ;)

      • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 12:37 am

        I hope u get back ur sleep!

  • achelelover July 18, 2011, 1:09 pm

    Here’s the deal, I’m going back to 20mg today. I tried 30mg yesterday and I didn’t feel a big difference in terms of sexual functioning from 40mg. So… everything was good before I bumped it up to 40mg, then sexual side effects hit. I even tried to combat it with more wellbutrin, but it wasn’t doing much. But 20mg is better than nothing, right? 

    • OkayRavioli July 18, 2011, 1:28 pm

      Exactly what happened to me.  I’ve dropped back down to 20mg for the last two days… my sex drive still isn’t back (yet).  Hang in there, I will too.

      • achelelover July 18, 2011, 2:46 pm

        Thanks for the reply! I’m happy to be back on the 20mg(albeit, a bit disappointed) because, let me tell you, the sex on 20mg was amazing, the best I’ve ever had. I’m not giving that up. I don’t know if it had anything to do with viibryd, but it sure seemed like it.

        Are you taking it for depression? I’m taking it for OCD with some depression thrown into the mix. 20mg seems fairly effective for my obsessive thoughts.
         

      • OkayRavioli July 18, 2011, 5:44 pm

        Anxiety/Depression.  Mostly anxiety.  I’ll keep you posted on how low I have to go to get my sex drive back.

      • achelelover July 20, 2011, 2:11 am

        Man, my sex drive came back fast. still on 20mg. I’m seeing my doctor later this week, will keep posting back here. :)

    • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:33 pm

      Sure as heck is. We’ve discussed this here before. Just because there’s a 40mg tablet doesn’t mean you have to take it…

  • Mandiee July 18, 2011, 1:32 pm

    Hello to all…well I’m on 40mg and the GI was horrible last night. Hope it gets better.I have a very embarrassing story and I really don’t want to tell anyone. However maybe someone could help or relate. Last night me and my honey were ” doing the dirty” lol…it was great until I took a poop on him… it was horrible…its like a. Didn’t even know…need some help..not trying to have that experience again….anyone have any.suggestions????? Embarrassed to the extreme

    • Moongirlee77 July 18, 2011, 4:38 pm

      I appreciate your honesty! That sounds terribly embarrassing :( I’ve been really struggling with the GI issues this week, too….a couple days ago I even “had an accident” in my pants, thinking it was just gas. (Won’t make that mistake again!!)

      • Julie July 18, 2011, 6:35 pm

        I’ve had that happen (not recently or with the Vb).  I’ve had a couple of times in the last week or so where I was really worried that was going to happen.

      • Julie July 18, 2011, 6:35 pm

        I’ve had that happen (not recently or with the Vb).  I’ve had a couple of times in the last week or so where I was really worried that was going to happen.

    • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:39 pm

      “Doing the dirty” (literally). I know it had to be embarrassing – and tough to share.

      Here’s one for you – and I swear it wasn’t me! Some family members were at an outdoor party. In comes “John,” who’s know for being the life of the party – and rather a smart arse. After a couple of drinks, he decides to moon everyone. You guessed it – John didn’t have a good enough grip and out it came. Not worrying about clean-up, he left…quickly.

      ;)

    • Jill July 19, 2011, 6:32 pm

      Oh, man!  Maybe some things are worse than insomnia!  I would definitely try emptying your bowels before sex… and if you have to leap up in the middle, do so for now.  We women do it to pee all the time.  Or else, maybe, sex in the shower?  Hope this goes way for you soon. 

    • nuthatch July 20, 2011, 8:53 pm

      First week on I had a similar experience-just gas-but loudly and a lot of it. Certainly was a downer for what could have been a nice experience. 

  • Sean July 18, 2011, 1:40 pm

    Anyone else getting short tempered on the V?  This weekend I had no patience at all – I was readily rude and sarcastic to family.  On Sunday, I was so anxious, I couldn’t even be around people most of the afternoon.  Minor setbacks feel like HUGE disappointments.  Was very teary yesterday too.  It’s day 4 on 40mg, btw.  Most of it up till now has not felt bad like that, so maybe it’s situational or adjusting to new dose, but anyone who can chime in on feeling antisocial or irritable, or having that pass would be helpful.  Thanks.

    • chipur July 18, 2011, 4:40 pm

      My bet? Nothing to do with Viibryd…

    • Moongirlee77 July 18, 2011, 4:51 pm

      Did you wean off of some other AD? I’m 11 days in on the starter pack of Viibryd, and noticed a very irritable side of myself coming out over the past week. I’ve seen it before when coming off meds; I figured it will take a couple weeks for the Viibryd to take it’s full effect and squelch the irritability. In the meantime, I explained to my husband that his daughter/my stepdaughter (age 14) needs to tread very carefully around me, as EVERYTHING she does makes me want to throw her out the window!!!

      • Sean July 18, 2011, 5:11 pm

        Thanks for your reply.  I’d been on Prozac prior to this, but the halflife is so long on it, I figured it would be a smooth transition.  It’s more likely the ADD med switch I had a trial on. 

      • chipur July 18, 2011, 9:44 pm

        Ah, teenagers! But you know what? You did the right thing. If you need a boundary maintained, get the word out to Daddy (and daughter). Nice job!

      • Dennis July 19, 2011, 1:11 am

        Shucks! At first I was having some of the side effects of “light erratic sleeping” with a bit of vertigo and red & dead looking eyes But I was also feeling a relative calmness and memory improvement which eclipsed the side effects for me. Now my side effects (I have stayed at 10 for 1 1/2 weeks) are progressively more challenging to the quality of my life: irritability is replacing calm, insomnia has replaced light sleeping, and cognitive fogginess has replaced the clarity. I’m not naive about neurotransmitters and how each of us has organic responses unrelated to the next but all in all these reports- now including mine- are not very positive other than a (relative to the libido dampening SSRI’s) awakening sexuality. I’m an R.N. by day and a pro-musician by night with children that can’t just take a vacation from my life. All in all antidepressants for me have seemed to open a psychic window in me that was really liberating- for a “moment” only to have that window shut closed again pretty quickly. I’m not sure I can go on taking something that is sucking out my life when i’m taking it to “get right”….Sheesh. I’ve got a big show with lots of people there Wednesday and wonder whether I should lay off to get some sleep and clarity back (yea I know I write pretty lucidly but trust me I feel like a zombie)…..My best. dennis

      • Dennis July 19, 2011, 1:13 am

        p.s. I’m not weaning off of anything!

      • chipur July 19, 2011, 4:25 am

        With an elimination half-life of 25 hours, why not lay off for a day – even two? And then take some notes based upon how you’re feeling. Another thought. Is it time to go up to 20? Might the side effects resolve at a higher dosage? Stranger things have happened.

      • nuthatch July 20, 2011, 8:56 pm

        I am attributing my irritability to the heat and humdidity. But it could be the viibryd.

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 3:50 pm

        Gawd! Is it thick, or what? I don’t use Viibryd, and I defy anyone to cross that fine line today ;)

  • Moongirlee77 July 18, 2011, 4:45 pm

    I’m halfway through Week 2, taking 20mg. I was pretty excited last week, on 10mg, when I didn’t have any side effects at all, aside from a few brain zaps d/t going off the Zoloft. This week, however, the GI stuff kicked in. Now I see what all the fuss is about. Always bloated, feeling fat, and, as I related with Mandiee, I had an “accident” the other day, thinking it was just gas. (I know, TMI, right??) What can we take that’s OTC to help with this? I hate taking something for every little side effect, because I know that meds can interact and cause even more side effects….but this gut stuff is nasty! Not much looking forward to 40mg….

    On the up note, though…SSE from the Zoloft are going away :) I find myself thinking about it more and more, and *almost* have the energy to even initiate some fun with my man! The other cool/weird thing is that I’ve been having some of those vivid dreams that folks are talking about….and they’re usually highly sexual and quite fun!

  • Julie July 18, 2011, 6:40 pm

    I’ve noticed that it seems like most everyone ends up decreasing back down once they hit the 40mg mark for a day or two.  What side effects are you seeing at 40 that weren’t there earlier that makes you want to decrease back down?  I should be upping to 40 come Friday and I’m wondering what to expect.

    • chipur July 18, 2011, 9:54 pm

      Julie, Julie, Julie. Don’t “expect” anything. I mean, I know you don’t want any surprises – but I don’t want to see you get caught up in side effects by suggestion. Just let it happen…

      • Julie July 19, 2011, 12:12 am

        I get what you are saying, I just see so many people going back down to 20 from 40 and I’m curious as to why that is, what is it about the 40mg dose that sucks so bad.  I’ve been really surprised with this medicine so far and how few side effects I’ve had (I tend to be very sensitive to meds).

      • chipur July 19, 2011, 4:12 am

        Well, I guess the 40mg users would have to respond as to why it’s difficult to tolerate. I guess it’s really a load, and if the presenting situation doesn’t require the full hit the fallout is overwhelming…

    • Meteoroid July 18, 2011, 10:43 pm

      Bill is right that you shouldn’t get hung up on possible side effects. I’m one of those who tried 40mg and backed down. At this time I can say 40mg wasn’t the right does for me. It very well could be the best for you though. You only know if you try it. The half life on this medication is short ~24 hours I think, so if it doesn’t work for you the increased medication will be out of your body pretty quickly. You aren’t going to be feeling the extra dose for days after you take it if you don’t like it. 

      • chipur July 19, 2011, 4:06 am

        25 hours, so you’re right on it…

  • adam July 18, 2011, 9:07 pm

    chipur- thanks so much for this site! very helpful!! i’m on day four of viibryd 10mgs. i have pssd from four years of lexapro and am hoping that this drug will not only be free of sexual side effects, but have a pro effect, much like buspar and trazodone. have there been many reports of pro sexual side effects from your readership thus far? i’m also curious to see if wellbutrin or tyrosine may be added safely to a viibryd regimen. thanks again and best of luck to everyone on here! 

    adam (male)
    cincinnati, ohio

    • Julie July 18, 2011, 9:15 pm

      I’m taking both Wellbutrin 150mg and Viibryd (as well as Savella) and so far so good. Reading through most of the above reports (mine included) it does seem that a return of sex drive is a positive side effect of Viibryd.  I started feeling it return around day 4 or so, and really kicked in around day 9.  I’m hoping it sticks around.

      • adam July 18, 2011, 9:49 pm

        right on julie! was this at day 4 of 10mgs? i’m at day four and have felt no change whatsoever as of yet. i’m gonna add low dose wellbutrin. have never been able to tollerate it in the past, but have never taken it while on an ssri. might counteract the extreme anxiety / overstimulation i experienced on it. thanks for the reply!

      • Julie July 18, 2011, 9:53 pm

        I’d say I felt the first bit of sexual feelings around day 4 or 5.  It was day 9 before I really had it going enough to really want to do something about it.

        I was already on the Welbutrin before starting the Viibryd and my Pdoc told me to just keep taking it.  Welbutrin was helping my depression slightly, but not nearly enough.  I haven’t really had much anxiety with the Viibryd (although I’ve seen others report it), just one day where I woke up agitated.

    • chipur July 18, 2011, 10:03 pm

      Welcome, Adam. Glad you’re finding the info helpful.

      We’ve had some nice reports re sexual side effects. And I’m sure readers will chime in, as well. I am not a psychiatrist; however, nothing I’ve read in Viibryd’s prescribing information would lead me to believe adding tyrosine or Wellbutrin would cause any probs. Of course, your prescribing doc is the ultimate reference resource…

      Come back…Bill

      • adam July 19, 2011, 6:20 pm

        thanks bill!

      • AlxinCA July 20, 2011, 5:18 pm

        Hi Adam,

        Let us know how you fair on the Viibryd/ low dose Wellbutrin combo. This is the combination my dr is interested in me trying. I also dealt with pssd after stopping Lexapro, which I took for two years. Thankfully it got better over time but totally scared me away from even thinking about starting an ssri again. Since Viibryd was approved I’m considering it again as Lexapro was helpful for anxiety/depression – albeit with horrific side effects. Wellbutrin alone amps me up as well… Causing anxiety/irritabiliy.

        May I ask – what dose Wellbutrin are you taking? Thank you in advance. Hope everything is going well.

        Cheers and all the best,

        Alex
        Male 30

  • Meteoroid July 18, 2011, 9:40 pm

    I reduced my dosage to 20mg after being on 40 for three days. I have been doing better at getting to sleep but it is not restful sleep at all. I am sleeping so lightly that I wake up at the drop of a pin. Also I am having very intense and vivid dreams, not nightmares but very emotionly draining. If the house is very quiet I will dream that my cell phone is going off and that wakes me right up. All in all I am sleeping for about 2 hours at a time. I also go from getting too warm and sweating to too cold and shivering. One day when I was feeling very cold I took my temp, 98.6 on the dot. So at least I am not actually getting hypothermia. 

    I have been making a point or riding my bike every day no matter how bad the sleep was. I know exercise helps depression and do feel better after every ride. If I could get some good sleep I would be praising this medications. Its not as effective against the depression as the lexapro but it still helps and the SSEs are much less. 

    Here is a tip: I have taken 25mg of trazodone for the longest time to help me sleep. I found it helps tremendously to crush the pill and dissolve it in a bit of juice. This helps it get digested much quicker and there is less of a build up time. Also since it isn’t taking time to dissolve in your stomach it doesn’t hang around as much in the morning.

  • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 12:36 am

    Ho all this is my third day and my doctor told me to increase the dose to 20mg cause he think that will help me with my symptoms! And it is really weird because i notice no side effect! I am really hoping this medication will help me with my insomania! Also a question for julie i know u had an accident and gradually ur sleep became worse and worse, i like to know how come ur sleep is so bad, do u experience intense dreams? Are u a light sleeper?

  • Julie July 19, 2011, 1:05 am

    I hit my head about 4 years ago and ended up with a minor concussion.  After that I’d occasionally have bouts of insomnia, but in the last year and a half, it’s gotten worse and worse.  Whether it’s because I have Fibromyalgia (or if I have Fibro because I don’t sleep – no one knows which comes first really), they are definitely connected.  I take muscle relaxers at bedtime and that used to give me about 4 hours of solid sleep before I’d wake up.  After that I’m just in and out for the rest of the night (if I’m lucky). Sometimes I wake up and I’m just awake for the rest of the night.  Sleep meds (Ambien) was working for a while to help, but the last few months they don’t seem to do anything, and the last few weeks it’s just gotten worse and worse with only getting just 2 or 3 hours of solid sleep.  I don’t have vivid dreams, although I did when I was taking melatonin (which I tried to help with sleep – it didn’t help me sleep, just gave me crazy vivid dreams and made me sleep worse).

    • chipur July 19, 2011, 4:15 am

      We’re you diagnosed TBI?

    • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 1:23 pm

      That sucks! I am sorry to hear u are suffering so much. Currently i am suffering too, and because my insomania started after stopping prozac i am hopIng going back on an anti depressent will get my sleep back to normal :) can i ask why u are trying viibryd? And what do u think of remeron? Oh by the way this is my fourth day on viibryd and i am taking 20mg now. So far my sleep is actually gettig worse and i had anxiety at night! Only got 4 hrs :(

      • Julie July 19, 2011, 7:06 pm

        I haven’t tried remeron so I’m not familiar with it at all.  I’ve been dealing with a major case of depression for about 4 months.  I have Fibromyalgia and around the end of March I just hit a wall and all my symptoms increased, including insomnia and depression.  The worse I felt the more depressed and anxious.  I went to a different Pdoc and he put me on a couple of different things that didn’t work for me (Saphrys & Adderall, Abilify, & Xanex – not in that order).  After the last one (Saphris) I decided not to go back to him.  That was just a crazy drug, and combining it with the adderall on top of my Savella was just a bad idea all the way around.  The day after I took those two was the worst day I’ve ever had.  Since I have Fibro and am already on Savella for that, it determines a lot about what the docs are willing to put me on.  I’ve tried most of the basic AD drugs in the past (years ago), Zoloft, Paxil, and a few others over time.  When I went to this new Pdoc she suggested Viibryd.  So far it’s helped a TON with the depression and I do like having my sex drive back.  As far as anything else it’s hard for me to say if what I’m feeling is side effects of the Vb or just flares of usual issues related to the Fibro.

  • Curiousandexcited July 19, 2011, 3:19 am

    Guess what?! It’s not so sedating anymore, I take half of my 40 in the morning and the other half around the early afternoon. I sleep MUCH better, and I generally don’t need a nap *as much* as I used to. If I take it at night, I get terrible Restless Leg Syndrome and then I can’t sleep. I guess that may also be the reason I am walking around more during the day, Lol.
    I am feeling a bit better, I must say. Not perfect, if course, but not as bad as I was.

    • chipur July 19, 2011, 4:32 am

      Nice angle. It’s all about making the med work for you. And you’ve come up with an effective customization…

      • David Kight13 July 19, 2011, 6:34 am

        hi im david I’m 28 years old I just started taking vb today my dr. gave me the 30 day trial and I’m switching from 100mg of zoloft I also take Xanax as needed 1 mg at a time never had a problem with sexual side effects ever I am hoping for some sweet dreams tonight haha it has been almost a month since my wife separated from me so hope this works for my anxiety/depression! talk to u soon ,David

      • David Kight13 July 19, 2011, 6:37 am

        p.s. have had anxiety/panic attacks for about 12 years

      • David Kight13 July 19, 2011, 7:15 am

        seems like moast have felt the loss of energy and weight gain not to happy with that starting a new job requiring lots of energy and long days :(

      • chipur July 20, 2011, 5:52 am

        Thanks, David – and thanks for your visit and participation. Sorry to hear about the marital situation. Hope things work out for the best…Bill

  • Gregory July 19, 2011, 6:54 am

    Hi Everyone,

    It’s been a over a month now and I’d thought I’d post some thoughts on my journey with this new drug. Here goes.

    Early on in my 10mg days I felt a slight body tingling, nice head massage feeling, and some cravings for sweets. Sex drive was rather good as well.

    Mid month at 20mg I had a bit of restless leg syndrome, belly was getting bigger, very spacey, sex drive down (better feeling however), anxiety down some. Having really heavy limbs and lethargic.

    Almost a month in I tried 40mg. Really bad diarrhea. Really spacey and semi stoned. Heart area ached at times. Why is this? Is my pulse down? Limbs really tired and haven’t worked out in 1 month.

    It’s been over a month now and I’m down to 20mg. With ALL the side effects mentioned above, for some reason I’m pressing on. The main reason is I feel now very centered at times. This drug has extremely strong anti anxiety properties. Enough so, that I’m taking much much less Klonopin. There is something in my brain that is responding well to Viibryd. Some of the extreme head pressure that I’ve had for years do to anxiety is gone. I am also very chill. That’s a new feeling for me.

    My hope now is that the spaciness goes away. I have been forgetful and in a fog at times. I am also hopeful that my limbs come back to life. I need more energy in them. They feel so heavy! My sex “drive” is also down. A bit better than prozac, but still a problem.

    I am going to give this drug another few weeks to see if the side effects go away. I am still hopeful.

    Best,

    Greg

    • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 1:24 pm

      Doesnt sound like viibryd helped with ur sex drive:( i do hope u give it more time who knows though? Or perhaps sex will be something we people on anti depressent will neer have again? And greg may i ask how ur sleep is going and did u experience insomania?

      • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 2:40 pm

        Ok a bit of a comment i have not felt sleepy at all on this drug rather i felt energized and by the way i did mot get enough sleep at all! Also it is giving me extreme panicky and anxiety! I dont know if those are side effect or just me but it is really har to bare. By the way i am on 20mg 4th day! Oh yeh there isnt really any improvement in my sex. Cause thats also really the last thing on my mind i just want to sleep and feel rested :(

      • Gregory July 20, 2011, 2:27 am

        Sleep is fine Frogmen. No issues there.

    • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 1:55 pm

      Its funny how when u say this drug have strog anti anxiety property because i feel increased amxiety on this drug, maybe its because i havent been on it long enough?

      • Curiousandexcited July 19, 2011, 2:21 pm

        You probably haven’t, I have been on it about 3 weeks, now at 40 mg and it finally started kicking in and working. I have less anxiety and depression now, a bit calmer too. Key word here is *less*, which i hope keeps getting better and better.

      • Frogmen313 July 19, 2011, 9:34 pm

        U are right i havent been on it long enough, but i am also wondering if u experienced increased anxiety starting out on viibryd?

      • Curiousandexcited July 23, 2011, 4:47 am

        Sorry it took so long to respond… I generally felt all around terrible when I first started. Anxious and depressed, very very bad. Now ( a week into 40 mg) I feel sooooo much better!!

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 5:56 am

      Hi Greg! Thanks for a very comprehensive report…

  • Andrea Clark July 19, 2011, 1:42 pm

    Boy, I wish I had found you guys sooner.  Today is Day 21 and I’m hanging in at 40 mg, but I can’t say it’s really clicked in yet for me.

    I was on Zoloft 50 mg for about seven years with great results.  However, as menopause symptoms (insomia, hot flashes), started to ramp up, it really wasn’t working anymore, even after titrating up.  So my pdoc gave me the sample pack of Viibryd (along with Lunesta for the insomnia).  Doc had me stop the Zoloft as soon as I started VB.  So it’s hard to say which symptoms are from withdrawal vs. VB.  I’m a teacher who is off for the summer, my kids are away at camp and my husband is extremely patient – otherwise, I can’t imagine going through this and trying to function normally.

    I’ve gone through most of the side effects already mentioned:  explosive diarrhea; a few days of extreme irritability/hostility; a few days of manic giddiness; belly bloat (so bad, I though I had a hernia); heart racing; brain fog; and yesterday, the sleepiness hit.  I was yawning all day, although I didn’t feel particularly tired, but my reactions were definitely off (drove the car into the curb trying to park).  When I took my next dose (I’ve been taking it around 4pm with a late lunch/early dinner); I promptly fell asleep and when my husband woke me around 9pm, I was completely spaced out.  Like being high when you don’t want to be.  I could feel all those serotonin receptors being flooded!

    Better this morning (no problem sleeping through the night, even with the late “nap”).  Mild headache and some jaw clenching, but nothing awful.  I’m also surprised how many people are bailing out after just a few days at 40 mg.  I’m figuring that it’s going to take a while for my body to adjust to this new med and there’s a reason the sample pack has a full 2 weeks at 40 mg.  (I worked in pharma marketing for 20+ years, before becoming a teacher, so I’m not being naive.)

    The good news is that most of the SE’s have passed quickly (two days at most); so I’m willing to stick it out.  With regard to SSE’s, my libido seems to be perking up, although nothing wild yet.  As for appetite/weight – that could be a deal breaker for me – I’m already battling menopausal weight gain, but the worst of the belly bloat also seems to have passed, so we’ll see how that goes.

    It’s reassuring to hear what others are going through and that this isn’t just “all in my head”.
    I’ll keep you posted.

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 5:59 am

      Hi Andrea! I’d like to welcome you to chipur. Sure appreciate your visit and participation. We’ll look forward to your future posts…

      Bill

    • Keepinon July 22, 2011, 7:56 pm

         Andrea~  Your post sounded so much like me that I had to say hi : ) I am on day 17 and sleepy and loopy after taking the 40’s, but I’m determined to stick out the whole 2 weeks on 40 and see what happens.  I’m actually already starting to feel a little more “present”, which is a good start on beating this damn depression…..   Good luck to you and thanks for the comments…. nice to know others are there!

      • chipur July 22, 2011, 11:00 pm

        Great way of expressing it – “present.” Like it a lot…

  • Curiousandexcited July 19, 2011, 2:27 pm

    Oh, and I also wanted to add that my appetite is not as pronounced as it was a couple weeks ago. Maybe because I am feeling a little better and not looking for comfort from food and sleep as much.

    • Curiousandexcited July 19, 2011, 2:32 pm

      Oh but I must add that I am having some headaches. Just wanted to give good updates.

      • chipur July 20, 2011, 6:01 am

        …and you accomplished exactly that.

  • Moongirlee77 July 19, 2011, 4:43 pm

    I found my ambition this morning! Got my butt out there and did a one-hour, 5-mile jog/walk workout. First workout since I started Viibryd 12 days ago. I have to say, it HURT….felt like I had lead weights strapped to my thighs. As I have gained 5 pounds in the past couple weeks, I’ve got to do something!! I think I’ll head over to the Weight Watchers website and get going there, as well….

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 6:04 am

      Someone’s motivated! Good for you, Moongirlee….

  • Trevor July 19, 2011, 5:22 pm

    Day 28.  I’m wondering if 40 mg is going to be enough to hold me.  Woke up just a wee bit depressed this morning.  Maybe I’ll start taking it in the a.m. again to see if I’ve been sleeping through the most effective initial hours.  

    • Trevor July 19, 2011, 5:37 pm

      …although I’m pretty sure AD’s don’t function this way.

  • Demi July 19, 2011, 5:57 pm

    I am on day 20, which is the 6th day of being on 40MG.  I have some new side effects at this level some of which I am concerned about but I see my doc tomorrow morning at 8:30am

    First off I am getting some random heart ache sensations… I don’t feel like I have a racing heart.. but it hurts or feels sore.. or swollen.. hard to explain.. its not sharp pain but dull.  This doesn’t happen often but I’ve never experienced it before taking this medicine.

    I feel wired, or racy… but I feel good and happy as well.  Not sure if 40MG is too strong.. but I am going to finish my sample pack before seeing if 20MG is the right dose. 

    I have no insomnia problems but I take 30 mg temazepam to go to sleep at night.

    • Gregory July 20, 2011, 2:19 am

      Demi,

      I’m getting the same thing with the heart. It’s not racing for me either, but it just has an “achey” feeling to it.

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 6:06 am

      Just ’cause it’s your chest – if the sensations persist, check-in with your doc…

  • Jill July 19, 2011, 5:59 pm

    Here is my experience on Viibyrd so far.  I am only on day 4, but I have experiences to tell.  I am taking the drug for fibromyalgia syndrome because all of the SSRI’s helped me very much with the pain and I’d like to get off of the Opiate.  I also have depression and anxiety, but I am treating them behaviorally — mindfulness, DBT, and all.  This has been much slower than medicine, but very effective. Oh, btw, all the drugs stopped working for me after I experienced Serotonin Syndrome two years ago.  I came off a 7-drug cocktail and no drug has ever worked the same since… or worked on my depression/anxiety.  Coming off of the drugs did wonders at first, but then I got hit with FMS and CFIDS really bad.  This has happened twice in my life when coming off of these drugs…

    And so I am ambivalent about the Viibyrd.  It could make the FMS worse in the long run, and other things, also behavioral and alternative care, I am doing are starting to help.  Still, I’ve been waiting for Viibryd for so long…

    I notice one problem side-effect — insomnia.  If I take it at 7 am, I still cannot sleep at all at night.  I do hours of relaxation exercises, meditation, visualization, and just resting.  Nothing helps.  I can get about 2 light and interrupted hours early in the day.  Not sleeping is very bad for FMS and CFIDS.  Not sleeping is very bad (that’s a judgement, I know).  I’ve tried taking it very late at night instead of in the morning, given that I seem to only be able to sleep right after I take it.  No-go.  Has anyone else had this problem?  It seems really extreme.  I can’t take it.  I’ve even taken a double-dose of a sleep med and it did nothing.  I didn’t even feel sleepy.  But I do feel exhausted — all the time.  The fatigue from the syndrome is much less, however.  No other psychotropic has had this recalcitrant insomnia effect on me. In fact, I’ve had to take SSRI’s at night because they make me sleepy.  Could it be interacting with the OxyContin (20 mg. bid)?  I know when I take Vicodon for breakthrough pain, just 5 mg. gives me insomnia all night.

    The other side-effect doesn’t worry me — I imagine it will go away.  I feel slightly hungry, but when I begin eating, I feel nauseated. Sometimes I can’t tell whether I am hungry or nauseated.  I usually crave sweets anyway, so I haven’t noticed a particular craving.  I tend to lose weight on SSRI’s because I usually lose my appetite so the nausea effect is consistent with my previous experience of SSRI’s.  Inconsistent with SSRI experience, except for Luvox, I think libido is intact.  There may have been a surge, in fact, in libido.  I can’t tell because my period came 5 days early (not clear if that is from the Viibyrd, probably not) and my libido tends to swell right before anyway.  At least, Viibyrd didn’t get in the way.  

    Forest Pharmaceuticals says the titrated starter packets are out, but my pharmacist says his wholesaler doesn’t have them.

    I cannot handle the insomnia.  Because other practices are making headway on the depression and anxiety, because of my disdain for the current state of affairs in psychopharmacology, because I fear if Viibyrd does work, it, too, will soon stop working or else have disastrous long-term or middle-term effects, would I be better to get off of it?  Does the insomnia go away?  I really can’t handle not sleeping.  It is one of my true pleasures in life!  And necessary for well-being on every level. 

    Besides the insomnia, my other problem with the drug is the spelling.  What is a vie bird?  Wouldn’t viibryd make more sense?  (e.g.: Vibrant.) 

    Sorry for the long report — wanted to be thorough.
    Jill

    • Frogmen313 July 20, 2011, 2:38 am

      Insomania sucks, i cant imagine living with insomania either i hope my can be fixed with viibryd! Probley a long shot! But if not i might have to go back to an ssri with less insomania side effect, or just plain old remerone for life!

    • Meteoroid July 20, 2011, 3:45 am

      The insomnia is really unpleasant, I feel you there! I know exactly what you mean when you say you can’t handle the insomnia. For me last night wasn’t too bad, which is quite different from how it has been going. Maybe it does get better with time. 

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 7:45 pm

      Ah, so here’s that well-considered reply I promised….

      First of all, I applaud your psychotherapeutic approach to your anxiety and depression situations. Mindfulness work and DBT are efficacious treatments. By the way, here’s a piece I ran yesterday on mindfulness based cognitive therapy https://chipur.com/2011/07/19/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-a-sure-antidepressant/ – and an article from some time ago on DBT https://chipur.com/2011/04/25/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dialogue-and-truth/. I also applaud you for doing all you can to get off of Oxy.

      I’ve said it numerous times, though a life long anxiety vet (and anxiety-associated depression) I don’t have to place my hopes on Viibryd – or any other med. Used to, but weaned off and stayed off. My point is, I appreciate the longing you must have had re the relief potential of Viibryd – and now experiencing some understandable ambivalence.

      I don’t know that I have the ultimate answer for the insomnia piece. But I will point out that insomnia is a big-time side effect of Abilify (aripiprazole) – a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist – just like one of Viibryd’s actions. Hmmm. Along with insomnia, you can add headache and anxiety to the Abilify side-effect biggies (sound familiar?).

      Just a heads-up. You likely know this since you’ve been using the regimen – combining an SSRI with oxy may cause serotonin syndrome.

      Re the starter packs. Readers have been sharing for some time that they’ve received the packs. Right (readers)?

      Jill, if you absolutely cannot tolerate the insomnia, Viibryd simply may not be for you. I mean, I don’t know that the tale is fully told, but it’s something to prepare yourself for.

      Love the long report – your thoroughness mission accomplished…

      Bill

  • chipur July 19, 2011, 6:35 pm

    Just posted a new piece on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. May be just the ticket for many of you! https://chipur.com/2011/07/19/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-a-sure-antidepressant/

  • Jill July 19, 2011, 6:43 pm

    I see I have spelled it wrong all along — it is Viibryd.  Well, maybe I am cognitively impaired as well.

  • TJ July 19, 2011, 6:49 pm

    I haven’t tried an antidepressant in 5 years but wanted to try Viibryd.  I am a male, 51, in good health. (Sexual side effects, specifically the inability to climax, have always been a problem when I’ve tried SSRIs.  Viibryd supposedly does not entail this particular side effect.)  My inexperienced physician started me off right away on the full 40mg dose, rather than ramping it up over time, and the side effects were awful.  Diarrhea, muscle cramps, sleepiness, fogginess… AND inability to climax.  After 4 days, I started breaking the pills in half and taking only 20mg a day.  The side effects lessened, but the sexual one persisted and now, after 11 days total, I’ve had it.  I hope other users will have better luck with this Viibryd stuff.

    • TJ July 19, 2011, 6:55 pm

      I forgot to add restless leg syndrome and sweating to the list of side effects I’ve been having.

      • TJ July 22, 2011, 9:26 pm

        My last dose of Viibryd was 5 days ago and I still have a nasty problem with dryness of the eyes.  My digestion is still not back to normal either.  Personally I think this junk should be pulled from the market.

    • Frogmen313 July 20, 2011, 3:09 am

      I must say u did not give it enough time because ur other med is sill in ur system, the fda ganruantees us at least 8 weeks of safety with this medication so give it at least 4 weeks!

      • Frogmen313 July 20, 2011, 3:12 am

        Woops sorry i didnt read u have not tried any anti depressent for 5 yrs! Thats actually fantastic news!

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 7:06 am

      Thanks for your visit and comment TJ. Sorry Viibryd didn’t work out for you…

  • Sunshine July 19, 2011, 7:34 pm

    Hi, glad I found this site !
    I have tried every thing . The only thing that acttually worked for me was zoloft but the side affects were too much , and I had no emotion .
    I am currently on Celexa , Depakote and now the doc gave me this to try . I am going to go 7 days more with the Celexa and then stop . He doubled my Depakote dose . I have PTSD , depression and anxiety . I took it last night and nothing to report yet , but I will be raking it during the day because I try not to eat before bed . I also take toppled for migraines and that really screws with my memory so I hope I will have some useful input here soon .
    Good luck to everyone

    • Sunshine July 19, 2011, 8:54 pm

      Sorry I ment Topomax for migraines

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 7:10 am

      Thanks, Sunshine. Glad you stopped by and participated. Keep us posted…

  • Mandiee July 19, 2011, 7:55 pm

    Like to say thanks for everyone support. Made me feel a lot better…and I’m definitely take the advice…today day 19 GI is much better:-) I have been on a low carb diet so…make that is making it worse. However….. want to keep eating healthy. No sugar… another question: anyone having concentrations ismeds isssues…???? Not sure if I should request ADHD meds..heard OF VYVANSE????

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 7:15 am

      One of four FDA approved stimulant medications for the treatment of Adult ADHD…

      amphetamine-dextroamphetamine extended release (Adderall XR)
      methylphenidate extended release (Concerta)
      lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse)
      dexmethylphenidate extended release (Focalin XR)

      Bill

      • Mandiee July 25, 2011, 8:38 pm

        Well sorry to say a little lost with what you were trying to get across to me… I think I need something to help my concentration. Been a little more spacy with the viibryd.but much happier and less frustrated with the little things..going to see doc Friday to give update and I’m starting back school soon. What to be prepared and at my best mental state possible….what do you suggest??

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 12:27 am

        My opinion: check in with your doc (as you are), stay on your current meds regimen, take care of yourself physically, and kick butt at school! (and keep coming back to chipur)…

      • Mandiee July 27, 2011, 3:00 pm

        Will do:-)

  • chipur July 20, 2011, 1:52 am

    chipur readers – I apologize for any delay in bringing this piece up in your browser. I’ve tried playing nice-nice with my database host, but it looks like I’ll be making a change here shortly. Hang in there, okay? Thank you…

    Bill

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 5:37 pm

      Situation resolved…

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 7:33 pm

      Issue resolved…

  • chipur July 20, 2011, 7:04 am

    Great info, Jill. And it more than compensates for you brain-fog spelling. Still owe you a well-considered reply to your first comment. Bill

  • Whittabitt75 July 20, 2011, 4:23 pm

    Mmmkay…Day 23 of my 30 day sample pack from the Doc.  Been at 40mg for a week.  Each “step up” caused digestive system upset but nothing embarassing or unbearable – just often. :)  Headaches are starting to decrease in severity and frequency.  Mood is SO much better and I am definitely able to just “roll with it” again like I used to.  Realizing what I can control and what I can’t, letting go of silly things that used to keep me up at night…and accepting that is becoming so much easier again.  That part is REALLY nice!  I’m sure my family is glad for it as well!

    SSE is more than a little frustrating – like others, the WANT is there but finishing the trip seems to be a problem – and that’s NEVER been a problem for me before.  Hoping that gets better with time like everything else.

    Since the jump to 40mg I’ve noticed a definite increase in feeling spaced out and super sleepy – perhaps this is caused by the combination of Ambien and Viibryd.  I’m working on figuring that one out.  It’d be really cool to be able to drop Ambien every night…  I’ll keep you posted.

    Thanks to everyone here for their insight and feedback!  Definitely helps to know I’m not alone!

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 8:03 pm

      None of us are alone, unless we choose to be. Your info is valuable, Whittabitt. Please keep posting.

      Oh, I checked a drug interaction checker and didn’t find any issues re Ambien and, say, Lexapro (an SSRI like Viibryd). Didn’t find issues with Ambien and Abilify (a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist like Viibryd)…

      Bill

    • Gregory July 20, 2011, 11:20 pm

      I’m not taking ambien and the spacey and tired feeling is there at higher doses. I’m back down to 20 as well.

  • Demi July 20, 2011, 6:29 pm

    Well I too have switched back down to 20MG.  Seems to be the sweet spot for me…

    I described the “racy” jaw clenching feeling I was getting on 40MG as well as the restlessness and the chest pains to my Dr this morning and she thinks that I was on too much and was getting manic.  So we switched to 20mg.  I feel much better today…  this is really has been the most effective “SSRI” I have taken.

    She gave me a coupon for a free 30 day supply too! So I have not even paid for the medication yet!

    Ask about the voucher, you need to bring it to the pharmacy with your prescription. 

    Also as another update I am completely nicotine free going on over 72 hours now.   The last week I’ve only used 8MG of Nicotine total!

    I have very minimal cravings.. its truly amazing… I hope someone else gives it a shot too!

  • Anonymous July 20, 2011, 6:42 pm

    Ok, folks. 2 weeks and I can no longer stand the side effects: nausea, diarrhea, headaches and dizziness that keeps getting worse. Talked to my doc and am getting off this med. Best of luck to you all; think my next step may be acupuncture.

    • chipur July 20, 2011, 8:10 pm

      Sorry things didn’t work out for you, prntmkr. I sure appreciate your participation and invite you to peruse chipur, catching all sorts of articles that may be of assistance…

      • Anonymous July 21, 2011, 2:16 am

        Thanks Bill, Julie and Gregory. Will keep an eye on chipur. Will let you know if acu works out for me. I know for most issues many (10-20) treatments are needed. Not in my insurance, either, but am willing to give it a try. My chiropractor helps me immensely as depression and stress make for some killer headaches. I am of the mind that acupuncture, psyhotherapy and SSRIs are all horses of a different color in that they affect the neurotransmitters in similar ways, they just take a different route.

        Hang in there everyone! (I plan to):)

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 3:57 pm

        Thanks, prntmkr. Would really like to know if acu works for you. Either post here or use the contact form.

        You have a nice attitude – you’ll do well…

    • Julie July 20, 2011, 10:00 pm

      I’ve been doing acupuncture for the last few years for TMJ relief. Last year I was haing some major anxiety (after two friends died in a murder suicide) and asked my chiro (who does my acupuncture) if there was a needle for anxiety.  Sure enough – it goes right in the top of your head.  But,it worked. After laying there for about 10 minutes, I actually stopped thinking about what was making me so anxious.

      • Gregory July 20, 2011, 11:16 pm

        Very temporary relief and it cost $50 or more each time. Maybe they should have a self help kit that we can do ourselves?

      • Julie July 20, 2011, 11:37 pm

        luckily, for me it’s covered under my insurance as part of my chiropractic treatment, so it only costs my co-pay which is the lowest there than it is at any of my docs (just $10 a trip).  I can’t make it a week without going to the chiro anyway, so it’s nice that he does acupuncture as well and I can get one more thing while I’m there for the same price.

  • Scabell July 20, 2011, 8:38 pm

    Thanks so much to everyone for all of your updates and such. I just got my sample pack of Viibryd, so we’ll see how this goes. I’m 21. I’ve been on Celexa, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Abilify, Cymbalta, Paxil, Seroquel, etc. I’m about to start a combination of Seroquel and Viibryd. Just weened off of Paxil and cut out Cymbalta. I’ve had loads of different experiences with different meds. I am optimistic (not about the diarrhea, though ;)) about starting this new med. I try to keep a positive attitude about meds and give them time and just be understanding that some are gonna work and some arent. They’ve helped me make it this far, so I am thankful for them. I started keeping a blog about my psychiatric journey, and I will definitely have to keep you all updated as I take on this new med. Thanks so much.

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 3:47 pm

      Glad you’re on board, Scabell. Continue to post, okay???

      • Scabell July 21, 2011, 7:48 pm

        Sure thing. Just took my first dose. I’m tired, so it’s nap time!

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:15 pm

        Night, night…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  • nuthatch July 20, 2011, 9:11 pm

    So I am now on day one of 40 mg. Until now I have had relatively few side effects. I neglected to eat enough when I took it so I am having GI issues this afternoon. I go to sleep just fine with Trazadone addition but I wake up at 3-4 Am and don’t sleep well after that. I hope that the GI thing is temporary as well as the insomnia. I have also noticed that I am anxious in the mornings. One thing I can do about that is resume a neglected meditation practice. 

    We are experiencing record heat here so that may have something to do with my anxiety level and the GI things. I know that I can go right back to my Pristiq which has been the best med for me the last few years if this doesn’t work. I just don’t like the neither-here-nor-there nature of changing meds.

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 3:51 pm

      Ding! Ding! Ding! “One thing I can do about that is resume a neglected meditation practice.” Nice catch…

  • dramatoni July 21, 2011, 2:25 am

    Hi to all, and thanks for your comments and this venue to learn and share.  I am on day 3 of the starter pack.  I have experienced some of the symptoms described, but have also had some very different experiences so far, so I thought I’d share.  

    My rheumatologist started me on Viibryd for fibromyalgia.  I have been experiencing major lethargy and have been sleeping 12-20 hours daily.  She said Viibryd should give me more energy.  I also have had depression for about 9 years.  Like many of you, I have taken all sorts of meds and cocktails over the years.  I checked with my psychiatrist before taking Viibryd, because of bad side effects and withdrawals I get from some meds.

    I was taking 300mg Wellbutrin, 60mg Cymbalta (for the fibro), and klonipin and vicodin as needed.  When I started the Viibryd, I was told to stop the Cymbalta completely.  I should say, as background, that I was once on Effexor, and was taken off cold turkey, which caused horrible brain-and-body shocks and migraine-like symptoms which I lived with for 2 years before I figured out what caused it. Since then, I have had to be careful with which meds I can take and with stopping meds, because the brain zaps come back, and I cannot function with them.  They are back.

    Day 1:  I got the explosive diahrrea others mentioned.  Nauseous and not hungry.  I could not sleep, and was awake for about 27 hours.  I was still lethargic, and spent the day mostly in bed.  Eventually, a double dose of klonopin helped me to sleep.  

    Day 2:  My sleep was very deep and I had vivid dreams, which were interesting, and continued after waking up and going back to sleep.  (Unfortunately not sexy, like another posters :P)  I slept 18 hours.  I woke up with brain zaps, which have been constant, dizziness, brain fog, and diahrrea, though no longer so explosive.  Yea for that!  Klonopin did not seem to help the brain zaps, which it usually does.

    Day 3:  Brain issues still a problem.  Diahrrea slightly better.  I decided to take a 30 mg dose of Cymbalta along with the klonopin and it seems to have helped the brain zaps, but only slightly.  I think I should have reduced the Cymbalta slowly.  

    Overall, though, my fibromyalgia pain has been negligible.  I have not taken any Vicodin, whereas before I was taking 1500mg a day. I am hopeful, based on what I’ve read here, that most side effects will disappear with time.  Maybe I can eventually get off the rest of my meds.  That would be great!  So, I am sticking it out.

    By the way, my doc said that I can stop at 20mg if it works for me, and that I can cut the 40s in half.  She also said the drug rep told her it is covered by Medicaid (in Louisiana).  Hope that helps.  I’ll be back with updates.  

    Thanks again to all. You’ve been very helpful.

    • Seth July 21, 2011, 7:54 pm

      Thank you…you pretty much answered my question regarding stopping on 20mg’s if it works for me and the ability to cut the 40’s in half if that happens.  I love this post!

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:16 pm

        …and I love having you!

    • Julie July 21, 2011, 7:58 pm

      I wish that Viibryd had helped with my Fibro pains, they’ve actually been worse several days since being on in it than they’ve been in months.  I take Neurontin and Savella and Flexerill for the Fibro.  My sleep was already shot to hell before I started Viibryd and it seems worse. I tried a double dose of Klonopin one night and got a halfway decent nights sleep, but it hasn’t worked since then.  I wish you luck with it.

      • dramatoni July 22, 2011, 2:58 pm

        I guess that just goes to show how different we all are.  I’ve tried Flexeril and Savella and they were not effective for me.  I also have arthritis, and disc problems, so I am glad that the Viibryd seems to be handling my pain.  (although last night I got pretty achy, but I had an active day for a change.)  I hope you have better results in the future.  And I wish you a good night’s sleep.

      • Leilani July 24, 2011, 10:04 pm

        Have you tried savella for your fibromyalgia?

  • Gregory July 21, 2011, 4:45 am

    I’m wanting to know if anyone else feels like they have now a bowling ball for a stomach after 4 weeks of Viibryd. I’ve never had this big of a stomach and I feel like I’m pregnant after a meal.

    Anyone else?

    btw…I have not worked out for 30 days due to my body feeling very weak and heavy.

    Greg

    • Smilyhappymebk July 21, 2011, 7:53 pm

      I have noticed a a bloated stomach especially post meal even though I’m eating the same amount AND my body feels week and heavy.  Wonder what it is.  Will note if it passes in time…I’m just starting 40mg’s after two weeks.  When I do “force” myself to exert myself I feel better..just sayin…

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:16 pm

        Ah, there’s that principle again – “force!” Volition and settling for nothing less just plain works…

      • Julie July 25, 2011, 3:40 am

        Have had massive bloating as well.  Worse when I took 40mg, a little better today (dropped back down to 20mg after the scare yesterday).  Lots of gas!

    • Julie July 21, 2011, 7:56 pm

      My stomach hurts so bad today (2 week mark), hurt like this earlier on like day 3 as well.

  • Rpwfb July 21, 2011, 5:24 am

    Hi everyone! I’m hoping someone taking Viibryd for anxiety issues out there can help me.
    I have been taking Viibryd since 6/28/11 for long time GAD and Social Anxiety problems. I started on the 10mg and did that for about a week and a half. It took me a little longer to get up to 20mg as I stopped taking Lexapro 10mg the same day I started the Viibryd and parallel to that I tapered down from Pristiq 50mg over 2 weeks. It was a little rough during that time.  I am now taking 20 mg of Viibryd and have been doing so for about a week and a half.
    So prior to the Viibryd I was taking:

    50mg Pristiq and 10mg Lexapro
    .5 – 1mg Xanax a day
    1mg Clonazepam 3x a day

    I have not changed anything with the Xanax or Clonazepam for the past year. At one point prior to the Pristiq/Lex combo I was only taking Lexapro and before that just Pristiq. I was kind of going back and forth.
    Now to my problem:  
    For the past 3 days (seems worse at night) I have been having anxiety like I haven’t seen since I can remember. I’m very squeamish, can’t relax and feel my throat tightening up. I see things out of the corner of my eye and will do a double take or get startled.  I never had this with the Pristiq or Lex.
    I just saw my PDoc last week before this anxiety started showing its ugly head. I told him things seem to be going good now with the Viibyrd and he said I should probably just stay at the 20mg.
    My question is to those of you out there taking 40mg. If I up my dosage of VB to 40mg will my anxiety get worse or is it supposed to get better?? I’m willing to keep trying the Viibryd. The cocktail I was taking before WAS working great…I just wanted something without the SSE. I can always go back if I need to.
    I apologize for the long thread; I’m just a little anxious and trying to be thorough. I have been following this thread the entire time and it has been very helpful.
    Thanks everyone for your help!

    • Gregory July 21, 2011, 6:48 am

      I have had that seeing something out of the corner of my eye as well. Like maybe a fly on the wall or something is moving. A slight hallucination perhaps?

      May I ask if you ever experimented with LSD or Mushrooms? There is something called HPPD that can come from taking these. You basically have visuals for the rest of your life. I have it and the Viibryd makes these worse.

      I do get startled a little easier at times on the V. I am giving it another 2 weeks at 20mgs. I’ve been on it for over a month now.

      There is still some hope on this drug as it does center me. From reading all the post however, I’m a little under the impression that this drug has way more side effects than published.

      Greg

      • Rpwfb July 21, 2011, 1:51 pm

        I have never taken LSD or Mushrooms. I don’t think I have ever hallucinated in my life before…probably have but didn’t know it. I’m 43 and have been taking benzos for over 20 years now. Panic attacks started when I was 20. 3 years ago I didn’t want to increase benzos anymore due to dependence and started with the SSRI’s hoping I could back off of the Xanax and Clonazepam.

        Right now I just don’t think the VB is controlling my anxiety at 20mg.

        BTW…I take my VB at night w/ food.

      • chipur July 21, 2011, 4:07 pm

        Maybe it’s an eye-booger ;)

      • Meteoroid July 21, 2011, 9:43 pm

        That is not too crazy a comment acctually, Viibryd dose reduce the tear film on the eyes. I ware contacts and have been having to take them out at night for comfort. I have noticed a few more “floater” too.

      • Julie July 22, 2011, 3:24 pm

        Great, one more thing to make my eyes dry. I’ve already got dry eyes (and the only thing we can pin it on is the multiple meds), I use 3 different eye drops several times a day for it.  I’m so tired of side effects, I really just want to drop all my meds and see if maybe I go back to normal.

      • Anonymous July 22, 2011, 5:37 pm

        I’m giving it a try. 8 meds in 6 years and the waking up with the headache/hangover thing was getting worse on Viibryd. I got an incredible emotional lift just from coming to the conclusion that it was time to stop the drugs at this point. Then I walk around like I’ve forgotten something (MEDS! oh no—oh wait, I don’t have to take them–YEAH!)
        (I did step the dose down per the doc’s instructions—I’m not that crazy!)
        Hang in there; but remember, it is your decision.

      • chipur July 22, 2011, 10:58 pm

        Right on with the right on. Always – a personal decision! Thanks for your continued participation, prntmkr…

      • Julie July 21, 2011, 8:06 pm

        The seeing something out of the corner of my eye is a common thing for me, and has been for a long time.  The only time I’ve ever had full on hallucinations was when I was taking Topomax for migraines.  That was just one of the side effects that made me get off that stuff quick, but it’s had a long lasting effect on me (despite only taking it for a month).  I’ve kind of gotten used to it now.

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 4:06 pm

      No apologies necessary, Rpwfb. Thanks for your visit and sharing.

      Again, I’m not a Viibryd user; however, I’m thinking the anxiety woes could go either way at 40mg. I mean, in theory (and one would like to think) your anxiety would lessen. But there just isn’t enough known as yet about Viibryd to offer for-sures. And even if Viibryd had been around for 20 years, it’s still so difficult to anticipate efficacy for each and every individual.

      Sooooooooooooooo – keep coming back for reader’s comments – and keep us posted…

      Bill

  • scoobysnackn July 21, 2011, 6:55 am

    Well fellow Chipsters, tomorrow I begin with my first dose of 20 in my blister pack. Wish me luck. Weight is stable, mood is ok – a bit agitated with the kids, but what mom isn’t at this point in the summer?!! ;)

    So far, so…cautious. :)
    Now if I could just shake these lousy headaches and pesky insomnia!

    Take care my mental warriors! It’s all in our heads! (except it isn’t – blast that Serotonin – most of it’s in the gut too)!

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 4:10 pm

      I love it! “fellow Chipsters.” Dang that sounds nice.

      You have a pleasant writing style and spirit. Thank You…

    • Smilyhappymebk July 21, 2011, 7:48 pm

      I’m with you on the headaches!!! Rock on!

  • Gutzy1 July 21, 2011, 11:43 am

    Well took my last 20mg last night. I’m al little concerned about taking the 40mg after reading all the posts. I was feeling a lot less anxious, more calm until last night. I tried to sleep, my legs were restless, insomina took over and my anxiety did as well. Not sure if the VB is really working or not. Ive been off the cymbalta now for 2 weeks and i’m still feeling “spacey” and some brain zaps. Will it ever get out of my system? Well here’s to hoping for a better day.

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 4:11 pm

      Well, who knows in your case, Gutzy1 – but when I stopped taking Zoloft I thought the cessation symptoms would never end (but they did)…

  • Smilyhappymebk July 21, 2011, 7:47 pm

    Hey all, starting my first 40 dose today.  The first week on 10 was very good…I had switched from Lexapro 20mg’s…and was in good spirits.  Some GI discomfort, spaciness, sleep changes where to be excpected as the new medicine came in and the old out, so I rolled with it.

    The second week on 20 was a bit tougher.  Said side effect came and went, but what really started creeping in was headaches and an achey, sore muscles.  I could fall asleep fine, but I felt that my sleep was disrupted.

    Again, I tried to roll with it, though what makes me depressed is when I don’t feel good for an extended period.  I had some ups and downs.  I’m going to hit 40 and stay positive.  I suffer more from anxiety than depression I suppose and the anxiety has been normal, so that’s good. 

    It’s weird though as yesterday I “forced” myself into having a good day…getting up, taking a walk, working long and hard on things that have been on my plate that I know would make me feel better to get off.  And I felt pretty good.  I had a minor headache midday but two aspirin helped.  Okay, blabbing…

    My question mainly is this:  The thing that throws me is that, as mentioned, I fall asleep fine, but when I wake up…BAM…it’s like I’m hungover.  I have really tight muscles and most of all a bad headache.  I should add that I also feel very dehydrated and well, just like crap.  Today was a prime example.  Went to bed all peachy keen looking forward to tomorrow and I wake up feeling like crap, just as if I’m sick with a cold.

    Any thoughts on if this is a side effect of the meds that will pass, and any suggestions to help?

    Thanks…

    • Julie July 21, 2011, 8:33 pm

      are you taking anything else to help you sleep? I’ve been taking some Klonopin the last few nights to try to help with sleep (no luck) and have been waking up totally dead the next day myself. Just not wanting to move.  Today, I still haven’t gotten out of bed.  I start 40mg tomorrow.  I’ve had no energy yet with this med, just less anxiety and less depression.

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:14 pm

      Smileyhappy – you…

      Don’t know that I can explain it, but my gut says it’s a temporary arrangement. Use that “forced myself” spirit of yours to push forward (as I know you have) past it.

      Make it a temporary arrangement!

      • seth July 21, 2011, 11:34 pm

        Thanks so much Sir!   I crack up at my email address as well.  I had to recently think of a new one that didn’t have my full name in it:-)  It reminds me to be happy.

        I did force myself to get to work and a few hours later, still feeling crappy, but effective.  Time to eat a meal, duh!

        Talked to my Doc for the first time since I started taking VB, kept it brief, and we both agreed that many side effects are just that and will go away, but was also told that if the headaches and muscle pain happens morning after morning continuously, then let her know, as that type of symptom may be abnormal  However it could be a lot of things, like a bout of cold/flu/bronchitis that seems to be lingering a little to long for my taste.  Going to stay the course.

        Also wanted to let you all know that though I have a very good doctor, who is very well regarded, BUT, VB is new to everyone and y’all are doing a service here as I’m able to relay information to her about the med that she might not get elsewhere.  I’m her first VB patient.  They pick on the ones who are doing okay and just want a normal sex life…lol.

        The biggest thing I said is that the pharma companies sample pack of 10 – 40 mg may be weird for some and that some people were happy with 20mg’s so keep that in mind.

        For now…I’m going to make it a temporary arrangement to get up and go no matter how I feel!!! 
        Thanks again, Bill.

        Julie, in response to your question.  I don’t take sleep meds per se, but I do take about 1-2mg’s of Klonopin a day.  I’m down from 3-4mg’s a day which I’ve taken for three years and seeking to stop completely.  That’s one of the reasons I’m trying Viibryd as I’m hoping it will be more effective than 20mg’s of Lexapro in the long run.

        So putting some facts together Julie, I can fall asleep ok, but I wake up feeling like crap.  BUT, we
        are both dealing with less anxiety and depression.  I’d say that’s a win for now and let’s see what 40mg’s does.  Again, not a doctor, but feel Klonopin is best used as not a safety or rescue pill but
        as a general anxiety pill for a period of time.  

        Different for everyone, but though it can make you sleepy, it’s long half life will keep you sleepy if you don’t get proper rest.  May be out of my league here, but if you are not taking Klonopin daily and aren’t prone to addiciton, perhaps see if you can talk to your doctor about a short term sleep aid and not take the Klonopin as that’s a whole nother ball of wax as they say.  I can deal with the fact that I may have to take an SSRI for awhile, but long term Klonopin usage has been tough for me mentally, though my doctor thinks it’s the safest benzo and the easiest to get off, I still have my concerns.

      • chipur July 22, 2011, 4:25 am

        Glad you know I was having fun with you. I liked your email address from the moment I first read it.

        I’m also glad you hold your doc in such high regard – sounds like that would be easy to do. Great arrangement re reporting side effects.

        Just a great post. I enjoy your spirit, sense of humor, and toughness…

        Bill

      • Julie July 22, 2011, 3:30 pm

        Hey Seth,
        The Klonopin is kinda why I asked. I noticed that when I tried to take Klonopin to help me sleep, I woke up feeling just totally drugged out and dead.  It wasn’t really helping me sleep any better, so gave it up and found that without it I’m not waking up feeling like that.  I’d still love to find a way to get some sleep.

  • Julie July 21, 2011, 7:59 pm

    I’m on my last day at 20mg and I feel like crap today. I think it’s a combo of Fibro flare (stormy days don’t get along with me) and the Viibryd. My stomach is killing me like it did on day 3or 4.  No diahrea or other issues, just stomach pain.

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:18 pm

      I get a lot of stomach pain – but it’s because I’m a bachelor and a lousy cook…

  • Frank944 July 21, 2011, 8:12 pm

    Hello all!  I am a 36 y/o male who has been on a few different meds in the last 9 years.  I started 9 years ago on Paxil and Klonopin.  The SSE were so bad on the Paxil that my doc switched me to Lexapro, the SSE obviously got no better.  I was down to taking 10mg of Lexapro when my depression and anxiety hit me again like a ton of bricks two years ago.  My doc then put me on 40mg of Pexeva and 0.5mg of Konopin 3 times daily.  Obviously the SSE came back, but I didn’t care because I felt better.  Now that I’m feeling a lot better, the SSE’s started really bothering me again. My doc told me about Viibryd and said it was like Pexeva without the SSE’s.  I got the sample pack and am on day 2 of the 40mg’s.  I’ve had some nausia and headaches, those have gone away for the most part.  I am now just experiencing a great deal of spaciness and lethargy.  I am also on 20mgs of Lisinopril for blood pressure.  I’m hoping the Viibryd and the Lisinopril are not causing my BP to go down too much, is this potentailly an issue?

    I really enjoy reading all the posts!!

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:24 pm

      Hi Frank944…

      And now someone will enjoy reading your posts, as well. We’re a sharing community and I’m glad you’re here and participating.

      I don’t see anything in Viibryd’s prescribing information that indicates a conflict with Lisinopril – but stay on top of the BP thing, okay?

      Bill

  • Smilyhappymebk July 21, 2011, 8:19 pm

    One more quick thing that I’m really, really curious about, and that may help others.  Simply, I was trained to believe that the effects of a given dose of an SSRI isn’t felt for days after.  Usually quite a few days after in the beginning and then 2-3 days after once you have been on it for awhile.  For example, I was told that drinking alcohol can seep out serotonin from the cells (or something like that)
    and while I may feel poorly the next day due to drink, I actually won’t feel the effects of the drain on the SSRI until 2-3 days after, which may result in being down or anxious.  I really try not to drink anyway, especially now with VB, but so my point and question is more general:

    I read about a lot of people feeling this or that in on day 1 after changing a dose.  Other than GI side effects, is it really possible to feel anything good or bad that quickly after a given daily dose?

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:26 pm

      Excellent question with far-reaching implications! I have my opinion, but I’d like to read what others have to say. I’ll be watching and will reply (in time)…

    • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:26 pm

      Excellent question with far-reaching implications! I have my opinion, but I’d like to read what others have to say. I’ll be watching and will reply (in time)…

  • chipur July 21, 2011, 9:11 pm

    Hey chipur readers! Just posted a review of something known as the Fisher Wallace Stimulator. I think you’ll find it interesting. https://chipur.com/2011/07/21/the-fisher-wallace-stimulator-a-review/

  • chipur July 22, 2011, 4:12 am

    chipur readers! We’re starting to get some play now in the forum on Viibryd (other topics, as well – plus you can start your own topic). A beginning Viibryd user is looking for some help. So, here’s what to do – head over to the forum https://chipur.com/forum/ Once there, click on the forum What’s on Your Mind. Click on Beginning user of Viibryd needs advice. And you can chime right in and help.

    Thanks…
    Bill

  • dramatoni July 22, 2011, 3:16 pm

    Hi all!
    Day four I woke up.  Awake.  Not drowsy or achy or dizzy.  I’m usually tired and sleepy, so this was great.  I decided to take advantage of it, since I wasn’t sure how long it would last.  I had an active day and started getting tired in the afternoon.  I took my Viibryd around 6 p.m. and the GI problems got worse.  No runs, but gassy and cramps.  I did end up taking a Klonopin and a half-dose of Cymbalta because my head started spinning and zapping again, though not as badly as the day before.  Slept about seven hours.  

    By the way, I’ve been taking probiotics, which may be why the diarrhea is gone.  Maybe it helps with absorption, too?  Any thoughts?

    • chipur July 22, 2011, 10:42 pm

      Here’s an objective peek-a-boo…
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic

      • dramatoni July 24, 2011, 10:20 pm

        Thanks for the link.  I’ve been using multi-enzyme probiotics for years to help with digestive issues with much success.  It seems to have made a big difference in tolerating the Viibryd.  I’m on day 7 now and have experienced no diarrhea since taking probiotics, only some gassiness, which occurs shortly after taking the Viibryd.  Luckily, that’s been decreasing, too.  I’ll see what happens after the increase to 20 mg. tomorrow.

  • Vwgracer July 22, 2011, 4:26 pm

    Hi, like several other I was happy to find this website, because there is no other info on Viibryd on the web yet.  I recently decided to talk to my doctor about my depression and severe mood swings. For a very long time (4 years or so) I had not been feeling like myself, always walking around pretty much in a rage, and snapping at the drop of a hat. Not much fun, especially when it starts to effect your marriage. I also just felt empty like i didn’t truly care about anything or anyone for that matter, i have 2 beautiful children whom I dont want to think that i don’t love them. Anyways, my brother is diagnosed bipolar and I’ve always been convinced that my mother has depression/ bipolar issues too, but has never been diagnosed… sooo, I finally swallowed my pride and told my doctor that I think I’m crazy lol :0)
    She started me off on Cymbalta which I truly felt was working, granted I was only on it for a week, but… then the sexual side effects started, and I CANNOT deal with that! So i stopped that and started Wellbutrin and bingo the SSE’s were gone I had tons of energy and almost felt euphoric, I loved it… BUT a week in, I started having heightened social anxiety, which Lord knows I don’t need that heightened I’m already shy, awkward, and nervous around people anyway. Next my doctor and I decided to try Cymbalta with the Wellbutrin, hoping that they would equal each other out…. sure enough 3 days later, my orgasms were delayed, followed by not having them at all and then No sex drive at all, within 5 days! soooo… lol  I dropped the Cymbalta again and tried the wellbutrin again this time I had not been drinking any caffeine and had NO social anxiety :) BUT…while I did not feel anxious or in the depths of dispair… I had started gaining weight all of a sudden and and my sex drive has not fully come back…or gone crazy like it did before  (which was fun) lol  Nor was my energy level the same.
    Anyway, so here I am… I have stopped the Wellbutrin and started Viibryd today. My stomach is a bit upset off and on, but I’m not sure if it’s the medicine or the White Castle I ate last night (HAHA!!)
    I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this one… I know there is not actually a magic pill out there, but it would be nice if this one would make me happy, give me energy, have no BAD sexual side effects, and no weight gain. :p We shall see!!!
    I will continue to post and read everyone Else’s updates. :0)

    • chipur July 22, 2011, 10:52 pm

      Wow! What a report. Thank you for your visit and comment.

      First and foremost, kudos to you for addressing your “stuff,” within the context of being a better spouse and parent. ‘Course, you need to feel better for YOU, but what motivation and inspiration for getting things rolling!

      Great point – there is no magic pill out there, but finding one that can make life a bit easier sure helps.

      Yes, we shall see!!! Keep posting, won’t you???

      Bill

  • Gutzy1 July 22, 2011, 4:39 pm

    Took my first dose of 40mg last night. I slept pretty good. Woke up this morning with some GI issues but bot too bad. I have noticed an increase in anxiety today and even took 0.5mg of klonopin. My tummy still feels nervous and my heart rate was way up. I’m hoping that over the next week I will finally get some positive results. I’m still waiting for the cymbalta to get out of my system(the withdrawl is getting better, but towards the evening some brain zaps occur. Have a good day.

  • 2002s10 July 22, 2011, 8:22 pm

    First day of 20mg… side effects are long gone except for bad memory.  No more headache, GI issues, etc.  I think I could honestly have stayed at 10mg, so we’ll see how I feel stepping up to 20mg.  No sexual side effects to speak of – it’s always been questionable anyway.  Sometimes all goes well, sometimes it doesn’t.  The first week was good until last night, so I can’t blame the pill.  If anything the anxiety may have returned due to the low dose being tolerated.  Also can’t really comment on the insomnia that is reported – I don’t usually sleep all that well during the week anyway.

  • Godot July 23, 2011, 3:03 am

    Greetings fellow travelers – I’m quite new to Viibryd and not ready yet to post results/details as am just on day five – so far my few side effects are manageable. But I wanted to go ahead and mention a sleep med that my doctor gave me during my (very) ill-fated 5 weeks on Cymbalta – Silenor/doxepin.  Yes, it’s an old anti-depressant now being marketed as a sleep aid, especially for those like me who go to sleep okay, but wake up too early and can’t get back to sleep. Mr. B, don’t know if you’ve already mentioned this elsewhere, or if perhaps you don’t bring up specific meds yourself as a matter of ethics.  In any event, some folks might want to look into it. User forums/reviews online seem to indicate a high percentage of folks doing well on it.

    Will relay some Viibryd experience next week, after I’ve been on 20s for a bit.

    • Meteoroid July 23, 2011, 4:49 am

      I looked up doxepin and it has a longish half life. Does it make you feel groggy in the morning or though out the day?

      • Godot July 23, 2011, 1:50 pm

        Yes, but not much. Haven’t had to use it since ending the Cymbalta. Wonder if any others in this forum have tried it?

    • chipur July 23, 2011, 7:29 pm

      Hi Godot!

      Happy you visited and participated. A-okay mentioning meds. Readers – doxpein is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) with anxiolytic characteristics. The original prep was known as Sinequan. And it’s marketed now for sleep under the name Silenor. Nice tip.

      We’ll look forward to your future posts…

      Bill

      • Anonymous July 24, 2011, 1:30 am

        I took trazodone years ago and I believe they are using it for sleep also.

      • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:27 pm

        El correcto, (un)scattered…

      • Anonymous July 24, 2011, 1:30 am

        I took trazodone years ago and I believe they are using it for sleep also.

  • Anonymous July 23, 2011, 3:28 am

    I have suffered with major depression/anxiety/panic disorder for 25 yrs. I have been on Pamelor, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Neurontin, Seroquel..etc many of the old antidepressants and the new SSRI’s. I have had 18 episodes where even when i take my meds. everyday the depression comes back sometimes i get 8 months relief or i get a little longer or shorter. It is so upsetting when you take your meds and then all of a sudden it comes back. I take Xanax and Ambien to sleep. This episode has lasted 4 months. My Psychiatrist, who i have been with 20 yrs is the best. Right now, i just started my 2nd 10mg dose of Viibyrd. I feel nauseous and some diarrhea with insomnia, which has been going on for 4 months along with the depession and anxiety. Oh, i forgot to mention i have been on Wellbutrin 450 mg which my dr.decreased to 300mg and i am on Neurontin 1800mg for many years. This cocktail has worked in the past with Prozac. I am trying to be think positive, but the past 4 months have been hell for me just like all the other episodes. I have a wonderful husband and two great kids and surrounded by many supportive friends and family. They all tell me how strong i am and how i fight so hard everytime. I appreciate it, but being in my head is such a dark place and the anxiety, insomnia, worthlessness, guilt, bad thoughts, fears and i feel like i can’t go on. But, as much as i am scared and cry i still will not give up. I always try and remember when i am not in depression and how i laugh, go out to the stores, meet friends…etc.I have been in bed more in the last 4  months than out of bed. But, i still made myself at times, get out even when i didn’t want to and that is so hard to do. So sorry for making this so long, but it has helped me reading everyone’s comments and i hope i can help someone too!! Again, this is only my 2nd day of 10mg of Viibyrd. I hope this works because this is the fifth med i am trying in 4 months. Also, thanks Chipur for all your wonderful insight. 

    • chipur July 23, 2011, 7:36 pm

      Hi Carmella…

      You’re very welcome! And thank you for your participation – and inspiring example of determination and courage. You have my official permission to write as much as you’d like. It’s such valuable information.

      The light’s always on, okay?

      Bill

      • Anonymous July 24, 2011, 4:33 am

        Hi Chipur…

        Thanks so much for your compliments they mean so much to me. Well, today is day 3 of 10 mg and i am focusing on being positive. I will keep you posted!

        Thanks Again,

        Barbara

      • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:37 pm

        ;)

  • mike egan July 23, 2011, 5:39 am

    well…I’ve been reading your guys’ posts for the last couple weeks as I started yet another promising med touted by its manufacturer as the newest innovative compound that will have no sexual side effects. Perhaps it should be illegal because I truly believe it is without a doubt unethical for these drug companies to pump up their IPOs or stock or rush to get that next branded med out before the current one goes generic — making these claims while playing on the hopes & dreams of those us that have struggled for so many years waiting our lives away for that wonder drug that will provide all the benefits that SSRIs do but don’t rob us at the same time of one of life’s most simple yet fundamental pleasures in sex and all things sexual.

    Somebody posted on here a few days ago about how we put a man on the moon but we can’t crack the nut on this problem. I thought that was a great comment. I guess if we could put all of our national resources behind creating a chemical that works as well as SSRIs with no SSE than perhaps we could. Sadly, there are too many other important things to throw money at and it will probably still be decades before the medical community ever truly grasps what people have gone thru bouncing from the next greatest medicine ever to yet the next greatest medicine ever thinking they are going to find happiness and a life relatively free of anxiety while still being able to enjoy one of life’s simplest pleasures.

    I’m almost 34 years old. I’ve been at this since I was 19. Granted, perhaps I wouldn’t have survived college and the corporate world without seeking help for social anxiety but at the same time I’ve made a deal with the devil by trading that for the ability to enjoy sex at 100% capacity. It has become the ultimate paradoxical, proverbial double-edge sword of a life that at times seems like a nightmare. You take your meds…you go to work…you go out…people think you are outgoing and charming…you get a girl…you get her to like you…you get the chance to have sex with her…and…sometimes there is awful embarrassment with performance (especially when you are like 21 for f***’s sake)…other times things technically work but you know it’s not as good as it should be. Or….you could not take your meds…be scared of most people and lack the confidence to be yourself and end up becoming some kind of hermit…become a shrinking violet at work and fade into the background….but hey, at least you can masturbate to your hearts content at home where you will be spending the majority of your time.

    I know somebody is going to respond with “well, these medicines work differently for everybody” and “they did do their double-blind placebo-based studies with an ‘n’ of 900  people and only 2 or 3 or 3 or 4 dudes complained of sexual problems”. Maybe I’m just one of those 2 or 3 or 3 or 4 unlucky dudes with some kind of fu**ed up brain chemistry that this sh** just doesn’t work for me without side effects. I just have a really hard time believing that one man is that much different than another man or woman for that matter when you get down to the level of the genetic code and DNA that makes our species who we are.

    Whatever…back to the drawing board I guess. Yes, that was a rant. I’m not apologizing. Forrest Pharmaceuticals and all that came before can kiss my ass. 

    • 2002s10 July 23, 2011, 3:17 pm

      I feel your pain.  Of the traditional SSRIs only Lexapro would allow me to even have an erection, though most of the time I couldn’t have an orgasm.  Wellbutrin didn’t solve the anxiety issues well enough at a dose I needed for no sexual side effects.  Though the low doses did produce intense orgasms as other Wellbutrin users had reported.  I can’t comment yet on Viibryd and SSEs just yet, but I remain optimistic.  This really is the last hope before going back to Wellbutrin and having another go with that…  The sexual side effects have caused me to go on and off antidepressants for the past ten years, it’s a viscous cycle of depression anxiety and SSEs that just lead to more depression and anxiety…

    • Anonymous July 23, 2011, 5:16 pm

      Mike–everybody deserves a rant, so don’t sweat it.
      I’m 46, and have been at this since 20. SSEs haven’t been as big an issue for me (I’m a girl) but the benefits I’ve had from SSRIs have been minimal at best, but when the SSEs do wear off I had to think “And I haven’t been having sex more why?”
      I get your frustration; how you take your meds, go to work, go out, people don’t see the struggle. I know it’s always hard to have to make the med switch AGAIN. (Viibryd was another SSRI that isn’t gonna pan out for me, although the SSEs don’t seem to be an issue with it; there’s 1 plus!). Whatever you need to do, hang in there and keep trying.
      And, yeah, big pharma is screwing us. 

      • chipur July 23, 2011, 7:49 pm

        Big Pharma “screwing us” in terms of hype?

      • Anonymous July 24, 2011, 6:53 pm

        Hype, and I’m beginning to think SSRIs are more problematic than previously understood. I think people who suffer from depression are willing to put up with a lot to get out of that hole. I don’t think big pharma wants to understands depression to the degree that they understand cardiovascular disease or toenail fungus. It might mean exercising more caution and I think people suffering from (what is becoming-gratefully) more “acceptable” forms of mental illness (depression, bipolar, OCD) are more vulnerable in ways that people with more straight forward types of physical ailments aren’t. I think those of us with mental illness are much more easily persuaded to open our wallets for drugs that have a shotgun approach that wouldn’t be tolerated for “non-mental” illness. Part of the reason we do that is that we are mentally ill: judgment is directly effected.
         I think the element of taking the money and worrying about some of those pesky side effects later is big pharma’s MO. Being less cautious means higher profit margins but it is not always in the (depressed) consumer’s best interest. (Bigger profits CAN-not always-mean more money for R&D, testing and bringing next generation drugs to more people—I get that it’s a complicated relationship).
        I think pharmaceutical companies DO want to help people, and for the most part they do a decent job. It is wonderful that there are drugs that do give people relief.
        That’s just my take as someone who has been an antidepressant user.

      • dramatoni July 24, 2011, 10:53 pm

        I’m with you on that, sister!

      • dramatoni July 24, 2011, 10:53 pm

        I’m with you on that, sister!

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 12:14 am

        Well said, prntmkr. No way can we ever forget the disclaimer Big Pharma offers on ALL psychotropic meds. To paraphrase, “We know this stuff may well work to some degree, but have no idea as to how or why.”

        Reuptake is the only semi-answer just now; however, it is NOT the ultimate solution. The final med intervention for the mood and anxiety disorders will involve something more at grass roots neuron level – and the science just isn’t there yet.

        Would it be nice if Big Pharma would acknowledge that and not hype meds like they’re the end-all/cure-all. Hmmm, but that would kick a dent into profits.

        As always, your input is so valuable…

        Bill

    • chipur July 23, 2011, 7:46 pm

      Rants allowed, mikeegan. You expressed yourself well – and I’m thinking many can, and will, relate.

      Here’s the one that gets me. HIV/AIDS gets so much attention and funding (don’t get me wrong, it’s a horrible worldwide epidemic). And now Alzheimer’s is getting tons of press and dough (thank you, baby boomers). But what about depression (or anxiety and bipolar disorder)? What, are we chopped liver? I’m telling you, it’s stigma generated.

      What we need is someone like Jerry Lewis to start a research and fund-raising effort like MDA.

      Very frustrating. And, yes, unfair!

  • Gutzy1 July 23, 2011, 2:59 pm

    I woke up this morning feeling ok for about 10 min. then the Gi issues hit, it’s been a constant. btw this is day 2 on 40mg. Then I started feeling like I was going to pass out, heart racing, throat tightening ect.. I took a Klonipin and was able to sleep more. Now, I feel the GI issues coming on and My blood pressure is through the roof. I was wondering if anyone else on 40mg has had any of these expereinces? I feel like just stopping the VB. Thanks.

    • 2002s10 July 23, 2011, 3:17 pm

      How did you feel all in all on the 20mg?  40mg isn’t going to be right for everyone…

      • Gutzy1 July 23, 2011, 3:31 pm

        I felt really good on the 20mg. I only have the 40mg left. I guess I can cut them in half.

      • 2002s10 July 23, 2011, 9:57 pm

        I was told when given the pack, if I felt fine on 20mg, stay there and cut them.  I tend to get a lot of side effects as I go up in dose though.  Talk to your doctor, but if you felt good on 20mg and it was doing what you wanted, cutting them in half might be a good idea.

    • Julie July 23, 2011, 4:03 pm

      I’m also on day 2 at 40mg.  Last night I was awakened to a sharp pain in my chest. It was bad enough that I was contemplating waking up my husband to go to the ER. I laid there breathing through it and hoping it would go away and it did after about 5 or 10 minutes.

      This morning I took the 2nd dose at 40mg and my chest is tight (feels like gas pressure), I have a slight headache and my Fibro nerve pains are aggravated.  I’m gonna see how today goes and then decide if I want to give 40mg another try or start cutting them in half.  I’ve got another week+ till I see my Pdoc again.

  • chipur July 23, 2011, 5:27 pm

    Just posted the first in a series of two pieces on insomnia https://chipur.com/2011/07/23/insomnia-facts-and-fixes/

  • Zaneybear July 23, 2011, 10:44 pm

    I found this forum last night and think it’s wonderful. I started Viibryd yesterday. I am on Pristiq, Lamictal, and Xanax. I have been on lots of meds and after a while they stop working and a new cocktail is started. My dr is going to ween me off the Pristiq. I hope this works for a long time. I was on Celexa for 2 weeks and got worse. I spent 2 days in bed this week and didnt eat or drink. My dr said if this didnt work I’d have to go back in the hospital. Sigh. I was just there in Jan in the day program which was wonderful. I haven’t had any GI problems but again I’ve only had one dose. I took it at night with my other handful of pills. Slept fine. The Xanax helps with that. I really appreciate everyone’s experiences with this new drug. Does anyone else feel like a lab rat?

    • Frogmen313 July 24, 2011, 12:05 am

      Going to the hospital? That sounds really scary! May i ask if u have aptypical depression?

    • Anonymous July 24, 2011, 1:05 am

      Zaneybear, I am 56 and have tried every drug made for depression and mood disorders in the past 30 years.  I call myself the side effect queen since I had terrible side effects from most of the drugs.  I am on day 13 of the starter pack of Viibryd.  One more day on 20mg and then onto the 40’s.  I am suffering from withdrawal after years on 40mg of Lexapro so I am not sure what’s what.  The main reason for responding to your post was the mention of going to the hospital.  I have been in-patient many times and I don’t find it scary at all.  I call it my life management and coping skills, tune-up time.  Out-patient has been great for me too.  As with the drugs, everyone is different.  When we are dealing with our brain chemistry, emotions and all of the physical effects of being on this type of drug, sometimes being in a monitored environment is the best.  This has been my experience anyways.  I will continue to follow everyone on here and post my 2 cents worth along the way.  Now I will take my 1 mg clonazepam as it helps me relax enough to even think about sleep.  Insomnia is not my idea of a good time.  And so it is.

      • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:19 pm

        Thank you for your caring attitude (un)scattered…

      • Zaneybear July 24, 2011, 10:28 pm

        I was scared when my dr told me about the hospital day program. I agreed to go because I felt so horrible and had suicidal tendencies. I would never do it because I couldn’t do that to my kids. It’s just that sometimes it really sounds like a good idea. Anyway the program was wonderful. I felt safe and liked the fact that I saw my dr. everyday. So I have taken 2 doses of Viibryd. First dose no side effects. Last night at 2 am, you guessed it, potty run. Literally. lol. Oh well. I feel pretty decent so far and am glad I’m not in bed. I am sooooo lucky to have such a great supportive husband. If it was the other way around I dont know if I could do it.

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 12:17 am

        I have always heard some nice things about PHP (partial hospitalization). I actually think it’s a solid clinical option – especially if it saves one from an inpatient admission.

    • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:13 pm

      Hi Zaneybear…

      Welcome to chipur, and I appreciate your participation. Labratitis – I’ll bet you get response to that one….

      Bill

  • Julie July 24, 2011, 12:39 am

    Spent the afternoon in the ER with chest pains and tightness. I woke up in the middle of the night last night with a really sharp pain in my chest. It went away after about 5 or 10 minutes. Then this morning after I took my morning meds (including my second dose of Viibryd at 40mg) my chest got really tight and started hurting again.  Hubby convinced me to go get checked out. They didn’t find anything and the doc there said he didn’t think it was a side effect of the med (since it’s not listed in the literature), probably just chest wall inflammation. But, wants me to follow up with a cardiologist for a stress test, as my BP was pretty high also.  I’m still debating on giving the Viibryd another day at 40mg or just going back to the 20mg for now.

    • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:18 pm

      Thank you for sharing, Julie – and I’m glad you’re okay. There are a couple of lessons here, chipur readers….

      1. If you’re in great discomfort – especially in the chest – go ahead and get it assessed.
      2. So often our physical ills aren’t the catastrophic situations we may believe them to be (but how will you know unless you see a doc?).

      Hmmm…

    • dramatoni July 24, 2011, 11:00 pm

      Sorry to hear it.  Sounds scary.  I personally don’t put much faith in ER docs when it comes to understanding  meds.  Did you talk to your prescribing physician?  I hope all works out well for you. Hang in there.

      • Julie July 25, 2011, 3:45 am

        Not yet, I plan to give a call tomorrow.  I agree with you on ER docs, not to mention this med is so new that they really can’t know all the side effects yet (just because it didn’t show up in the initial study doesn’t mean it’s not there).  Of course, he’d never heard of Viibryd and had to go look it up (not surprised, it seems few have, unless they are Pdocs).

  • Jsunday July 24, 2011, 1:09 am

    Hi Everyone,

    I’m on day 3 of 20mg of V for OCD and depression. My well-regarded p-doc (almost 40 years of experience) started me very slowly on it – 2.5-5mg for nine days and 10mg for three – since I tend to feel amped up on SSRI’s (also tried the mood stabilizer route and suffered greatly). So far I have had almost no side effects, except for some very minor GI issues. Thankfully I’m not amped up, but I’m extremely depressed and have had no relief with OCD (I have been a little less tearful lately). Doc has me taking extra Klonipin and some Xanax to help help “until the V kicks in.” Although these help some with the OCD, they seem to make the depression worse. I’m not a religious guy, but I have been praying daily to any god that will listen that this stuff will work for me as I have a very demanding job that kicks up in a month. Doc says to be patient.

    Has anyone else had any luck with 20mg? How long has it taken to kick-in? Prozac was great for 15 years, but it pooped out. Cymbalta, Luvox and Wellbutrin made me feel like I was on cheap speed. Seroquel and Geodon was a nightmare.

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks.

    • Anonymous July 24, 2011, 4:46 am

      Hi Jsunday,

      I took Prozac five different times over a period of 25 years that i have suffered with major depession, and the last time it didn’t work. I have been in depression for four months and Viibyrd is the fifth med. i am trying. I am only on day 3 of 10 mg. But, with and depression meds. they can take a while to real take effect. I have been praying all the time and i know how you feel. My doctor says the same thing be patient, i know it’s so difficult. I hope this med works for both of us. Please hang in there and remember you are not alone.

      • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:39 pm

        …and that’s what chipur is all about!

    • Meteoroid July 24, 2011, 5:50 am

      I think some others are getting a benefit from 20mg. That is what I am on right now and I am not as depressed as I was a week ago. I went up to 40mg for three days but the insomnia was just too much for me. So I am hoping that 20mg continues to work out for me.  

      • Julie July 24, 2011, 8:00 pm

        20mg seems to work pretty well for me. I’m not feeling depressed on it but I’m not feeling particularly motivated or energized either.  I went up to 40 for 2 days and had an awful time the second day with bloating and other issues, so I decided to go back down for a couple of days. I’ll give 40 another try in a couple of days and see if the same symptoms return.

    • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:26 pm

      Hi Jsunday…

      Welcome to chipur, and thank you for your participation. “I’m not a religious guy…” But I find your name interesting. I hope your praying and appeals for help work for you. I’d love to see you ready to go for that job in 30 days or so. My gut is you’ll be good to go!

      Thank you for sharing your confidence in your psychiatrist – and his/her technique. These are the things others can consider and take to their doc.

      Please continue to update…

      Bill

  • Bpositive July 24, 2011, 3:30 am

    I can’t remember what day I am on because I lost my sample pack today!!!  I took one yesterday…40 mg. and I’ve been on 40 for a couple of days.  The only thing that has bothered me is my tummy hurts at night.  I didn’t take it today and if I can’t find it, I don’t guess I will take it tomorrow either.  Is it going to hurt me to be off it for 2 days???  I am a little worried about it. 
    Another thing…I know this couldn’t have been from not having it today but all day I was so cranky and emotional.  I cried and cried over my husband’s death which is something I haven’t done in quite awhile.  I mean I’ve cried over him but today I wailed and wailed…the pain was so deep.  I am thinking I may finally be at the anger stage of grief…I have never been angry at him for his suicide because I know what anguish he felt…but today I was frustrated because now I feel the anguish of losing my husband and best friend…and I’m also left to deal with so many problems alone now.  I need him here. I’m praying I find my meds…

    • Bpositive July 24, 2011, 4:18 am

      Well, I just found them!  They had fallen down behind my dresser drawer and were on the bottom.  Should I take one this late?  Is anyone out there this late???  :)  I KNOW I’m not the only night owl!  lol

      • Bpositive July 24, 2011, 4:43 am

        When you do read this you will probably be sick of me but I’m trying to write in my sweetest font…  :)  I guess I was on it longer than I remembered because today I was supposed to have started the 40 mg.  I am thinking maybe I should break it in two and take 20 mg instead.  Any opinions?  :)

      • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:38 pm

        Not sick of you at all! By now you’ve prob made your decision. What did you come up with?

    • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:37 pm

      Hang tough, B(so very)positive. You’ll be okay. Not going to cause any major damage being off it for a couple of days. All will mend.

      Re your being cranky and emotional, crying over your husband’s death…I don’t know that it has so much to do with the manifestations of not taking the medicine. But maybe the interruption in routine – and worry about not taking it – has thrown you into this hyper-emotional state.

      And you know what? Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a good old fashioned wail session. Can be very cleansing.

      I know you’re praying you’ll find your meds – I’m hoping you continue to find yourself. And I believe you are…

      Bill

      • Bpositive July 24, 2011, 10:59 pm

        Thank you….  You know, you’re the kind of person everyone would like for a best friend!  ((((Bill))))  I took the 20 mg last night and am going to go ahead and take the 40 mg today to see what it does. So exciting! Will I wake up to a hairy face?? (or I should say more hair since I AM over 50! lol)  Will I have a black tongue??  Well, hopefully none of that…but it would be interesting! You’re right…the crying was very good for me. I tend to hold in my emotions until I can’t take it anymore. I had it out of my system and was happy enough to babysit two of my grandkids by early evening. Of course, they would have put me in a good mood anyway! :)  Thanks again…I appreciate that you care…

      • Bpositive July 25, 2011, 12:55 am

        Lots of extra fonts…hmmm…

      • Bpositive July 25, 2011, 12:55 am

        Lots of extra fonts…hmmm…

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 12:18 am

        …and I appreciate that you appreciate that I care (and I do).

  • Anonymous July 24, 2011, 4:56 am

    So glad you found your sample pack, and so sorry for your loss. I’m not positive but i think it stays in your system for 24 hrs. Do you usually take it at night or morning?

    • Bpositive July 24, 2011, 5:07 am

      Thank you so much for writing.  I have terrible insomnia but I actually feel tired tonight so I think maybe the “fit” I threw might have been good for me!  I usually take the Viibryd around noon. Since I’m getting sleepy I went ahead and decided to break it and took half for tonight.  Tomorrow I will take the other 20 mg at my regular time and then start the 40 mg. on Monday.  What do you think?  Thanks again for the help! 

      • Meteoroid July 24, 2011, 5:39 am

        Viibryd’s half life is about 24 hours. Basically our body clears it out somewhat rapidly. I’m not a pharmacist or a doctor so I don’t know how to calculate the exact medication level at a given time but you might feel missing a dose or two. I have been taking 10mg in the night and morning for a total of 20mg a day. It probably make no difference but I think I was starting to feel some withdrawal in between my once a day dose. Prozac stays in the body for 3-5 times as long so a missed dose of that if probably not going to be felt. You plan of splitting the pill sounds reasonable to me but I’m not a doctor :) Let us know how 40mg works for you!

      • Bpositive July 24, 2011, 11:02 pm

        Hi Meteoroid!  That was good information.  Taking half in the morning and the other half at night makes a lot of sense.  Thank you!!!

  • Chuck P July 24, 2011, 2:29 pm

    I’ve suffered from major depression/anxiety for a couple of years before being will to try antidepressants.  I’m a man in my 40’s, fit, healthy and sober for many years.  I tried Pristiq at my doctors direction about 9 months ago, and gradually increased the dosage as recommended.  When I reached the full therapeutic dosage, I experience weight gain (I work out daily and ride my bike to work and have a healthy diet, very low carb, lots of vegetables, low fat, etc) – and also delayed orgasm.  I also experienced dizziness.  Because of this I reversed the gradual increase to a gradual decrease in the medication – until I was no longer taking it.  It did improve my depression but I experienced much higher aggression and literally found myself apologizing frequently to people for my behavior which is out of character.  

    My doctor recently suggested Viibryd.  I was excited because it seems to have the profile for the right medication for my needs.  The first week I experienced a slight decrease in depression.  Once the dosage was up to 20mg I experienced slight dizziness throughout the day and by the end of the first week at 20mg I experienced delayed orgasm.  I felt less anxious and depressed however.  When I reached the 40mg dosage my depression is better but after a couple of weeks at this dosage I started having other symptoms:  My hands shake throughout the day, I have occasional difficulty with saying what I’m trying to say (I’m a good communicator and educated and speak publicly frequently so this is very strange) i.e. stuttering or stammering.  But the very worst and most frightening symptom is that three days ago in the evening I was lying down in the evening and I heard a loud cracking noise in one ear, had the sensation of falling, then my vision literally left for a moment – then I felt as if my body fell to the bottom and the feeling went away.  It happened three times in an hour that night before I fell asleep.  

    This has happened every night since Thursday and today is Sunday.  The symptoms persisted and were intolerable.  I have not given up on this medication, since it seems to be effective.  I have however decreased to the 20mg dosage, until I can speak with my doctor tomorrow.  It is possible that this dosage is right for me, but I’ll decide with my doctor’s help.  I am not willing to experience the side effects I’ve felt at the 40mg dosage.  I had been at that dosage for over two weeks before this occurred.  I hope this helps someone.

    • Dschell July 24, 2011, 2:52 pm

      About 20 years ago when I started taking Elavil I had the side effect of just before falling to sleep I would get the feeling of falling and it made me jump while in bed.Quite a jolt. I went on Zoloft and never had that feeling again. Zoloft made me have the dreaded SSE, though. I now take Remeron 30 mg @ bedtime. Only SE are increased Cholesterol and low WBC.lol with the Viibryd.  Don 

    • chipur July 24, 2011, 3:56 pm

      Hi Chuck P!

      Welcome to chipur – it’s great of you to participate.

      Interesting symptom, to say the least! Sure sounds like something vestibular. I’d appreciate it if you’d update us after seeing your doc. Valuable info!

      Bill

      • Chuck P August 3, 2011, 6:30 am

        Hello Everyone,

        I called my doctor and we discussed my options.  He asked me to stick with 40mg for one more day and then call him again.  I did stick to 40mg for a couple of days with continued side effects.   The worst being that I stayed home for two days from work with flu symptoms, mainly severe body aches.  I’m still not sure that this was a result of Viibryd but I was some uncomfortable at work that I couldn’t sit at my desk.  After three days the symptoms got better with no change in the medication.  By Sunday I really wanted to go back to 20mg.  However what I did instead was split the dosage to 20mg in the morning and 20mg at night.  My reasoning being that I know that the next option my doc and I discussed was to go back to 20mg and that 40mg is a safe and recommended dosage.  Also, I suspected that the timing of most of the side effects related to the couple of hours before my next dose.  This has worked for me for several days now.  Less dizziness, my body feels better and I’ve experienced only one episode of a more mild “brain zap” just before going to sleep.  If you are at 40mg – you may want to discuss splitting the dose with your doctor.  

        Best to everyone,
        Chuck

      • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:21 pm

        Creative work, Chuck. Hey, it makes sense to me! But you know what? It doesn’t even have to. What matters is, it works for you.

        What do you think chipur readers???

      • Chuck P August 12, 2011, 8:34 pm

        Thanks so much for the site and the support.  I’ve now been on the 40mg for about 6 weeks.  I do really feel the depression and anxiety are under control.  I had tried Pristiq and it made me gain weight and I also experienced marked agression.  I’ve found that both are slightly present with Viibryd, although more tolerable.  I’m going to speak to my Doctor about dropping the dose to 20mg and seeing if it still works for the depression and anxiety, I believe it was working at 20mg before I increased the dose. 

      • chipur August 13, 2011, 1:13 am

        Thank YOU, Chuck P. Your contributions are always valuable. Looks like 20mg may be the dose for you. Please keep us posted…

  • Jason July 24, 2011, 6:35 pm

    Hello Everyone, I’m Jason. I’ve been taking antidepressants for several years and have tried many different types. I just started taking viibryd about 5 days ago, as with starting any antidepressant, I have experienced some of the usual side effects. However, I’m positive they will go away after my body adjust. There is no reason to stop taking a medication because of side effects that you experience within the first 4-6 weeks. Everyone will experience different side effects when starting antidepressants, that comes with the territory! As I read through this blog it almost seems that people expect to swallow a pill and be a new person within a few hours, it just doesn’t work that way. You have to go through the adjustment period of side effects, then you may or may not feel better (hopefully better), but its ludicrous to think that you’re not going to have side effects when you first start a medication! Give the medication time to work (hence 4-6 weeks), and if you still are experiencing unbearable side effects, then its time to try something else, but just hang in there and give it a chance. Thanks everyone! Jason

  • Julie July 24, 2011, 8:14 pm

    There’s a difference between side effects and side effects that are too much. Some side effects are to be expected, but if something is affecting you in a way that you can’t handle then you have every right to look for a different alternative. We each have different body chemistries, as well as other meds that we are on to consider. All those interactions determine what the side effects are that you will experience.  I’ve been on a lot of meds (not just ad’s) in the last 6 or 7 years for various issues, and only a small few have given me side effects that I couldn’t handle.  Zoloft gave me awful migraines. I wasn’t going to put up with that for 6 to 8 weeks to see if they went away. I tried Paxil and it worked fine for me, for the time.  Lyrica (which I tried for Fibromyalgia) laid me out worse than being totally drunk, I couldn’t walk.  I asked for something else and I got Neurontin (oddly enough what Lyrica was based off of) and have not had a single issue with it.  The last Pdoc I had evidently didn’t bother to really look at the meds I was already on and prescribed me two different ones that interacted with something I was already on, one left me in a total mummified zombie state (I couldn’t move and I hurt like hell) and the other gave me a massive headache because it interacted with something I was already on.  To say that someone should give a new drug 6-8 weeks dealing with whatever side effects they are dealt is just a bit ignorant.

    • Rpwfb July 24, 2011, 10:21 pm

      Amen!

      • Anonymous July 25, 2011, 12:49 am

        Hear, hear!

    • Jason July 25, 2011, 6:30 pm

      Julie, you obviously misunderstood my post and or didn’t read it carefully…. And everyone should be able to state their opinion without being called “ignorant”. I never said anything about side effects that are “too much”… I’m merely referring to the side effects that are expected, the ones that are listed in the brochure, as a matter of fact… the one’s that are bearable but annoying, the ones that tend to go away. Lastly, I never said that someone should “deal with whatever side effect they are dealt for 6-8 weeks” I said 4-6 weeks first off, and anyone that would assume that I meant “any side effect” doesn’t have much sense! Lastly, if you read closely, Julie, you’ll see that I stated if you’re “experiencing unbearable side effects, then its time to try something else”. Maybe you should read my post a few more times and see what you come up with….

  • chipur July 24, 2011, 8:57 pm

    Just posted the second in the series on insomnia. I dare you to read it. https://chipur.com/2011/07/24/insomnia-facts-and-fixes-part-2/

  • Leilani July 24, 2011, 10:11 pm

    I am now on the 40mg and my insomnia is getting worse. Also I feel like I have shortness of breath and like my heart is jumping out of my chest. Is anyone else experiencing this? If so any ideas how to make it less?

    • Julie July 25, 2011, 3:42 am

      I don’t know so much about heart jumping out of my chest, but chest pain and my blood pressure has been really high.  Ended up in the ER yesterday because of those two things along with that it hurt worse to breath deep or talk.

    • Leilani July 26, 2011, 11:24 am

      Update: I backed down to 20mg and feel amazing! All the above went away do I think I’ll cut the 40s in half until I am ready to move up! :)

      • Julie July 26, 2011, 4:05 pm

        I dropped back down to 20 also after my ER visit, but then after talking with my Pdoc went back up to 40. I wasn’t able to check my BP when at 20mg to see if it went down, but I did feel better that day. 2nd day back up at 40 again and I’m feeling it. BP is pretty high, have an appt with a cardiologist on Thursday for a stress test (and wondering if this is all just because of this med or combination of meds).

      • chipur July 27, 2011, 1:37 am

        …and the overall level of excitement.

  • Ginny July 24, 2011, 10:32 pm

    First I have to say that this site has been a great help for me as I make my way into this new journey with Viibryd. I have really been enjoying everyone’s honesty and constructive input.

    I an currently in thew process of switching from Cymbalta to Viibryrd. I take my Viibryd at night with a little sandwich or something. I just finished day 12 and have had some good days, changes, some not so good. Here is what I can tell you:

    Days 1 – 7 things were fine and I didn’t notice any differences in my moods one way or another. Please keep in mind that I was still on the Cymbalta pretty strong though so my mood was fine. I also did not have any sort of problems with the Viibryrd.

    Day 8: Nothing new to report

    Day 9: WOW!! I felt like I was pregnant again! I was nauseas and bloated and all I wanted to do is lay around. I took some gas-x and put heating put a heating pad on my stomach and was fine in about three hours.

    Day 10: I tried to beat “the system” and took a gas-x soon after I ate. I was a little bloated but nothing likek the day before. I was starting to feel the sleepy side of this med.

    Day 11: Feeling good as I slowly ween of of this Cymbalta. No weight, No weight loss. Energy is up a little bit. Sex drive is is up a bit. No mor GI issues at the 20 mg level. Horrible headache for about 24 hours until I finally decided to take one of my migraine meds and it went away within an hour and hasn’t returned. Eyes are starting to burn a little but not bad.

    Day 12: Feeling super energized today. May have partly to do with the idea of having a girls day out. ; ) My eyes were still burning a little but not too bad. No other side effects to report.

    I’ll report back. I really appreciate this website. I plan to tell my psychiatrist about this website. These doctors need to know what we go through. I feel somewhat honored to be a part of this very new medicine with a group of people that share some very similar medication situations.

  • chipur July 24, 2011, 10:52 pm

    Big Heads-Up!

    Trying a new look for chipur tonight. Things may appear a bit disorganized for a time, but all will be well in short order!

    Bill

  • dramatoni July 24, 2011, 11:18 pm

    Hi all.  Here’s an update.  I’m on day 7, so I’ll be starting the 20mg tomorrow.  I have had more energy, and my depression seems to have lifted a bit.  A tiny bit, I think due to the fact that I have been able to be more active.  The GI issues have minimized, which may be in response to taking probiotics.  I’m still needing to take Cymbalta at half my previous dose in order to deal with the brain zaps and dizziness, but I am stretching out the time between doses.  

    And, I have lost about 5 pounds!  So those of you worrying about weight gain, that may not be an issue.  I have been able to sleep, but not too much, which was a problem for me before.  My fibro pain and arthritis pain is under control, so I’m still not taking Vicodin.  I’m hoping that I’ll soon be off the Cymbalta with no more withdrawal issues, and maybe even be able to get off Wellbutrin eventually.  Man, it sure would be nice to have one med that takes care of it all.  Here’s hopin’!

  • Trevortigo July 25, 2011, 2:44 am

    Day 33. I like Viibryd. 40mg holds me just fine and the medicated feeling has gone away. Sexual side-effects aren’t completely gone but this is by far the easiest SSRI to achieve orgasms with. –I find this more so if I take it before bedtime. –I haven’t gained any weight either. Anxiety is minimal. Nowhere near panic attack country. Feel less shy everyday. The true test of this pill’s merit will be when I stop smoking soon. If it can keep me from becoming anhedonic, we’ve got a winner. — and yes, I know smoking contributes to anxiety. The dream is to be able to get by on 20mg in a few months.
    Hang in there, people. Those awful side-effects do go away, and for me, the depression lifted at the 3 week mark.

    • Jsunday July 26, 2011, 1:09 am

      Trevor, That’s great! I’m so glad to hear it. I’m in the midst of the 20mg dose (2 1/2 weeks) and I’m hoping that it will make a difference with my depression and OCD. The GI side effects are no fun, but I’m willing to be patient (the fact that I’m having the side effects makes me feel hopeful). Usually SSRI’s cause me to feel ramped up and the AP’s don’t work for me. I’m surviving on benzos at the moment. Thanks again for your optimistic account.

      • Trevor July 26, 2011, 6:20 am

        I hope it works out for you, Jsunday!  Viibryd knocked out my depression and OCD symptoms.  I actually found my sense humor again, too. Wish I could forecast day 21 to be your magic day, too, but I actually hope it’s sooner!
        Best,
        Trevor

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 3:06 pm

        That Trevor – he’s so cool…

      • Jsunday July 28, 2011, 12:56 am

        Trevor is cool! Finally, today on day 7 of 20mg I have some relief from four weeks of depression! A little ramped up and anxious, but the lifted mood is worth it. My P-doc is optimistic and my girlfriend is relieved. Now I pray that it will help with my OCD…I don’t want to take benzos forever to cope with my anxiety.

      • chipur July 28, 2011, 5:35 pm

        Trevor is very cool. I think he’s the real chipur!!!

        Oh, and not taking benzos forever is a super goal. Stick with it!

      • Jsunday July 28, 2011, 12:56 am

        Trevor is cool! Finally, today on day 7 of 20mg I have some relief from four weeks of depression! A little ramped up and anxious, but the lifted mood is worth it. My P-doc is optimistic and my girlfriend is relieved. Now I pray that it will help with my OCD…I don’t want to take benzos forever to cope with my anxiety.

  • chipur July 25, 2011, 3:27 am

    Hi There!

    Well, wanted to be a bit farther along on the remodeling job by tonight – but should be all set by Monday afternoon.

    Hope all are well…

    Bill

    • Kayla July 25, 2011, 6:41 am

      So I just finished my pack of samples of Viibryd today. So it’s been exactly one month. I’m not gonna sugar coat it, but it was extremely hard. I had extreme anxiety, so bad it was hard to leave my house, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the nausea and diarrea .. Do not fun :(. After a month on this drug I finally feel good :). It’s like my anxiety has just been lifted! I’m finally seeing a light at the end of this dark dark tunnel, but today I saw that light :).. So I’m continuing on 40 mg on a real perscription :). Thankyou all for the support, especially u chipur :).. I will continue updates since I’m pretty sure I’m one of the people on this blog that’s been on it the lingest. Wish u all the best on this journey :)

      • chipur July 26, 2011, 12:22 am

        Your contributions are valuable, Kayla. And you’re more than welcome for the support…

  • Julie July 25, 2011, 3:53 pm

    Glad to read some good results from someone who actually made it through the first month. I’m sure we’ll see more and more of these over the next month.

  • Bellita1 July 25, 2011, 6:43 pm

    I have been on it for a month too.  I did not have the nausea and diarrea problems others have had. But I did/do have anxiety; so much so that my Dr kept me on 5mg of Lexapro.  I stopped taking the lexapro a few days ago.  Lexapro caused a lot of SSE for me.  Even the 5mg were causing problems.  I hope not that I am off of it the will go away.

    Has anyone had sse with Viibryd?  Although I am off the lexapro for a few days now, I am still experiencing sse.

    • Kayla July 25, 2011, 9:53 pm

      Ya same for me when six was trying to lean me off my 40 mg on lexapro. It was rough

  • crab76 July 25, 2011, 8:51 pm

    I’m new here. So Glad I found this site.

    I am on day 4 of Viibryd. UGH…. I’m dying from these side effects. Here’s my list…
    Lethargic, headache, trembling, jaw clenching, stiff neck, blurred vision, dizzy, nausea, loss of coordination. 

    I thought this was supposed to cause insomnia. I thought it would be activating. Not for me. I can barely keep my eyes open.

    I am also on wellbutrin which I thought would still activate me but it’s not enough against the drowsy feeling I get from Viibryd.

    I was on 2mg of abilify and stopped due to weight gain.

    I just don’t know what to do. Do you really think these side effects will fade? Should I just stick it out? I’m running out of options on meds because Im one of those ppl who get bad side effects. I will not tolerate weight gain so that gives my dr little choices for me.

    • chipur July 26, 2011, 12:31 am

      Stay the course, crab76 (I kind of prefer babysara). I mean, if you turned away Abilify (and who could blame you), you need something to believe in just now. Work it for a time. If you need to make a change later, so be it. But for now, don’t over-complicate your life by trying something else on for size.

      My humble opinion…

      Bill

  • Gutzy1 July 25, 2011, 10:44 pm

    Decided to take 20mg last night instead of the 40mg. All was fine untill I laid down to sleep. I suddenly felt like I was being shocked in my brain. I know it was happening but couldn’t talk and I was very scared. It last for about 10 min. This morning I was very tired and called my pcp. I slept most of the day and cried alot( not sure why). My pcp said it sounded like withdrawl from cymbalta but is going to do a CT in case of seizures. I’ve been on many meds and Never felt like that. I thought I was going to die. I feel more depressed than ever. Not sure if I should take 20mg, 40mg or nothing? I’m so glad to be able to have you all here to vent to.

    • chipur July 26, 2011, 12:38 am

      I’m not your doc (or a doc, period). But I’d recommend you continue with 20mg. Is your PCP the prescribing physician? Run the dosage issue by whomever it is…

  • chipur July 26, 2011, 2:15 am

    Just posted a remake of last week’s newsletter’s featured article – “Mission Possible.” Looking for your life’s mission? https://chipur.com/2011/07/25/mission-possible/

  • Vwgracer July 26, 2011, 2:39 am

    Hi everyone,
    I will be on day 5 tomorrow…. so far so good. I have had minimal GI side effects. I’ve noticed a little bit of heart burn which i don’t usually have, and I do get rather gassy after I eat lol but that’s not terrible (for me anyway, maybe for my husband…)  I have been feel good, waking up early in a good mood (odd for me!!) and with energy, no matter how much I slept the night before. I have also been… well, just happy, and I have a bit more patience (I feel like I do anyway).

    There are just 2 things that I wanted to see if anyone else was noticing. I seem to crash everyday at 3:30Pm. I get super tired, but then a couple hours later my energy is up again and I am wired again by bed time…. seems weird to me. Has anyone else noticed that?
    The other thing is that I have been really achy in my back, hips and legs. I usually have some sort of discomfort in general everyday, but not this bad. It also gets worse in my legs if I’m sitting or laying down and makes me uncomfortable at night making it harder to get to sleep. I’m not sure if it’s just my achy joints anyway, our old crappy mattress, or the med… any ideas?  

    Thanks everyone, I will keep reading and posting :0)

  • Barbara July 26, 2011, 4:20 am

    Hi Everyone,

    I started on Day 5 of my on pack. I was doing well until today, became depressed, anxious. I do have bad insomnia and i even take Ambien. I sleep maybe 4-5 hours. I have been in a depression for the past four months and Viibyrd is the fifth antidepressants i am taking. I also was taking 450 mg of Wellbutrin but my psychiatrist decreased it to 300mg the same day i starting taking Viibryd. I am wondering if i am having some type of withdrawal. I have been on Wellbutrin for 6 yrs and have decreased it in the past. I have been on many antidepressants over the past 25 yrs that i have suffered from Major Depression and anxiety/panic disorder. I know it takes 2-4 weeks at least to get in your system. I will not give up it just is always a battle you never get use to no matter how many times you go through it. But, l always give the med. the chance to work because if i go off it too soon i will never know if it could of worked. Well, continue to take Xanax for for the anxiety and continue to be think positive and repeat what my Mom would say to me if she was alive and with me. She would say Barbara….Please remember ” This too shall pass and you will be healthy again. Miss you Mom!! I do believe i will get better and will keep busy, not isolate myself no matter how hard it may be and think of all the things i am blessed with!! I hope i sleep better tonight!!

    Thanks everyone, I will continue to post and read all of your posts….

  • Scabell July 26, 2011, 4:45 am

    I’m going to attempt to not use profanities, here. I am in SO MUCH pain I can hardly walk. I could only DREAM of have diarrhea right now. Seriously. I’m having the exact opposite problem. And it hurts SO SO much to use the bathroom that I would rather get punched in the face than use the bathroom (I do martial arts, so YES, I know what it’s like to be punched in the face, and that is just an honest statement). All day it hurts to walk so bad because of using the bathroom. I guess I am going to have to try some sort of stool softener or laxative because I really cannot bear this pain. 

    Beyond that, I find it’s best to take my medication before bed. 

    I’m sticking with this through the month, unless other side-effects come up that are dangerous, or something. I’m only on day four or five. But I will see this through. But seriously, the pain is just absolutely unbearable. So bad.

    But, beyond the physical symptoms, I’ve found that I’m still dealing with some pretty bad mood swings, and especially nasty depression, suicidal impulses, etc. I couldnt sleep last night, but the only thing I felt safe doing was laying in bed. So I put Pandora on and laid there miserably for hours (I’m out of my sleep meds, so I didnt really get to sleep until 5am). But, I made it through to today. Feeling better today. We’ll see what tomorrow brings. I dont think any of this is due to the medication, so please dont attribute mood swings to Viibryd — I have the mood swings WITHOUT proper medication. So until I work up to a proper dose, they’ll be there. And that’s okay.

    But anyway, I’ll stop rambling. I’ll update in another few days.

  • Keepinon July 26, 2011, 12:46 pm

    Yes Yes Yes, Bill!  I just read your tip of the week.  Thank you for commenting on that stuff.  My med doc almost required me to go to a therapist and the first thing the therapist told me was to  stop worrying about and concentrating on the meds, regardless of whether they were “new”, or not.  She suggested the classic CONSTRUCTIVE LIVING by David K Reynolds and a book by a great Houston LMSW (Go Coogs!) named Brene Brown.  It is called THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION.  I read them immediately, and both have been great for me….. (Ok. After that, I still can’t help myself:  I am on day 19, still sleepless and loopy, no GI problems anymore……and I am feeling better about life : )    Thanks again for all your time and effortl

    • chipur July 26, 2011, 3:38 pm

      Ding! Ding! Ding! Super recommendations, for sure – and I’m glad you shared them. chipur readers, Keepinon is referring to the chipur tipur of the week I include in each weekly newsletter. Here’s the link if you’d like to subscribe https://chipur.com/newsletter-subscription/

      I’m not naive – I know how important meds are too people who suffer so horribly. But somewhere in there has to be a point of perspective where some form of life can still go on. My hope is that all will find it.

      Bill

  • Bskool1024 July 26, 2011, 1:31 pm

    Hey everyone. I just started on day one of Viibryd. This is my first medication of any kind and i hope it works with my anxiety. I will try to update with daily reports. So far today just some minor gi issues. Been to the bathroom twice, but nothing terrible.

    • chipur July 26, 2011, 3:40 pm

      Thanks for your visit and contribution! Look forward to hearing more…

      Bill

  • crab76 July 26, 2011, 3:39 pm

    Thanks for your reply Chipur. I’m going to try to hang in there a little longer and give these side effects a chance to fade. I actually feel a teeeny weeeny bit better this morning. Like not as tired as I was yesterday. Feel more alert and want to actually talk to people today. So that’s good! Still feeling very shaky, trembling, inner restlessness that’s really annoying. :-/

    I’m on day 5. I’ll post again in a cpl days to update my progress. It really helps to see people who have been on it for 2wks to a Month and are doing well. Reading their posts have made me want to stick it out. 

  • steve July 26, 2011, 3:50 pm

    Hi,i am in Australia and Viibryd is not available here so the next med i am thinking of starting is Cymbalta.I just wanted to ask anyone if you could drink alcohol on Cymbalta, i know you should not drink while depressed but are a few drinks on the weekend bad with Cymbalta also is Cymbalta a safe med..Another thing Buspar is available here just wondering if mixing it with Lexapro, would it be similar as Viibryd.

    Kind Regards,

    Steve

    • dramatoni July 26, 2011, 10:01 pm

      Hi Steve,

      I found that when I was on Cymbalta I REALLY had to cut back on drinking alcohol.  I could tolerate 2 drinks, maybe 3.  Anything more than that would make me feel sick (to the point of throwing up) and sometimes extremely high.  The next day was usually quite awful, too.  So I really had to cut back, not just on the amount but on the frequency, too.  I did it by trial and error till I learned that 2 was my limit, for a week or two.  I guess in the end it is good not to drink too much (not that I was an alkie!)

      • chipur July 27, 2011, 1:42 am

        Thanks for the input…

    • chipur July 27, 2011, 1:25 am

      Hi Steve…

      Glad to have you along for the read. Regarding Cymbalta and alcohol – from Cymbalta’s prescribing information…

      7.16 Alcohol
      When Cymbalta and ethanol were administered several hours apart so that peak concentrations of each would coincide, Cymbalta did not increase the impairment of mental and motor skills caused by alcohol. In the Cymbalta clinical trials database, three Cymbalta-treated patients had liver injury as manifested by ALT and total bilirubin elevations, with evidence of obstruction. Substantial intercurrent ethanol use was present in each of these cases, and this may have contributed to the abnormalities seen…

      Re safety – I’m sure it is, but I’m also sure chipur readers will chime in with some curious stories.

      Regarding Buspar (a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist) + Lexapro = Viibryd action. The answer, according to a psychiatrist who happened by several weeks ago, is YES. Super catch, and thank you for bringing it up. Actually, the doc said an SSRI – and Lexapro is certainly that.

      Soooo – ask you doc for more info re the alcohol piece – and the Viibryd alternative combo (with fries).

      Oh, checked with Forest Labs’ Viibryd launch crew a while back. They said no current plans to market overseas (me thinks it won’t take too awful long, though).

      Bill

  • Julie July 26, 2011, 4:01 pm

    Is anyone else on both Viibryd and another SSRI concurrently (not being tapered off the old one)?

    • chipur July 27, 2011, 1:36 am

      Excellent question, Julie. I know some are taking it with Wellbutrin (an NDRI)…

  • chipur July 26, 2011, 8:39 pm

    So I want to share something with all of you. Was a huge Chicago (the band) fan years ago. One of my favorite songs is Questions 67 and 68. Was listening to it a few minutes ago – and thought the lyrics were a fit for what we do together here.

    Okay, the second and third verses hit the romantic, but enjoy the lyrics – nonetheless…

    Can this feeling that we have together
    Suddenly exist between
    Did this meeting of our minds together
    Happen just today somewhere

    (chorus)
    I’d like to know won’t you tell me – please don’t tell me
    It really doesn’t matter anyhow
    It’s just that the thought of us so happy
    Appears in my mind as a beautifully mysterious thing (I love that lyric)

    Was your image in my mind so deeply
    Other places fade away
    Blocking memories of unhappy hours
    Leavin’ just a burnin’ love

    Repeat chorus

    Can this lovin’ we have found within us
    Suddenly exist between
    Did we somehow try to make it happen
    Was it just a natural thing

    Repeat chorus

    Carry on with a cool day, okay???

    Bill

  • Sunshine July 26, 2011, 10:23 pm

    Hey , I’m on day 7 and the GI issues are crazy!!! I’m afraid to eat anything , I have such pain and then have to run to the bathroom . Gas all night .
    No change in my mood , def headache nausea and pretty much can’t stand to be around to many people , I have a short fuse . No concentration .
    I hope these GI issues go away soon or I can’t handle it :(

  • BskooL1024 July 26, 2011, 11:18 pm

    Just wanted to let everyone know how my first day went.  Again, this is the first medication that i have ever been on, so i feel its a fair representation free from withdrawal symptoms.

    So like i posted earlier, i took my first 10mg dose this morning at 7:10am with my usual egg sandwich for breakfast.  the morning went fine and i had a fair amount to get accomplished this morning at work.  i dove right with with intense focus.  i had my first bowel movement around 9am.  My stomach was slightly irritated, but nothing terrible or explosive as some have explained.  afterwards i went back to work, still maintaining immense focus.  Another bowel movement occurred shortly after right around 10am.  I got a few comments from coworkers that i was quiet today compared to my normal obnoxious self.  I contributed this to the focus i maintained all day long, not to a depressed state.  I felt like my mood was good.  I had several instances during the day with customers and coworkers that would have agitated me to some degree.  Where i normally would have gotten annoyed with them or the situation i rather handled the situations well and powered right through them.  The day continued like this throughout.

    I just got back from dinner where i met my father and his new girlfriend.  I normally get very anxious when meeting with my father.  To the point where i would remain quiet and depressed.  I was very social and involved in conversation much like i was back before all the anxiety began.  Also to compound the normal anxiety, my son was behaving terribly at the restaurant which would have thrown me over the edge any other day,  I remained calm and collected through the whole dinner.

    I hope this gives a good representation of how this is working for me so far.  I have always reacted well with any meds or supplements in the past, so its no surprise to me that i felt relief so quickly.  If this is only day 1 I can only imagine and be positive about what lies in the days to come.

    • chipur July 27, 2011, 1:45 am

      Excellent report. Hope all continues to go well.

      Was your dad’s girlfriend cool? I mean, I’m sure my daughter would have her opinions if she met my new girlfriend (‘cept I don’t even have an old girlfriend)…

      Bill

      • Bskool1024 July 27, 2011, 2:04 am

        Best one hes chosen thus far… Haha.

      • chipur July 27, 2011, 2:16 am

        ;)

  • ChuckPnLA July 26, 2011, 11:32 pm

    As a follow-up to my previous post, I was having what I’ve seen described as “Brain Zaps” in the evening before I would take my 40mg dose of Viibryd.  I’m a healthy, fit, 44 year-old man.  I have been taking Viibryd for 3 1/2 weeks and had no side-effects until this one, except a few headaches and some dizziness.  Since last Thursday, I’ve experienced sleeplessness, a feeling of falling and then a loud noise and what I can only describe as my vision blinking out and a zapped feeling in my head.  I dropped down to 20 mg on Saturday after having about 5 of those episodes a night both Thursday and Friday and I noticed I was stuttering or having trouble articulating what I want to say, even though I’ve never had this problem before.  On Sunday I went back to 40mg because I really want this to work, and spoke with my doctor.  I feel OK today and did not experience anything other than headaches and mild nausea since Sunday.  I’m anticipating the side effects diminishing and will speak with my doctor again tomorrow.

    • chipur July 27, 2011, 1:48 am

      Hi ChuckPnLA…

      Sorry, I don’t recall – didn’t you report the vestibular-type symptoms a day or two ago? And you were going to visit with your doc? I’d like to know what she/he said – perhaps after tomorrow’s appt?

      Bill

  • Jsunday July 27, 2011, 1:12 am

    I’m on Day 6 of 20mg and have felt very anxious. A little less depressed, but just as annoyed as usual with OCD. Anyone else feel an increase in anxiety? Does it get any better?

  • 2002s10 July 27, 2011, 11:22 am

    Day 5 of 20mg.  Feel more anxiety than before, and have trouble achieving an orgasm.  Will it go away?  idk… guess we’ll see.

    • chipur July 27, 2011, 4:09 pm

      Let me ask you – and others – a question. How big of a role is overall tension and expectation playing in your sexual side effects? I mean, I know the medicine could well be the lead cause, but is it really the star player?

      You know me – the ultimate devil’s advocate player…

      Bill

      • 2002s10 July 28, 2011, 2:10 am

        Tension plays a part in one aspect of the SSEs, but not so much the other. In difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection – I believe it to be a big part.  But delayed orgasm, which in my case is caused by loss of feeling, I wonder if its the med.  It has the familiar aspect that wasn’t there on Wellbutrin, or while taking nothing, but was there on Lexapro.  It wasn’t really a problem on the 10mg either.

  • adam July 27, 2011, 1:56 pm

    hello bill & co.! has anyone been experiencing antidepressive effects from viibryd as of yet? i’m on day 6 of 20mg w/ no improvement, and a plausible increase in anxiety (starting to wean off of st. john’s wort concurrently). being that i had a bad experience with buspar, i’m afraid of the same happening with viibryd. thanks again for this forum and your thoughtful responses!

    • Bellita1 July 27, 2011, 3:35 pm

      I took me 30 days before I started to feel relief from my anxiety.

      • chipur July 27, 2011, 4:14 pm

        …and have you sustained that relief?

      • Bellita1 July 27, 2011, 7:33 pm

        Yes, I have been on it for 30 + days now (40mg for the last 2+) weeks. At about the 30 day mark I started feeling relief from my anxiety.  For some reason I didn’t have the side effects others have had, but I did have a lot of anxiety – which is my main problem that I take meds for.  Now I seem to be doing okay.

    • chipur July 27, 2011, 4:14 pm

      Hi Adam!

      Well, objectively – I believe we’re reading stories of depression relief here. And I’m sure chipur readers will chime in here shortly.

      Were you taking Buspar with an antidepressant???

      Bill

      • adam July 27, 2011, 8:09 pm

        thanks bill. i’ve followed most of the thread but have admittably becomed overwhelmed and discouraged by many of the side effect posts. thank you to bellita and any others whom are seeing relief. my psyche reminded me today that it’s really a good five weeks before you know how a ssri will work. transitioning from one drug to another can be trying and daunting. i took buspar by itself and likely not longer than two weeks (this was a few years ago).

      • chipur July 28, 2011, 12:32 am

        You’re welcome (as always)…

      • Trevor July 28, 2011, 12:38 am

        Hi, Adam.  My Viibryd kicked in around day 22.

      • adam August 2, 2011, 9:18 pm

        thanks trevor!

      • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:37 pm

        (Is Trevor the real chipur?)

  • guest July 27, 2011, 8:13 pm

    I’m not sure these ideas of buspar plus ssri= viibryd are totally founded. there is a difference. buspar is pretty weak as an 5ht1a agonist where i remember reading viibryd is much stronger. So its kind of hard to say if 40mg viibyrd is as strong as say 300mg buspar- a lot of articles seem to suggest buspar was never that great because it was weak and dose not high enough. I’m interested in reading everyones experiences- i just started nardil for GAD,OCD,PD, Social anxiety and mild depression from these things. If the nardil ends up not working this is my next idea. Like many of you have tried lots of things. I think some people are here are giving up way too quick realizing it probably takes 4-6 weeks on at least the 20mg to get a positive effect. regardless, interesting site glad viibyrd is getting attention here. I will look forward to seeing how people are doing in 2-4 weeks when some have been on for an adequate time.

    • chipur July 28, 2011, 12:33 am

      You make good sense, guest. And, hey – that’s why I encouraged our Aussie friend to run it all by his doc…

  • Agentblak July 27, 2011, 9:16 pm

    have been terribly sick after being on 40mg for two weeks– cut back to 20mg, stayed sick… stomach, racing heart, among other issues.  and no relief.  if anything, more edgy than before with heightened loss of memory.  i’ll be seeing my doc tomorrow– in the mean time, is there anyone who got to the 40mg place for a sustained time, then wanted “out,” who wasn’t on another med?  and if so, could you describe your process of backing out– i’m having bad head aches going from 40 to 20mg— and tying to ween myself off.  thanks.

    • Trevor July 28, 2011, 12:36 am

      Agentblak,
      I couldn’t tolerate the jump to 40mg after about the 3rd day and backed down to 20 for about 4 more days. Then I brought it back up to 40 intermittently (40mg one day, 20 the next, 40 the next and so on) for another 4 days until I was safe at 40mg every day.  Perhaps this could work for you.  If not, you may simply be at optimal range with 20mg. 

  • Meteoroid July 27, 2011, 9:46 pm

    Its been a little over a month since I started taking Viibryd. I want to give a rundown of my experiences since many have been asking about its efficacy and or saying they have been scared off by the side effects. At no time in my transition was I off an SSRI, I went from Lexapro to Viibryd by cross tapering. 

    The first week was the hardest for me. I experienced dizyness, GI trouble, insomnia, and a worsening in mood. Pepto bismol really helped me out with the GI problems. On the other hand there was an immediate improvement in SSEs, within the first three days. Things actually improved the second week when I increased the dose to 20mgs. I think some of my symptoms were caused by Lexapro withdrawal. This medication wires me up a bit so it has been harder to get a good night sleep. I tried 40mg but it amped me up too much, the insomnia was unbearable and the SSEs, returned. My mood cratered while I was at 40mg, but that could have been due to some family drama. So I backed down to 20mg and that is where I have been for a bit over a week now. My mood has improved in the last week, I’m pretty close to normal now.

    So to compare Viibryd to Lexapro here are my thoughts. Lexapro was very efective for me, Viibryd seems to be also working but not as well. I can’t say for sure that Viibryd has no SSEs since I was never off an SSRI during this time but I can say 100% that at 20mg it has significantly less SSEs the Lexapro. Its cut my time to finish by about 6 minutes and I have more sensitivity. It is more activating, its not my favorite thing but I know to some people that is a benefit. There is more of a problem with insomnia, I am waking up more at night and sleeping lighter. 

    The side effects I have now are primarily sleep related. I am still tinkering with my bed time routine and medications. I am taking 50mg of Trazodone up from 25mg. I am finding that a sleep mask and ear plugs help. The GI problems, dizziness, and other problems have largly subsided. 

    I am going to stick with Viibryd. I am not sleeping as well, and I have to be more active in maintaining my mood. BTW: everyone who takes these anti-depressants should be seeing a therapist and doing routine exercise! However, I can have sex again and that wins out against the side effects. I got an important part of what being human back and if I don’t have to be depressed at the same time its pretty much a miracle! Definitely worth sticking the first two weeks out!

    • chipur July 28, 2011, 12:35 am

      Thank you, Meteoriod. Therapy and exercise are just huge. Really glad you emphasized them…

  • Keepinon July 27, 2011, 10:48 pm

    Hi~  Guess what?  Day 21 and I cleaned out my fridge and chatted with a friend before I even thought about “myself”!    Physically, feeling energetic~ maybe even a bit jittery.  Mentally, better able to get things done without talking myself through every step.  Still having trouble sleeping on 40 mg but doc said to stick it out for awhile  to see if it will get any better.   No GI problems anymore.  Have lost about 5 pounds this month…..  hang in there, ya’ll!

    • chipur July 28, 2011, 12:36 am

      Excellent! So now you can come over and clean out my fridge. Do you do windows?

  • chipur July 27, 2011, 11:33 pm

    chipur readers…

    I received an anonymous bit of communication from a psychiatrist through the chipur contact form. Given I can’t identify him, I believe it’s ethical to share what he wrote.

    It’s well-considered and written, and well worth the read. I big-time appreciate his writing – and I hope he sees I shared what he had to say. I think he’d be fine with that. Actually wish I could personally thank him, but he did not include his email.

    Here goes…

    As a practicing psychiatrist, I wanted to drop you an anonymous couple of comments on your users journal for Viibryd.

    Let me explain that I was looking for more information on this drug myself and did a quick Google search for the brand name. Your article looked interesting, and I was particularly interested in the feedback/user journal section. I’m always interested in how real world people feel on these sorts of meds, especially new ones where little information is actually available.

    Reading your summary of the medication, I’ll give you a big thumbs up on an approachable explanation. No major (or minor) errors noted, and I thought it was simplified quite well. Good job. I haven’t yet looked at any of the other drugs/pages on your site, but I intend to and may start pointing patients in your direction if the rest of the stuff is that good.

    However, you expressed some concern/confusion as to why some psychiatrists are hesitant to prescribe this new med or had not heard of it and speculated, that it might be due to “grounded in psychiatrist’s $$$ relationships with other Big Pharma firms.” This is really what I wanted to help you get a better grasp of.

    As for not hearing about new drugs that are released to the market, unfortunately there is no single, trustworthy information pipeline for psychiatrists to know what is in the pipeline, what has been approved by the FDA, and when it will be released. Instead, as I’m sure you’re aware, it consists of a fair amount of work tracking this information down and even then it’s not usually reliable. Even depending on lists of recent FDA approvals doesn’t cut it, as evidenced by the fact that I had a heck of a time finding the FDA approval for a recently released atypical antipsychotic that came out within the past year.

    Add to that the fact that most drugs that are in development, even late in the pipeline, do not make it to market for one reason or another. Thus it’s not useful to read up on specific agents that are being developed and are in Stage 3 trials since so many of them will fail to make it to market anyway. It’s like going to a car show and making your future purchasing decisions on what prototypes are on the floor that year. Most of them never make it to the street, so you’ve just wasted a lot of time.

    Thus the typical way that psychiatrists and pharmacists find out about new meds is when the pharmaceutical company representatives start coming around marketing the drug itself, trying to get us to prescribe it. The FDA prevents any drug company from marketing its product, though, until it has been FDA approved, and it then takes weeks or months for the company to develop marketing material and train the reps on the new drug. Often the drug is on the street before the representatives ever get out to market it.

    You may, correctly, question the fact that psychiatrists (and all doctors, for that matter) first hear about new meds and the pros and cons of them from company reps. All the information provided comes directly from the party most interested in making it sound great and wonderful and the answer to all mankind’s problems. Of course the information will be slanted in favor of the med. As doctors, we know that. It directly impacts how comfortable we are with the medication. At first release, the ONLY information available to ANYONE outside the company itself is what is provided in published journal articles and the PDR information, all of which is written by the drug company and filtered through the FDA. There’s never any independent, objective information available at first, not even patient reports from trial participants.

    Therefore, we, as psychiatrists, tend to be hesitant to prescribe something new just because it is new and is advertised as being better. New does not automatically mean “better.” Some psychiatrists will tend to try the newest thing with little hesitation. Most will wait a while until more real-world experience is gained before trying it. A few won’t try anything new for a long time. It’s a personal thing. It depends on a number of factors, but you’re not likely to see most psychiatrists start prescribing a new medication regularly until a year or two has passed and there is some personal experience with its plusses and minuses.

    The only psychiatrists who have any sort of a “$$$” relationship with big pharma companies are the very researchers who publish the initial studies themselves. Outside of funded research, no money ever exchanges hands between drug companies and doctors, and doctors have no financial interests in the drug companies themselves. There’s many laws against that sort of thing, anyway. The closest one might come to that is if a doctor has money invested in a diversified mutual fund that has a small percentage of its funds invested in one or a few drug companies. That’s an indirect connection at best.

    Also realize that, for the most part, there is a long delay in getting most new meds on insurance formularies. Every insurance company handles it differently. Some have a defacto approval period for any new med that comes to market until their annual meeting to decide on formulary approvals/tier ratings at which time they can suddenly stop paying for a med they had been paying for several months previously. Most insurance companies automatically deny coverage of a new med until their review panel has approved it specifically. That could take up to a year, and there’s still no guarantee on whether or not it would be added to the formulary.

    So no, the hesitation with prescribing it most likely has to do with the lack of independent, objective information, first-hand experience, and the historic knowledge that new doesn’t necessarily mean better.

    The very reason I was Googling this medication in the first place is an example of that. I cannot even prescribe Viibryd, not because I don’t want to try it out, but because it’s not on the formulary of the VA hospital I work at (and likely won’t be for years).

    Anyway, I hope this helps give a little perspective on what we look at as psychiatrists when we’re faced with a new medication release. Though we don’t have financial incentives one way or the other with drug companies, we also don’t totally trust them or their interpretation of the evidence. We also know very well that what a drug is supposed to be able to do on paper and what it actually does are often two very different things. A wise psychiatrist will take all of this into account, guided by patient requests and preferences. As will all people, not all of us are wise and none of us are perfect.

    Keep up the good work.

    • Anonymous July 29, 2011, 3:19 am

      Awesome info. Thanks for sharing.

  • Jsunday July 28, 2011, 1:09 am

    Thanks Bill and thanks doc! I feel very fortunate that my p-doc took the time to contact some of the folks involved in the trials to find out more about this med before he prescribed it. I don’t know how possible that is for most prescribers, but it’s made a difference in how I feel about taking this new med. I’m grateful for all of the folks in this profession.

    • chipur July 28, 2011, 5:38 pm

      I was really impressed by the content of his message – not the mention the time he took to write it and the quality of his wording. As I said, I really wanted to send him an email of thanks, but he was totally anonymous.

      Anytime we can come to understand where someone’s coming from, we grow and become better human-types…

  • Sean July 28, 2011, 1:27 pm

    Today is day 30 of the trial pack.  I did ask my p-doc to fill it again being that s/e’s have not been too bad and the result of efficacy for me is inconclusive.  I’ve had some rough days recently (emotionally), but I can easily attribute the feeling to outside events in this case. 

    I am a little concerned about the sexual side effects, though.  I am able to get there solo with some delay, but tonight, my wife and I are taking a much needed night at a nice hotel – doing the whole deal: messages, dinner out and then of course, the deed (hopefully).  To give some comparison, 40 mg of prozac had me with no concern about sexuality issues at all – everyday would have been fine if circumstances would allow.  I now find myself feeling roughly the same emotionally on the V that I did on the prozac, but with a higher incidence of sexual s/e’s.  I’m not making a final judgement on it, however, and I’m not losing hope.  I realize that a month may not be long enough to have a full idea of how things might turn out. 

    As far as the doctor that Bill contacted goes, I really appreciate the communication and I definitely appreciate Bill’s role in keeping this all going and for personally reaching out to me when I asked for some med advice.  But I do get upset when invariably, I know more about what’s new and about what options are available than my p-doc does (has happened with 3 different ones over the years).  Or conversely, when a smiling doctor is happily handing me a new script for Blissetra with his Blissetra writing pad, pen travel bag and plane tickets to a Blissetra seminar at the Kauii Hilton.   I have no doubt that no money exchanges hands.  Money may not directly exchange hands between elected officials and Exxon either, but you can certainly see it’s not always an unencumbered relationship.  No insult meant towards this doctor or the many other honest ones out there.  Ok, enough on my rant.  But I have absolutely no doubt that some fake credentials and a 10×10 office could have me too consulting patients in a mediocre fashion, fighting with insurance companies, working long hours but still semi raking it in anyway.  lol.

    An off topic question… and in the future, I swear my posts wlll be short(er) and to the point.  I had very good results with the combo of prozac, dexedrine and wellbutrin together for both depression and ADD inattentive type.  The only problem was that I developed an allergy to WB (which a couple of following trials had confirmed).  Is there any way that the action of the WB could be simulated even though there is nothing out there that is quite the same as it?  Thanks for any suggestions.

  • Julie July 28, 2011, 7:15 pm

    Looks like I’m done  with the Viibryd.  A week of chest pains, high BP, headaches and muscle twitches (well those have been going on since I started it 3 weeks ago), and my Psych finally said that I probably was experiencing Serotonin Syndrome (I’m also taking Savella for Fibro). As of this morning, I’m off the Viibryd and hoping that things start improving. 

    • Anonymous July 29, 2011, 3:13 am

      I’ve been off for almost two weeks and my stomach still isn’t right. Headaches took about a week to recede. Hang in there and all the best. (I’m really wondering if anybody went back and checked on the rats after they gave them their test doses. I’ve got visions of them lying in the corner of their cages, twitching…..)

      On the upside, I’m very happy that my brush with viibryd led me to chipur :) Am happy to have the ongoing info from Bill and the experience of others. It’s nice to connect with those who are in the same boat.

      • chipur July 29, 2011, 4:19 am

        Always good hearing from you, prntmkr!!! God save the rats…

    • chipur July 29, 2011, 4:07 am

      Hi Julie…

      Sounds like you gave it a go – what more can anyone say? I sure hope you find some way to continue contributing to chipur. Your participation is valuable.

      Thank You…

      Bill

    • dramatoni August 3, 2011, 5:03 am

      Sorry to hear that it didn’t work for you.  I’m at 40 mg now and am experiencing muscle spasms and the pain seems to be returning.  I did have a VERY physically stressful weekend, though, so that may be part of it.  But 2 weeks of no Fibro pain was nice, so I’m sticking to it.

      Good luck.  Please let us know if you have any withdrawal symptoms.  That always worries the hell out of me.

  • Sunshine July 28, 2011, 9:11 pm

    Does any one have any suggestions for the GI problems? I have tried Immodium and just eating bananas . I was up all night running to the bathroom . Had to call out of work because I was exhausted :(

    • chipur July 29, 2011, 4:15 am

      Hi Sunshine…

      Hadn’t heard from you in a while. Sorry you aren’t feeling so hot. I’m sure chipur readers will “chip” in with some helpful hints…

      Bill

    • Meteoroid July 29, 2011, 8:46 am

      My GI symptoms were not nearly as bad and have since gone away but I found that pepto bismol was very helpful.

      • Lipsexy101 July 29, 2011, 8:03 pm

        Thanks I will try anything at this point , I know I shouldn’t have but I had to skip a day . I really needed a break , and will have to skip tomorrow also because I plan on going kayaking for at least 4 to 5 hrs . And I know I won’t be able to last that long . No one seems to have the GI problems this bad , I am lactose intolerant and have IBS , maybe it’s just me and this med isn’t the right one :(

      • dramatoni August 3, 2011, 4:58 am

        I’ve been using probiotics and it really seems to help with the GI problems.  I’m on day 3 at 40 mg. The  runs and gas slowly went away, but they’re back now after starting the 40s.  Not nearly as bad as at the beginning, and I notice the change when I take the probiotics.  Maybe they’ll help you, too.  Here’s hoping!

      • chipur July 29, 2011, 10:27 pm

        Ah, that little pink jug…

      • Meteoroid July 30, 2011, 8:39 am

        I am also lactose intolerant. there is a very small amount of lactose in the Viibryd pills. It should not be enough to cause problems but if you think it may help you can take a lactase pill with it and see if that helps, it could not hurt.

      • chipur July 30, 2011, 9:00 pm

        I’m thinking you’re the real chipur…

      • chipur July 30, 2011, 9:00 pm

        I’m thinking you’re the real chipur…

  • chipur July 28, 2011, 9:35 pm

    chipur readers – Up to my hairline (ever-receding) in clients tonight. I’ll be checking-in on your comments very late this evening/tomorrow a.m. But you can be sure I’ll indeed do so – and chime in…

  • Kristen S Smith July 29, 2011, 1:52 am

    I had never heard of Viibryd until today. I was discussing my issues with my doctor and he said, “Well there’s this new drug– so new that you would be the first patient I’ve prescribed it to.” I’ve agreed to be his guinea pig and got my 30 day starter pack. Hoping it works!

    • chipur July 29, 2011, 4:18 am

      Well you just come on back here and let us know how things go. And you’ll find all sorts of experiences to help you make adjustments along the way.

      Heck, have your doc visit so she/he can see what’s going on in the real world of Viibryd.

      Thanks for you visit and participation…

      Bill

  • James Pinter July 29, 2011, 12:41 pm

    I am on day three on Viibryd 10mg. I am switching from Prestique 100mg. I have been going through the common side effects(dizziness, vertigo, tired, insomnia). I am going to stick it out though. I will keep you posted on my progress.

    I am located in Orlando Florida. I have contacted the CVS pharmacy and they told me a 30 day script would run me $60.00. That is with using my Aetna.

    I am very grateful for this blog! It makes it a little easier when you know that you are not alone!

    James

    • chipur July 29, 2011, 10:28 pm

      Hi James…

      Thank you for your visit and comment. I’m grateful you joined us…

      Bill

      PS: And, yes, you’re not alone!

  • Kristen S Smith July 29, 2011, 2:56 pm

    Anyone know whether you can drink alcohol on this medicine? I forgot to ask my doctor. I do tend to have a glass of wine with dinner.

    • chipur July 29, 2011, 10:29 pm

      Prescribing information says it’s a no-no…

    • Anonymous July 29, 2011, 10:34 pm

      I think I read somewhere to avoid alcohol while taking this drug, but I doubt a glass of wine would hurt.  Just my opinion.  If you read the labels on any psych medication, it says to avoid alcohol.  Cheers!
       

      • chipur July 30, 2011, 8:53 pm

        Got my vote…

    • Keepinon August 1, 2011, 3:13 pm

      Hi K~
      I “do tend to have a glass of wine”  or 2 with dinner : )  I am on day 35 of Viibryd and only noticed that I cannot tolerate more than that…. I used to be able to drink 3 or 4 with girlfriends and feel fine.   The only side effects I am struggling with are sleeplessness…. I finally broke a 40mg tablet in half last night just to get a better night sleep.  The 40s make me a little “buzzy”  in the head during the day (I”m sure that sounds Crazy : ) not anxious, like Wellbutrin (I did not like that stuff).   Anyway, I saw your post and thought I would chime in!  Good luck!  I LOVE feeling more human and connected! 
      Keepinon

  • sc13 July 29, 2011, 8:18 pm

    Hi everyone,  thanks so much for sharing all of your stories, it helps so much to know I am not going through this alone.

    I am on day 14 of the Viibryd starter pack, tomorrow I go up to 40mg.  Before starting Viibryd, I was on Celexa, which was helping my depression immensely (I am Bipolar).  Before that I have been on just about every antidepressant and mood stabilizer made for the past17 years.  The problem with the previous meds, and continues to be, my manic phases, which manifest as severe anger, irritability, and frustration.  I am furious all of the time, for absolutely no good reason.  I don’t know, maybe I have been misdiagnosed, and the anger is just severe anxiety. 

    My anger problems are so terrible that it has almost destroyed my relationship of 3 and a 1/2 years, which would be something I would regret for the rest of my life.  I have a loving, understanding, caring boyfriend who I would never want to give up for anything.  My life is great, I have no reason in the world to be so angry all the time.  This anger is a danger to myself and others; I get terrible road rage, which I am surprised has not killed anyone yet.  It causes me to hate myself and believe that I am a terrible, vindictive, bad person.

    I was previously on 20mg of Celexa, which I stopped the day I started the Viibryd.  I don’t believe I have had any withdrawals, thank goodness.  I take the Viibryd in the morning with my breakfast.  I work out 6 days a week, every week (P90x!).

    So far the only mood effects I have seen with the new drug are negative: severe depression, even more angry and irritable than usual.  I lash out so easily, and then hate myself afterwards.  I have seen plenty of physical side effects though:

    -Hunger!  That was, unfortunately, the very first thing I noticed.  I could eat all day, every day. 
    -Insomnia, which thankfully I take Seroquel to combat on weeknights, so I can get up for work the next morning.
    -Softer stools, which is okay, considering that before my BMs were petrified little nuggets.  There is also an increased urgency to go.  I think my digestive issues may be more mild than others’ because I get a Remicade infusion every 2 months for my ulcerative colitis, so I have a little help in that area.  I also take 400mg of Xifaxin (an antibiotic that works mainly in the digestive system) for some IBS symptoms.
    Lately though, I have been waking up with the same issues that caused my gastro to prescribe Xifaxin: severe belly pain, caused by gas that can’t be expelled.  Once I am up and going though, the pain goes away.  I have also become very bloated in the past 2 days. 
    -There is definitely some major RLS, only it’s in the entire body!  Tossing, turning, flipping, can’t stop moving! 

    I have not noticed any change in my sexual desire.  Still no interest.  I hope, hope, hope that 40mgs brings some changes.  I am so sick of trying drug after drug after drug, to no avail.  Nothing ever seems to help me, and I feel desperate because I am asking for help, but still I am flailing.  I made an appointment with an anger management counselor for next week, I am hoping talking to someone other than my pdoc (who doesn’t seem to care/understand at all) will help.  I am praying for week 3 changes, like some folks reported.

    Thanks for reading, for sharing, and for creating such an awesome place with real info!

    • chipur July 29, 2011, 10:31 pm

      Hi sc13!

      Really appreciate your visit and participation. Keep coming back, okay???

      Bill

  • New_viibryd_user July 29, 2011, 10:02 pm

    On day 3 of the 30 day ramp up pack given to me by my doc. I was not on other medication before starting this one. So far, my emotional state doesn’t feel much different. I do feel a bit disoriented during the day but not horribly, loose stools, and it’s been difficult to sleep. Hopefully these will subside as the benefits set in. Thanks to everyone, especially Bill, for sharing their experiences! I’ll do the same.

    Earlier this year, I discontinued use of effexor. The withdrawal was AWFUL. Worse than can be described. Avoid this drug like the plague. (I know this is not entirely related, but want to warn others). This stuff is bad juju.

    • chipur July 29, 2011, 10:34 pm

      Thanks for your visit and comment, NVU. Please continue to participate…

      Bill

  • Sacesf74 July 30, 2011, 4:35 am

    I’m on day 2 of viibryd. Day one had me feeling like the flu was setting in. A dull headache all day. Rumbling stomach, one bout of diarrhea. Day 2 and the headache didn’t return. The stomach is ok today. I’m using the starter pack that will bring to a full 40mg dose in 30days. I’ll post more as time goes on.

    • chipur July 30, 2011, 8:55 pm

      Welcome aboard! We’ll look forward to your future posts…

      Bill

  • Mary MargaretB July 30, 2011, 5:35 am

    I have been on viibryd for a couple of weeks. I was previously on no medication because my anxiety has just recently become debilitating. Within a couple of days,even on the 10mg, I had sexual side effects. I am so disappointed. It definitely helped with the anxiety and depression but how do I pick between sex and happiness? My doctor started me on Wellbutrin to try to offset the side effects, but it seems to have made things worse. I am feeling more anxious than usual and every task seems insurmountable. As far as other side effects go, my stomach hs been very upset & I’ve been nauseous. I’ve also had a lot of fatigue.

    • Meteoroid July 30, 2011, 8:36 am

      I am sorry to hear about the SSEs you are experiencing. It is a cruel choice to have to make, give up sex or or happiness. I have spent a long time trying to figure that question out so I may be able to share some helpful things. I went from another SSRI to Viibryd so I didn’t have any time to compare Viibryd’s SSEs to no antidepressants. For me 20mg of Viibryd is significantly better in SSEs then 10mg Lexapro. I can say that in the past when I have started back on an SSRI there is a period of a few days to a week or so when the SSEs are really bad then things get a little better. So you may find after a while the SSEs do get a bit better. Another thing to ask is what type of SSEs are you having? These drugs can cause several, such as loss of libido, delayed orgasm, and erectile dysfunction. A reduction in libido can be due to other things in your life. Depression is a libido killer, and fatigue is another. Those things can even delay orgasms a bit too. If you drink at all that can lead to a delay in reaching orgasm. 

      Bill wrote an article with 10 or so tips for dealing with SSRI’s SSEs. I did in the past have some success with using a drug called Periactin. It blocks some of the serotonin which causes the SSEs. It has a few drawbacks though. It takes a few hours to work once swallowed, I hear it is not very soluble So I would have to give it 4 or so hours before it was in my system and working. That made things not very spontaneous. The other problem with it is that it does tend to make people tired.

    • chipur July 30, 2011, 8:58 pm

      Hi Mary MargaretB…

      Welcome to chipur! I appreciate your participation. Wish I could make those SSEs go bye-bye. And maybe they will in time. Great question – “…how do I pick between sex and happiness?” Guess it’s all in your definition of happiness.

      Well, keep posting – we need your contribution…

      Bill

    • Keepinon August 2, 2011, 1:57 pm

      EEK!  Don’t take Wellbutrin if you feel anxious!  It made me feel anxious when I had never reported anxiety to my doc…. I am a depression patient.  I’m sorry for those of you who struggle with anxiety on top of depression.   So tough…. hang in there.

  • chipur July 30, 2011, 8:35 pm

    Hey Guys & Gals…

    Just posted my second in the series on eating disorders,. Interesting reading! https://chipur.com/2011/07/30/eating-disorders-the-need-to-know-series-cause/

    Bill

  • chipur July 30, 2011, 8:35 pm

    Hey Guys & Gals…

    Just posted my second in the series on eating disorders,. Interesting reading! https://chipur.com/2011/07/30/eating-disorders-the-need-to-know-series-cause/

    Bill

  • DF July 31, 2011, 1:12 am

    I am on Day 13 (20mg) of Viibryd and just found this site.  I’ll continue reading my way down the page as the days go by.  My story is that my doctor thought of me when he heard about this medication, and after having me read about it, I decided I would give it a go.  I’m my doctor’s guinea pig. 

    He took me totally off the Wellbutrin first.  His goal is to also get me off the Cymbalta, Abilify, and Ritalin and onto the Viibryd alone.  My reactions to the first week were fine.  The constipation I have had for a long time between the Wellbutrin and the Cymbalta has lessened, but I haven’t gone to the other extreme either.  I’ll see how that develops as the dosages change (I go to 40mg on Monday).  This past week has been a living hell though, but I don’t know what to blame as the catalyst.  Was it the bad news I got a week ago coupled with the changes in meds, or what?  Who’s to say, really.  I’ve had self-mutilation obsessive ideation, crying jags, and lethargy. 
    Thank goodness I’m feeling better now with a prescribed temporary increase in Ritalin.  I’m holding off blaming it on the Viibryd until I see how I feel this week on the 40mg.  I’m not in a relationship at the moment so I can’t give much info on SSE, but I feel the same desire-wise. 

    How nice to have found this site.  Good luck to us all!

    • chipur August 1, 2011, 3:32 pm

      Hi DF…

      I’m pleased you found this site, as well. You know, that’s the “goofy” thing about the emotional/mental disorders – and meds. It’s so difficult to connect the dots when something goes wrong. That’s one of the reasons docs like to limit the number of meds – so it’s easier to ID culprits.

      I think you’re wise to delay judgment. Keep working hard, and keep us informed…

      Bill

  • Gutzy1 July 31, 2011, 11:31 am

    I have to tell you that for me coming off the cymbalta was HELL! I thought I was going crazy and then I had major brain zaps and I thought I had some seizures. I even had a cat scan(all was fine). I’m now past the withdrawls and feeling much better. SO hang in there. It will get better and  remember your not alone. This site has really helped me get through the tough times. Were all in this together. Good luck.

    • Keepinon August 2, 2011, 2:00 pm

      HI Gutzy and DF~  coming off zoloft was absolutely awful for me….  nothing like upset tummy and sleep and then insomniac like with Viibryd.  That, I can handle.  Feeling crazy and brain zappy was pretty  tough.  Hang in there.  I am almost through the starter pac and only struggling with sleeping at night, now.  Feeling very little depression….. thank God.

  • achelelover July 31, 2011, 6:48 pm

    Just as an update:

    I started taking this a few weeks ago. I started noticing slight SSE on the 20mg, but I figured I could deal with them if the drug was good enough. I went up to 40mg and had much harsher SSE, couldn’t orgasm, all that fun stuff. I’ve now worked my way down to 10mg a day. I started taking Luvox recently, and I have found a very low dose to be extremely effective for my obsessive thinking, which is what I was trying viibryd for. Seems luvox is my magical medication, but viirbyd was not bad other than the SSE. I didn’t feel spacey, have GI problems or any of the other complaints people had. If it wasn’t for the SSE I would be hopped up on it right now. I appreciate this site and all the comments. I know it really helped me. You all are the best.

    • Gregory July 31, 2011, 10:17 pm

      Did Luvox give you SSE?

  • crab76 July 31, 2011, 7:35 pm

    I wanted to update that I gave up on Viibryd after 1 week. I had a ton of side effects but the biggest that I just couldn’t deal with was the extreme fatigue. No energy to work out and my appetite did NOT decrease. My main reason for stopping Abilify and trying the Viibryd was due to weight gain. So for me, I do NOT believe Viibryd will help control my appitite. I had major Sweet/Carb cravings. I also experianced sexual side effects that I never had with abilify.

    The abilify helps with-in days for my suicidal thoughts, racing thoughts, depression, fatigue. Stopping abilify and starting Viibryd all my “crazy” thoughts returned. I just went through a major sucicide attempt in june. So having these thoughts return is pretty scary for me and my family. So I’m back on the Abilify for now. UGH! :-/

    I know one week was a little early (at 10mg) to tell if Viibryd would help with all these thoughts. I’m sad that I just couldnt seem to get past the Fatigue and give it more of a chance.

    Good luck to everyone with the Viibryd. I hope it works out better for other people.

    • chipur August 1, 2011, 3:46 pm

      Thanks for your participation, crab76. I wish you well…

  • Demi July 31, 2011, 9:46 pm

    Hi Guys,

    Doing well here, I am on the 20MG does, still have loose bowel movements when I go, but no other issues besides a little RLS when I am trying to lay down at night.

  • chipur July 31, 2011, 10:23 pm

    Hi chipur readers! Kicking back just a bit this weekend. Worry not! I’ll be chiming in likely late tonight or tomorrow a.m. You’re doing a great job on your own…

  • Hanging In There July 31, 2011, 10:24 pm

    I have been on lexapro over the last few years (diagnosed with unipolar depression,   in between I tried it with welbutrin and abilify – not much benefit. By last summer I was completely depressed and did almost nothing the entire summer except lay on the couch in a dark basement with the Tv on (I love gardening/landscaping and for me to not be seen outside means something is seriously wrong).  Then I tried Pristiq last year (came off lexapro and built up on this) and I became a complete nervous wreck.  I lost 22 pounds in 3 weeks and looked like a kid, I was so nervous I couldn’t eat.  It was hard to concentrate at work and I felt paranoia coming back. I switched back to lexapro and got back to what normal was for me – having depression and some paranoia, but it was managable, I thought. I began battling the depression that was growing again and my doctor suggested Viibryd. I was on 20 mg lexapro, went down to 10 mg for 4 days and then started my starter kit for Viibryd.  The first week at 10 mg of viibryd I felt better and less depressed. It was easier for me to do things around the house and yard. Today I took Day 14 (20mg) and tomorrow I begin 40 mg.  The main symptoms I have felt duirng week 2 at 20 mg have been some naseau, tightening of the stomach, some lose stools (but this is fairly normal for me because of the colon issues in my family-I might have to have my colon removed), some increasing anxiety which I hope will subside once I have reached the 4th week of the kit (40mg for 2 weeks). I have had some sadness, but the depression has been lower. I was wondering if others had experienced increased anxiety and then had it settle down. I take it in the am with food and I also take generic Ambien for sleep. I am eventually going to try to get off the sleep medication, but I do have sleep apnea and have to sleep with a bi-pap machine.
    Good luck to everyone and God Bless. 

  • Bpositive August 1, 2011, 7:05 am

    Hello!  Tonight I took my first 40 mg dose.  The only thing that happened is that I went to sleep very early.  I might be tired because my sleep habits aren’t the best…My tummy is a little upset but not too bad.  I have been more emotional on Viibryd but to be honest, it’s been kind of nice feeling my emotions again. On the other hand, I have felt more lonely than I usually do.  Who knows…it may not have anything to do with the Viibryd…Well, I’ve missed your comments, Bill, so be sure to leave me one!  haha!  Hope everyone else is doing great!  God bless!

    • chipur August 1, 2011, 3:50 pm

      Consider one left! (but I suppose a bit of substance would have helped)…

  • Meteoroid August 1, 2011, 9:45 am

    Has anyone dealing with the insomnia side effect of Viibryd found any strategies? Is it better for you to take it in the morning or before bed? Are there any medications prescribed by the doc or OTC that have helped? I am asking since over a month in the Insomnia isn’t being very nice to me. The doc told me to increase my trazodone dose but that has no really helped.

  • CLD August 1, 2011, 1:32 pm

    I can’t thank everyone on this site enough!  I do not suffer from depression but my husband has been battling it for a year.  He has been on all kinds of meds since last Sept starting with Depakote, risperadone and rozerom for bipoloar.  Was taken off the rozerom and the PA he was seeing kept increasing his dosage of Depakote and risperadone and added in Cogentin.  By Christmas he was not functioning at all.  I couldn’t get him in to see the psych (I was told he wasn’t taking new patients which fueled me since he had never seen him to begin with but was given the PA from day one).  I was able to get him in to see a new psych who said he was mis-diagnosed and it was depression.  In Feb. he was put on Celexa, added Zoloft in March.  He also takes perphenazine for concentration at dinnertime.  He seems to hit a plateau after the 4-6 weeks.  Welbutrin was added in May.  He also takes 1mg ativan in the morning for anxiety and if needed 1/2 or 1 mg at lunchtime.  Psych had the sample pack of viibryd.  Today is day 27 with 3 more of 40 mg left.  He has absolutely no energy!  If I let him, he would sleep the whole weekend.  He continued his Celexa, Zoloft, Welbutrin, ativan and perphenazine for the first week while on the 10mg but is off all but perphenazine and ativan with the viibryd.  He also had tried adderall before the viibryd to give him a boost as the doc says it is half anti-depressant and half stimulant.  It did nothing for him.  We are very frustrated but I have to say having this forum is wonderful for me.  I get nervous with mixing all these meds but after reading most of the comments, I will see if he can start welbutrin again.  That seemed to work giving him a little boost with the other meds.  He has the runs sometimes and doesn’t have the headaches or nausea that others complain of.  His biggest issue is no energy.  He also takes trazadone at night to sleep (not sure why as he has no problem during the day).  He is working but not to his full potential.   Viibryd is marketed as not having to supplement with anything else, but I understand welbutrin was also marketed that way in the beginning.  I just want to thank all of you for keeping me a little saner through this.  I hope you don’t mind that I have taken up some space here and I wish everyone well with their quest for a calmer happier life.  Sorry this is so long.

    • chipur August 1, 2011, 3:54 pm

      Hi CLD…

      We’re glad for you to take all the space you need – no apologies necessary. I think it’s darned cool that a spouse would be doing research for her partner.

      Your participation is appreciated and you’re invited to continue posting…

      Bill

      • CDL August 3, 2011, 11:13 am

        Thanks Bill for your encouraging reply.  I have to say since I posted two days ago my husband had the worst two days.  I called the doc Monday and he said give it until today.  When I first wrote he was sleeping all day and the past two the anxiety came back big time.  Yesterday was really bad – I was on edge all day.  Today however is a much different story.  Tomorrow is his last day of 40mg and today he seems much more himself.  Like the doc has been telling us, he could have his worst day right before his best day.  I’m hoping yesterday was his worst and today will be his best.  It’s easy for me to say to continue with something that makes you feel so bad, but I have to say, everyone here seems to have much more experience than I, or my husband do on this whole thing.  Everyone is different, but if it’s tolerable, try to get through the “bad” days, there is light at the end of the tunnel – at least I keep telling myself and my husband that.  It has been a rough road as it has for everyone here suffering.  Be well and I’ll let you all know how he does when he starts the 40mg on a reg basis.

      • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:01 pm

        CDL..

        Your contributions are so strong and helpful. And you know, at least for me, so much of the inspiration I pull from your writing is in between the lines. I mentioned it in reply to your first post, and I’ll say it again. How heartening it is that a loved one would be doing all she/he could to aid someone dear to them. Kind of tears me up a bit (Oops, I’m a counselor – am I supposed to say that? Darn right I am!).

        I believe in the potential for one’s very best of days coming in the immediate aftermath of hell. As a matter of fact, I’ve personally experienced it (as in me, not a client). It’s amazing, powerful, and wonderful.

        You keep loving your husband as you do – and be sure to take care of yourself, as well…

        Bill

  • Tobyjava2003 August 1, 2011, 4:38 pm

    I am on day 12.   I took 10 mg for 5 days, 20 mg for 5 days, and 30 mg for 2 days.  Today is my first day on 40 mg.  At no point have I had any gastrointestinal problems (guess I am one of the lucky ones).  The first week and a half was really rough.  I felt extremely lethargic, unable to muster the energy to do anything.  I believe this problem was due in large part to my being weaned off Lexapro (have now come down from 7.5 mg a day to ~2.5 mg a day).  When I upped the dose of Viibryd to 30 mg, I felt an immediate improvement in mood and increase in energy level.  However, today (my first day on 40 mg), I am feeling strong tingling sensations in my hands and arms, jitteriness and increased appetite.  I had to take 0.5 mg of Klonopin to calm me down.  My doc says the Viibryd side effects I am currently experiencing will go away as I adjust to the medication and that I should stay on 40 mg per day.  So I guess that is what I am going to do.  Tomorrow, though, I think I will split the 40 mg pill in half, and take half in the morning and half mid afternoon.  Has anyone else experienced these tingling sensations?  Did they go away eventually?

    • chipur August 2, 2011, 2:07 am

      Hi TJ2003. Welcome to chipur – glad you’re participating. I’m thinking the tingling sensation you’re describing is paresthesia. It’s a posted side effect of Viibryd (not saying it’s permanent) and a common anxiety symptom. I used to experience it all the time, but haven’t for decades.

      Keep us posted…

      Bill

    • Effeninsomniac August 2, 2011, 5:42 am

      I had the tingling in the hands- especially in bed.

  • chipur August 2, 2011, 2:01 am

    Brand new piece on catastrophizing. Helpful info!!! https://chipur.com/2011/08/01/catastrophizing-finding-a-sense-of-peace/

  • Effeninsomniac August 2, 2011, 5:36 am

    Hi there. I’m going nuts trying to get results googling Withdrawal symptoms from going off of Viibryd cold turkey. I hopeful not spoiling the party by being the bad egg. I’ve tried many other antidepressants before settling on Lexapro for 5 years. I was only on 5mgs, it helped for a long time, but then upped to 10mgs with no result. My doctor started me on viibryd, and told me to cut back to 5mgs of lexapro while taking viibryd the first two weeks. 2 weeks into the Viibryd, my husband begged me to call my doctor. I was crying hysterically every day for no reason, experienced paranoid thoughts, and nausea. I told my husband to give the viibryd a chance to work. The remaining two weeks, I only got worse- and started to isolate myself. I stopped taking the viibryd cold turkey, and called my doc right away. He agreed it was reasonable enough to try cold turkey, and just take Xanax as needed. I’m currently undergoing the worst withdrawal ever, not sure if it’s a combination of going off both lexapro or just viibryd. It’s finally getting better, although not 100%. I’m suffering from: dizziness, diarrhea, chills, head aches, brain zaps- and everytime I get a brain zap, my hand goes numb. The one positive thing I can say is definitely no sexual side effects from viibryd. I would not recommend stopping it cold turkey, but am wondering if anyone else has withdrawal feedback?

    • chipur August 2, 2011, 5:39 pm

      Hi Effeninsomniac…

      Your name sure speaks volumes. A couple of my articles may help a little…

      On antidepressant discontinuation syndrome
      https://chipur.com/2010/03/12/face-antidepressant-withdrawal-ads/

      On how to stop an antidepressant
      https://chipur.com/2011/02/16/how-do-i-stop-my-antidepressant/

      Thanks for your chipur visit!

      Bill

    • Jsunday August 2, 2011, 6:07 pm

      I’m really sorry to hear that. I’m also thinking about cutting back or switching from the viibryd. I’ve been on it for four weeks and am currently just starting 40mg (I tapered up very slowly). After a few days of 20mg, I felt great – for a day or two. Since then I’ve had uncontrollable crying every day. Once I started the 40mg, I’ve had a strange sleepiness with anxiety, impatience and a sense that time is moving too slowly and that things are unreal. My OCD – which had been getting better – now seems a little worse. It’s too bad because this is the first SSRI that hasn’t caused me to feel ramped up. 

      I’m really sorry to hear about your withdrawal and I think that the xanax route may be a good bet, but I think that stopping viibryd cold turkey is a terrible idea.

  • Kristen S Smith August 2, 2011, 1:19 pm

    I’m on day 5 of my starter pack. I haven’t had any side effects to speak of. I know it takes a few weeks for a new antidepressant to fully kick in, but I actually am already feeling a bit more motivated. I hope it’s the medicine working and not just a placebo effect.

  • Melmorganrn August 3, 2011, 2:27 am

    Been on titration pack, finally made it to the 40mg tablets.  I have been taking the 40mg tablets for about 5 days, I am soooo dizzy I am thinking of going back to the 20mg.  Anyone else experienced this?

    • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:58 pm

      Thanks for the visit and comment, mmrn.

      I think you’ll find a lot of readers share your experience. And given you’ve been on 40mg for five days, you may want to go ahead and consider heading down to 20. We’ve established it’s okay to cut the 40s in half. Be sure to chat with your doc, but that’s the take on this side of the fence…

      Bill

  • Bpositive August 3, 2011, 3:00 am

    Yes, I have…I feel slightly dizzy and a bit strange.  I can tell my sense of humor is back though, much to my poor grandkids dismay!  lol  I’ve only been on the 40 mg for 2 days…I broke them in two for awhile.  I can’t decide if I want to stay on the 40 to see if it gets better or if I, too, should go back to the 20.  

    • chipur August 3, 2011, 6:01 pm

      Ah, the question of the ages, Bpositive blood type and attitude.

      I’m not your doc (just a counselor), but sounds to me like if it’s been just two days on 40 – and your sense of humor is back (sorry, grandkids) – it might be worth hanging at 40 for a bit longer.

      Sweet hearing from you (as always)…

      Bill

  • chipur August 3, 2011, 4:02 am

    Hi chipur readers! Will be catching up with comments mid-day Wednesday. Hope everyone’s hanging in there. And thanks for visiting chipur…

    Bill

  • dramatoni August 3, 2011, 5:49 am

    Hi Bill and V users.  Thought I’d give an update.  Today was day 2 at 40 mg.  The past week was okay, my Fibromyalgia pain was gone, the side effects were wearing off, and I wasn’t sleeping all day.  I felt more awake and was able to take care of some business, which has been difficult for me.  However, I still felt lethargic, even though I had more energy.  Okay, I know that sounds contradictory, but that’s how it was. I did do a little exercising, and I do mean a little, but it’s better than none.  

    However, since I started the 40mg, I’ve had headaches, dizziness, seeing spots, muscle tension that I can’t relax, and tingling and numbness in my arms and hands.  Oh, and the GI probs are back, but not quite as badly.  My fibro pain is back, too, so I’m taking Vicadin again, which I haven’t needed since I started V.  To be honest, I did have a very physically active weekend, and I pushed myself more than I should have, which may have brought on the fibro problems.  

    I don’t think my depression has lightened, but I do seem more able to focus and I don’t dread doing things as much as before.  I also think I’m finally over the Cymbalta withdrawal, thank goodness.

    So, I’m sticking it out to see if the higher dose will eventually work or if I’ll need to go back to 20mg.  I hope it settles soon, because I start a new job this weekend.  I haven’t been able to work for 6 months.It’s very part-time, but a big deal for me.  Wish me luck!  Getting through all this has been so much easier because of all of your help.  Thanks.

    • Juvet August 3, 2011, 10:18 am

      Hi everybody and in special you dramatoni:

      I suffer from mdd, and panic attacks, and I am on Zoloft and Zyprexa for the panics.  The doctor wants to change the Zoloft for Viibryd, will see.  What I wanted to ask you is, I read that you suffer from fibromyalgia, have you ever tried 2.50 of Abilify?  I ask because my cousin suffers from Depression and fibromyalgia, and was in Neurontin for the ‘fibro’ but it wasn’t helping anymore after months on it. Then her Psychiatrist recommended Abilify to help in combination with Zoloft, and happens that as soon as she started taking the 2.5mg of Abilify her pains are gone and she feels more energetic, maybe you can ask you doctor about trying Abilify and see if it helps with the ‘fibro’, many are reporting this surprising positive effect of Abilify in reducing the pains from fibro. Just wanted to let you and others to know about this. Thanks for reading, and good luck with sticking to the higher dose, anyway if the higher dose is too much for you, like making you too anxious, you can go down to a dose that your body tolerates and you feel well. And thanks Bill this website is very interesting and has so much helpful information that I consider it a blessing you are sharing your knowledge and finding with us. Be blessed. 

      • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:05 pm

        Hi Juvet!

        Thank you for your visit and contribution. Excellent info on fibro/Abilify thank you for sharing. Oh, you’re welcome! Keep posting, okay?

        Bill

      • dramatoni August 4, 2011, 12:10 am

        Thanks for the info Juvet.  I can’t remember if I’ve tried Abilify…I’ve been on so many, and my memory is fried!  :)  I’ll talk to my doc next time, if this doesn’t do it.

      • Bpositive August 4, 2011, 1:05 am

        Wow, that is really interesting!  I have fibro and would give a lot to be pain free again. It started about 10 years ago when I was going through a very stressful time.  I know in my heart that my emotions somehow triggered the pain.  I can’t even imagine being pain free…but I want to!!  I need to ask my doctor if he might let me try it too!  Thanks for sharing! :)

    • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:26 pm

      All of the luck and well wishes in the world comin’ at you!

      Hey, who knows how things will work out with 40mg. My immediate reaction was, “Go back to 20!” But I think you’re wise to ride it out a bit longer. You may just have the sweetest results in the world.

      People just don’t know/understand what those enduring a mood/anxiety disorder endure, do they?

      You show great courage, dramatoni! Thanks for that…

      Bill

  • Barbara August 3, 2011, 6:44 am

    Well, i will be taking my last 20mg tomorrow. I felt great!! I have been in a major depression/anxiety since March. Viibyrd is the fifth med in the past four months. I have suffered with MDD/anxiety/panic disorder for 25 yrs and have had 18 breakthrough episodes. I have been on so many antidepressants over the years. I have been on Prozac five times, but when my psychiatrist put me on it two months ago it didn’t work. The one draw back with Prozac is that it takes a long time to get into your system and longer to get out. But, speaking from experience, Viibyrd is phenomenal.. minimal side effects. I have had slight GI discomfort, which is gone now. I feel very energetic, depression has lifted, lost weight and no sexual side effects. The insomnia was extremely annoying but i notice it now comes and goes. I will continue to stay strong, remain positive and not get discouraged if i happen to have an occasional setback. I thank God for all i have for how dedicated Bill is…. and for everyone’s opinions. The doctors prescribe the meds, but we take them and all our feedback is important to us and to them!  Good luck to everyone!! God Bless!!

    • Meteoroid August 3, 2011, 8:59 am

      I am so glad to hear that you are doing much better. Anyone who has suffered from MDD knows how bad it gets and I think we all are happy when someone gets relief. Many of the comments here, mine included, focus on the side effects. So its nice to hear a report that this medication is working so well for someone! Let us know if and how you get a handle on the insomnia. That is the main draw back of Viibryd to me right now.

      • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:11 pm

        Okay, I’m really thinkin’ Meteoroid is the real chipur…

      • Meteoroid August 3, 2011, 8:28 pm

        Haha naw you are the pro around here Bill! I am so grateful for this site because I may not have been able to get through the first part of my Viibryd treatment without the encouraging words of you and the other posters. I am glad I can pay some of that back. Just like you wrote about there is a stigma about mental health issues. So its really great that those of us who deal with medications and mental illnesses have a place to share and learn from each other. None of us should have to handle this alone.

      • chipur August 4, 2011, 4:21 pm

        “None of us should have to handle this alone.” That says it all, Meteoroid. And I aim to provide an ongoing platform for those who CHOOSE (keyword) not to be alone…

    • ls August 3, 2011, 1:23 pm

      Glad you are having luck with this med too! My only problem was the first 2 to 3 days on the 20mg and then when I switched to the 40mg. I just felt a little like I was walking around on a clould, really not much in the GI problem thing. I also take Welbutrin and think I will continue with that, have been on it for several years. I take Xanax for my anxiety, and have too. My son has been in town this summer so I haven’t been driving much. Started back this week. So far OK….I have been a little scared of people saying that it was causing anxiety. Sure hope it doesn’t start that with me. I seem much calmer and tend to be able to cope with things better. :) Long as the anxiety doesn’t come up, course I have my xanax for that, so it may keep that symtom away…Soooo so far so good!!! I have been on Lex before and stopped taking it because i had NO feelings, this hasn’t been that way at all!!

      • chipur August 3, 2011, 4:51 pm

        Hi Is…

        You really have to devote a lot of energy to not buying-in to the potential for anxiety. I’m glad you’re here and participating – but if you’re going to do that you have to gather the discipline and strength not to assume others’ experiences will be yours.

        I know you can do it, okay?!

        Bill

      • lkelley36 August 4, 2011, 3:19 pm

        Bill,
        Thanks and yes I know…it is hard to hear and then hope that it doesn’t effect me that way too… But, I went into this noing that I had to do something else and have been relieved so far that I am really feeling better!!! Started back driving, scared my son! :) (That is a good thing…lol) Seem to be doing good, not any better than before so far, anxiety/panic wise, but definately not worse.  Am on day 20 and at 40mg and almost scared to say, “I feel happy??”  But I really do!! So glad people are out here talking about this and you are great!!

      • chipur August 4, 2011, 9:06 pm

        Hey, shout it out. “I feel happy!” Confirm it. Own it…

    • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:19 pm

      Sweet post, Barbara! And thank you for your kind words.

      You know, my first panic attack hit when I was nine (1963). And the true fury of my panic and anxiety experience spanned 1973-1989. There just wasn’t the knowledge floating around in those days. So one really took their lumps.

      And, man, I swore if I ever got out of the woods I’d help others do the same. I know how it feels to be lost and “finished!” I made it out. Why then wouldn’t I do all I could to spare someone else from that kind of pain?

      Glad you’re on board…

      Bill

  • Gutzy1 August 3, 2011, 9:47 am

    I’m now on day 25, taking 40mg of VB. I have had all the same side effects as most, until day 22 or 23. I take it in the morning due to the insomia and it  works really well. I get alot accomplished and I get tired around 8 or 9. I went to therepy yesterday and she stated that I seem much more calm since last week. I also feel really calm inside and I guess it shows on the outside. I wanted to quit the 40 mg at first due to being more anxious but I pressed on and it  finally worked. As far as my sex drive, it’s somewhat better on VB than it was on cymbalta but being able to feel no anxiety is worth the sse. Don’t give up on the 40 mg to soon , it will kick in. Today I see the Dr and hope he has samples since it’s 170.00 with my insurance and there’s no way I can afford that. Good Luck. Keep writing. Chipur has really been a wonderful help to me.

    • chipur August 3, 2011, 5:10 pm

      …and you have been a wonderful help to all!

      Hey, don’t know the $$$ #s, but I’m told Viibryd is available through http://medcopharmacy.com If anyone’s given it a go, why not share?

  • Frank August 3, 2011, 1:20 pm

    Hello all, I am on day 28 of the sample pack of Viibryd.  I had taken about 10 days worth of the 40mg and was having dizziness and some bouts of extreme sleepiness, felt spacey and lethargic.  I called my doc and he said that 40mg’s may be too much for me and to cut back to 20mgs – he did say I could cut the 40’s in half.  I’m on my second day of that and feel good outside of a little diziness probably due to the withdrawal coming from cutting my dose in half.  The GI side effects went away on day 22 or 23 and I have had no SSE’s!!!!!!  : ).  Everyone stick with it and don’t be afraid to check with your doc, you may just need a dosage adjustment. 

    • chipur August 3, 2011, 4:53 pm

      Great words of encouragement, Frank. And another confirmation that it’s okay to cut the 40s in half.

      Thank you for your visit and participation. Your contributions will be valuable…

      Bill

  • Miss CC August 3, 2011, 4:04 pm

    Hello Hello,
    This site is wonderful…I’ve been following it for a little while and decided to put in my two cents on how im feeling and the side effects im experiencing. only on day 13..been taking the 20 mg for about a week…so far the GI issues are pretty much gone…one thing i can say is I do feel that i am hungrier (but this is something i always struggle with). I dont have much of a sex drive but am trying to make it happen for my husband… last night was the only downfall…i could not orgasm, donno if that is a side effect but oh well. Main issue with me is that I didnt want to be put on an SSRI that caused weight gain and decreased libido like the other ones ive taken in the past…so my doc said to give Vii a try.

    Im hesitate about the cost (was used to 4$ generic prozac) but will do it if it works. I havent noticed a decrease in energy…actually a plus is that my sleep schedule seems to be more normal. I go to bed earlier and wake up earlier (its nice).

    I struggle with OCD and depression and although this drug has not been approved for treating OCD yet…it is an SSRI which seem to go hand in hand with OCD. I’m sticking this drug out to see if it helps by the end of the month….main concern is weight gain and decreased libido…
    Any one else having issues with weight gain? LOst or Gained?

    Bill- Thanks so much for all your input and support…your a class act.

    • chipur August 3, 2011, 4:48 pm

      Hi Miss CC…

      I sure appreciate your chipur visit and participation. And thank you for the compliment!

      Glad to read you’re going to ride the Viibryd wave for a time. I mean, if you’re going to give something a go, you might as well throw everything you have at it. The seas may well get rough, but we’ll be here for you to vent and pick up pointers.

      Who knows for sure, but I believe your logic re the OCD/SSRI biz is correct. I don’t know why you couldn’t expect some bonus relief there.

      Really glad you decided to put in those two cents of yours. Keep depositing…

      Bill

  • Old Man August 3, 2011, 6:50 pm

    Chipur , I was lucky to have a career because of MAOI treatment for anxiety/panic. Took me a year to get off them. As I aged I felt the risks out weighed the reward. Within 6 months of stopping them my “old friends” returned. Started the benzos/alcohol which I knew weren’t an answer. So have been waiting on Viibyrd for 6 months.

    Some of us have a tough time with SSRI’s because of the panic atacks at the beginning.. I started 10 mg and it was terrible. So halved the 10 mg. Still to much panic. Next I went to taking 1/2 every other night for 5 nights. Now I’m up to 1/2 every night. I know you it sounds goofy but I can feel the anxiety lessening.. Even my benzo dosage I’ve cut 2/3……..So do I have HOPE……?  More than I can express and Chipur thank you very much for this site.

     Pls stress to those sensitive to the anxiety/panic, there is a dosage regimen that may be successful.

    • chipur August 4, 2011, 4:19 pm

      Hi Old Man (as I expressed in my thank you email, I have a hard time writing that)…

      Great input, and I sure appreciate your perspective. I’m sure anxiety/panic chipur readers will, as well.

      Interesting. I remember some 18 years ago stopping imipramine (a TCA) because I was feeling like a million bucks. Just like you reported, it wasn’t long before my “old friends” returned. In fact, I didn’t even make it to the six month mark. The SSRIs had just come out, so I ran to my psychiatrist and got hooked up with Paxil. I stabilized.

      Turned to Zoloft a few years later – and ceased several months ago. My “old friends” have not returned, nor do I expect them to. God only knows why we all have to be so different!!!

      Anyway, hope is everything. Sounds like you know that. Thank you for your visit and participation…

      Bill

  • chipur August 3, 2011, 8:52 pm
    • Bpositive August 4, 2011, 12:55 am

      That is a great article! It really speaks to my situation at the moment…I had a few things happen in my childhood that started me on the wrong course but it was my decision whether or not I let those issues determine who I was to become.  I am in a great place now.  I tend to be a caregiver, a little codependent….and for the first time in my life, I can care about myself with no guilt. I will hopefully make the right turns as they come my way so my last years will be fulfilling and worthwhile.  Thanks for having the vision to create this site and for sharing your knowledge through your writing. 

      • chipur August 4, 2011, 4:37 pm

        Ding! Ding! Ding! Thank you Bpositive (blood type and attitude). “I will hopefully make the right turns as they come my way so my last years will be fulfilling and worthwhile.”

        Incidentally, some background on that article. I hand wrote it on scrap paper in an E.R. late Tuesday night, as I was working with a homeless 60-some-year-old man with a blood alcohol level of ten-zillion.

        How many wrong turns had he made? Yet, how many have we all made? Diff is, as a clinician I can tell you the man I was with has no more chances (assorted cognitive issues, etc.) But most of us do!

        I went back and earned my counseling credentials only seven years ago. Why? Because I’d found my life’s work and want to leave this world (almost 57 y.o. now) a contributing and fulfilled man.

        Sounds like we share the same goal. It ain’t over ’til we say it’s over!

        Bill

      • chipur August 4, 2011, 4:37 pm

        Ding! Ding! Ding! Thank you Bpositive (blood type and attitude). “I will hopefully make the right turns as they come my way so my last years will be fulfilling and worthwhile.”

        Incidentally, some background on that article. I hand wrote it on scrap paper in an E.R. late Tuesday night, as I was working with a homeless 60-some-year-old man with a blood alcohol level of ten-zillion.

        How many wrong turns had he made? Yet, how many have we all made? Diff is, as a clinician I can tell you the man I was with has no more chances (assorted cognitive issues, etc.) But most of us do!

        I went back and earned my counseling credentials only seven years ago. Why? Because I’d found my life’s work and want to leave this world (almost 57 y.o. now) a contributing and fulfilled man.

        Sounds like we share the same goal. It ain’t over ’til we say it’s over!

        Bill

  • Jeannie Watson August 3, 2011, 9:50 pm

    Hello! I’m following you on Twitter now.  Just wanted you to know it’s me…bpositive.  I am not much of a twitter’er (although some do call me a twit on occasion) …but Twitter is a nice way to find your articles! Thanks for all you do that helps encourage us in this journey!  :)

    • chipur August 4, 2011, 4:23 pm

      Well, Hi JW! I saw that you are now following chipur on Twitter. And I’m now following you, as well. Excellent! And it is a convenient way to find the articles, isn’t it?

      Thank You…

      Bill

  • Sean August 4, 2011, 2:43 pm

    5th week in and mood seems to be improving.  SSEs of delayed orgasm and difficulty sustaining interest during sex are still there.  Although it’s 5th week overall, it’s only 3rd on full dose, so I’ll give it till end of month before revisiting whether or not to stay on it.  The way I’m thinking now is that if mood improves drastically, I may consider weighing the consequence of the SSEs.  But if it stays roughly here and the SSEs don’t get better, it might not be worth it being that at this point, the mood is not considerably better than on prozac (which is SSE free for me and cheap).

    I’m sorry about the previous rant against doctors/big pharma.  This can obviously be a frustrating process for all of us, and I got a little off track on a bad day.

    If anyone can chime in about the Wellbutrin piece though, I’d really appreciate it.  In a nutshell, it really helped for ADD in conjunction with Dexedrine, but I had to stop due to allergy (tried brand, generic, xl and ir – all produced hives).  I know there isn’t anything exactly like it, but if someone could make a suggestion about ways to help out the Dexedrine (as it’s pooped out a lot), that would be great.  BTW, have tried all other ADD meds and none seem to work without giving me depression and anti-social behavior.  Thanks.

    • chipur August 4, 2011, 9:04 pm

      Hi Sean! No need to apologize for anything. You’re right, enduring an emotional/mental health disorder is often mega-frustrating.

      Your reasoning seems sound re continuing on Viibryd. Let me see what I can find on the Wellbutrin piece…

      Bill

  • chipur August 4, 2011, 5:00 pm

    Hey All! I’m enjoying your comments today (okay, I always do). Gotta’ handle some client biz and will return late afternoon/early evening to continue my replies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Katie August 4, 2011, 9:29 pm

    Ok, here’s day 1 on Viibryd. I’m very nervous. I’ve been on Lexapro for around 7 years, and I’ve been doing mostly ok. Recently I’ve had horrible bouts of anger, sadness, apathy…so I figured the Lex may have run it’s course. Doc was hesitant to take me off the Lex because I did well on it for so long, but then he suggested Viibryd. I will say that I’ve had a bit of nausea, nasty headache, and some loose stools today – but I didn’t get much sleep last night either. I will keep everyone posted. Chipur, thank you for creating this page. There really aren’t many other places to go to find out about this new drug. I guess we’re all kind of guinea pigs right now. I hope I made the right choice changing meds…

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:08 pm

      Well, Hi Katie!

      On behalf of all who participate here, I say, “Welcome – we’re glad you’re here.” And by the way, you’re more than welcome.

      Ah, the life of a guinea pig. Awesome, isn’t it? Hey, I sure hope switching to Viibryd was the right move. Guess I can’t control the outcome. But I can sure provide a place where you can blow some steam and find some support.

      Keep stopping by, okay???

      Bill

  • Vwgracer August 4, 2011, 10:20 pm

    Hi everyone,
    I am starting on 40 mg’s tomorrow. I have to say I’m a little nervous about it since a lot of people said that some SE’s came back after starting the higher dose.  I have felt great this week!! Happy, motivated, and even started exercising (and enjoying it at that). I think that the SSE’s have started, which makes me think that on 40 MG they will just get worse which worries me a lot because  I do like this medicine thus far! However, to be honest I’m not sure that it”s not completely in my head… like I’m just stressing too much about whether or not I’m going to have delayed orgasms again (make sense?) But I do feel like the extra sensitivity and ramped up libido isn’t there anymore. I will stick with it though… in hopes that the SSE’s will eventually go away again…??  Does any one know if that is even a possibility once they start??

     Well, other that that I still have loose stools, but that’s livable. lol So, in conclusion… I really do love this med so far (as long as the SSE’s stay away or don’t get worse!! lol)

    Thanks everyone!!

    • Vwgracer August 4, 2011, 10:24 pm

      One more thing… and I meant to chime in on this earlier…
      For the people on Wellbutrin saying that it ramps up anxiety, I would suggest not drinking caffeine at a ll with it. The first time I took it I experienced severe anxiety (which I never had before) and then the second time I took it I stayed away from all caffeine and did not have the anxiety at all. :)

      • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:25 pm

        Excellent heads-up! And that’s what makes chipur churn…

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:23 pm

      Welcome, Vwgracer! So glad you visited chipur and decided to contribute.

      Easy on the suppositions, okay? In fact, read the article I posted just today on cognitive distortions. https://chipur.com/2011/08/05/wanna-get-better-i-will-teach-you-cognitive-distortions/

      Glad you’re finding some comfort in the med, VWG. Don’t mentally steer it in directions it doesn’t want to go…

      Bill

  • DF August 4, 2011, 10:35 pm

     I have a question I forgot to ask my pdoc.  In terms of taking Viibryd with food, or any medication for that matter, how close together do they have to be taken to count?  And is there a minimum amount of food necessary to work?  I take the Viibryd in the morning while in the bathroom getting ready and then grab a handful of walnuts or almonds about 10 to 15 minutes later.  Will this plan work or does it need refining?

    Thanks.

    • dramatoni August 4, 2011, 11:28 pm

      It seems that for me, as well as others that have posted here, taking V with food really makes a difference.  For me, I begin to feel sick a few minutes after taking it when I forget to eat something.  It’s bad enough to remind me to eat!  I also found that eating a bite of something, like a cracker, isn’t enough.  It has to be something nutritious.  I would think that nuts would work, but you’ll have to judge for yourself, since everyone is different. I would suggest eating first, though, or at the same time, so that the drug isn’t hanging out all alone in your stomach. :)  Hope that helps.

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:27 pm

      DF…

      I’m not a psychiatrist, but it seems very “work”able to me. My gut says relax and run with it. Don’t get bogged down by the details.

      ;)

  • dramatoni August 4, 2011, 11:51 pm

    FYI, everyone.  I checked Forest Pharm’s patient assistance program and Viibryd isn’t listed as available on the program.  I sent them an email asking if it will be.  I’ll let you know what they say.

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:28 pm

      Thank you, DT. It’ll help everyone…

  • Vwgracer August 5, 2011, 1:20 am

    Well, here I am again and a little discouraged. “old me” feelings have surfaced this evening, which ended with my husband getting mad as usual. Now I feel terrible. I know that no one is happy 100% of the time, but this worries me because I have a cycle that I seem to go through. I start off in a bad mood the first week of the month which progressively gets worse until the 3rd week where I am basically raging, jealous, and terrible to be around. the last week of the month I am always happy and in a good mood. So with feeling this way tonight and it being the first week of the month I am nervous that maybe this isn’t working….? *sigh* Hopefully I have just had a bad night and it won’t be on going. It’s just that my marriage is very rocky and each time I act out against my husband it puts another brick in the wall that he’s building to keep me out…. UGH! sorry everyone, this is too personal probably, but any encouragement, feed back or success stories would be greatly appreciated.

    Bill, do you have any articles on dealing with extremely low self esteem and/or how to NOT be a crazy jealous B**ch of a wife??? lol :)

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:33 pm

      First of all, nothing’s “too personal,” as long as the writer is okay with it (and you shared it, so I’m thinking you are). Secondly, sorry your marriage is rocky. Having been in that status I know the feeling. “B**ch of a wife…” Too funny.

      Again, read this piece on cognitive distortions. https://chipur.com/2011/08/05/wanna-get-better-i-will-teach-you-cognitive-distortions/

      As a matter of fact, I’m not going to offer additional recommendations until you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Bill

  • Tobyjava2003 August 5, 2011, 2:08 am

    I am on day four of 40 mg of Viibryd.  As I wrote earlier this week, this first day at 40 mg was hell – tingling in my hands and arms, jitteriness, muscle tension.  But my doc told me to stick with it, and I’m glad I did.  Side effects are almost gone.  My mood is improved tremendously, and my energy level is through the roof.  I’ve gotten more done in the past two days than I did in the previous three months.  My outlook on life is infinitely more positive.  People have been telling me that I look like a different person; I look like I’m alive and energetic (compared to the limp dish rag that I was previously).  I’ve also been told that I’m a lot more fun, downright silly at times.  Though it may be premature, I am about ready to declare this a miracle drug!  Stick with it.  It is worth it.

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:36 pm

      Ding! Ding! Ding! An “I hung in there and am glad I did” contributor. Good for you, TJ2003. I’m really glad your persistence and guts have brought relief.

      Now, chipur readers – go easy here. You may well enjoy TJ2003s results, and you may not. Stay in the present, though. Okay? Take it as it comes…

      Bill

    • Gregory August 8, 2011, 12:16 am

      Let us know if it’s still a miracle drug in another 3 weeks. Would love to know if it was just bad for a select few.

      Greg

  • chipur August 5, 2011, 2:42 am

    Hey chipur readers…

    Gonna’ call it a day. Will catch up tomorrow!

    Bill

  • MissMCWLS August 5, 2011, 6:53 am

    Hey everyone….

    I’m very new to this site and to this kind of treatment. I had a bout with severe depression a few years ago in college and wellbutrin did a great deal for me. Since then I’ve had some personal trauma and was dealing with terrible insomnia and nightmares. Turns out I have some PTSD and am now being treated for GAD. I am throwing that out there because it seems like many people trying ViiBryd are being treated for depression and not anxiety…
    I had been on Lexapro for about 5 months and was having a pretty good experience except it was taking a huge hit on my relationship sexually, and I was sleeping up to 12 hours a day. That was just too much for me to handle, so when I heard about ViiBryd I decided to give it a try. I am now on my 30th day with ViiBryd, nearly 2 weeks on 40mg and just decided (after reading this thread) to cut down to 20mg tonight. I usually take zolpidem to help with my insomnia, but lately it is losing its effect. I think it has a lot to do with the ViiBryd.
    I will say that I have had a GREAT EXPERIENCE with ViiBryd when it comes to my sexual health. My sex life has improved dramatically. I do not feel anxious, and it was much, much easier to orgasm. Lexapro left me feeling numb and it was difficult to get “in the mood”; I often felt myself “playing along” with my boyfriend sexually. Not a good thing. So sexually speaking, all is well…
    Problem is now, in the evenings, my insomnia has returned and I am starting to weird sensations like terribly itchy skin (which, from what I can tell, is not from anything external at all) and restless legs. On 40mg, lately, I have felt a bit like a prisoner in my own body. It takes me up to two hours to fall asleep, and I wake up wired and on edge. I didn’t experience earlier on.
    I definitely had my share of side effects: terrible nausea, horrible diarrhea, cramping, etc. I knew my sleep would probably be affected, but I knew that that and ALL of the rest of the side effects would be worth it. It really was. Each time I moved up from 10mg to 20mg, and then 40mg…the side effects lessened. Having normal sexual experiences was worth it to me. This medication is treating my anxiety and I no long has SSEs.
    Now, I think I need to work on the right dosage and time to take the medication. I have been taking the 40mg right before bed, and not with enough food I am thinking. Tonight I am going to try the 20mg again – which my Psych said might be the better dose for me, we just have to wait and see. I want to try taking it in the am, and am curious trying 20mg twice during the day…but am apprehensive. I will keep following and see what you all have to say.
    Sorry this was so verbose. I don’t plan on posting several times, so I figured I’d share it all at once. Hoping the itchiness and general weirdness at nighttime goes away, it’s making me paranoid. But stick with it. I feel like a pioneer of sorts and I am very encouraged by everyone taking part in this thread.

    Thanks,
    Melissa

    • Old Man August 5, 2011, 4:23 pm

      I notice many having problems falling asleep on Viibyrd. I’m having some success by taking 2000 mg of calcium to help. Taking it @ 1 hr. prior to bedtime. Using the 1000 mg Tums for the calcium.

      I chew them and swish with water……..extra benefit, it’s great for the teeth. Hope it helps. 

      As an individual that has been dealig with anxiety/panic for 30+ years my advice on this new drug is take it slow and keep a journal each day. Give it time and if the SSE’s are to bad, back off the dosage and allow yourself to adjust. Many years ago I started a med and was so close to giving up after 3 months; then one morning I woke up……..LIFE WAS BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!! . Research has discovered so much more since then , so please do not lose hope.

      Bill I changed my email address due to some problem messages.

      • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:56 pm

        The “Old Man” shows his wisdom!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, now I’m truly convinced. OM is the real chipur.

        Thank you so much…

        Bill

      • MissMCWLS August 6, 2011, 3:56 am

        Calcium sounds like a great idea, and I’m sure it can’t hurt!

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:39 pm

      Wow! You shared bunches, Melissa. Thank you for your visit and contribution. If you decide to come back and post, the door’s always open…

      Bill

  • Vwgracer August 5, 2011, 2:45 pm

    I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS…

    I was on on Wellbutrin for 3 weeks and then stopped the day before starting V.  about 4 days ago the SSE’s started. Could that be because the Wellbutrin was finally out of my system or just because at 20 Mg’s I get SSE’s from it?

    Also, could there be a lag between switching from Wellbutrin that might cause SSE’s momentarily? Has anyone on V experienced SSE’s yet that went away???

    Lastly, in your opinion(s) should I give V another week (started 40 Mg today) and hope that the SSE’s go away? Or should I add the Wellbutrin back in???

    Someone please respond… I like V and don’t want to quit it…I’m a bit confused!!!

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:52 pm

      Easy, Vwgracer. You’re gonna’ be just fine. Slow down just a wee bit.

      Here’s my simple and to the point advice. Go ahead and give Viibryd another week – mark it on your calendar, okay? Between now and then, turn off the SSE monitor and stop sweating minutia. If Viibryd doesn’t end up working the way you’d like, so be it – you’ll make a change and life will go on.

      Right now, you’re your own worst enemy. Did you read the piece on cognitive distortions yet???

  • Janicerose August 5, 2011, 4:09 pm

    Lucky you, I was on viibryd one month and just couldn’t take it anymore. First the diarrhea was everyday and horrible to live with. Second, I gained weight without eating more than usual, blew up and swollen. Two days off the viibryd and body looked back to normal. I felt so out of it, dizzy and spacey.
     
    By the 3rd week, I was so nasty and irritable, I was horrible to be around. The first week and a half I felt very very calm, then as I went to 20mg. I became so anxious but mostly angry. Not usual. My husband just couldn’t take it anymore and either could I.
     
    The sad part is the sexual feeling came back great and that’s why I wanted to try it but not the desire. I could have lived with that for sure,however, the other nasty side effects just were way too awful and that says alot if I’m willing to give up the sex. DAMN, wish it had been better.
     
    Glad for all of you who can handle this nightmare med

    • chipur August 5, 2011, 7:53 pm

      Sorry it all couldn’t come together for you. Sure am glad you stopped by and filled us in…

  • Andrea Clark August 5, 2011, 6:08 pm

    I’m back.  It’s 6-1/2 weeks since I started Viibryd (4-1/2 @ 40 mg). 
    Week 4 was still a bit rough and my husband was in favor of me going off it.  I was waiting for my next doc appt. By week 5 I was feeling pretty mellow. Side effects were gone, I was laughing more and generally enjoying myself.  All good things, although I will confess, not the big lifting of the cloud I had on Zoloft.  I stopped thinking about it so much and was pretty comfortable. (Not back to doc yet.) Then yesterday, I got very sleepy after I took V with a late lunch (usual time).  Went to bed on the early side and had some of the worst, extremely vivid, sexual nightmares I have ever had in my life.  My husband woke me up 5 times because I was screaming in my sleep.  Woke up miserable and hung over.  Been jittery all day, lots of memory issues and anxiety.  Whoa!  Thought I was past all this.  I actually thought I might have accidentally taken a double dose yesterday, but I’m positive I didn’t (counted the pills).Absolutely nothing else going on and this scared the daylights out of me.  Don’t know if I should cut back to 20 mg or give it up altogether.  Seeing the doc on Tuesday, but a little anxious about getting through the weekend.  Anyone who has been on V for awhile have any suggestions or anything similar to report?I read back through the recent posts since I was last on, but haven’t seen much from the folks who stayed on past the starter pack.  Thoughts?

  • dramatoni August 5, 2011, 6:36 pm

    Here’s an update:
    I got an email from Forest Pharm. and they said that Viibryd IS available on their patient assistance program.  It is not listed on their website, though, so I wanted to let everyone know.  They offer both the starter pack and a 30 count bottle of 10, 20, or 40 mgs.  The application on their website seems to be the same as the one they sent me.  

    Thanks Bill, for posting the link to the program in the first place.  Others have mentioned how expensive V is, and that is definitely a concern for me.  So, maybe this will help others, cause I know it will help me =)

  • chipur August 5, 2011, 6:42 pm

    Hey chipur readers! You wanna’ get better? I’ll teach you. Check-out the piece I just posted on cognitive distortions. https://chipur.com/2011/08/05/wanna-get-better-i-will-teach-you-cognitive-distortions/

  • CLD August 6, 2011, 11:56 am

    I thought I’d post an update on my husband.  He is on day 2 of a prescription of Viibryd.  He originally started taking the sample pack in the morning and when he hit the third week was experiencing extreme tiredness.  He is not a big breakfast eater so he started taking it with his lunch.  The tiredness did not change.  Many are experiencing insomnia and he has the complete opposite side effect.  His regimen is 1mg ativan in the morning for anxiety, the viibryd and .5 to 1 mg ativan at lunch.  Today we decided to skip the morning ativan as he doesn’t seem to be anxious in the morning.  I suggested he take the viibyrd at dinnertime but he gets anxious with any change up of the medication so I don’t know if he’ll try it or not. He comes from a family who are creatures of habit which makes change in his state a little unsettling.  My feeling is it’s trial and error for the right time.  His depression seems to have lifted which has in turn made the anxiety subside a bit.  I spoke with his doc the other day and he told me in speaking with rep the highest dosage of viibryd would be 80 mg/day.  Hopefully he will stay at 40mg/day.  Also, having had to buy the first pack of prescription due to changing insurance and not having our member number yet, CVS’s price is $159 for a months supply.  I purchased only 10 pills out of pocket hoping the insurance will kick in within the week.  So far so good – I’ll keep you all posted.  Bill, thanks for the encouraging words.  It hasn’t been easy, that’ for sure – he keeps telling me he doesn’t know what he’d do without me and my response is:  just remember my birthday and our anniversary – lol!  Be well everyone and better days are ahead.

    • chipur August 6, 2011, 7:18 pm

      CLD – you may have mentioned it, but is your husband seeing a therapist???

      • CLD August 6, 2011, 11:54 pm

        He was for a while but was not at a point where he was able to comprehend or benefit from it. It was after he was “misdiagnosed”, on entirely wrong med and over-medicated at that.  He does see his psych once a month/every 6 weeks or so.  He spends a half hour with him.  I would like him to start again with a therapist too though.

        I spent most of the day today reading about different forms of depression; different types of medications and their effect on the brain and neurotransmitters; and cognitive therapy.  I think he’s his own worst enemy at this point.  He is sooo frustrated with how he feels he is consumed 24/7 with it. I think cognitive therapy would do wonders for his anxiety and learning how to divert those feelings when he feels the triggers coming on.  

        Why do you ask?  Any advice?  

        I do think the Viibryd is helping, and the doc said to give him a call Monday.  He may add Welbutrin to his “diet”.  He seemed to do better when that was added to the other meds before Viibryd.

        As I said in my earlier post, I wanted him to take the Viibryd today at dinner instead of lunchtime to see if he felt less tired for the remainder of the day but… he took the viibryd at lunchtime and is sleeping as I type – has been for half an hour – it’s not even 8:00!  No insomnia here!  

      • chipur August 7, 2011, 6:10 pm

        Hi CLD!

        Your husband’s situation fascinates me – and I say that with the greatest respect for him being a human being, not some sort of “case” for my intellectual pleasure.

        Please don’t ever forget, I know your husband’s pain (and yours). Panic, generalized anxiety, agoraphobia, derealization, and on and on left me housebound in the early 1980s. My goose was cooked, or so I thought.

        Sooooo many questions I’d like to ask re your husband’s circumstances, so many blanks to be filled in…

        Tell you what. We’re getting to a point here where it would be disrespectful – and tempting confidentiality – to continue with my desired direction. How do I say this professionally? I believe I can help your husband – and you. If you’d like to chat about it, send me an email. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll do all I can here to offer limited suggestions.

        How’s that?

        Bill

  • Disney71 August 6, 2011, 3:49 pm

    My first post…wondering if anyone else has experienced swollen hands, fingers, feet and toes? I am only on day 3 of 10mg along with 300 mg of Wellbutrin. I was taking 10 mg of Celexa along with the Wellbutrin but started gaining weight again. I fees hungry all the time with the V, but my concern right now is the swelling. Thoughts?

  • Steve-jones August 6, 2011, 5:12 pm

    Hi, has anybody ordered Viibryd online from Australia and managed to get it without a prescription. I am thinking of ordering it online but i am afraid it would not come through customs,my doctor is willing to give me a script.

    Steve

    • chipur August 6, 2011, 7:20 pm

      Great question! Input would be much appreciated…

    • chipur August 6, 2011, 7:23 pm

      Okay, so I got curious and did a smidge of research. I’m thinking you’ve already been to internationalpharmacy.com. Here’s their Australian protocol…

      Schedule 4 and schedule 1 drugs require prescription for personal import. Limit each order to 3 months supply and 14 months supply per year. Prescription should be from an Australian physician and does not have to accompany the package. Customs office may require you to show your prescription before they clear your package.

      • Davidjod August 12, 2011, 10:31 am

        Hi There

        I ordered Viibryd a few weeks ago in Australia and received the package a couple of weeks ago. I did have script from my doctor but didn’t need it. The drugs were delivered to my house.  So far have been going okay. A bit up and down but is early days yet.

        David

      • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:41 pm

        Thank you for the update, Davidjod. So glad you could secure the med. This will be great info for our out-of-US readers.

        Something I wanted to mention to everyone. Some time ago, I was trying my best to help a Pakastani reader get a hold of Viibryd. You may remember the posts. After researching a few angles I finally had to email him and tell him I just couldn’t come up with anything.

        Well, I’ll be darned if he didn’t email me about a week ago, saying he’d pulled it off. And he was beginning his journey with Viibryd. Pretty cool.

        Bill

      • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:41 pm

        Thank you for the update, Davidjod. So glad you could secure the med. This will be great info for our out-of-US readers.

        Something I wanted to mention to everyone. Some time ago, I was trying my best to help a Pakastani reader get a hold of Viibryd. You may remember the posts. After researching a few angles I finally had to email him and tell him I just couldn’t come up with anything.

        Well, I’ll be darned if he didn’t email me about a week ago, saying he’d pulled it off. And he was beginning his journey with Viibryd. Pretty cool.

        Bill

  • Elizabeth August 7, 2011, 3:13 pm

    Thank you for this site, this info has been helpful. I was diagonised with Major Depression and Anxiety back in April. This is my 3rd med  I have been on and it seems to be doing great, other than the GI issues, but they seem to be settling down. I take the meds in the morning with breakfast and it helps me through the day but till evening comes I am tired. No sleep problems or nightmares. No weight gain. Can’t comment on sexual matters because things at home are not good to being with. Other issue I have with this med is about an hour and half after taking it I get really warm and start sweating, but it only last a few minutes or so, similar to a hot flash, which I haven’t had in years. I do notice at night that I get a pain in my right eye since I started this med and a tingling senstation in my head. I am concerned about going to the 40mg so my doctor has kept me on the 20mg for another week.
    I had to have the insurance approve the medication and my co-pay is at tier 3 meaning I have the higher co-pay of $45.00.

    • Anonymous August 7, 2011, 3:45 pm

      When my psychiatrist gave me my starter pack of Viibrid, he wrote a prescription for my next months supply and gave me a coupon from the manufacturer for a month free.  So when I got my first RX just the other day, I paid nothing.  Next month, we’ll see what my insurance company says about covering it because I’m on medicaid.  Usually it requires a letter from my doctor stating that other meds do not work and it is necessary to switch.  I’ve never had a problem with having a med turned down as long as the doc is willing to work with medicaid. 
       

      • chipur August 7, 2011, 6:17 pm

        Great info, scattered55. Sounds like time has taught you how to get what you need. And when it comes to Medicaid, that’s a huge skill.

        Thank you for visiting and contributing…

        Bill

    • chipur August 7, 2011, 6:14 pm

      Hi Elizabeth!

      So glad you stopped by and decided to contribute. And it’s my pleasure bringing the site to you.

      Appreciate your information and invite you back to share more – and receive support…

      Bill

  • Old Man August 7, 2011, 5:43 pm

    Ok most may know this but it could warn some.

    I’d stopped drinking and had cut my benzo use way back as I felt the Viibyrd was beginning to have some positive effects. Day before yesterday I was at a party and had a scotch/water. The next morning I felt a little more tense than I’d been feeling but the benzo dose took care of it.

    Then yesterday we had a big get together and drank several scotch/water. Not even close to being drunk. Today I’m in panic mode and have doubled my benzo dose to no avail. Hopefully by tomorrow the effects will have run their course.

    Went on the internet and found several forums showing this has happened with numerous individuals on SSRI’s. A little research showed alcohol also raises serotonin but as is wears off the level drops below where it was prior to the alcohol intake. Basically the Viibyrd loses some of it’s effect.

    Although alcohol can ease anxiety it definitely shouldn’t be used with Viibyrd. If you need an extra kick for anxiety pls. use the benzos until the Viibyrd starts working. There are several good articles on the internet using benzos / SSRI’s combo until the effects start. I would also suggest to those with panic/anxiety to not use caffiene with SSRI’s.

    • chipur August 7, 2011, 6:24 pm

      Ding! Ding! Ding! The Old Man comes through once more – and I ain’t referring to me. You know, I’ve mentioned before it’s hard for me to refer to him as the Old Man (even though that’s the name he offers). So I’m going to go with OM – okay?

      This is the kind of sharing that makes chipur so strong. Best of all, it isn’t about me – it’s about readers coming to the fore and offering-up their wisdom. If one has ever been in a major jam, why wouldn’t she/he want to do that?

      Thank you, OM…

      Bill

    • Anon August 8, 2011, 1:51 am

      Yes! Absolutely! I have a major drinking problem and SSRI’s don’t work for me for exactly this reason. They make my anxiety far worse for the entire next day (after drinking). It has taken me years of independent research (and trial and error to find this out) – NONE of the p-docs/therapists/gp’s I have ever known actually understand why alcohol is a problem with SSRI’s and anxiety. Maybe it’s because they either don’t take them or they’re not alcoholics (the published research isn’t there either)…The good news is that when I do have just a couple (1-2) drinks – the SSRI works okay. Now I just have to kick this habit and get well…

      • Jack August 9, 2011, 1:22 am

        AA, my friend. AA.

  • Crazycatgirl August 7, 2011, 5:48 pm

    I’m on day 5 of the sample packet and so far have gut issues but the worst is trying to wake up in the mornings, this last run of sleep I did was 3 pm till 10:30 am the next morning, sleep sleep sleep, loss of appetite, but my mood is better!

    • chipur August 7, 2011, 6:27 pm

      Hi CCG! So glad you stopped by – and participated.

      Continue to post, okay. You’ll be able to vent a bit and pick up some support. And others will benefit from you sharing.

      Thank You…

      Bill

  • Gregory August 8, 2011, 12:11 am

    Hello Everyone,

    It’s been almost 2 months since starting Viibryd and here are the results for myself.

    My overall impression of this drug is very negative. It started out like this very sexy girl in which I had high hopes for. It then turns out she wasn’t “all that”. Just a little analogy to start things off..

    The problem? Side effects and not sold as advertised! The drug had…

    – Sexual side effects. (maybe better feeling to start off with)
    – Weight Gain and or bloating. My belly ballooned up so fast I looked much like Tom Cruise from Tropic Thunder. I went to a party last night and the first thing my best friend looked at was my belly. He was polite however. I noticed there were a few others that mentioned this same side effect here on Chipur.
    – Feeling Stoned, medicated, dizzy, and just not right. I feel OK in bed on this drug, but anywhere else and I just feel off.
    – Lethargic! I haven’t been able to work out for 2 months. My limbs feel like heavy weights. No energy what so ever.
    – There is also a strange vision problem. I see little black crawly things out the side of my vision at times. Really odd.
    – More sensitive to pain. I notice that I have these little pains in teeth, lungs, back, etc. Not sure what the $%$$ is going on there.

    OK….so there is actually more that I could go into. Never in my life have I encountered such a dirty drug. Viibryd started off quite nice. A little calming sensation and what felt like a mini brain massage. Body felt nice, etc. Not for long.

    I think there was good reason for Merck out of Darmstadt, Germany to pass this drug on to Clinical Data. I think they knew something. I’ve been to Merck many years ago for a film project and have met and interviewed with some of the top execs there. A very smart bunch. Did you know that it was Merck in 1912 that discovered MDMA or ecstasy? Was by accident, but these guys know a thing or two about Serotonin. I’d think they would of held onto Viibryd if it was worthy.

    Anyway, that’s my 2 cents.

    Greg

    • Andrea Clark August 8, 2011, 4:12 pm

      Greg,

      I’m with you on this one.  Interesting about the Merck connection.  I worked with them way back when and have the same impression.How did you handle going off the Viibryd?  Cold turkey or titrate back down the same way you started?  I’m seeing my pdoc tomorrow to work out a plan.  Saw my ob-gyn today and after discussing the pros and cons, I’m throwing in the towel.  It just doesn’t feel right.  And there are plenty of alternatives.Andrea

      • Gregory August 8, 2011, 8:18 pm

        I am having to titrate down. I noticed about after (2) days of no Viibryd in my system that I would get this very bad brain zap. The zap however is much different than other ssri withdrawal. It’s like you are falling over as well. A little scary. I ran to the pharmacy to get more tablets right after.

        Don’t go cold turkey off this stuff.

        Greg

      • chipur August 8, 2011, 9:11 pm

        Would be curious as to how the plan turns out. Would you mind sharing?

      • Gregory August 9, 2011, 5:56 am

        I’ll keep you posted on this process. :)

      • Andrea Clark August 9, 2011, 3:42 pm

        Met with my pdoc today and we agreed to titrate off (using the starter pack in reverse).  While I am well past the initial side effects, Viibryd seems to have unmasked ongoing symptoms of anxiety (jittery) and memory issues.  My ob-gyn is starting me on estrogen gel for the menopause symptoms (shich Viibryd did help with).  Once I’m off the Viibryd, I’m giving sertraline another try.  I’ll keep you posted.

      • chipur August 9, 2011, 7:00 pm

        Please do, AC. Thank you for keeping us dialed-in…

      • chipur August 9, 2011, 7:00 pm

        Please do, AC. Thank you for keeping us dialed-in…

    • Old Man August 8, 2011, 4:35 pm

      Greg………….I’m very sorry Viibyrd didn’t work out for you. My thoughts are you “may” have increased dosage to quickly. I’m sure you didn’t list all your problems but when a drug starts off nice and then worsens I’d suggest reducing dosage and looking at other potential antagonists that could be causing the problems.

      As to Merck passing this drug off……don’t think it was because they knew it was a failure. It’s a business and they have a triple reuptake drug in the pipeline and lean toward the SSRI’s becoming “one of the older drugs”. Greg whatever you believe I know you tried Viibyrd because you’re living a life as all that post here.

      An analogy I like to use is; If I were a General I would want to know everthing I could possibly learn about my enemy. In our case, we know our enemy, keep learning and this is an excellent site for that………..God Bless

      • Gregory August 8, 2011, 8:19 pm

        Thanks for the reply,

        I went down from 40 to 20. Still no luck.

      • Gregory August 8, 2011, 8:19 pm

        Thanks for the reply,

        I went down from 40 to 20. Still no luck.

      • chipur August 8, 2011, 9:18 pm

        I believe you’re referring to DOV-216,303. I’m going to do some additional work on it and will report back.

        ‘Course we know Euthymics Bioscience has amitifadine (a TRI) in 2b/3a trials now. Here’s a link to the latest piece I did on it. https://chipur.com/2011/07/15/eb-1010-the-even-next-generation-antidepressant-gets-a-name/

    • chipur August 8, 2011, 9:06 pm

      I appreciate your input, Greg. I might add that Forest Labs bought Clinical Data for well below what would have been expected.

      Just as you have no use for Viibryd, others have had wonderful results. Psychotropics – go figure!

      • Gregory August 8, 2011, 10:03 pm

        I seem to be hearing great things around week 3 then after that libido and other issues surface.

        I am going to see if I can start some reviews over at Revolution Health to get a Star Rating in place for Viibryd. It’s a good way to see how a drug stacks up against the others in its class.

        Greg

  • Katherine August 8, 2011, 2:48 pm

    Ok here I am on day 5 I can say I do love this new med I feel sooo much better everyone in my family has noticed I’m happier and willing to do more and crowds dont bother me as much, but the nausea waves I could do without but munching on little things seems to help quite a bit with the that, What I am wondering is if I were to take this med in the evening instead of the morning would that make any difference in the way it works, that way I could sleep through the worst of the nausea, Does any one know? Does it have to be taken in the morning? I do have a few other side effects that are there but dont bother me as much as the nausea.  Thanks for any input!!

    • Brian Hanson August 8, 2011, 8:05 pm

      Hi Katherine.  I experienced nausea for the first 7-8 days, then it went away.  I have always taken mine in the morning, no particular reason, I guess that’s just when I have always taken any kind of pill.  At first, sleep eluded me.  But by the time I was through the middle of the 20mg week of the sample pack, I was sleeping much better.  I wake rested.  I still, however, don’t want to go out into the world.  At least I am not brooding under a dark cloud not wanting to go out and interact with others anymore.  I am now on the 2nd dose 40mg pill of week three from the sample pack.  I have some concerns with a few other side effects, but wanted to let you know that my nausea has completely gone away.  Hang in there.

      B

      • chipur August 8, 2011, 9:23 pm

        Hi BT!

        Thank you for visiting chipur and contributing. I hope you continue to post – it’s how we all learn…

        Bill

      • Katherine August 9, 2011, 12:19 pm

        Thank you so much for the response, I am going to give it a few more days in the morning if it continues to be bad I’ll make a gradual shift toward taking it in the evening, I am wondering why so many are going from 10mg up to 40mg so quickly my dr. put me on 10mg until my next appt. which is in alittle over 3 weeks from now,  which I think I’m fine with, seeing how I can already tell a difference in how I feel.

    • chipur August 8, 2011, 9:09 pm

      Katherine – my advice would be to give it a go. As I recall, a chipur reader split the dose a.m./p.m. and it worked-out well.

      • Meteoroid August 9, 2011, 5:00 am

        Yeah that might have been me you’re talking about. I take one half at night and one half in the morning. Hows that for being different lol? I started doing that because by the next dose I was feeling a bit off, almost like withdraw a little bit. Viibryd has a half life that is around one day so I figured that if I took the same dose over the same period but spaced it out a bit it might even things out. That was with in the first few weeks of taking it though so that I am doing better now could have more to do with getting used to them medication and not splitting the doses. It is recommended to take in in the AM because for a lot of people Viibryd can have a stimulating effect and make it harder for them to sleep. Some people though are saying that it makes them sleepy. Taking it at night might work out best for you. 

  • BT August 8, 2011, 8:10 pm

    40 year old male.  On week three of the sample pack.  First week, with 10 mg, was okay.  Despite nausea and lower-gi distress, I felt better, my libido was BACK, and I mean BACK.  I was so pleased as this has NEVER been the case with anti-depressants I have been on in the past.  Moved to 20 mg, still felt okay, nausea went away, but sadly, so did my libido.  I won’t see my doc until after I have finished the sample pack, but am now just starting week 3 (took my 2nd 40 mg tablet today).  Hoping the libido factor might correct itself?  Anyone else experience this?

    • BT August 8, 2011, 8:16 pm

      ….oh….also wondering if it is possible I just don’t need as high of a dose and that 10mg might do the trick.  Worth asking my doc, but thought I’d see if anyone else has had positive effects with lower doses.

      • chipur August 8, 2011, 9:24 pm

        I haven’t personal experience, BT – but I can’t image why 10mg wouldn’t work in some cases…

  • Bpositive August 8, 2011, 10:12 pm

    Well, darn it!  I guess I will have to go off the Viibryd because my insurance won’t pay for it. Darn, darn, darn!  It was nice to have people to talk to about it while I was on it though… :)  I wish you all the best!!!

    • chipur August 9, 2011, 6:41 pm

      Sorry to hear that! Dial us in if anything changes, okay?

      • Bpositive August 10, 2011, 2:30 am

        Yeah, definitely.  I’ll miss your encouraging words!  See you on Twitter…but as you might have noticed, I don’t have much to tweet about! ;)

      • chipur August 10, 2011, 3:40 pm

        Well, if and when you do you’ll be all set…

  • Jazzy223 August 9, 2011, 12:43 am

    viibryd is just like any other ssri as far as sexual side effects are concerned…even my doctor told me..he told me that when celexa came out a while back, the studies the pharmaceutical companies had, showed celexa with very minmal side effects..like 3% for lowered libido…however, in a REAL study taken years later when it asked specifically about sexual side effects..the rates were much higher..like 60%..so he is very skeptical and so am i….i will say hands down that of all the ssris i have tried( i have tried them all) luvox has the least amount of very sexual side effects. at 200mg they are minmal a best..

    • chipur August 9, 2011, 6:53 pm

      Amongst the SSRIs, Luvox wears the SSE championship belt (as in fewest). Perhaps as far as you’re concerned, Viibryd is just like any other SSRI in terms of SSEs. But others have reported otherwise.

      Appreciate your visit and participation, Jazzy…

      Bill

    • adam August 9, 2011, 7:02 pm

      i’m wondering if the drug companies are less likely to “fix” the numbers so to speak now with the added scrutiny (ie: reports of poor reporting for negative studies, etc.)?

      • chipur August 10, 2011, 3:22 pm

        I would sure hope so. And it’s up to those who endure emotional/mental health disorders – and those who advocate for them – to keep ’em honest.

        I believe chipur serves such a purpose. Given how high it ranks in a Google search for Viibryd, I can’t believe reps of Big Pharma haven’t perused the comments.

        Thanks, Adam…

        Bill

    • adam August 9, 2011, 7:02 pm

      i’m wondering if the drug companies are less likely to “fix” the numbers so to speak now with the added scrutiny (ie: reports of poor reporting for negative studies, etc.)?

  • Meteoroid August 9, 2011, 5:12 am

    Thanks for the info about Luvox. My own experience is that Viibryd has significantly less sexual side effects then Celexa or Lexapro. I have no been on Luvox so I can’t compare it. I did notice the SSEs showed back up when I was at 40mg Viibryd but I have been on 20mg for a few weeks now and things are okay in the mood department. The difference, for me at least with the SSEs at this dose between Lexapro are almost night and day. 

    I think you doctor was talking about surveys like the ASEX or Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. For the first time for an antidepressant they asked the ASEX and I think one other during the clinical trials. Those seemed to indicate a more favorable SSE profile. Like I said though at 40mg the SSEs showed up. It likely is one of those “your mileage will vary” things. 

    • Bellita1 August 9, 2011, 6:04 pm

      I am experiencing SSE with 40mg of Viibrynt, not as bad as Lexapro, but enough to be frustrating.  I will see if I can drop down to 20 or 30.

  • Kelsey Meyer August 9, 2011, 5:34 am

    I am concerned about being taken off of Lexapro and being placed on Viibryd. My psychiatrist has recently taken me off of Xanax and placed on Ativan and he wants me to start Viibryd instead of Lexapro. I do not want to start withdrawls! How is everyone doing in that aspect?

    • Patti Arnish August 9, 2011, 7:22 am

      My psych weened me off the lexapro while taking the viibryd. Cold turkey is tough. Viibryd didn’t work for me. I hope you have better luck, and he wrens you off the lexapro which taking the viibryd.

    • Bellita1 August 9, 2011, 6:01 pm

      I was on lexapro and my Dr slowly lowered the dose while increacing the dose of Viibryd.  At first it wasn’t going so good, I had a lot of anxiety. but after about 30days on Viibryd it started  working as good as lexapro.  Those 30 days wewere ruff.

    • chipur August 9, 2011, 6:58 pm

      Why does your doc want you to switcharoo?

      • Bellita1 August 9, 2011, 7:14 pm

        I switched to Viibryd do to the SSEs of Lexapro.  But it looks like V is only slightly better. The SSE for all these drugs is really pissing me off. About 3 yrs ago I went off all my meds and realized just how bad the SSes were.  But my GAD was so bad that I had to go back on them.  I was hoping the V would bring back that loving feeling, but so far, not so much.

        Although V is working for my mood, the reduced SSE is not what was advertised.  It is just like all the others, which makes me question the studies they do on these drugs.

    • chipur August 9, 2011, 6:58 pm

      Why does your doc want you to switcharoo?

  • Keepinon August 9, 2011, 4:01 pm

    Hi Bill~
    Psych and I have settled on 30 mg for a few months.  I gave 40 my best shot but it was to much for me and I just could not get a wink of sleep.  My brain felt too jittery and weird.  My mood is good and my energy is good and I am now able to take my Vyvanse (adhd) again.  I wanted one med at a time to keep my variables manageable.   Anyway, if I find an crazy longer term side effects or if my mood doesn’t keep up or I give up based on the darn insomnia…. I’ll check back in.   Thanks so much for the site.  I always enjoyed checking it with my morning coffee!  Thanks, all.
    Keepinon
    (may I say that Godot is the best name on the site…. : )

    • chipur August 9, 2011, 7:01 pm

      The compliment of all time – “I always enjoyed checking in with my morning coffee!” Really, that makes me feel great.

      Keep in touch, Keepinon…

      Bill

    • chipur August 9, 2011, 7:01 pm

      The compliment of all time – “I always enjoyed checking in with my morning coffee!” Really, that makes me feel great.

      Keep in touch, Keepinon…

      Bill

  • Avery August 9, 2011, 5:11 pm

    Day 6 on Viibryd, Diarrhea is getting much worse. I’m concerned because I have Ulcerative Colitis. So…I called both Psychiatrist and Gastroenterologist today. Gasto said go off Viibryd because of my colitis. Psych office left a message and the nurse said she did not see diarrhea listed as a side effect????? and she said I should stick with it. Conflicting opinions make this a hard decision. I really liked the way I’ve been feeling the last week mentally, but it’s not worth a colitis flare up. So I guess I’ve decided to give up on the Viibryd. Has anyone had good luck with Wellbutrin? I think I’m going to ask to try that. I’m currently still on Lexapro, maybe a combo would work? I’m a little frustrated to say the least…

    • K.M. August 10, 2011, 9:55 am

      When I read my insert diarrhea was listed as a side effect…and every little bit of research I found said N/V/D…and so far I have had nausea and diarrhea…ugh

      • chipur August 10, 2011, 3:48 pm

        Well, at least you’re not batting .1000!?

  • lkelley36 August 9, 2011, 5:54 pm

    Katie,

    Sorry you are having so many problems. I have been lucky I guess not to have the GI problems like some others. I am on about day 25 or so and 40mg. Really like it so far!!! I do also take Wellbutrin. I did take Lexapro years ago, just didn’t like the way it felt. The combo is really good though I think. Since the V is suppose to be like Lex, why are you taking them both? Just cuious…or were you going off the Lex to V?

    • Katie August 10, 2011, 2:23 am

      I was going off the Lexpro and switching to the Viibryd. I’m pretty disappointed, because my mood has already improved. I hope I’m not going off too quickly, I just don’t want to risk UC problems. I’m glad it’s working well for you. :) It seems like a really good drug for the brain…

  • adam August 9, 2011, 6:58 pm

    hey bill & co! i’m happy to announce that viibryd kicked in for me today! (day 26, still on 20mg). dissapointed to say that i am experiencing a delayed orgasm (was really bad before but now worse) but the orgasms are slightly more intense (not saying much though for me). i am experiencing sleep w/ many confused wakeup’s throughout the night, which may be a deal breaker in the long run. anxiety was pretty bad early on but that’s seemed to have subsided, although the drug does feel stimulating (took trazodone for four years and this drug is somewhat similar so no surprise there). i’m hoping the SSE’s improve. anyone further down the line care to comment? 

  • adam August 9, 2011, 6:58 pm

    hey bill & co! i’m happy to announce that viibryd kicked in for me today! (day 26, still on 20mg). dissapointed to say that i am experiencing a delayed orgasm (was really bad before but now worse) but the orgasms are slightly more intense (not saying much though for me). i am experiencing sleep w/ many confused wakeup’s throughout the night, which may be a deal breaker in the long run. anxiety was pretty bad early on but that’s seemed to have subsided, although the drug does feel stimulating (took trazodone for four years and this drug is somewhat similar so no surprise there). i’m hoping the SSE’s improve. anyone further down the line care to comment? 

    • Meteoroid August 9, 2011, 9:07 pm

      Sure, I’m further down the line. The insomnia that you are dealing with sounds just like what I was dealing with. Are you taking the pill when you wake up or at night? Maybe switching that may help. I found that a sleep mask and soft foam ear plugs have helped tremendously. Those prevent me from being woken up by random noises and when the sun comes up. Over time the funny thing is that I think I am starting to get better sleep. Its as if my body is getting used to sleeping with Viibryd on board. Do you take anything to help you sleep? You mentioned that you took trazodone before which is what I use to help me sleep. 

      For me at 20mg the SSEs are way better then the 10mg of Lexapro I was on. I don’t know if things will get better for you. However, there may be some hope. I have started up on Lexapro and Celexa a few times and each time the SSEs started right away. It was like a total shutdown. But for some reason after a few weeks some feeling returned. Not as much as without the medication but its not like things were still totally shut down anymore. Since Viibryd is also an SSRI similar to Lexapro something similar might happen for you. Also I found that my SSEs were highly does dependent so after a while if you are feeling good and in a better place you could talk to your doctor about lowering to 15 or 10 mg.

  • Bellita1 August 9, 2011, 7:16 pm

    Over 6 weeks on the drug and the SSEs are still a problem.  Really aggravating.

  • Toddz August 9, 2011, 8:55 pm

    Day 6…diarrhea is awful.  Will it stop?  Obviously I can’t continue on this if it doesn’t. 

    • Katie August 10, 2011, 2:29 am

      Hi Toddz,
      I am also on day 6 and went off the Viibryd today because of the horrible stomach issues. I also have ulcerative colitis though. If I didn’t, I think I would have stuck it out a few more weeks. I hope it gets better soon. Good luck to you.

      • Katie August 11, 2011, 4:08 pm

        i’m sorry, should have said Miss CC. I’m a dingbat. :)

      • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:17 pm

        Edith Bunker?

    • Miss CC August 10, 2011, 4:18 pm

      Toddz-

      Mine too was really bad….its practically gone now… and ive been on V about two weeks. Dont give up yet, it’ll get better most likely… the onlything its done its doing now in the GI department is..well.. how do I say this nicely? Made me more regular? Best of luck to you.

      • chipur August 11, 2011, 1:52 pm

        Shall we say, delicately put, Miss CC…

  • eggplant August 9, 2011, 11:55 pm

    Just thought I’d add my experience, because it’s generally positive and there don’t seem to be many of those on here. I’ve been on the 20mg for 10 days, and my pdoc is happy for me to stay at that dose for the time being. I have no side effects at all, and feel generally “okay” (there has been some stress lately but the depression is at bay). The sexual stuff seems to be an improvement over Lexapro, for me.

    • chipur August 10, 2011, 3:27 pm

      Thank you for your visit and participation, Eggplant. Any and all comments are welcome here. And it’s nice to read about a positive experience. Best part is, I think it’s encouraging for those having a tougher time of it.

      Keep visiting!

      Bill

  • K.M. August 10, 2011, 10:03 am

    So happy to find this site…it took me awhile to read through all the comments but well worth it.  I have been off antidepressants for 4 months and stopped cold turkey…havent been the same and just getting worse.  I am now on day 3 of the viibryd.  I take it at night as I have always taken my meds at night and omg, I feel so drugged up I have no issues sleeping.  Wow…no wonder I felt better…lol…I was in an altered state of mind…I’m off work this week so I dont know how long I can deal with this…The diarrhea is horrible…so how could I possibly want to eat too much.  Reading the reviews I am kinda scared…I really havent heard much good.  I know these meds are like that and its different for everyone but alot of the same things seem to be going on.  I go back to see my dr at the 2 week mark…i will hang in till then if nothing goes completely wrong.  But I have to say diarrhea is nothing to play around with so I dont get how they missed this…i guess hydrate, hydrate, hydrate…Thanks for all your words of wisdom

    • chipur August 10, 2011, 3:49 pm

      And thanks for your words of wisdom, as well. Always great to have a new and active reader!!!

      Bill

    • Miss CC August 10, 2011, 4:21 pm

      My doc said the main complaint of this drug during a clinical study was diarrhea. but it got better. Im in my second week and I no longer have diarrhea…it took about 10 days to get past it though…don’t give up yet.

  • JT in DC August 10, 2011, 12:58 pm

    Just want to give an update to everyone. There is some good and some bad, so bear with me.

    I’ve been on Viibryd for about 2 months now. I titrated up on Viibryd and had to wean off Pristiq during this time, so it’s hard to say whether my brain has achieved an “equilibrium” of neurotransmitters.  As with all medications I have to take very high doses to achieve remission. This has occurred with every SSRI and SNRI out there, and trust me I’ve been on ALL OF THEM.

    I’m probably the only person on here currently taking 80 mg of Viibryd. I take it all at one time in the morning, with food, of course. While I was weaning off the Pristiq I was actually taking 100 mg of Viibryd (one 20 mg in the evening) to counteract some of the horrible Pristiq withdrawal.

    Last week was an EXCELLENT week for me. Felt like I really broke through the depression, while finally seeing some relief from the awful Pristiq withdrawal symptoms. This week, not so much. I’m irritable again, sleeping a bit more and having some of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia symptoms I get: feeling “warm” after eating a meal, unable to work out/exercise without a worsening of depressive and pain symptoms.

    That being said, what I really like about Viibryd is that you can start to feel it working a few hours after I take it in the morning. It’s a combination of relaxation with jitteriness — not too unlike BuSpar. Last week this feeling lasted throughout the day. This week it’s petering out right around 4 p.m. and then after I eat dinner it’s not really doing its thing. I’m not in the deepest depths of depression in the evenings, but I’m not seeing the complete day-long remission I had last week.

    I’ve been dealing with hardcore depression/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 1995, although I had minor depression and anxiety issues since about the 6th grade. I’m 40 years old now. I’m very patient, and I’m willing to keep trying new options. That being said I’m considering if things don’t improve by next week, to take an additional 20 mg dosage in the evenings, for a total of 100 mg total daily.

    Here is my rundown of side effects:

    Sexual Side Effects (SSE’s): mixed bag. Overall, better than on Lexapro. My desire hasn’t increased, but orgasms are much better on Viibryd than on Lexapro. Much, much better.

    GI issues: I have two bouts of diarrhea in the mornings with Viibryd. I can live with that. The severe flatulence issues I had on Pristiq are gone, thank goodness.

    Appetite: I hate to say it, but my appetite has increased recently. Not sure if it’s the Viibryd or a side effect of Pristiq withdrawal. This wouldn’t be an issue if I was able to work out, but since I’m not at full remission, I can’t exercise and the weight gain is troubling.

    As I stated above, I’ll be updating in about a week. May have to increase to 100 mg of Viibryd, splitting 80 in the a.m. and 20 around dinner.

    If Viibryd fails on me, my next step is the heavy artillery: MAOIs, namely Parnate. With the dietary restrictions I’ll be sure to lose a lot of weight on Parnate.  Has anyone else taken these before?

    • chipur August 10, 2011, 3:52 pm

      Wow! 80mg, possibly 100. Thanks for such a detailed report. Please do update us in a week…

      Bill

    • Miss CC August 10, 2011, 4:24 pm

      JT-
      Thanks for sharing your story….im sorry that Vii isn’t helping as much this week… In regard to your question about MAOI’s..no I haven’t taken one but I have studied it a lot in nursing school…Those things are scary just due to all the interactions but I figure its still out there for a reason…best of luck to you.

      • chipur August 11, 2011, 1:54 pm

        MAOIs are powerful meds – and, yes, an option for many. There is a transdermal patch – Emsam – that can sidestep some of the side effects…

    • Mama1p August 12, 2011, 12:15 am

      I have tried Parnate twice…loved it both time but unfortunately my B/P drops really low (80/50).  So I had to come off it.  Yes, the diet is strict but after awhile you get use to it.  If I had my way, I be on Parnate right now.  But like Bill as said before, everyone reacts differently to meds.  I have not started Viibryd yet and still having doubts but as my Dr said “you are always will to try…so I guess I will and see what happens.  But don’t think about the Parnate yet and give Viibryd a try, you never know what will happen tomorrow.  Stay postive, that is the main thing.  Keep us posted.  You are not alone in this fight.

      • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:21 pm

        Absolutely! None of us are alone, unless we choose to be. I’ve said it time and again, those enduring the mood and anxiety disorders are a courageous and tough lot. Wish it didn’t have to come down to that, but so it goes…

  • ls August 10, 2011, 4:27 pm

    Hi all!! Almost a month now and I am feeling really good!! It is hard to say great, scared to jinx myself!!…lol
    Have been reading some comments with people having problems. Didn’t have the GI, but to the others here. The dizziness, and “altered state of mind” (love that one…I can feel you), kind of like walking on a cloud, (that is my description)…have pretty much disappeared!! That jump to 40mg took about 3 or 4 days to get almost used to…then little by little that cloud feeling has been going away. I still have some weird dreams, but not bad ones…yea!! I do wake up at night, but not all the time, and when I do, I am really relaxed and go back to sleep. Yea again!!! To otheres that haven’t read all the post, I also take Wellbutrin, and Xanax for anxiety. Someone on another forum is going off their Wellbutrin thinking it would help with the anxiety. Chipur, what do you think?? I have gone off of it many times, course then about 2 weeks later I am mad at the world….Think the V would work alone?

    • chipur August 11, 2011, 1:57 pm

      Viibryd could definitely work alone – but like anything with psychotropics, it’s a crap shoot. Removing the Wellbutrin removes impact upon dopamine. How that will affect you – or anyone – is hard to say.

      Unfortunately, there’s only one way to find out – and you know what it is, right?

      Bill (aka chipur dog)

      • ls August 13, 2011, 3:45 pm

        Hi Bill,

        Went to the doc yesterday. Asked about going off the Wellbutrin. She said to wait another month til the V is fully in my system and give it a try.

        Would like to mention, although this sleep thing is really bothering me, I am hoping it will get better in time. Have learned that Coffee doesn’t go well with V. I can only drink 2 cups in the morning before I can feel myself geting ill. Love my coffee!!, but willing to go without if this med continues to do what it is doing for me. I actually drove 65 mph while on the way to the doc yesterday!! Every time I felt a panic coming on it seemed to subside. Lord knows I would love to be able to drive again with out taking backroads!! I know that doesn’t seem like much, but I want to be able to go see my daughter and son and grandson without taking a bus or having someone else drive me!!! I drive to work and places around town, it is just certain things and places that I have a hard time with…especially highways…uggg..haven’t tried that again yet. It has been several years now. But baby steps and I am praying that V is really going to change all this…and of course an attitude change on my part.

        When we were coming back from taking my kid to college, I mentioned to my daughter who was driving that I would die crossing over where we were. It was major construction and ditches all around…really deep. I was hving a hard time just riding across it! Low and behold out of my daughters mouth. “Well, Mom, you are supposed to be looking at the road, I am not looking at all that!” DING DING!!! So I have been practicing that idea for a couple of days. Funny how that kind of thing and thought process can make a difference!! Thanks again Bill for the Panic and Poetic Justice and this great site!!

        Sorry so long!!

      • chipur August 13, 2011, 5:53 pm

        Never a need to apologize for anything here. We need to know people’s stories. And if it takes time and space, so be it.

        Excellent tidbit, by the way, on the power of the direction of our thoughts. It sure as heck is an acquired discipline, but with practice and attention it can bring some nice results.

        Do you mind me asking where your “kid” goes to college? Always interested in that sort of thing.

        Bill

      • ls August 13, 2011, 8:21 pm

        Hi Bill,

        My son goes to Millikin University in Decatur, ILL. A long ways from MS. He plays football. Hated to see him leave. He is my youngest and my baby….

        Just another note….I don’t understand this med but it is so weird!!! In a great way. Except for the sleep thing and waking up with a headache and panicky….it is so wonderful to be calm. And I know panicky and calm don’t go together, but it isn’t the same panic feeling. Just hoping that side effect will go away…lol… Went out today and walked my dog, drove all over (well not on highways yet…lol) and was just really calm!! Love it!! Just have to stay away from the caffiene….:( Gonna miss Star Bucks…lol!

        Thanks again!!

      • chipur August 14, 2011, 12:25 am

        Funny how our “babies” grow up. One of mine will be a sophomore at Univ of Ill. I’m familiar with Millikin…

      • ls August 14, 2011, 9:27 pm

        Ha!!! Funny!!! No ones has ever heard of it!! Wow, Univ. of Ill!! Cool!! Yeah, they do grow up fast!!!

         Had a great day! Drove further than I have in years!!!….and met my daughter for lunch!! (Not in her town, but a couple of towns over from me.) I am just thanking the Lord constantly!!! Just so strange, I almost feel normal!!

      • chipur August 15, 2011, 12:37 am

        Yeah, but who wants to be “normal?” ;) Your spirit comes through nicely. I’m very happy for you…

  • Scabell August 10, 2011, 5:54 pm

    Sighhhhhh. I’m trying to give this drug a chance, but it’s just becoming so unbearable. I am having so much trouble fighting off depression and suicidal thoughts. Really bad mood swings, irritability, you name it. It’s been so bad. I finally worked up to the 40mg dose just yesterday, so I’m going to give it a fair two weeks to see if it does anything, but if not, I’ve gotta switch to something else. It’s just been so bad.

    However, the stomach side-effects DO go away with some patience. 

    Stick with it, everyone. Give it a fair shot. 

    I’m still trying, but I am losing some hope in this one, unfortunately. Just doesnt seem to be for me, really.

    • chipur August 11, 2011, 2:02 pm

      Hi Scabell…

      Really glad you posted – and shared such detailed info. Just like so many chipur readers, you’re so brave. And I admire your determination.

      Please, please, please watch those suicidal thoughts, okay? I’m sure you know, they’re nothing to downplay!!! Be sure to have a plan in place, including knowing exactly when it’s time to get help NOW.

      Be sure to stay in touch – and come back for support…

      Bill

  • Vwgracer August 11, 2011, 1:19 am

    Hi Everyone,
    Here I am on day 4 or 5 of 40 MG…I’d been feeling really good. Energetic, and happy. I went to a big out door concert the other day and had a blast, I didn’t care that there were thousands of people bumping into me every 5 seconds or worry about which half naked women my husband was staring at. I JUST had fun… it was freeing really :)  WELL… now starting yesterday I have been super tired, well tired in my eyes, not my body…IF that makes sense… my eyes are so heavy and just want to shut. Fast moving objects are hard to look at and driving makes me even sleepier… Actually it just feels like I’m HIGH. (My husband even said I looked high!!!)  Which is in return making me kind of grouchy when I cant just sit in peace. Not Good with 2 kids and a husband. lol 
    Thought I’d give the 40MG until Monday, but was curious,Has anyone else experienced the HIGH feeling and will it go away soon??? Or is it just more likely that I should go back down to 20MG??

    I also wanted to update on the SSE…. The delayed orgasm is still there, but everything else is working properly…Its really kind of weird, sensationally everything feels better, but it take longer to reach climax…. then once it finally does hit, WOW it’s better then ever. SO, im still hoping the delay goes away, but I can live with that far easier than the numbness that Cymbalta caused :)

    Thanks!!

    • Vwgracer August 11, 2011, 1:36 am

       Also…. does the RLS every completely go away?? It just makes it hard to fall asleep, but once I do I sleep like a rock and have been finding it hard to want to wake up… anyone else??

    • chipur August 11, 2011, 3:39 pm

      Ah, that magic moment! Perhaps worth a bit of a delay???

    • Keepinon August 16, 2011, 3:07 pm

      40 was too much… I have been on 30 for a couple of weeks and am getting longer and longer periods of sleep….  40 just made me too weird…sort of spaced and “high”.    They don’t make 30 mg tablets, so I got 20’s and 10’s.  I feel plenty of energy and the depression is gone.  Wonderful. 

      • chipur August 16, 2011, 8:15 pm

        Now that’s creativity! Nicely done, Keepinon. Glad you’re using the word “wonderful.”

  • Miss CC August 11, 2011, 2:35 am

    The RLS has gone away for me…give it some time. I too was feeling really…well yah, high. spacey, out of it…same thing you described. I have found that everyday its getting a little bit better. im on day 6 of 40mg…and every day it gets a tad bit better…are you noticing an increase in appetite?

    • JT in DC August 11, 2011, 12:27 pm

      I have noticed an increase in appetite with Viibryd but only on the days when I’m not feeling as well. I also notice the “tingly high” which I think is the 5t1a-partial agonism at work here. I’m not a doctor or a scientist and I don’t mean to define any side effects. The reason I posit this is because I took BuSpar before, which has a similar mechanism and that same “tingly feeling” thoughout the day (from about 9 a.m., peaks at 11 a.m., starts to drop around 4). On the good days on Viibryd it lasts all the way to bedtime. On the not so good days, it peters out completely by 4 p.m.

      We need to avoid calling it a “high” because that term is going to raise a lot of flags. It’s not a high, but a tingly feeling that doesn’t interfere in my thinking. I’m in sales, so it helps me stay positive with my clients during the day. I also don’t find it “habit-forming”, in other words I don’t want to take more to stay “high”. I just want the depressive symptoms and the physical symptoms to stay away so that I can do my job.

      As I stated above, what this tingly feeling might be is the NON-hypnotic and NON-habit forming anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) benefits of the 5ht1a-partial agonist benefits of Viibryd.

      My question to the doctors/nurses/researchers out there, do the anxiolytic benefits of Viibryd allow for the SSRI half of this medicine to attack depression more effectively? Prozac, Lexapro and the others had to fight anxiety and depression with just one approach —  the SSRI approach. Do Viibryd’s dual-mechanisms (one part 5hti1-partial agonist and one part SSRI) allow for a “teamwork” approach to assist our brains to function normally?

      • chipur August 11, 2011, 3:44 pm

        Great questions, all. Hopefully, a visitor will chime-in…

  • Seanlon August 11, 2011, 5:53 am

    I have bizarre bloating despite diet and exercise that is pretty recent (I’m about 6 weeks in).  Plus the SSE’s are not clearing up.  Is it worth it to continue?  I don’t feel much better than when on prozac.

    • JT in DC August 11, 2011, 12:11 pm

      I would keep continuing the Viibryd just because there is a two-prong approach here that in theory should make it a more potent antidepressant. It’s an SSRI plus the 5ht1a-partial agonist. There’s an explanation on this Chipur page of how these two processes work to combat depression.

      Everyone is different though. Prozac eventually stopped working for me in 1999, which is why I’ve been switching from antidepressant to the next in the twelve years since.

    • chipur August 11, 2011, 3:41 pm

      Kind of sounds like it may be time to consider a transition back to Prozac???

      • Seanlon August 12, 2011, 2:08 am

        Yeah, I feel like I gave it it’s due.. I am trying the brand of Prozac though.  As long as I’ve been on it, I never have been on the brand, and I keep hearing stories about how it’s a night and day difference for some.  So I figured, I’d try it.

  • Vwgracer August 11, 2011, 1:38 pm

    Actually the RLS was much less disruptive last night so that’s good :) I just realized that I took my day 7 of 40 MG this morning…I’m a little farther a long than I realized LOL. You’re right JT using the term high probably isn’t the best description, but it is closest to how I’ve been feeling. lol The Tingly sensation is the worst when I’m still.  If I’m up moving I don’t notice it as much. Just wish the tired eyes would go away. I’ve been able to exercise and have actually really enjoyed it…. however I’m not losing any weight.(could be from gaining muscle, or not fully eating properly Haha)  I have noticed an increase in appetite, but not like I want to eat all day, just that when it’s meal time I’m ravagingly hungry lol.

    Thanks!! :)

  • chipur August 11, 2011, 1:51 pm

    Brand new article on rumination. Well worth the read. https://chipur.com/2011/08/11/depression-and-rumination-facts-and-fixes/

  • chipur August 11, 2011, 3:19 pm

    Hey chipur readers!

    I want to share a comment, and my reply, from my article “I Can’t Take It Anymore!” (10 “Yes you can’s”) https://chipur.com/2011/04/14/i-cant-take-it-anymore-10-yes-you-cans/. It’s that important…

    Comment…
    From reading many of your articles, I get the feeling that deep down you believe that the majority of people on anti- depressants could actually do without them. I know you’re not referring to people with diagnosed conditions, like bipolarism or schizophrenia, but those of us who feel or have been told by our doctors, that we need extra help in pill form. I think very highly of you and all the effort you put into helping people. I’m also considering consulting you for therapy. But I am curious if I am misunderstanding your true feelings about medications.
        
    Reply…
    Ding! Ding! Ding! Great catch, comment, and question. And I’m going to give it its due…

    First of all, as a lifelong anxiety and anxiety-associated mood disorder veteran – and clinician – I am not anti-med.

    After finally being diagnosed in 1989, I started on imipramine (Tofranil) – a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). My life drastically changed for the better. ‘Course, I had plenty of work to do on the social front – and therapy helped a ton. Retrospectively, imipramine alone would not have brought me to where I am today.

    When the SSRIs became popular I switched to paroxetine (Paxil), and went to sertraline (Zoloft) several years later. You can toss in clonazepam (Klonopin) on occasion. Heck, in the midst of an acute phase, a psychiatrist tossed risperidone (Risperdal) my way. That ended after two doses. Yikes!

    I left Klonopin behind several years ago, and stopped Zoloft (100mg) some two months ago. I’ve had no return of symptoms, nor do I expect an encore.

    That said, before turning to Paxil years ago, I stopped imipramine because I was feeling great. I thought I’d reached the promised land, but several weeks later I plummeted. Hence, the call of desperation to my psychiatrist.

    Meds definitely have their place in the treatment of any of the emotional/mental health disorders. And I would never be judgmental re their use by a client, family member, friend – or me.

    Do I believe meds are often relied upon too much? Yes. Is it my (and chipur’s) philosophy to gently make such a statement when and where appropriate? Yes. Do I know it’s a delicate issue? Absolutely.

    I wrote my first article on a new antidepressant, Viibryd, back in March. I had no idea that what I’d written would become so popular. I spend hours throughout the day/evening/overnight keeping current with comments, emails, the forum, and newsletter thank yous – and I love it!

    But I do find it curious that the other pieces I’ve written, detailing some very strong/proven relief strategies and techniques, just don’t get the traffic and comments? Yes. And I typically provide notice of a new article in the comment section of the two most popular Viibryd articles. I’m no marketing guru, but I ain’t the dullest knife in the drawer either.

    My major concern is readers may not be enjoying the benefits of a full treatment protocol. Hey, meds are huge – I know that. I mean, I can recall being housebound in the early/mid 80s because of agoraphobia. And I can recall long stretches of derealization, depersonalization, intrusive thoughts, and more – having no idea what they were. I just figured I was going mad, and that was going to be that.

    I know what it feels like to be sick beyond hope and so desperate I’d devote all my attention to the quickest and supposedly surest fix. But over time, I learned the value of other treatment strategies and techniques – including moving forward like a zombie until I somehow made sense of, and peace with, my world in the immediate.

    I hurt with anyone who shares a painful comment on chipur. And it hurts to know he or she is spending to the max in terms of personal resources to make a med work – and make another one work when that one stops.

    I just want to make sure all bases are being covered. And for all I know, they are.

    Dang! Didn’t meant to go on that long, but you hit a nerve – and I’m really glad you did.

    My life wouldn’t be near as full and fulfilling without chipur and its readers. You have my ongoing empathy and respect. Always!

    Bill

    • Arclark57 August 11, 2011, 4:26 pm

      A thoughtful and honest self-reflection on your part. Your empathetic and well rounded approach is what keeps your readers coming back (even when the meds turn out to be less than a miracle cure). Keep up the great work. You’re providing an important and valuable service.

      Andrea

      • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:18 pm

        Thank you, Andrea. Straight from heart – always…

        Bill

    • Lestigall August 25, 2011, 8:27 pm

      After dealing with psy issues for 38 years with multiple hospitalizations, even long term hospitalization, and numerous rounds of therapy, my family and I have come to the conclusion that long term med use may not be the answer.

      I was on meds before SSRI’s for awhile just to save my life.

      I have been on every med that has come out in the past 10 years and suffered with side effects and the greatest side effect I feel is that I “loose my soul” and do not experiece the highs of life and the lows however hard they might be. Ten ears of meds may be too much.

      V was the worst for me and my doctor said yesterday that all of his patients he his has on it have struggled  too. He was very disappointed in V compared to the hype.

      Today’s plan is no meds, but monthly psy visits to evaluate my needs. My family has authorization to call my doc if they feel I need meds and we have conversations about how I am doing before each visit. I have lexapro on hand if I feel I need to go back on meds and my doctor has told me to make that decision with my family and let him know immediately. I am almost 2 months med free and my family says I don’t need them right now.

      I am in menapause and I am sure that my chemistry has changed over the years. I now believe that meds might play a roll during times in treatment, but may not have to be lifelong. I am willing to risk being med free for awhile to see if prayer, exercise, and monitoring can keep me sane.

      Meds have surely saved my life and may need to again, but I agree with Bill that taking a pill isn’t the only answer. Thank God I have a doc that works with me.

      By the way, as I write this I hear an ad in the backgrond for Abilify to add to another pill. Could we be brainwashed to think we need them ALL the time?

      • chipur August 26, 2011, 12:52 am

        Thank you, Lestigall for a well considered and presented post. I’m so happy to read you have a doc you work so well with. And I’m really impressed by your ongoing reference to “family.” Doesn’t get much better than that…

        Bill

  • Vwgracer August 12, 2011, 1:51 pm

    Hi everyone,
     So I have decided to try splitting the 40 MG dose in half and taking one in the late afternoon. I decided this because I have been feeling great during the day and then by 4 pm I am exhausted and pretty grouchy. lol It’s like it just wears off around that time. I had seen where someone else on here mentioned splitting them. Today is the first day I’ve done it, so far so good. I’m hoping that the second dose later will keep my energy up. Will let you all know how it worked tomorrow :)

    • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:43 pm

      Excellent, Vwgracer. I remember the post you’re referring to re splitting the med. This is why chipur (actually, all of you sharing) is so valuable. We share – and learn from each other. And, hey, it works. How cool is that?

    • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:43 pm

      Excellent, Vwgracer. I remember the post you’re referring to re splitting the med. This is why chipur (actually, all of you sharing) is so valuable. We share – and learn from each other. And, hey, it works. How cool is that?

      • Chuckpnla August 12, 2011, 8:41 pm

        That is very cool!  I spoke with my Doc before I split the dose, so please check it out with yours.  But my experience has been exaclty as described by Vwgracer and I’ve been splitting the dose for 2 weeks with great results.  It also helped with the “brain zaps” because they would occur when the dose was wearing off.

      • chipur August 13, 2011, 1:15 am

        I’ve read quite a bit about this cutting issue here, and elsewhere. Gotta’ tell ya’, it sounds like it works. I mean, I’ve read that if the pill isn’t scored, it’s not supposed to be cut and won’t yield the results. Yet, many here have reported their doc saying it’s okay…

  • chipur August 12, 2011, 3:24 pm

    And I’m so glad you found chipur, as well. Its participants join me, I’m sure.

    But of course you wouldn’t be skipped! I mean, why would you or anyone else be so lucky? But you seem to put it in the proper perspective, Jack.

    Please continue to visit and comment. And I gotta’ love the Santa Claus image…

    Bill

  • Jsunday August 12, 2011, 5:21 pm

    I’ve been taking the viibryd for five weeks now – moving up very slowly. At one point I was at 40 per day. It didn’t seem to help with the depression, although the side effects weren’t too bad. The anxiety and ramped-up feeling has been horrible. So, my p-doc added Lithium to the mix, which completely did away with my depression! It was like someone turned the lights on – amazing! 

    Now, the problem is that I can’t seem to tolerate the viibryd. I’m down to 5-10mg per day and I’m still feeling anxious and ramped-up (like I’m on cheap convenience store speed). Things seem to move too quickly or too slowly and I just feel weird. Doc says to stick with the very low doses – that I’ll get used to it and the strange feelings will go away and that the viibryd will eventually make me feel calm. He also has me taking more Klonipin to take the edge off (says it’s temporary). Again, no depression and lower OCD is great, but I don’t know if I can handle this “altered reality” for too much longer. Do I even need viibryd? Is lithium enough? Anybody else have these symptoms? Anybody else taking lithium with V or an SSRI?

    • chipur August 13, 2011, 1:07 am

      Thanks, Jsunday, for an amazing story. Lithium, no less. “Do I even need Viibryd?” Well, I can’t really say, but it sure is what I was thinking.

      chipur readers! Any input would be valuable.

      Oh, here’s a link to a piece I did on lithium. Good background info for all.
      https://chipur.com/2010/06/07/teachin-tuesday-lithium/

      Bill

      • Jsunday August 16, 2011, 4:37 pm

        Thanks Bill – for all you do. There’s no real change yet (I see my p-doc in a few days). The other thing I’ve noticed is that additional V seems to make my OCD worse. I was feeling a little bluesy on 5mg, so I went up to 10, then 15. The ramped-up feeling is gone, but the OCD is much worse. Could it be that more V = more anxiety = more OCD? 

        The good news is that despite the weird feelings, the Lithium plus a little V has allowed me to return to work. 

        Tough decision: take more V and feel less depressed with more OCD or take less V and feel  a little depressed with no OCD? Devil and the deep blue sea…

        Oh, I’ve also cut waaayy back on my drinking and have been going to AA. Here’s hoping that cutting alcohol out altogether will help on all fronts.

      • chipur August 16, 2011, 8:22 pm

        Great report, Jsunday – and you’re more than welcome!

        Good catch re ramped up Viibryd = + OCD symptoms. That’s what I call connecting the dots. I don’t know that I can say for sure why that may be. I mean, yes – any increase in anxiety – and we’ve read it here re Viibryd – will cause obsessions/compulsions to ramp up. But I don’t know that anyone can for sure make and justify the connection. (Funny – we’ve also read Viibryd has worked as an anxiolytic.)

        Rough having to make the decisions with which you’re faced. Just like Lisa earlier – feeling like heck or depressed???

        I’m really glad you’ve returned to work. And, yeah, keep the drinking at a minimum.

        Really glad to have heard from you, Jsunday…

        Bill

      • Jsunday August 18, 2011, 5:52 pm

        Thanks Bill! Doc says to keep the Viibryd to a minimum (10-15mg) for the OCD, keep taking the Lithium for the depression, and take even more benzos for the anxiety/OCD. He says that the weird feeling is not the lithium, but is anxiety. He says the benzos will hopefully be temporary at this higher dose, and that the Viibryd will eventually help with the anxiety (says it could take months). 

        I’m trusting his 30 plus years of experience.

        For everyone else out there, good luck and keep in mind that your dose may not be 20 or 40. Trust your body first and don’t be afraid to break up the pills.

      • chipur August 18, 2011, 11:08 pm

        Excellent, Jsunday. Sage counsel!

        Dang, the weird sensations anxiety brought to my table over the decades. And, of course, they freaked me out until I came to understand what they were.

        Thanks for contributing…

        Bill

  • dramatoni August 12, 2011, 6:16 pm

    So I am now on day 25 of the sample pack; my 12th day at 40mg.  Things, they are a changin’!  I am having some positive results, so I thought I’d share.  Moving up to 40 was rough with the side effects:  dizziness, diarrhea, fibromyalgia pain returning.  However, my head started to clear and I was able to think again…and I have more energy and will to do things. My depression is lifting. I’m getting more pain relief.  The side effects are slowly getting better.  It seems to be working!  I actually went out and was feeling great, enjoying myself, for the first time in months.

    I have been taking Klonipin to help with the dizziness, (and when I go to sleep, but I’ve always done that).  I am still taking probiotocs to help with the GI issues, and an occasional Vicadin for pain.  I weaned off of Cymbalta, and those withdrawal symptoms slowly disappeared within 2 weeks or so.  

    So I’m sticking with it – just asked for my first prescription – and hoping that everything will continue to improve.  Things are so interrelated: pain, depression, fatigue, etc., and this seems to be helping in all areas.  Yay!  Here’s hoping that many of you will find the same relief I am.  :-)

    • chipur August 13, 2011, 1:09 am

      I’m thrilled by your report, dt. You’ve worked hard and have fought the good fight – as have so many others here.

      Enjoy your freedom…

      Bill

      • dramatoni August 13, 2011, 10:03 pm

        Thanks Bill.  Everyone’s input here and your articles have helped me get through it.  I’m hoping the worst is over and only more good things to come. 

      • chipur August 14, 2011, 12:26 am

        Rock on ;)

    • Judy in CA August 13, 2011, 3:13 am

      Your post is so encouraging! Thanks for posting. Just took my 3rd pill so I’m a newbie. I usually can’t get up to the full dose of any drug.
      Hope you keep posting your results.
      Judy in CA

      • dramatoni August 13, 2011, 9:57 pm

        Thanks Judy.  The side effects can be difficult to tolerate, but if it works in the end, it’s worth it,  Good luck to you!

      • Judy in CA August 13, 2011, 10:23 pm

        Thanks for the encouragement.
        How has the weight gain been?
        I gained the 40+ pounds back i’d lost before quitting smoking.
        So now harder to exercise and have positional vertigo and going to PT therapy for that. I have fibro too and can’t take any pain meds due to GI issues and the ‘d’ is starting to come.

        Praying this pill is going to work for the depression caused by my quitting smoking.
        will follow your posts.

      • chipur August 14, 2011, 12:27 am

        Hang tough, Judy. We’re always here for you…

  • Sean August 12, 2011, 6:29 pm

    Anyone feel deep depression after dropping Viibryd?  It’s only the second day and it probably has nothing to do with the V.  But it’s a new drug, so you never know…

    • chipur August 13, 2011, 1:11 am

      Sure doesn’t seem like it could happen so quickly, but perhaps a rebound effect?

      chipur readers – look for a piece on this phenomenon likely Sunday…

      Bill

  • chipur August 12, 2011, 11:08 pm
  • Judy Lockyer August 13, 2011, 12:17 am

    I’m so grateful I found this forum! I have a long history of not tolerating medications of any kind.We recently made a move to CA after living on the East coast for 31 years. I’ve had a rough adjustment even tho I’ve done all the things to try to fit in…….going to comm centers, joined clubs, exercise classes, you name it. Why the history, I’ve not had depression issues in my life until I’d try to quit smoking. When we were selling the house I started back to smoking and have help with a drug then and now I’ve been quit for 6 1/2 months.Dr’s all want to know when the anxiety/depression/panic attacks started…………………… 6 /12 months agoHave been on 25 mgs of zoloft for years for fibro and then when I quit smoking I tried Wellbutrin for 3 weeks and it helped me quit. Dr finally put me on viibryd Wednesday and on day 2I felt wonderful and like my old self. Today the ‘d’ started with the stomach cramps. I want so much for this med to work I’m going to keep trying. I want my life back. I’m 69 and have alot of living left to do but the depression was just keeping me home bound and without my ‘friend’ the cigs.Not writing a lot about the drug as only on 3 day but I thought maybe some people reading might relate to my re location and cig addiction and how maybe this drug might help with the reason I’m so down and why I must have this drug work as all others the other dr.s have through at me over the past 8 months have not.  Spent days reading before I wanted to post but you all posting has sure helped me.Judy 

    • Judylockyer1 August 13, 2011, 12:22 am

      how can I get my last name off and do user name Judy in CA as I logged in with. Not sure what happened.
      Bill can you change it please?
      Thanks in advance.

      • chipur August 13, 2011, 12:29 am

        Deleted your last name from user list. Should be all good now. Would you like me to delete your comments thus far?

      • Judy in CA August 13, 2011, 1:23 am

        Bill Thanks 
        i still see my name of the site.
        I want to belong and don’t want to be off the list just my user name changed please 
        I’d like my post to be on the site. Had been having trouble signing in
        I just love you chipur site and it is so informative and positive. You’ve helped so many people. you can erase these comments about the name change if you wish. This site is just new to me and i have to learn how to use itthanks again Bill

    • chipur August 13, 2011, 1:23 am

      Welcome, JL1! Thank you for your visit and contribution. Glad we could be of assistance.

      “I’m 69 and have a lot of living left to do…” That statement will see you through some amazingly tough times.

      Stay the course, JL1 – and be sure to visit as often as necessary to report your progress and catch some support.

      I’m glad you’re on board…

      Bill

      • Judy in CA August 13, 2011, 1:34 am

        Thanks so much Bill
        Dr said once i got my ‘head’ working right the rest of my body would follow
        how should i sign in ? am I JL1 now.
        oye, mind is kind boggled now. The ‘d’ has stopped so I’m so hopeful that this drug will work for me

      • chipur August 13, 2011, 5:33 pm

        Your doctor is wise. It’s amazing what happens when one can get their “head working right.” And it’s also amazing what happens when we do all we can to just leave things alone – allowing our head to work right and our body following in kind.

        Seems like you have your sign in protocol all set…

        Bill

  • Holly August 13, 2011, 1:40 am

    I started Viibryd about a week ago, and think it is not working out for me. I only have minor depression, and was hoping to find a good antidepressant with few side effects for short term. I have a great counselor, but have some extra stressors in my life right now that are temporary (as in, under a year). My primary care doc suggested this one, and I’ve decided I think I’m done.

    I’ve had bad headaches since it started – not migraines, i get those too (I have some chronic health issues), but I’m also having more body aches. While I’m not as overall sad (seriously, thumbs up to this drug b/c I felt a difference here in TWO DAYS!! That was really great) and ready to cry over so much (and I’m not normally a crier), I’m feeling dull at even 20mg. Also, I was feeling irritable at EVERYTHING. My boyfriend (who is a nurse and has depression – was on Zoloft, is managing without antidepressants rigt now) was thinking it was lack of sleep + stress. I can’t really sleep on Viibyrd. Twice this week I went over 24 hours without sleep. Worth noting that I had been prescribed Nuvigil to give me energy and I”ve been skipping it plus taking my max dose of sleeping pills and still having sleep issues. Worst of all, I started having weird suicidal thoughts. Now, I get that suicidal thoughts of ANY kind are bad. And part of me going on an antidepressant was b/c some days I had that “I don’t want to live” sort of thinking, but on this drug, I was having really creepy thoughts of harming myself – and in ways that I never EVER would have considered before.

    GI issues weren’t too bad – looser than usual, but had a bad stomachae for the whole time on this drug.

    Any idea how long it will take to be out of my system and if there is withdrawal?

    Even though this didn’t work out for me – I’m having high hopes for many others (also, FWIW, my co pay was $40 at Drug Mart in Ohio). And Thank for this site – will continue reading (just annoyed that I cant see my dr til October now)

    • Meteoroid August 13, 2011, 9:03 am

      Viibryd’s half life is about 25 hours. So that means after about a day of not taking it half of the medication that was in your body will be out. After two days there will only be a quarter left and 12.5% at three days, which isn’t much at all. To answer your question Viibryd will be out of your system in 3 to 4 days with most it gone in the first two days. 

      • chipur August 13, 2011, 5:42 pm

        Got my vote…

    • chipur August 13, 2011, 5:39 pm

      Hi Holly! Thank you for your chipur visit and for contributing.

      Sure sounds like Viibryd likely isn’t a fit. With a relatively short half-life (20 some hours) and taking it for only a week, I’d think the flush-a-roo would be quick. Keep us posted.

      And I’m glad to read you’ll stay on board and continue to participate…

      Bill

    • LSM August 14, 2011, 10:37 pm

      Funny , I take nuvigil too, and im stopping the Viibryd after two weeks because it is killing me. The stomach aches, headaches, lethargy, etc. Could the nuvigil be mixing bad with the Viibryd.

      • chipur August 15, 2011, 1:23 am

        LSM…

        Nuvigil may have some interaction issues with the MAOIs (what doesn’t?) and the TCAs. SSRIs seem to be okay. Regarding Viibryd’s 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist piece – here’s a link to a wikipedia article that lists gobs of 5-HT1A rpa’s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HT1A_receptor Perhaps you can find some sort of link between one of them and a med that interacts poorly with Nuvigil.

        chipur readers – armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a stimulant-like drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder – and as an adjunctive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Its manufacturer plans to conduct clinical trials evaluating the use of Nuvigil as a treatment for bipolar depression, cognition abnormalities associated with schizophrenia, and fatigue in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

        Common side effects include headache, nausea, insomnia, lack of appetite, dizziness, agitation, anxiety and high blood pressure.

        Bill

  • DF August 13, 2011, 12:53 pm

    Day 24 was three days ago and I woke up feeling a little better than I had been, and I’ve been feeling better on each subsequent day.  Wow!  This morning my libido is ready to party (unfortunately I have no one to invite to the party at the moment).  I don’t know what happened.  No personal event led to the improvement, so I credit the Viibryd.  No GI issues to contend with at this point.  Last night I did sleep for only five hours before getting up for a couple of hours. That was unusual.  I generally don’t freak out at not sleeping though, so I was able to just get some journal writing done. 

    Once my sample pack is up in a few days, I  have a coupon for a free month’s supply waiting for me.  After that, I either pay $169 per month, get samples from my doctor (most likely), or have the good news that the appeal I will be filing with Medco will get approved. 

    All in all, I’m becoming very pleased with Viibryd.  I was going to wait until the sample pack was finished before I wrote, but I wanted to share some good news with the drug.  Maybe it will help someone on the fence about it.

    Be well, Bill and everyone.  Good luck.

    DF

    • DF August 13, 2011, 1:06 pm

      PS: Bill, thanks for the heads up on the book “The Mindful Way Through Depression.”  I’ve done Vipassana (mindfulness) meditation on and off for years with some of Kabat-Zinn’s contemporaries, even doing a two week retreat once.  I have been wanting to get back into it, and look forward to reading this book as I do so.

      • chipur August 13, 2011, 5:45 pm

        Excellent ;)

    • chipur August 13, 2011, 5:44 pm

      Thanks, DF. You continue to be well, also. And may you find that special someone with whom you can party…

      Bill

  • Judy in CA August 13, 2011, 3:54 pm

    I’m so grateful I found this forum! I have a long history of not tolerating medications of any kind.We recently made a move to CA after living on the East coast for 31 years. I’ve had a rough adjustment even tho I’ve done all the things to try to fit in…….going to comm centers, joined clubs, exercise classes, you name it. Why the history, I’ve not had depression issues in my life until I’d try to quit smoking. When we were selling the house I started back to smoking and have help with a drug then and now I’ve been quit for 6 1/2 months.Dr’s all want to know when the anxiety/depression/panic attacks started…………………… 6 /12 months agoHave been on 25 mgs of zoloft for years for fibro and then when I quit smoking I tried Wellbutrin for 3 weeks and it helped me quit. Dr finally put me on viibryd Wednesday and on day 2I felt wonderful and like my old self. Today the ‘d’ started with the stomach cramps. I want so much for this med to work I’m going to keep trying. I want my life back. I’m 69 and have alot of living left to do but the depression was just keeping me home bound and without my ‘friend’ the cigs.Not writing a lot about the drug as only on 3 day but I thought maybe some people reading might relate to my re location and cig addiction and how maybe this drug might help with the reason I’m so down and why I must have this drug work as all others the other dr.s have through at me over the past 8 months have not.  Spent days reading before I wanted to post but you all posting has sure helped me.Judy

    • chipur August 13, 2011, 5:54 pm

      We’re here for you, Judy…

  • Trevor August 14, 2011, 6:50 pm

    Been on Viibryd for close to 2 months now.  Here’s what I can report:

    It began lifting the depression on week 3.  The insomnia & GI distress mostly went away after the first week.  My appetite remains very suppressed.  Anorexics will love this med.  Body builders will find it challenging to eat enough to pack on muscle.  I was worried about my mental focus/concentration around the 40mg level but focus returned.  As for the claims about little or no sexual side-effects, I can’t say that it’s any easier to acheive orgasm on Viibryd than with any other SSRI I’ve tried.  I can manage about one orgasm a day, if I time it just right:  You know, take the pill at bed time and then engage in intimacy any time the following evening when the previous dose is at it’s lowest in my system). However, since I quit smoking about a week ago, I cannot profess with any certainty that Viibryd’s SSE claim is b.s. since my whole body is out of whack right now.  That, and of course I could always be that 1% for whom the sexual side-effect benefit wouldn’t apply to anyway.  Either way, to Viibryd’s credit, interest in sex has not waned and there has been zero erectile dysfunction.  Just delayed orgasm.  (Golly, isn’t this all so graphic?)

    In conclusion, I’m mostly happy with Viibryd (no constipation!) and with stick with it a bit longer.

    I would be interested to know if anyone has gone above 40mg and what that is like.  

    Luck to all!  Hi to Bill. 

    Trevor  

    • DF August 14, 2011, 10:19 pm

      Trevor, I’m glad you reported the lack of concentration and very pleased to hear that it returns.  I sometimes have that problem during an episode, so I didn’t equate it right away with the Viibryd.  How long did it take for your focus to return?  I’m afraid all I’m good for now is following my Twitter feed. 

      DF

      • ls August 14, 2011, 10:38 pm

        DF,

        Man, I had that too!!! But after the transitioning between mgs I am happy to report that it is much better!! I can actually watch a movie and read a book! Which I haven’t been really able to do in a long time. I was very foggy at first, now I feel awesome!! Even at work I am much more  focused!! Been on it a month and if it gets better, I will be a vvery happy camper!!

      • chipur August 15, 2011, 12:41 am

        DF! Hang in there, okay? My money says you’ll get it back in short order…

        Bill

      • Trevor August 16, 2011, 12:23 am

        DF,  I couldn’t remember at first so I scrolled way back in the forum and read a few of my old postings.  Evidently,  Day 22 was when I noted the mental fog beginning to lift.  If you are a little past day 22, don’t worry.  It should clear up and then some. 

    • Judy in CA August 14, 2011, 11:16 pm

      Trevor– My quitting smoking is what threw me into this depression where i needed something to help. Other things didn’t help so that’s why dr. gave me this drug.
      I’m praying it works on my depression and ‘head’ and the rest will fall into pale ……….I pray.
      Judy

      • Trevor August 16, 2011, 12:14 am

        Judy, I feel you on the smoking thing.  Even at 2 months (roughly) on Viibryd, I felt a slight return of my depression when I threw the cigs away.  Perhaps this is the rebound effect Bill was talking about: all that time we spent dosing ourselves with nicotine may now have our brains temporarily readjusting with a certain flatness in the pleasure department.  Whatever the case, as you are now on Day 4, I think, you should expect to be feeling a lot better when the Viibryd kicks-in (or any antidepressant, for that matter.  When I quit smoking for 3 months last year while on Cymbalta, for example, the no cig depression was not significant.) Look to the 3 week mark (give or take)  for the boost. :)   

      • Judy in CA August 16, 2011, 2:51 am

        Trevor
        Thanks for your support. Agree on the flatness in the pleasure department.  The am added a new inhaler to the mix symbicort, that didn’t agree at all and had heart palpatations, shakes, and shortness of breath………….new inhaler, viibryd, combination? who knows. That’s why I never do 2 new drugs at the same time.
        Any way day 5 on this drug and praying i can keep with it and keep listening to my body and hope it isn’t lying to me. 

    • chipur August 15, 2011, 12:29 am

      Trevor – either in the comment section of this article, or the original one, a reader reports being at 80mg! And as I recall, he’s chatting with his doc re the possibility of increasing. Wow!

      Hi to you, as well. Nice hearing from you again…

      Bill

      • Trevor August 16, 2011, 12:25 am

        80mg, you say?  I’m glad I asked.  Have a dr’s appt scheduled for tomorrow.  Think I could use a bit of a boost. 

        Thx,
        Trevor

      • chipur August 16, 2011, 12:44 am

        ;)

  • chipur August 14, 2011, 8:32 pm

    chipur readers! Here’s the article on rebound effect I promised. Cool stuff! https://chipur.com/2011/08/14/rebound-effect-and-you-thought-it-was-bad-the-first-time-around/

    • LSM August 14, 2011, 10:31 pm

      Oh man. I have been taking Viibryd for about two weeks. Although it does help with depression and crankiness (and no sexual side affects), the last week ive woken up with a slight headache, queasy stomach, and feeling like I just need to lay down to keep from feeling worse. At first I thought I was just coming down with something or I was not eating healthy enough , but I am pretty sure now it is the Viibryd . I am not taking it anymore as of today and I hope this goes away, because I feel HORRIBLE! I really don’t like the blah feeling i got with luvox (the feeling where nothing makes you too sad, but nothing makes you really happy either), but i dont know what other choice I have , Viibryd definitely aint it!

  • Elise August 15, 2011, 9:02 am

    I’m on day 13 of Viibryd and it’s not going well so far. I just took my first 20mg pill tonight before bed and about an hour after falling asleep, I woke up feeling like I was having a heart attack. I felt light-headed, nauseous, and tingly on my left side. I was sure I was gonna pass out if I sat still. I seriously considered going to the emergency room! I took a walk around the block in order to calm myself and that did help a bit. I’ve had diarrhea for about ten days and the only thing that has helped is eating only rice, bread, potatoes, bananas, and yogurt. This threw a wrench in my weight loss plan, as it’s exactly the opposite of the healthy diet I’ve been on (aside from the fruit and yogurt). The diarrhea has made me a bit dehydrated and unable to work out as hard as I usually do. I’m not sure how long I should stick with this, as it’s really affecting me. I’m considering going back down to 10mg until the side effects subside completely. I haven’t noticed an increase in appetite or any change in my sex drive (though it’s hard to tell, as I don’t currently have a partner).

    • chipur August 15, 2011, 5:41 pm

      Hi Elise…

      First of all, thank you for visiting chipur and participating. Sorry to read you’re having a rough time of it.

      If I only had the answers for you. Psychotropics are goofy meds, to be sure. Each individual is effected so differently. I will say I’ve read reports here of side effects totally disappearing in time while the user maintained the starting regimen.

      Certainly, you could decrease the dosage and try to ride out the side effects, but you’re not really allowing the med to do its thing. Easy for me to say, I know.

      This is only a suggestion. First of all, contact your doc and let her/him know what’s going on. And why not take another 20mg? Maybe even take it in the morning and see what happens.

      Please keep us posted re your progress…

      Bill

  • Bonanza August 15, 2011, 4:19 pm

    Hello, I thought I would relay my experience with Viibryd thus far.  I was formerly taking 30mg Cymbalta and 150 mg ER Wellbutrin.  I began taking 40mg  V four days ago and stopped C and W without titrating them down.  I have had some GI issues and a little dizziness (more like vertigo when I look up too quickly).  Other than that, I’ve had few side-effects.  SSE have improved, especially the sensitivity and DE.

    • chipur August 15, 2011, 5:48 pm

      Welcome, Bonanza (looking for Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe)!

      Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like it’s been a good one so far. And, hey, I’d go with one v. two meds any day.

      Your contribution is appreciated. Please keep us posted…

      Bill

  • Judy in CA August 16, 2011, 2:55 am

    Bill, called the d.r who prescribed the inhaler, of course left voice mail and no call back…..internist thought i should stop the inhaler and i have and not interested in using again. I know your not ‘a dr’ but would just appreciate your opinion on it reeving up the serotonin?

    • chipur August 16, 2011, 6:27 pm

      Hi Judy…

      You’re right, I’m not a doc. I could find no documented evidence that the inhaler and Viibryd are a bad combo. Of course, who knows with meds???

      Here’s some drug interaction info straight from Viibryd’s prescribing info. Everyone can use it for ongoing reference. Oh, here’s the link to the prescribing info page. http://www.frx.com/pi/viibryd_pi.pdf

      Central Nervous System (CNS)-Active Agents
      The risk of using VIIBRYD in combination with other CNSactive
      drugs has not been systematically evaluated.
      Consequently, use caution when VIIBRYD is prescribed in
      combination with other CNS-active drugs.

      Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI)
      Adverse reactions, some of which are serious or fatal,
      can develop in patients who use MAOIs or who have
      recently been discontinued from a MAOI and started on
      antidepressant(s) with pharmacological properties similar
      to VIIBRYD (e.g. SSRIs), or who have recently had SSRI
      therapy discontinued prior to initiation of an MAOI. Do
      not prescribe VIIBRYD concomitantly with an MAOI or
      within 14 days of discontinuing or starting an MAOI

      Serotonergic Drugs
      Based on the mechanism of action of VIIBRYD and the
      potential for serotonin toxicity, also known as serotonin
      syndrome, caution is advised when VIIBRYD is coadministered
      with other drugs that may affect the serotonergic
      neurotransmitter systems (e.g., MAOI, SSRIs, SNRIs,
      triptans, buspirone, tramadol, and tryptophan products
      etc.)

      Drugs that Interfere with Hemostasis (e.g.,
      NSAIDs, Aspirin, and Warfarin)
      Serotonin release by platelets plays an important role in
      hemostasis. Epidemiological studies of case-control and
      cohort design have demonstrated an association between use
      of psychotropic drugs that interfere with serotonin
      reuptake and the occurrence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
      These studies have also shown that concurrent use of
      an NSAID or aspirin may potentiate this risk of bleeding. Altered
      anticoagulant effects, including increased bleeding,
      have been reported when SSRIs and SNRIs are coadministered
      with warfarin. Patients receiving warfarin therapy
      should be carefully monitored when VIIBRYD is initiated or
      discontinued

      Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Vilazodone
      PK Inhibitors of CYP3A4
      Inducers of CYP3A4

      Potential for Vilazodone to Affect Other Drugs
      Drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2D6,
      CYP3A4 or CYP2C19.

      • Judy in CA August 17, 2011, 5:06 pm

        Bill
        Thanks so much for all the info
        don’t know how i missed this one.
        I’m just so confused as don’t know so many of the vocabulary in this article.
        I have been reading up on this drug a lot and have seen some of this.
        Don’t know about the symbicort just know i’m not taking it anymore EVER
        Again, thanks for the research.
        It says in what i read not to take muscle relaxants with this but i’m taking 25 mgs of valium for the shakes i’m getting from this blasted drug.
        I just want to find something working with this drug other than side effects……………

      • chipur August 17, 2011, 5:22 pm

        You’re welcome, Judy. And you know what? If you don’t want to take Symbicort, by golly – don’t take it. Your body, your decision. Just a note for the record, though Valium may be relaxing your muscles, it’s technically a benzodiazepine, not a muscle relaxant.

        Hang in there – we’ll be here…

        Bill

      • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 9:57 pm

        Ah oh………..IS THAT A BAD THING. IS it on the list of things that CAN’T BE taken with this.
        Good Grief…………………….. will try to find this post to see your answer.
        we all so appreciate your comments.

  • Barbara August 16, 2011, 4:41 am

    I just wanted to give an update on how wonderful i am doing on Viibyrd. I am on day 21, on day 15 instead of going up to 40 mg, i stayed at 20 mg. I feel fantastic, no depression or panic. Once in awhile, i get an adrenaline rush…which sometimes, can be mistaken for anxiety. It takes me awhile to fall asleep, and i do occasionally wake up during the night. Decreased appetite, lost 7 pounds, back to myself 100%….i am ecstatic to be back  after an episode of MDD/panic/anxiety for the past 4 months. I have a long history with major depression..25 yrs to be exact! In the 25 yrs, i have an 18 breakthroughs in medication. I take the meds faithfully and out of no where they stop working. I have been with the same psychiatrist for 20 yrs, and i always tell him, that i  feel like an isolated case. I could understand it better if i chose to stop taking my medication or switched it by choice, But, that’s never the case! I took Prozac when it first came out and four times since then, and it was a wonder drug. In my opinion, Viibyrd will surpass it!! Prozac takes a long time to build up in your system and the sexual side effect are the worst. With Viibyrd, i feel like i am 18 yrs old again…lol….I enjoy reading everyone’s posts and appreciate Bill’s dedication to all of us. I feel very positive and my faith is, and has always has been very strong! :)

    Good luck to everyone!!

      

    • Mama1p August 16, 2011, 11:50 am

      When do you take your dososage?  That seems to be the magic question.

      • chipur August 16, 2011, 8:14 pm

        …along with “what sign are you?”

    • chipur August 16, 2011, 8:06 pm

      Regarding those adrenaline rushes – quit looking at my pic ;) You know, these darned ADs so often will cease being effective over time. So much physiology and biochemistry involved – I’m sure you’re not an isolated case, Barbara. I know that doesn’t make it better, but it’s true.

      Heck, if you’re feeling 18 again, I’d better start taking the stuff. Sure reads like it feels good to be living. And that’s pretty cool, if you ask me…

      Bill

      • Judy in CA August 17, 2011, 5:07 pm

        is a adrenaline rush like a ‘hot flash’?
        Was so hot this am and felt like a hot flash to me.
        or
        is the adrenaline rush more like with anxiety?

      • chipur August 17, 2011, 5:26 pm

        How ’bout this idea? Judy, don’t worry about it being a “hot flash” or an “adrenaline rush.” Calmly go with the symptom without slicing and dicing it. I mean, I know it’s unpleasant and scary, but the more attention you give it, the longer it will last. If you become big-time concerned, call you doc and describe the symptom – the two of you then coming up with what it might be. Better yet, coming up with a way to treat it…

        Bill

      • Judy in CA August 18, 2011, 10:00 pm

        Thanks bill………it do tend to be a slicer and dicer :) will let it go just was wondering why the hot and then so cold another minute.

      • chipur August 18, 2011, 11:56 pm

        You know I’m on your side, right?