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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by joe schmoe on July 29, 2011, at 15:43:37
In reply to Day 27 of Viibryd, posted by joe schmoe on July 27, 2011, at 15:21:47
Been in a great mood lately. No emotional blunting here, that's for sure.
No chest pains or restless legs or loose bowels either, and no dizziness. No anxiety either. I think the annoying side effects have basically gone away, with the exception of getting to sleep, which can be a challenge sometimes, although staying asleep isn't, fortunately.
The next challenge will be to try to lose some weight on this thing - put a lot on with Celexa and I don't think Viibryd is going to make it any easier to drop it. I can't keep sweets in the house - even stuff I normally dislike like dark chocolate, or I will eat the whole bar in a few hours, a piece at a time.
Posted by Chris O on July 29, 2011, at 16:19:45
In reply to Day 29 of Viibryd, posted by joe schmoe on July 29, 2011, at 15:43:37
That's good to hear this stuff is working for someone. I'm one day 5ish, and so far, nothing much, except perhaps a bit of activation, which is not really pleasant. I'm going to go up to 40mg in the next couple of days just to see if this stuff works for me. Haven't had much luck with SSRIs at all, but not really ready to do the Nardil thing either.
Posted by markwell on July 30, 2011, at 6:05:31
In reply to Re: Day 29 of Viibryd » joe schmoe, posted by Chris O on July 29, 2011, at 16:19:45
What is activation like? I hope that one goes away. Is that why the problem with insomnia?
Mark
Posted by Chris O on July 30, 2011, at 6:45:21
In reply to Re: Day 29 of Viibryd, posted by markwell on July 30, 2011, at 6:05:31
The activation is mild compared to, say, Zoloft or Wellbutrin for me. However, it's still there. Insomnia for me is chronic, so I cannot tell if it has changed after 7 days on this med. I have the sleep 2-3 hour sleep/wake pattern I've had for the past decade or so. In terms of sexual side effects, well, those are here for me. Lack of pleasure/difficulty reaching orgasm is there, even at Day 7. It also has some anti-anxiety effect, but not great at this point. I'm going to continue to post as this goes on.
Chris
Posted by joe schmoe on July 30, 2011, at 10:51:44
In reply to Re: Day 29 of Viibryd » markwell, posted by Chris O on July 30, 2011, at 6:45:21
> The activation is mild compared to, say, Zoloft or Wellbutrin for me. However, it's still there. Insomnia for me is chronic, so I cannot tell if it has changed after 7 days on this med. I have the sleep 2-3 hour sleep/wake pattern I've had for the past decade or so. In terms of sexual side effects, well, those are here for me. Lack of pleasure/difficulty reaching orgasm is there, even at Day 7. It also has some anti-anxiety effect, but not great at this point. I'm going to continue to post as this goes on.
Are you following the normal taper up of 10 mg for a week, 20 mg for a week, and then 40 mg on Day 15? In an earlier post it sounded like you were going to jump to 40mg after a few days.Just trying to clarify what you mean by "Day 7."
Have you had any dizziness?
Posted by Chris O on July 30, 2011, at 15:35:26
In reply to Re: Day 29 of Viibryd » Chris O, posted by joe schmoe on July 30, 2011, at 10:51:44
Joe:
I've taken 20mg for the last four days. So, I'm on Day 7, the last four days at 20mg. I haven't gone up to 40mg yet. I will probably jump up there in the next few days if I do not feel much of an effect at 20mg. I haven't had any dizziness. No weight gain either. (I just lost 10 pounds after stopping one and a half years of Paxil, then Serzone.) Side effects, so far, seem to be the lack of pleasure/difficulty reaching orgasm, as I mentioned, and some mild activation. I guess I'll just give the stuff a chance and see what happens after a month or so. How are you doing? What do you notice so far in terms of anti-anxiety/antidepression effects? I was going to start Nardil, but decided to give SSRIs one more chance before doing so.
Chris
Posted by joe schmoe on July 31, 2011, at 22:23:37
In reply to Re: Day 29 of Viibryd » joe schmoe, posted by Chris O on July 30, 2011, at 15:35:26
Well, done with the starter pack and took my first pill from a prescription bottle today.
Got over 12 hours' sleep last night - good to know I can catch up on sleep when I have to. (Previous night I was once again interrupted by loud noise in the morning, this time a vacuum cleaner by a cleaning person, so I was sleep deprived). So while getting to sleep isn't always easy, I generally can stay asleep unless rudely awakened.
Mood is quite good and tongkat ali and maca continue to do a super job at sexuality enhancement. I often have to stop what I'm doing and go "relieve the pressure" due to sexual thoughts and sensations - when was the last time I had to do that on celexa! So I am quite pleased overall.
Trying to lose weight will be...interesting.
Posted by Chris O on July 31, 2011, at 22:33:14
In reply to Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by joe schmoe on July 31, 2011, at 22:23:37
Joe:
It's interesting to hear your experiences with this medication. As regarding the whole sexual issue thing, I've found, after 8 days on Viibryd (after being off Serzone for 4 months), that the anhedonia in relationship to sex has returned for me. In other words, it was starting to disappear but is now coming back. I guess I'll have to wait until I do a couple of weeks at 40mg to give a more experienced assessment.
Chris
Posted by joe schmoe on July 31, 2011, at 22:50:33
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd » joe schmoe, posted by Chris O on July 31, 2011, at 22:33:14
Chris,
I'm not sure what you mean. You had sexual problems on Serzone? Or after going off it?
I tried Serzone myself back before it got pulled off the market here, and I seem to recall it actually being a sex enhancer.
Posted by Chris O on August 1, 2011, at 0:53:45
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd » Chris O, posted by joe schmoe on July 31, 2011, at 22:50:33
Joe:
Serzone a sex enhancer, eh? Wow. Maybe I'm just a freak, but I haven't found any of the SSRIs, or SNRIs, to be "sex enhancers." Since 2008, I've been on high doses of Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, and Serzone. All gave me that lack of interest in sex kind of feeling. I didn't get much, if any benefit, from those drugs, either, even at the highest recommended doses. Lexapro was no better in 2004-2005. I had luck with a Celexa-Wellbutrin combination in 2000-2001, but since then, I've been in the haze of my increasingly debilitating anxiety disorder. My hopes are low for Viibryd, but I'll stick with it for one or two months, just to give it a chance. It's good to know that you're benefiting from the drug, though. Gives me something to hope for.
Chris
Posted by bearfan on August 1, 2011, at 17:45:17
In reply to Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by joe schmoe on July 31, 2011, at 22:23:37
I'm also on Day 30 of Viibryd. I'm sort of torn on this medication. I sleep better, which is good, but I still have some dizziness feelings and loose stools. I don't feel as productive, or social as on other medications I've tried. I don't seem to be as hungry like on Paxil, so my weight has stayed about the same. I'd thought I would of lost a little because of eating less, but not so. Libido hasn't been greatly improved, but functioning has. Unless it gets significantly better in the next few weeks, I haven't yet decided to remain on it.
Posted by markwell on August 1, 2011, at 18:02:13
In reply to Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by bearfan on August 1, 2011, at 17:45:17
Bearfan, has viibryd helped at all with anxiety and depression?
Mark
Posted by bearfan on August 2, 2011, at 3:55:16
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by markwell on August 1, 2011, at 18:02:13
It is helping with both anxiety and depression, but not at a level I would call 'satisfactory'. Part of the problem I have with it is that I feel quite dizzy/uncoordinated on it. It was bad enough that I had to switch the dosing to nighttime so it wouldn't adversely effect driving. It's different vs the traditional SSRIs in that I notice more emotional thought in decisions vs meds like Prozac that blunt them at a much greater level. This could be a good thing. A downside is that I don't feel particularly motivated to talk to people, enjoy things or even do chores around the house which is a sign that the depression is not adequately being treated. My depression symptoms have always been more in the mild/moderate range, and this is not a good sign because its probably not going to be strong enough for people that need more help. This may be especially true for those who already been on SSRIs, they started to lose their effectiveness, and looking for something newer or stronger to replace the older ones.
Posted by Chris O on August 2, 2011, at 7:20:23
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by bearfan on August 2, 2011, at 3:55:16
Bearfan:
I completely concur with your assessment of Viibryd. I've been on Viibryd for about 10 days now. I've upped the dose to 40mg already. I've also been on many SSRIs, at high doses, and they do not seem to work much for me anymore. While this medication is doing something, moderately, for my anxiety, I also feel ... blunted or something in terms of talking to people, which is one of my main issues. I still feel like avoiding social interaction on this med. I haven't had the dizziness or lack of coordination symptoms yet, but perhaps I just haven't taken the drug long enough at 40mg. I'm not certain I am going to stick with with Viibryd either because ... at this point in my life I really need something that keeps me "functional."
Chris
"A downside is that I don't feel particularly motivated to talk to people, enjoy things or even do chores around the house which is a sign that the depression is not adequately being treated. My depression symptoms have always been more in the mild/moderate range, and this is not a good sign because its probably not going to be strong enough for people that need more help. This may be especially true for those who already been on SSRIs, they started to lose their effectiveness, and looking for something newer or stronger to replace the older ones."
Posted by markwell on August 2, 2011, at 8:11:03
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd » bearfan, posted by Chris O on August 2, 2011, at 7:20:23
So viibryd doesn't sound like the miracle drug. I have major depression and the problem is this is the only drug I haven't tried. Is it worth trying? Does it calm the mind at all?
Mark
Posted by Chris O on August 2, 2011, at 14:12:59
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by markwell on August 2, 2011, at 8:11:03
Mark:
Well, I'm only on Day 10, but already up to 40mg. It doesn't seem at all like "a miracle drug" to me. It seems similar to the other SSRIs I have taken in the last three years--Paxil, Prozac, and Luvox. There is some mild anti-anxiety effect so far for me, but I wouldn't say it calms my mind the way I need it to. It just doesn't feel strong enough, but I'll stick with it a bit longer to see if it improves. My hopes are not high right now.
Chris
Posted by bearfan on August 2, 2011, at 14:41:48
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd » markwell, posted by Chris O on August 2, 2011, at 14:12:59
I agree with Mark's comments. For it to be a "Miracle Drug", it really has to offer significantly better efficacy, superior tolerability, broad range of indications/symptom control, and better safety margin. Neither of former has been proven. I view it as another 'me too' SSRI with a slightly different side-effect profile vs the existing therapies. Not to say you and your doctor shouldn't consider using it, but if your expecting 'life changing' results, you may be disappointed.
Posted by joe schmoe on August 2, 2011, at 23:38:49
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by bearfan on August 2, 2011, at 14:41:48
I'm a little puzzled by this talk of miracle drugs, skipping the prescribed dosage taper, and evaluating an antidepressant after only ten days.
Before evaluating an antidepressant I would follow the manufacturer's recommendations for dosage (unless side effects became intolerable) and give it at least month, or two months.
To me Viibryd was supposed to be an ssri antidepressant with minimal sexual or weight gain effects. No more and no less. If you never got any good effect from ssris, then Viibryd was probably nothing to get excited about.
SSRIs do work for me for dysthymia and atypical depression. I take clonazepam for social anxiety. What I wanted from Viibryd was something like celexa but without the sexual numbing or the fatness. So far the sexual numbing seems to be absent, so I am quite happy with it. I wish my appetite was lower, but you can't have everything - and maybe that will improve over time.
Posted by SLS on August 3, 2011, at 6:47:21
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by joe schmoe on August 2, 2011, at 23:38:49
> I'm a little puzzled by this talk of miracle drugs,
Me too. No one drug heals all. However, for the one person that a specific drug does heal, it is a miracle drug.
> skipping the prescribed dosage taper,
Desperation?
> and evaluating an antidepressant after only ten days.
This frustrates me to no end when I see people draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of a drug before three weeks passes.
> Before evaluating an antidepressant I would follow the manufacturer's recommendations for dosage (unless side effects became intolerable) and give it at least month, or two months.
I don't know. I think the experience of multiple clinicians over time can yield new ways to use old drugs.
> To me Viibryd was supposed to be an ssri antidepressant
Not really. It was meant to be different. In addition to serotonin reuptake inhibition, Viibryd is a 5-HT1a partial agonist. I'm not sure, but I think the serotonin reuptake inhibition of Viibryd is less robust than the SSRIs.
> with minimal sexual or weight gain effects.
This is due to the 5-HT1a receptor partial agonism.
> No more and no less. If you never got any good effect from ssris, then Viibryd was probably nothing to get excited about.
Possibly, but clinical data on new drugs often supercedes theory.
> SSRIs do work for me for dysthymia and atypical depression. I take clonazepam for social anxiety. What I wanted from Viibryd was something like celexa but without the sexual numbing or the fatness. So far the sexual numbing seems to be absent, so I am quite happy with it. I wish my appetite was lower, but you can't have everything - and maybe that will improve over time.
I wish you luck. I hope you experience a clinical response greater than what your theory would predict.
- Scott
Posted by Chris O on August 3, 2011, at 8:26:39
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by joe schmoe on August 2, 2011, at 23:38:49
Joe:
Chris here. I'm the guy who's evaluating Viibryd after 10 days. Perhaps normally, I wouldn't do that (evaluate a drug so quickly). I've come to this board on and off for over ten years, though not as often as others, perhaps. When I saw your post (which started evaluating Viibryd after Day 1, I think), I just decided to share my experience with the drug as well. I thought it would be helpful as an add-on to this thread, and I wanted to interact with someone who was also taking the drug. No more, no less. Even though you and Scott are "puzzled," I'd like to continue to share here. In terms of skipping the prescribed dosing, I did jump up to 40mg a few days before I was supposed to (Yes, I guess I'm "desperate." I'll own that.) But I've been through the SSRI drill enough to get a feeling of how these drugs affect my body/brain. Why another SSRI if the ones I've tried in the past have been unsuccessful? My next stop is Nardil or a tricyclic, and I'd just prefer to have something work with fewer side effects than one of those drugs. That's my story.
Chris
Posted by bearfan on August 3, 2011, at 13:28:02
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd » joe schmoe, posted by Chris O on August 3, 2011, at 8:26:39
Who was the one who only tried it for 10 days? I've taken it for 32 and followed the titration schedule
Posted by Chris O on August 3, 2011, at 18:48:10
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd, posted by bearfan on August 3, 2011, at 13:28:02
Bearfan:
It's me, Chris. I'm the one who has taken it for ten days.
Posted by joe schmoe on August 16, 2011, at 19:48:31
In reply to Re: Day 31 of Viibryd » bearfan, posted by Chris O on August 3, 2011, at 18:48:10
Been away for a week visiting family. I noticed I was having some dizziness and spaciness while walking around during the day (harder to notice this in my usual sedentary lifestyle at home). This occurred (the following day) even while taking the Viibryd in the evening.
Taking it late at night gave me very weird dreams and an instance of "night terrors" or sleep paralysis where I was trying to wake up from a dream and couldn't for a while, thrashing around - reminded me of imipramine. In six weeks that has only happened once though, and only while taking 40mg Viibryd late at night.
Libido continues to be great. In fact, being this horny all the time is rather distracting - not used to it. Sensation is also great. Unless this drug falls down later and lands me in a depression I can't see going back to a regular ssri.
In any case the dizziness and spaciness during the day, after being at 40 mg for nearly 4 weeks, has me thinking this dose may be above my sweet spot, so several days ago I dropped back to 20mg by breaking the pills in half. We'll see how that holds up.
I am entering my final semester in this degree program I am in, and am looking for post-graduation jobs, facing the terrible economy etc. so this will be a very stressful and depressing time for me. The drug will really be put to the test in the coming weeks and months as far as AD effectiveness goes.
At the moment I would say 20mg has no side effects for me whatsoever. If that changes I will make a post.
Over the summer I have been having an annoying problem with a muscle in my inner or middle ear twitching throughout the day at random. It may or may not have anything to do with Viibryd. It is an annoying sensation I have had before, typically when some part of my body was irritated in some way (usually something weirdly unrelated to the ear, like being constipated). It has been bothering me a lot lately but now that I think about it, seems to have decreased quite a bit since I moved back down to 20mg. Could be coincidence. I have not been constipated, so I know it isn't that causing it.
Posted by joe schmoe on August 16, 2011, at 20:56:11
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 6, posted by joe schmoe on August 16, 2011, at 19:48:31
Incidentally the sweets/carbs cravings I was having earlier when starting Viibryd seem to be decreasing significantly. I am hoping now to go on a diet and lose some of the weight I put on while on celexa.
Posted by Chris O on August 17, 2011, at 11:01:35
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 6, posted by joe schmoe on August 16, 2011, at 20:56:11
Joe:
It's good to know that Viibryd is working so well for you. For me so far, into Week 4, it's similar to other SSRIs for me. After meeting with my p-doc, I'm up to 50mg a day. I still do not feel a significant anti-anxiety/anti-depressant effect. If anything, it has a blunting effect--a bit pro-depressive--not opening me up the way I'd like it to. (I think another new Viibryd taker commented on that in this post stream.) I've also got a bit of anorgasmia and my anhedonia really hasn't lifted, but I've been on SSRIs pretty much continually for the past 3+ years. I don't have any other significant side effects, no weight gain yet, and I lost about 10 pounds after stopping Paxil and Serzone several months ago. I'm going to stick this out for a couple of months, but my hopes are not high.
Chris
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