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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by JTDC on October 24, 2011, at 18:18:33
In reply to Re: 80 mg of Viibryd, my story and what's NEW! » JTDC, posted by SLS on October 24, 2011, at 8:27:59
When I was not getting enough relief on the 40 mg we slowly went up to 60 and then 80 mg.
I have very difficult to treat depression. The 80 mg is not allowing me complete remission, just about 50%. This refractory depression along with my atypical depressive symptoms is why my doctor suggested the augmentation with Cytomel.
Cytomel is definitely doing more than the Viibryd alone. I do have more GI issues on the 80 mg of Viibryd than on the 40. I also have a lower libido on the 80 mg than on the 40.
> How did you come to raise your dosage of Viibryd to 80 mg? The maximum dosage is 40 mg. Was this your doctor's idea? Did increasing the dosage help at all? Side effects?
>
> Good luck in future adventures.
>
>
> - Scott
>
>
>
Posted by Chris O on October 25, 2011, at 11:17:04
In reply to 80 mg of Viibryd, my story and what's NEW!, posted by JTDC on October 24, 2011, at 8:07:07
JTDC:
I'm also taking 80mg of Viibryd. I guess it's been over 3 months now. I think my response is similar to yours, but probably even less robust than 50% reduction of symptoms. For me, more like 20 to 30%. On the positive side, do not really have any visible side effects beyond slightly decreased libido. Dreams for me are no more vivid and weird than they are on other SSRIs. Great to hear that the Cytomel is working for you. I've had my thyroid tested many times, but it always comes back "normal." No fibro symptoms, but I am fatigued to death with my GAD, depression. I've always suspected there may be something going on with thyroid after my life of constant adrenal stress hormone release. Hope you continue to improve!
Chris
Posted by Phillipa on October 25, 2011, at 23:19:50
In reply to Re: 80 mg of Viibryd, my story and what's NEW!, posted by Chris O on October 25, 2011, at 11:17:04
Chris very well could be. Yes I do have hasimotos thyroidistis but adrenal test came back low normal. Now this way just a spot blood test but enough to alert the endocrinologist to start with a 24 hour urine for adrenal function. Also Free T3 normal but TSH has risen to 4.3 high normal and I'd been at l.5 perfect number for endos for thyroid so that will be repeated also. Heard him discussing with the other endo that I might be a nonconverter of T3 to T4. So you still could have thyroid issues. And I am tired and wired at same time Phillipa
Posted by Chris O on October 26, 2011, at 10:12:03
In reply to Re: 80 mg of Viibryd, my story and what's NEW! » Chris O, posted by Phillipa on October 25, 2011, at 23:19:50
I'm a 44 year-old man, so I know I am probably not the typical low thyroid issue person. But after a whole life of my GAD/panic/PTSD symptoms, and the constant lack of energy, insomnia, disease (which no longer respond to SSRIs much at all), I am at a loss. I've tested my testosterone, and that came back normal. A couple of years ago, I had very, very low vitamin D and B-12 levels, but those have come back to normal over the past year, too. I did have higher (a bit) than normal cholesterol a couple of years ago, which was shocking to me as I have never had that before, but it's come back down. I don't know. I am just tired and unable to function. Been that way my whole life it seems.
Chris
Posted by joe schmoe on October 26, 2011, at 21:07:36
In reply to 80 mg of Viibryd, my story and what's NEW!, posted by JTDC on October 24, 2011, at 7:53:49
>
> Viibryd at 80 mg has some very strange, "trippy" side effects than the "purer" SSRIs.
I too have had these "trippy" side effects, and at a lot lower dosage than 80 mg. At 40 mg this "trippiness" when in public was making my social anxiety worse (since bad social anxiety for me feels rather like a "bad trip" to begin with), and I have since cut it down to 20 mg. Still get some social anxiety to some extent unless I club it into submission with extra Clonazepam. Still, I don't want to go back to genital anesthesia, so I will continue on Viibryd for awhile and see how it changes over time. I have never had a med change its side effect profile on a weekly basis like this one.
Posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2011, at 23:15:27
In reply to Thanks, Phillipa!, posted by Chris O on October 26, 2011, at 10:12:03
Chris would love to be back at your age as felt good then pre menopause and thyroid issues. Phillipa
Posted by allison28 on November 10, 2011, at 22:10:21
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps, posted by joe schmoe on September 11, 2011, at 0:45:28
I took Viibryd for about 1.5 months. I started in July and ended mid-August of this year. It was fine for a while, I'd say it was helping. And then about 2-3 weeks into taking the medicine, I started getting really awful, very intense dreams (nightmares!) and hallucinations. That was okay for a while, since I thought the drug was working. But then the zaps started. I had never experienced anything like it. It was terrifying. I thought I had a brain tumor or something! All of a sudden, my brain - my whole body, really - would zap. It happened a few times randomly out of nowhere, but then it started happening more and more. I was taking the medicine at night, so I switched to taking it in the morning - and it still happened. I saw my doctor and we decided it was the Viibryd. I know that brain zaps are common when going off of an antidepressant, but I had very real, very uncomfortable zaps while on Viibryd. I haven't had one since stopping. So, you are not alone!
Posted by allison28 on November 10, 2011, at 22:15:02
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps, posted by joe schmoe on September 11, 2011, at 0:45:28
I took Viibryd for about 1.5 months. I started in July and ended mid-August of this year. It was fine for a while, I'd say it was helping. And then about 2-3 weeks into taking the medicine, I started getting really awful, very intense dreams (nightmares!) and hallucinations. That was okay for a while, since I thought the drug was working. But then the zaps started. I had never experienced anything like it. It was terrifying. I thought I had a brain tumor or something! All of a sudden, my brain - my whole body, really - would zap. It happened a few times randomly out of nowhere, but then it started happening more and more. I was taking the medicine at night, so I switched to taking it in the morning - and it still happened. I saw my doctor and we decided it was the Viibryd. I know that brain zaps are common when going off of an antidepressant, but I had very real, very uncomfortable zaps while on Viibryd. I haven't had one since stopping. So, you are not alone!
Posted by Chairman_MAO on November 11, 2011, at 8:03:39
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps » joe schmoe, posted by allison28 on November 10, 2011, at 22:10:21
I had these too, except the drug was intolerable for me and I stopped taking it after about 10 days. Feeling much better on Marplan now. Best of luck.
Posted by joe schmoe on December 8, 2011, at 13:52:42
In reply to Re: 80 mg of Viibryd, my story and what's NEW!, posted by joe schmoe on October 26, 2011, at 21:07:36
Far from getting used to Viibryd, its side effects seem to actually be getting worse the longer I'm on it, despite taking it at 20 mg (half the prescribed dose) after I couldn't take the surrealness of 40 mg. Headaches, eyeball aches, trippy feelings, dizziness and brain zaps several hours after taking it, feelings of unreality, brain fog/stupidity/memory problems, worsened social anxiety and weird feelings when out in public, it goes on and on. Some sensations I can't describe, no real word for them, but I definitely felt like I was "on" something, which I never felt from a normal SSRI after the first few weeks. No hair loss or GI issues or stuff like that - this was all mental and physical feelings in my head, the exact thing these drugs are supposed to prevent/treat.
I stopped taking it two days ago and so far feel immensely better! It's like a reverse withdrawal - when I took it, it felt like I was going through an ssri withdrawal. Now that I've stopped, I feel better! Very weird drug. I'm sure I'm in for some withdrawal effects eventually as my serotonin levels drop but at the moment, I definitely feel improved since I stopped!
The sexual benefit gradually went away, I feel as numbed now as I ever did on Celexa. So it's back to Celexa I think, after a washout period. Want to be AD free for a bit.
Given how short the trials were, I suspect that, since I started the drug on July 1, I have been on it as long as anyone ever has. I wonder how many other people will end up dropping it due to persistent, or worsening, side effects.
> >
> > Viibryd at 80 mg has some very strange, "trippy" side effects than the "purer" SSRIs.
>
>
> I too have had these "trippy" side effects, and at a lot lower dosage than 80 mg. At 40 mg this "trippiness" when in public was making my social anxiety worse (since bad social anxiety for me feels rather like a "bad trip" to begin with), and I have since cut it down to 20 mg. Still get some social anxiety to some extent unless I club it into submission with extra Clonazepam. Still, I don't want to go back to genital anesthesia, so I will continue on Viibryd for awhile and see how it changes over time. I have never had a med change its side effect profile on a weekly basis like this one.
>
Posted by Phillipa on December 8, 2011, at 19:04:04
In reply to Viibryd day 150+, giving up on it, posted by joe schmoe on December 8, 2011, at 13:52:42
Oh wow!!! Phillipa so sorry will you post about how things feel med free?
Posted by JTDC on December 10, 2011, at 7:57:01
In reply to Re: Viibryd day 150+, giving up on it » joe schmoe, posted by Phillipa on December 8, 2011, at 19:04:04
Would like to give everyone an update on my experience with Viibryd.
I'm back down to 40 mg and have been there for about two months. Viibryd was such a tease in the beginning -- felt really, really well on it. But the "trippy" effects eventually crept in.
For me the trippy effects are NOT visuals or distorted sounds/images. I want to be clear on that. What I mean by trippy is that there is this weird sense of surrealism, accompanied by this sense of dread. Never have felt this before on any AD. Waking up was hard to do, compared to Pristiq where I usually bound right out of bed.
So how do I cope? My doctor has me on T3/Cytomel. I've been taking the path to clear my reverse T3 dominance. I advise many of you to google it, especially if you have chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia symptoms with your depression.
For the most part I am now 90% symptom free thanks to the T3. I slowly increase my dose until all my reverse T3 receptors are cleared. Here is the link of the regimen I found online and that my psychiatrist encouraged me to try: http://thyroid-rt3.com/
I hope this can help others. There is a risk of going hyperthyroid once all your reverse T3 clears, but you then immediately lower your T3 dose for a few days and then slowly maintain a dose at 1/3 of what you were taking over the previous 12 weeks.
Posted by Chris O on December 10, 2011, at 18:18:09
In reply to Re: Viibryd day 150+, giving up on it, posted by JTDC on December 10, 2011, at 7:57:01
Thanks for the update. I've been on 80mg of Viibryd for 4 + months. It's not really helping with my GAD and depression much. The same as other high-dose other SSRIs. Weak and ineffective. No real side effects though. No "trippiness" like you're experiencing. Not much weight gain. No sexual side effects. I'll read your T-3 link. Though my traditional thyroid test always comes back within normal limits, I wouldn't be surprised if something was wrong. It's been a long ride for my with this constant anxiety. I am definitely "fatigued" to put it mildly. Good luck.
Posted by JTDC on December 11, 2011, at 18:08:19
In reply to Re: Viibryd day 150+, giving up on it » JTDC, posted by Chris O on December 10, 2011, at 18:18:09
> Thanks for the update. I've been on 80mg of Viibryd for 4 + months. It's not really helping with my GAD and depression much. The same as other high-dose other SSRIs. Weak and ineffective. No real side effects though. No "trippiness" like you're experiencing. Not much weight gain. No sexual side effects. I'll read your T-3 link. Though my traditional thyroid test always comes back within normal limits, I wouldn't be surprised if something was wrong. It's been a long ride for my with this constant anxiety. I am definitely "fatigued" to put it mildly. Good luck.
Chris -- the issue with RT3 is that it is undetectable in blood tests. My Thyroid tests (including TSH level - thyroid stimulating hormone) have always been in the normal range. The disruption occurs in cell tissue not in blood, which is why it doesn't show up in blood tests.
Endocrinologists are notoriously conservative in the medical field when it comes to "thinking outside the box". My psychiatrist helped me interestingly enough because my depression is so untreatable with conventional antidepressants.
Posted by Ponimargie on March 27, 2012, at 20:58:11
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps, posted by joe schmoe on September 11, 2011, at 0:45:28
I'm having the same issue with the brain zaps. I've been on viibryd for about 8 weeks now. I take it around 8pm and if I lay down I get the brain zaps. Some days are milder but tonight I have it bad where I fall asleep and it wakes me up. I'm wondering if you are still taking it and if the symptoms have subsided.
Posted by Chels on July 19, 2012, at 1:10:50
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps, posted by joe schmoe on September 11, 2011, at 0:45:28
> Well, I have been paying close attention to my Viibryd side effects. Carb cravings are down and I have lost 5 pounds so far on my diet. Unpleasant dreams persist and I wake up very tired in the morning but I don't have trouble going to sleep anymore. No more GI distress.
>
> At this point what is puzzling me is the continuing sensations in my head which start to occur about 3-4 hours after taking my dose. I recognize them, and they are no longer general spaciness or dizziness. They are brain zaps. Exactly the kind of sensations I normally get when going off an SSRI. Anyone who has had brain zaps from discontinuation syndrome knows what I am talking about - they tend to occur when you move your eyes or your head. Yet this is after being on Viibryd for ten weeks, and taking the dose, not missing one, is what causes them.
>
> I am at a loss to explain what could be causing this. I have had these sensations often before when going off an SSRI, but never as a direct result of taking a dose. Since insomnia no longer seems to be a problem I will probably try taking this drug as late in the evening as possible to see if I can avoid the sensations that way. Of course my dreams will probably get even more unpleasant....
>
> Anyone else experience brain zaps a few hours after taking a dose? I've never heard of a drug that causes brain zaps from taking it - only drugs that cause them from discontinuation. It's very strange to be having these sensations as a result of taking a dose. I wonder if it will wear off in time, or it taking it late at night will carry effects over into the next day.I get them every night when trying to go to sleep. Just as I drift off...ZAP! Feels like someone has placed a trick lighter or hand buzzer in my head. Sudden, short burst of electric noise, tingle across my forehead, and like the cable is out on a TV view from my eyes. My ears will continue to ring afterward, until I fall asleep. I take my disease at night before bed and within 20 minutes, it'll happen. I've been on it for 6 weeks now. First 2 were 10mg, next 2 were 20mg, now I've been on 40mg for 2 weeks. Does this stop? My mother is epileptic, so I'm already prone to seizures. I don't really want to press my luck. I've never had one, thank goodness, but i don't want this mediation to trigger one either. I love it purge than that. I was on Zoloft for a month first, but had some unwanted sexual side effects. Viibryd has helped and actually made me more sensitive than before. I thought that was a bit strange, but I can't complain. I am also not on it for depression. I was diagnosd with anxiety and OCD and it has helped so much! I feel like me again! I still have little quirks with my OCD, but the anxiety is next to nothing and I can think clearly without panic in all situations. The zaps need to go though. It's my only complaint.
Posted by phidippus on July 26, 2012, at 21:07:02
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps, posted by Chels on July 19, 2012, at 1:10:50
I got the zaps too on Viibryd. They do go away.
Eric
Posted by joe schmoe on July 26, 2012, at 21:24:53
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps » Chels, posted by phidippus on July 26, 2012, at 21:07:02
> I got the zaps too on Viibryd. They do go away.
>
> EricNot for me they didn't, after five months, they were getting worse, along with other side effects.
How long did they take to go away for you?
Posted by Chels on July 26, 2012, at 21:53:38
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps » phidippus, posted by joe schmoe on July 26, 2012, at 21:24:53
I decided to switch the time I took mine. I used to take it at night before bed, but since the zaps occurred when I was trying to relax, I started to take it in the morning instead. That way I'm awake and not relaxing anytime soon for it to effect me. So fast, a week since the change and no more zaps. I will say it's a bit harder for me to get up in the mornings, but well worth the scare of a seizure coming on. My mom is epileptic. So, it scares me to feel my nerves go crazy that way. It is genetic, and I'm not trying to push my luck.
Posted by joe schmoe on July 27, 2012, at 6:44:11
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps, posted by Chels on July 26, 2012, at 21:53:38
I would think the fact that the withdrawal of SSRIs, and the presence of Viibryd, both cause brain zaps might give an important clue as to what brain zaps really are, and maybe the key to how to stop them.
I don't think brain zaps are listed as an "official" side effect of Viibryd.
Posted by SLS on July 27, 2012, at 7:26:08
In reply to Re: Cause of brain zaps, posted by joe schmoe on July 27, 2012, at 6:44:11
> I would think the fact that the withdrawal of SSRIs, and the presence of Viibryd, both cause brain zaps might give an important clue as to what brain zaps really are, and maybe the key to how to stop them.
That's a great thought.
Wild guess:
That Viibryd acts as a 5-HT1a somatodendritic autoreceptor partial agonist might explain things. Autoreceptor agonism would actually reduce serotonin neuron excitability, thereby *reducing* serotonergic flow in certain circuits (as might SRI discontinuation). SRI withdrawal and autoreceptor stimulation may thus feel similar. Because the degree to which a partial agonist operates is variable, I would expect some people to get "brain zaps" and some people not to.
- Scott
Posted by ponimargie on July 27, 2012, at 7:55:34
In reply to Re: Viibryd end of week 10 - brain zaps » joe schmoe, posted by Ponimargie on March 27, 2012, at 20:58:11
I stopped taking it after about a month and a half. I couldn't take the brain zaps anymore. Besides that I never felt so terrible in my life. I was crying all the time and really depressed. I'm on Lexapro now and much better and they just increased by dosage to 40 mgs.
Posted by Chels on July 27, 2012, at 8:12:33
In reply to Re: Cause of brain zaps, posted by joe schmoe on July 27, 2012, at 6:44:11
They are not listed as any side effect or result of any kind for Viibryd. And they are not directly related with withdrawl either. I am still taking it. I changed the time of day I took it BECAUSE of the brain zaps. I had no intention of coming off of it. So, there are other factors in it besides it coming out of your system andthat being the cause of the problem.
Posted by Mrose on July 31, 2012, at 15:55:44
In reply to Re: Cause of brain zaps, posted by Chels on July 27, 2012, at 8:12:33
I don't know about viibryd brain Zaps. wasn't on it long. But every time I'm going off a SSRI as I am now I have the zaps. I found a company that sells Omega 3 - basically fish oil. They told me to take 4 gels, equal to 4800mg at once of EPA/DHA. They say it works fairly quickly. I tried it a few times and the zaps were gone in 30-45 minutes. The website is trb health.com. Maybe it will help others too.
Posted by JanNShann on December 17, 2013, at 8:14:40
In reply to Re: Cause of brain zaps, posted by Mrose on July 31, 2012, at 15:55:44
> I don't know about viibryd brain Zaps. wasn't on it long. But every time I'm going off a SSRI as I am now I have the zaps. I found a company that sells Omega 3 - basically fish oil. They told me to take 4 gels, equal to 4800mg at once of EPA/DHA. They say it works fairly quickly. I tried it a few times and the zaps were gone in 30-45 minutes. The website is trb health.com. Maybe it will help others too.
Hi! I found this site by looking up the maximum dosage of Viibryd. I called my doctor yesterday to up some of my meds because my depression has been bad. I got hurt the week before Thanksgiving (I'm clumsy and I fell, on my shoulder) and I believe the constant pain is what is affecting my depression. I am on 40 mg's right now and I got a message from my doc's nurse that she was going to prescribe me the maximum dosage of the Viibryd, and I wasn't sure what that was. Since my pharmacy somehow never got the fax, I wanted to check it out since I have extra pills and thought I could start taking it while waiting for the pharmacy. Anyway, what got me to respond is the brain zaps that you all are talking about. Something happens to my brain, and what you all describe sounds like it. I have called them anger seizures because they usually (though not always) happen when I'm angry. They pass very quickly. I can't even describe it other than something happens to my brain. How I even know it is my brain vs just my head I don't know, but I know it is my brain. I'm thinking these brain zaps are what is happening to me. So I wanted to just say thanks! I never connected it to any of my meds. I have been on Viibryd for well over a year.
This is the end of the thread.
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