Viibryd Weight Gain (Page 2) (Top voted first)

I originally got on the web today to research how to loose weight gained from medication. I have been on Viibryd for 6 months for Major Depressive disorder. I currently take 40 mg. It should be noted taking Viibryd has changed me from a size 0 to size 6. 20lbs. My appetite at times especially in the evening is RAVENOUS. I am embarrassed by how much I can eat and not be full. I have been nonchalant about a few pounds here and there but it devestated me yesterday when i caught a glimpse of CELLULITE on my backside. Nothing else has changed in my medicines or routine. I have always been slim. I have compassion for any who have been trying to figure out if Viibryd is causing their body to change physically. I also will comment on other side effects in another post. My memory is compromised and suicidal thoughts have to be fought daily. I do not consider myself suicidal, but there is something different and desperately depressing recently.

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My situation is very similar to "Fat from Viibryd's". Same age, similar number of years on meds - don't blame it on menopause. Talk to your doctor about changing to something else ASAP, and when you have suicidal thoughts or any kind of weird thoughts, call your doctor, a friend, a family member or a crisis hotline. Don't give in to the thoughts no matter what. Good luck!

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I just started taking it 4 days ago, only thing I can tell is I have the poops bad for like 2 hours after I eat, I have read mixed reviews from the pill, I am currently on 10 mg but move to 20 next week, I am going to keep a watch out on the weight part, I do have problems sleeping but that is normal for me anyway.

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I, too, have had a tremendous weight gain in the last 2 yrs. I've gained about 60 lbs, & that in itself is severely depressing. However, I have also experienced suicidal thoughts daily. I'm not suicidal, not would I ever do it, but the thoughts do seem to come about quite frequently. I have no energy, no motivation, & I'm ready to scream (literally) I've been a horrible witch to my loved ones. I have no idea why I managed 2 years of this horrific crap. Ive been trying to wean myself the past month. Even on the weaning schedule my Dr gave me, I still have withdrawal symptoms. I've not taken any in over 5 days now & am very dizzy & I get nauseous just by taking a FEW bites of food. (Ironic-1st I complained about weight gain, but now I'm complaining about not wanting to eat!) All joking aside, I'd really like to get some input!


If anyone has any knowledge of how long the w/d might last, please help!

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I agree. For the first few months I thought the med was great then within a few weeks I gained crazy weight for no good reason. I too am weaning off and pray I can get this weight off.

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I suppose to start Viibryd tomorrow. After reading the side effects I'm just wondering if staying depressed will be better. I was up to 600 mg of Serquel and I gain 80 pounds that I can't get off. I can't add weight on top of that. I have been depressed for 13 years and tried every medication and every mixture and mg. I've even had 24 electric shock treatments to my brain. Nothing has worked. I'm scared to take it. I can not add any more weight. My dr. Had told me this would help me have interest in b things and help me get energy. I'm not see any of this. I'm starting the sample packet in the morning 10 mg. Should I take it or better off skipping it all together

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I have been on Viibryd for over 6 months and have NOT had any weight gain whatsoever..I'm currently on 20mg but my dr. Just bumped me up to 30mg a week ago...I feel the best I have in a long time! In my opinion, depending on your age, how active you are, your eating patterns etc., weight gain can be caused by many different factors..I know when I stress out, I tend to overeat for comfort! Since I've been on this med, even when I'm stressed, I don't over indulge. I think it's hard to say 100% that weight gain is caused solo because of this medication, for me anyways! The only downfall to this med, I would say, is my lack of sleep! But, ive had sleep issues due to Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome for over 7 years.

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I personally am losing weight on Viibryd. If i dont watch what i eat its like the viibryd wont let me gain any weight from it and if i dont eat a lot i lose more weight. From what i've read it can cause dramatic weight loss.

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Don't be rude- That's not necessary. The arrow down is used with regard to weather the comment had particular benefit to a persons concern; or if it was helpful.

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Hi- I found this old post... and wondered about the outcome and if the weight came off when you stopped Viibryd. While it has helped with my depression and anxiety...I only want to sleep and eat. But I only sleep from about 11pm- 3am and then can't sleep. I have vivid nightmares and night sweats. It's impacting my work and I've gained 10lbs in 2 months. I'm trying to 'weigh' the benefits and side effects of this drug. I also keep reading horror stories about withdrawal. Would love to hear more about your experience. Thanks!

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Bless this and other message boards that allow patients to reveal that Viibryd does in fact cause weight gain. I was placed on 40 mgs Viibryd a little over a year ago. I gained 20 lbs within the first six months (nevermind the daily diarrhea!). There was no increase in food and no reduction in exercise. Increased exercise and reduced food intake had almost no counter-impact. The weight gain was disproportionately distributed in my abdominal region -- which isn't to say that I've ever been someone blessed with an even weight gain distribution, but this was something else - like the beer belly of a 55-year-old who drinks a 12 pack every day. Unfair for someone who got sober years ago! Historically, my body has responded pretty immediately to increased exercise and reductions in caloric intake. But since getting on Viibryd, I've increased the frequency with which I exercise by about 500% and have reduced my caloric intake by 30% and continue to slowly expand. My psychiatrist is persistently dismissive when I raise concerns that the weight gain is due to Viibryd. I've grown tired of handing my psychiatrist $200 a month only for her to ignore my concerns and so have begun to slowly taper off on my own. I reduced from 40 to 30mgs last week and am really surprised that I haven't had any withdrawal side-effects (things are nightmarish when I forget to take a full dose). I'll report back once off for a couple of months to let you all know whether there were any changes to my Barney Gumble beer belly!

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Re: Viibryd beer belly (# 32)

As promised, an update on my self-tapering. Shortly after my last post, I tapered down from 30 to 20mgs. So, I was on 40 mgs, tapered down to 30, and then one week later tapered down to 20mgs. No withdrawal side effects when I tapered down to 30 but pretty immediately experienced pronounced agitation, irritability, and acute anxiety once I tapered down to 20mgs. With hindsight, I wish I'd waited longer between the 40-30 taper and the 30-20 taper. For now I've committed to giving this another month before potentially speaking to my psychiatrist about trying another medication. This certainly isn't the first medication I've tapered off of and I don't want to mistake withdrawal symptoms for evidence that I need to be on another medication. But, we'll see. I've lost 10 pounds in the month since I began tapering off Viibryd. Beer belly is maybe no longer a beer belly! Same caloric intake and exercise regimen as before. I will not further taper down any time soon. The irritability and anxiety are too acute. I'll check in again in a few weeks.

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Re: Viibryd beer belly (# 33)

Just hoping for an update. I weaned myself off Viibryd after taking for 6 months and gaining an extreme amount of weight, most of which is sitting on my belly that I've NEVER had before. I took my last dose 2 days ago and am hoping you have positive news. I already worked out daily, eat well most of the time, etc. But the weight just kept coming on.

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Re: Sad and Fat (# 34)

Hi there! Well, over a period of 6 months I slowly and fully tapered off of Viibryd. In the time period where I slowly tapered down from 40 to 10 mgs, I lost 35 pounds. No additional weight loss from 10 mgs to 0. Beer belly is gone. I believe that Viibryd increased my hunger levels and also that it just overall caused weight gain, especially in my mid-section. The weight loss was accomponied by overall reduced caloric intake and increased exercise. But I'll again note that there were several times when I was on Viibryd where I would significanly reduce my caloric intake and frequently exercise, and I would either lose no weight, or continue to gain weight. Anyway, I have no doubt that Viibryd caused my weight gain and that it increased my appetitite, especially making me crave carbohydrates. I don't know that continuing to taper off during a global pandemic was the wisest thing to do, but I was trying to avoid tapering once I returned to the office (back when we thought COVID would be a one or two month phenom!) -- I just become so irritable each time I taper, and so wanted to avoid snapping or glaring at coworkers. Anyway, here's what I'll say--- Viibryd is terrible! It made me gain weight! And it was a real bitch to get off of! Each time I tapered down, I felt insane and so would start to buy into the idea that I was crazy and needed to be medicated. The medical literature about tapering schedules is 100% bananas and not safe-- the schedule that it recommends for tapering is *way too fast*. If I'd followed it, I probably would have wound up in an in-patient psychiatric unit during the COVID crisis. My recommendation is to take it REAL slow if tapering off Viibryd. The Viibryd beer belly will go. Don't be a hero trying to get off this medication during the COVID pandemic. Getting mental health support is really hard right now. My post is all over the place, sorry! Viibryd gets me all angry and fired up.

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Re: Beverly (# 26)

I also had nightmares while on Viibryd. While on the medication, I had very jarring brain zaps while falling asleep, and would also have terrifying nightmares where I would realize I was having a nightmare but couldn't wake up. I'd never experienced the brain zaps or nightmares like those before. My psychiatrist dismissed both as being at all related to Viibryd. I haven't had issues with either since getting off the medication.

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If you are having this many problems, then it is likely that Viibryd is not the right medication for you and you may need to try something else.

Another question, because I'm assuming from your comments that you are female, is how old are you?

If you are 30+, then you may be in perimenopause, it can cause the same symptoms you've described, including the weight gain and cellulite. It could even be a combination of it and the medication.

Though you may not have changed anything else, our bodies do naturally change as we age and such changes are normal, but they can be very frustrating.

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Unfortunately people really do get hurt because of viibryd. People really do go to jail. My husband had been on it for less than 2 months. He had a hallucination that he was being attacked. He defended himself and unfortunately son got hurt. Husband was charged with felony child abuse and was sentenced to 5 years.

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