Viibryd Side Effects

package of various dosage forms of viibryd

Because of how recently Viibryd has come on to the market, the full extent of Viibryd side effects is still unknown. If you have had an adverse reaction to this, or any other medication, be sure to report it here.Other Viibryd side effects include:

Nausea
Dry mouth
Drowsiness
Insomnia
Increased sweating
Tremor
Diarrhea
Sexual Side Effects (Though an increase in libido has been reported more often than dysfunction)
Anxiety
Brain Zaps. This is an interesting one that has been seen in the withdrawl symptoms of other ssris. Those who have experienced them say that its like an electric shock in the center of your brain (hence the term). Report it here.

One of the rarest Viibryd side effects is serotonin syndrome, a serious and sometimes deadly reaction to too much serotonin in the body. Symptoms occur within minutes to hours of onset and include:

Agitation
Diarrhea
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Loss of coordination and Hallucinations
Over reactive reflexes
Tremor, or
Confusion

Taking Viibryd with other serotogenic agents increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. If you begin exhibiting these symptoms after taking Viibryd, seek medical attention immediately and report your experiences. Also, if you have any questions whatsoever about Viibryd, or Viibryd side effects, speak to your doctor. Doing so may prevent severe or life-threatening complications.

Warnings & Recalls for Viibryd

Your doctor will determine whether Viibryd is right for you based on factors such as weight, age, and personal medical history. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications or if you have any known food allergies.
Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking Viibryd.
The FDA requires a black box warning to be included on the packaging insert of Viibryd due to a higher risk of suicidal thinking among users of anti depressants. The black box warning is an indication of an increased risk of severe or life-threatening complications.

Viibryd Treatment and Use

What is Viibryd?

Viibryd | Vilazodone, is a new anti-depressant (2011) made by Forest Laboratories, Inc. It is the latest member of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) and is similar in function to drugs like Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Celexa (citalopram). One major difference that the makers of Viibryd have tried to stress is that this medication, unlike other ssris, does not have negative sexal side effects.

Viibryd is only FDA approved for the treatment of depression, though this may be due to the relative newness of the drug. Health care providers may prescribe Viibryd for such off-label uses as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), as well as other disorders commonly treated by ssris and other anti depressants.

Dosage

To treat depression, Viibryd is taken once daily with food. Initial dosing should start at 10 mg a day and can be increased to the maximum recommended daily adult dose of 40 mg a day. If you feel drowsy when taking Viibryd, its best that you take it before bedtime. If it keeps you awake, go ahead and take it in the morning with breakfast.

Studies on older patients have shown no significant differences in the recommended dosage between them and younger patients, though special precautions should be taken when taking this drug if you have certain medical conditions as Viibryd may lower blood sodium.

As aslways, remember to discuss with your doctor all questions and concerns you may have about Viibryd.

How does Viibryd work?

No one knows exactly how Viibryd relieves the symptoms of depression and related disorders. It is believed that the medication works by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical that is used in the process of sending messages from one nerve cell to another. When a message travels through a nerve, the nerve ending releases serotonin. When serotonin gets to the next nerve cell in the chain, receptors are activated and the message continues along the line. The cell that released the serotonin then reabsorbs any residual chemical that is in the gap. This is called “reuptake.” Under normal circumstances, this process occurs without any problems.

When there is not enough serotonin between nerve cells, disorders such as depression or anxiety may occur. Viibryd blocks the reuptake of serotonin so that more of it remains in between the brain’s nerve cells. Serotonin then has a better chance of activating the chemical receptors on the next nerve cell. This is believed to enhance mood and alleviate some of the symptoms of your OCD or social anxiety.

Other Names for Viibryd

Brand name:

Viibryd

Generic (unavailable):

vilazodone