Viibryd Weight Gain (Page 2)

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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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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What's most important to remember is that everyone reacts to medication in a very individual way. Just because you don't gain weight on a medication doesn't mean you're doing something right, and people who gain weight are doing something wrong. I am a very active person, I eat healthy, I don't indulge in junk food or overeat, and I still gained weight on Viibryd. Once I got off of the medication and stopped SSRIs altogether, lo and behold, my weight rapidly returned to normal, without me having to change a thing, except to get the medication out of my body.

Since stopping Viibryd, I've lost all of the weight I gained, in less than a year. That's 20lbs gained, 20lbs lost. The medication was absolutely to blame.

And for those of you who go around voting helpful posts down, get a life.

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I have been on Viibryd for a year and a half now. I have ALWAYS been thin, and I have gained around 25 lbs doing the same thing I have always been doing. It's impossible for me to lose weight on this med. I have gained weight on other Antidepressants in the past, yet never this much weight.

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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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I am so glad to find these posts! I am a 47 year old male, who WAS in peak physical condition before viibryd. I weighed 173 lbs, low body fat 11%, within six months of starting viibryd gained 25 lbs, then 30, then 60 at two years. I am now, 4 years later, at almost 250 lbs. I have had every possible hormone and medical issue checked viibryd was the only variable. Finally my doctor has agreed to switch me. I am starting a new atypical medication and will report back my results.

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Im so glad to finally find somebody having the same issues I am with Viibryd. I also have weird nightmares that I can't even explain. I can go all day & not feel hungry but I still eat so my tummy won't hurt yet around bedtime I feel like I'm starving. Idk what to do I have severe depression but I also need to loose a lot of weight & by taking this med isn't gonna help me.

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Thank you for your post. I have been on Viibryd for 2 years, 40 mg. and have gained 70 lbs. I was told I would not gain weight on this antidepressant.

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I have been on viibryd for 3 weeks and have too gained weight. Very depressing as weight/eating disorder is what I am in counseling for. Was told viibryd is weight neutral and I can guarantee this is not true. I have had less bingeing with my eating disorder and exercising the same but still gained weight. Don't even want to go to the gym anymore cause I'm embarrassed about my weight.

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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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Re: Nic (# 10)

I gained 40 pounds over a year on viibryd 40mg. I was on 20mg for 6 weeks then increased to 40mg. No weight gain on the 20mg

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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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