Sleep Paralysis W/ Hallucinations (Page 13) (Top voted first)

Has anyone else experienced sleep paralysis accompanied by hallucinations since starting viibryd? I have been on the medicine for about 4 months now and for the last 2 1/2 months have had several very scary episodes of sleep paralysis... I have never been on a anti-depressant before and never experienced sleep paralysis until i started this medicine. I am a 23 year old female and i take no other meds except a daily multi-vitamin. Ive noticed that if i accidentally miss a viibryd pill i have sleep paralysis... but have also had it on occasions of not missing a pill. It occurs about once a week... its to the point where i dread going to sleep at night in fear of sleep paralysis, but the hallucinations that come along with it are what I dread the most. Has anyone else had a similar experience with this medicine?

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Hi Oryiah,

Can I ask what mg. you take of Prozac? I am wondering if the 40 mg. is causing more inflammation & aches/pains. I was used to 40 mg. of Viibryd & the side effects, so the 20 mg. of Prozac didn't seem to work for me. I miss the spiritual connection (read about some feeling that way), more energy, more libido...on the Viibryd. But the side effects were too much as well.

In really trying to hear what Mimi & Is have to say (those 2 seem to be the only Viibryd survivors here) I do recognize their tone. I used to feel that way. Strong, confident, and paranoid about not having Viibryd! I called my Dr. once in tears because I had ran out & the pharmacy was closed. I feared a night of SP. Then remembered that I had some 10 mgs. :)

I can't remember the exact #, but in going back a few posts, it was Jenny someone who posted her story & I guess to Mimi, anyone who is here to share their story is being HYSTERICAL. Like you said, we all need to be supportive here. And the last time I checked, this was a thread about coping with the SP. I said that the last time.

Lastly, maybe not everyone will have SP, but IMO, people will have night terrors on Viibryd.

We are both on Prozac. You notice how we can reason things out better? Maybe the Viibryd does make people edgy???

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Hi... So I just stumbled upon a couple of posts today about Viibryd on this site, where people talked about feeling more connected spirituality.

And now it makes sense to me why I haven't had any desire to go to church since getting off of the Viibryd. :(

I also gained weight on the Viibryd, suffered greatly w/ the side effects, & am now left feeling lifeless & dull on Prozac. But I am not waking up in panic & I am less OCD. But I've gained even more weight on Prozac & my house isn't as tidy. I can't stand it! But Prozac doesn't give me energy or the focus to fix it.

The 1st few weeks on Viibryd, I designed a whole new room in our house. Then proceeded to become addicted to HGTV. I kid you not.

On Prozac, it's the news. I don't sit & watch TV for long....but like to have the background noise. And the news is hardly positive! :)

I've been to many Spiritual concerts & MISS the spiritual connection. I think the Prozac has dulled that connection for me & going off Prozac would help. But maybe there was something about Viibryd which enhanced that connected feeling to spirituality?!

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Yep...if it weren't for the SP & brain explosions, I would've stayed on Viibryd. Or I would've tried weaning off & back on again, because as I've said before, it was wonderful for blocking out PMS.

I never wanted to ever go back on Prozac. I tried it for a few weeks a few years ago & was too sleepy. But my youngest was getting up earlier. I had been on Zoloft during chemo. The PA encouraged me to go on it. I never wanted to go on AD meds.

But thankfully Prozac is a way to get off the Viibryd & put an immediate end to SP.

If there's someone new here to Viibryd, you should see if your Dr. will prescribe you a few 20 mg. Prozac. Then if you ever have the SP hit, you can take the Prozac & go back to sleep. I too had the SP hit me a dozen or so times within a 1-2 hr. period. They would come in clusters, back to back. No rhyme or reason with diet. Then see your Dr. the next day.

To anyone who has ever mentioned the class action suit against Viibryd. There's no need to. By googling Viibryd, our discussions come up 1st. :)

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I never had sleep paralysis in my life. I had never even heard of it. I was on Viibryd for a few mos. before the weird side effects. My 1st experience w/ hallucinations, was when I was napping & woke up to the sensation of someone getting out of bed. I know I was fully awake. Looked around, nothing there. I may have started hearing some voices in the kitchen too. Another time my mother & others were standing at my bedside. Horrible vivid dream after having cancer. Like a awful glimpse into the future. The 3rd incident prior to obvious SP was feeling the worst dread in my life, laying on top of a dark platform w/ 2 people I don't know, & they told me that when I was ready I had to place my ashes into a small box, that was attached to a chain...& then send it down into hell. I woke up to the forever falling sensation, but my soul being in a very dark place. As I've said before, typical nightmares would absolutely make me wake up in panic. But I always woke up completely feeling sane & calm. But absolutely in shock & like someone else said, the evil dreams ruined my day.

I had no problem missing a dose & taking in the PM or AM, while trying to find the right balance, but one night, right after falling asleep, was when they real SP episodes began. I sensed the demons inside me. Except I hadn't vividly seen one yet. I saw the dark cloaked figure standing over my bed. Red eyes? I mentally prepared myself for my own fight. And I was able to break thru a few times & hollar out, alerting my husband, who I could feel holding my hand & calmly talking to me, but I couldn't move let alone breathe.

So it always happened when 1st falling asleep after that. I watched the clock. The feeling of being pulled in & out of SP was so strong & violent. I felt as if I was able to stand up, that I would still fall back into it again. And I probably spent what felt like 15 hrs. of my time during a 3-4 mo. period of being unable to move. But trying to tell my body to get to bed. This was at night while falling asleep in front of the TV. I was mostly taking the Viibryd at night. Because I was making sure the SP wouldn't hit. But it didn't make a difference. No rhyme or reason. So I began taking it early evening with food. Always with food.

Is there a connection with B-12 levels & Viibryd? My b-12 levels were high during my HCG diet earlier in the year. I had lost 50lbs. on a really low calorie diet & took Homeopathic HCG for about 2 mos. I did not experience SP while taking the so called HCG. Which was probably just vitamins, being that my b-12 bloodwork was higher than normal.

I've already detailed out prior some of the other nightmares & SP in previous posts. I already feel better (the Viibryd optimism) on the Cymbalta. Hoping & praying the Cymbalta, being also an SNRI, won't cause SP. I might just hold at 30 & not go to 60mg.

I do think that 40mg. was the right dose of Viibryd for me, but had to quit due to the SP. If Forest Labs only recommends 20 mg. then one may as well take Cymbalta. Going from 40 to 30 on Viibryd...etc. was so noticeable. Brain explosions, etc.

**** I've never had any side effects while weaning from Prozac, Wellbutrin, or Zoloft.

I also took Buspar for a year for anxiety + with Wellbutrin & eventually stopped the Buspar because it only made me dizzy after taking it & then feeling a little disconnected. When I heard there was Buspar in the Viibryd, I was skeptical.

There's a post out there where some guy said he made his way up to the 10-15mg. ? of Buspar, was eating at a top floor restaurant, & thought it would be fun to jump out the window. So when my 1st major SP occurred I was feeling so not in control of my body that I worried I'd jump out the window.

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Well I for this once I was going off Wellbutrin know that in a couple of weeks I might get annoyed. My daughter got mad because I got sick with a bad cold and wasn't normal and then found out what I was doing. Ha. Nah all the stuff I have taken... Which isn't much compared. I have never had withdrawals from... Except for annoyance after a couple of weeks off Wellbutrin. I was annoyed easily with something else and she pointed it out to me. You know... It isn't hurting me. And if I feel better on it than that is prob the best. I really wanted to just not take it. But... Oh well.. Not like I am on a ton if meds...and then to wake up Monday morning with my period!!! Lololollll!!! Skipped a month! Again.. I am sure this menopausal still plays a big roll... I just found it funny and was glad I know why I fell like a cow! Lol. Sorry for spelling on phone. Have a nice night all!! Prayers.:)0

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Please find someplace to get info on Vii other than from Marie! I try not to even click on updates because of her. Gee Marie./.. Can't you get some attention somewhere else? Don't take advice from her please. I am sorry for y'all's problems.... Glad melatonin works! That is awesome. I don't have sp from my med anymore.... But glad to know..... Y'all please don't get all up in Marie's thoughts... She doesn't know anything except about herself... And u think she has totally exaggerated that. I don't know what else to say...

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80mg is way too high a dosage. I was on 40mg and had to go to ER and found out it was causing Seratonin poisoning. So they put me on 20mg instead with 150mg Welbutrin and that combo has been perfect for me. The sleep paralysis is triggered by enhaustion. So the more tired you are the worse it gets.

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Well, I have kept up some but haven't seen people not taking it because of fear of sp. I hate that though. Not everyone will have that problem. All meds are different and effect people differently. I know a co-worker that had no side effects and doesn't even know if it really has helped or not.

Now I did have a major dream and sp problem....but had had it all my life, as you know if you have read my posts here and on the other sp thread. But it lessened over a couple of months or so. And I didn't want to quit the med because of the great things it was and is doing for me.

Don't not take med cause of something you read on here. This is must a handful of people and mainly people with problems, or they wouldn't be on here. I am here cause I was the first person to post about Viibryd on this site, and have tried to keep up and help.

Good Luck to all! This medicine has changed my life!!!

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Marie, I guess you were talking to me,

I am sorry you are angry. You totally misinterpreted my post. Please go back and read it. I said I started the first "Vibryd" post. Not this thread.

And this....where did you get this??? I didn't say this at all...
"I still find it incredibly strange for you to assume that the people who have experienced the worst of the SP are here because they have problems?! Are you serious?"

I did say "This is a handful of people and mainly people with problems, or they wouldn't be on here." Problems with the medicine....most people that are looking on forums are having problems with that med or they wouldn't be looking. Does that clear up your problem with that part of my post?

and this??

"but there's no need to feel sad or frustrated when people who haven't started Viibryd yet, are turned off due to ALL (thousands) of SP & awful awful awful auditory hallucinations while taking Viibryd."....

....Did I sound frustrated in my post...really? I wasn't but I am now. You are being rude. If you have read anything on here you would have seen my link and some other peoples post about what sp really is and some things you can do to help. You would also know I have had awful problems with it and it is something I never want to endure again.

and this?

"And I hope that you can remember your mental state & not depend on a pill to feel awesome. Because that's not reality & in any drug, it can one day be ineffective. It did nothing for me but make my life scary for almost a year. I missed out on too much as well. While I was home trying to sort out the side effects."

>>>>>You need to get off your Prozac if you are going to make a statment like that to me. If you had read any of my post you would know that the side effect that I didn't expected is that I am able to drive again without losing my mind from anxiety. This has totally changed my life and my childrens lives. I can even drive to see my grandson! I think I should be able to be happy about all that!!

I am sorry for your issues....really.... But you shouldn't act like you are because of it. Like I said....and I have asked my doctor too. Everyone has different reactions to meds. I am the only patient they have that has had sp problems with Viibryd. But like I said before, I also had that problem before taking Viibryd. I also had night terrors as a baby. I also hear those exploding noises....but I did that before Viibryd.

Hope everyone has a great day! :)

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Marie,

I am very happy you are feeling better. I will say again that no, it is not the norm to have sp with this medicine....at least that I am aware of. You think that because you are on here and have seen people with it. I have seen other people's comments in other places with no mention of the sp side effect.

I am here to not scare people from something that might not even happen.


Mimi,

Glad you are a happy camper too (as many are) and understand everyone has different problems and the good effects from different drugs.

So sorry that all you others on here are having the problem. I do know how bad it is....believe me.....but don't not try the medicine because you are scared of it. Ask your doctor if he/she has had any other patients with the problem.

Good Luck!!

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Okay, wow! I am 'Mimi' not 'Is' nor anyone else. I wasn't being snarky, or rude, or mean. I am not a pharmaceutical rep, nor do I work for one, or even have an association with one. I am simply a stay at home mom that has suffered with nearly dibilitating anxiety and depression for a number of years, and have found relief with Viibryd.

Marie, you've only solidified the point I was trying to make in my first post. Using dramatics and hysteria to convince people that their mind is being altered by a pharmaceutical company. It's odd and strange and honestly a bit frightening!

I don't claim to feel "like Wonder Woman" and I don't have a lot of time on my hands, clearly, given the stretch of time from my last post, I just feel better than I have in many, many years. By all means, if Viibryd causes someone dibilitating side effects of ANY kind, they shoul consult with their physician. But demons and evil drug companies altering our consciousness just stretches it a LITTLE too far!!

Calm down Marie, not everyone is out to get you, but what criticism you receive comes from those of us finding your theories VERY hard to believe. In turn, if you do not want to be criticized, I would back down on the name calling and trash talking yourself.

For those having the horrific dreams, sleep paralysis and brain explosions, I definitely recommend speaking to your physician, you may be on a combination of drugs that cause these side effects.

I worked through the initial trial package and did great until I got to the 40 mg when I started having the sleep paralysis episodes. I saw my physician, we more closely reviewed my medications and made some adjustments, including reducing my daily Viibryd to 20 mg. I've been on my current combination for 2 months now and have had 2 episodes of sleep paralysis and in BOTH instances, I was thoroughly exhausted, had stayed out late and took the medicine later than normal AND on an empty stomach. I don't do either anymore and so far so good.

Again, I worked with my physician to find the combo that worked for me. My regimen involves not only medication, but diet, exercise and downtime.

I will end by saying this. I am no stranger to new drugs. Several years ago my physician added Abilify to my regimen. I had HORRIFIC side effects, which were later revealed as deadly side effects. The drug is still on the market (with warnings as to the side effects). I didn't jump out and scream evil drug companies are fueling up for drug induced genocide amongst depressed individuals!! I spoke to my physician, we worked out a new regimen and I quit taking Abilify. I have a very dear friend who started the Abilify at relatively the same time I did and she is still taking it and it made her a new woman. So don't think I haven't been around the block with drug interactions and side effects, I have; I simply chose to tell the person who could relay MY particular side effects to the drug company, my physician.

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hi!!
Dont worry evrythn will b alryt.. Consult any neurologist asap..
Before u consult neuro u better go for E.E.G brain test.. N show ur reports to doctor..

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