Viibryd Nightmares
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HI I am on Viibryd for 4 months now and i have these terrible horrific nightmares that i am dyng or sufficating a kind of sleep parasis and it happens a few times a night to where I am aware this drug is causing it. However it happens maybe once a week or once every otherweek so should i just stay on 20 mg i decided to bring it down and go on prozac but i want to make sure i am making the rght dec w doctor of course. I have been on cymbalta 2 years and ristiq 2 years prior and they were terrible to get off i notice that if i am 2 hours late for viibryd i have a night of hell with the nightmares. Does anyone else? Is viibryd going to be a nightmare to get off im very nervous. ;/

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I’ve been on Viibryd for about a month and a half now and Im currently taking 20mg. Since I’ve started I’ve gained 10lbs and I haven’t been able to sleep properly. I am constantly waking up and falling asleep is quite difficult. Last night though was the worst. I couldn’t fall asleep so I took half a melatonin and that seemed to help. That was until I started having these twisted and disturbing mini dreams. Subconsciously I knew they were a dream but I was still terrified. Although subconciously awake, I felt unable to awake from these nightmares and finally when I could wake up I jerked violently awake. During these dreams I could feel my heart racing but I felt unable to catch my breath. As someone who has a lot of nightmares this was by far the most terrifying and disturbing. Typically after I wake up from a nightmare I am able to realize it was only a dream and fall back asleep. But these mini nightmare episodes kept reappearing every time I tried to fall back asleep. Finally I got up and went out to speak to my mom. Even in her prescence I was anxious and scared. Let me tell you I have NEVER expirenced this before I started taking viirbyd. Although I have only had one terrifying night I will be weaning off of this medication. That one night was enough for me and I never want to expirence that again.

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It took me a while to put two and two together. But this stuff does indeed cause the most vivid and terrifying demonic nightmares, that leave you confused about what's real and paralyzed to help yourself. Especially after reading SO many people having these same issues, I am immediately beginning the process of getting myself off of this.

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Wow, that sounds terrible. I still can't believe how crazy my nightmares were. I'm so glad we both made the connection!

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GIRL, I started a trial for this medication and then missed my appointment which resulted in me missing a few doses of it. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I nearly went insane from the horrific, awful, overpowering, dreams. I just went back to the doctor today for more samples and I'm going to slowly stop taking it because honestly I cannot mentally handle these dreams any longer. They're taking a serious toll on my health, and they only been happening for 3 days.

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I started taking Viibryd for my chronic depression. I looked up Viibryd side effects because I started experiencing terrible nightmares that I had never had before. I also experienced highs and lows in bed of either freezing or sweating and cold sweats out of nowhere during the night (it's May.) This started during the third week of being on the 40 mg. These nightmares have been unlike any that I've experienced before! I dreamt of people drowning me, chasing me, trying to kill me. The feelings and emotions have been so surreal and vivid that it's actually terrifying. Like many others posting about this, I felt paralyzed in the nightmares, tried screaming and nobody could hear me or help me, tried slapping myself awake but nothing worked. Today (after being on the medication for almost four weeks), I endured the worst series of nightmares all in one nap! It was so horrific that I can't explain it. It was like scenes from a horror movie like Final Destination, people being brutally killed and myself being chased to near death, people trying to drown me. This was so unbearable that I seriously am afraid to sleep now and I woke up crying. I am so relieved to know that this hasn't been happening to just me! I made the decision to week off this medication immediately!

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Beth, my experience with vibryd was the same as yours. It literally almost killed me! I could not eat, (I lost 22 lbs while on it). I could not sleep, I was so angry, so paranoid, and my anxiety was uncontrollable. I was so hyper manic that for the first time in my life I contemplated suicide. I had nightmares, scary ones that woke me up shaking. An average nights sleep for me was 2-3 hrs. Depression was all consuming but the anxiety was the worse.

I don't think that medication was properly evaluated and I don't believe it ever should be marketed.

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Yes, I had very scary and threatening nightmares. Not only those but absolutely horrid other side effects. I gradually weaned myself off . I think that medication was never tested fully..... it almost killed me.

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I too had nightmares, so vivid and life threatening I'd wake up abruptly, literally shaking. One dream was of a home invasion, three cruel, vicious thugswith knives and guns holding my husband and me prisoner with an absolute certainty that we would be murdered. I'm an old lady, with great grandchildren, but I dreamed I was a young mother with a young infant. I thought I'd put it in its crib but could hear it crying. When I went looking for it, the nursery had turned into a basement full of
monsters. I was absolutely frantic hearing my baby crying for me and my home had
turned into a monster filled hell, and they had my baby. When I woke up it was shaking uncontrollably and actually sobbing in my sleep. My heart was beating so hard I feared I was having a heart attack.
There were other nightmares ... of being lost, totally unaware of where I was and very frightened.

At first Vibryd seemed like a miracle drug. My doctor told me it would take 8bweejs and It seemed to kick in for me within two weeks. I had the package the took four weeks to get to the therapeutic dose. But for me, the depression and anxiety lessened within two weeks, I loved it! BUT . . . . AFTER THE "leveling off" period, it didn't stop there. It increased to almost a euphoric state, high energy, creativity, cleaning closets, rearranging furniture, writing poetry.... feeling almost manic. And at the same time I lost the ability to eat or sleep. If I slept 2-3 hrs a night it was a miracle. I simply could not eat at all, even the thought of food was nauseating. I went three days without a single bite of food, which of course made me weaker and shaky. My anxiety was totally out of control and I became so fearful. I was afraid to drive or leave my home.
On two occasions I was convinced I was in the middle of a serious cardiac event.. I even told my husband I needed to go to the ER. Fortunately I did have some anti anxiety meds which my psych had severely limited me, but they saved my life, my anxiety level was totally out of control and my mind was racing uncontrollably.

I knew exactly what was causing it all, so I started cutting back, at first skipping every other day. It was horrible but I determined to do it. Then after a week I cut the tablets in half skipping every other day. A week of that then I cut the half into halves still skipping every other day. By now I had loss 22 lbs and even cutting back I could not sleep or eat. One more cut left me with a sliver of the tablet, but I continued the every other day for a week and after that week I quit. It took me a month ad wasn't over yet. I still had major sleeping problems and no appetite.

I believe this drug is dangerous . If I had not had the anti anxiety med I believe I would have died.

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This med is HORRIBLE! I have been trying to wean off for months but the nightmares and sleep paralysis is so bad I have to keep taking the med to prevent them.

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I have been on viibryd for several years now and helps my depression more than any other meds I tried. I too experienced vivid bizarre violent dreams in initial titration of dose but if you can hang in....those dreams do disappear. They were night after night for awhile....and continuously all night.

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Please call Allergan at 1-800-272-5525 to report your experiences with Viibryd. My personal experience has changed my life. I have never been in such terror and fear as I was when demons were taunting me and spinning me while I lay there in sleep paralysis on this terrible drug. I am weaning off with the help of my doctor. But so many people experiencing demonic dreams is no coincidence. We need to call this in and let the manufacturer know what is going on. I was told the report generated from my call would also be reported to the FDA. Let's make them change the side effects. Sleep paralysis, brain zaps and terror dreams are COMMON side effects and people need to know that before trying this terrible drug.

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I know exactly what you mean with the nightmares. I had the worst one in my
Whole life today. I had accidentally missed getting to the pharmacy for my refill and took a long nap. I had missed my dose by several hours. The dream involved being trapped in a world away from my family. A world of so many atrocities I can't describe it all. After I woke up I had to bawl my eyes out before I could calm down! This drug works so well for me otherwise but this nightmare effect is scary!

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Hi everyone! Well, I'm so sorry to hear of everyone's experiences on this drug, but at the same time, so relieved. My hubs is no support at all. I have tried taking these pills both at night and in the morning. Both options offer horrible side effects. If I take it too early in the morning, then because it doesn't seem to have a full day half life for me, when it starts leaving my system in between doses is when I fall into those night terrors...the most terrifying things I've ever experienced. But if I take it at night, then I'm wide awake all night and get to greet the sun each morning. I've been on these for about 1 1/2 years. I'm on 40 mg/day, and while it has helped normalize my emotions, my hubs just blew up at me last week because he notices that all I want to do is sleep/stay at home...it's time for a change. I know the process might not be wonderful, but I'm going to have to fight through it in order to get to something better.

To the woman who is very religious and terrified about losing your sanity....pray. Put this in God's hands, look to Him to protect you...don't lose hope. He came to give you ABUNDANT life, not this circle of hell you're experiencing. Ask him to send you the right healthcare professionals. And hang in there. You're going to get to the other side of this.

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My name is Anna and this is 2015 so I do not know if this will be read or not. but I have gone to NAMI for help. I have gone to the church for help. Noone will help me. I had my first demonic hallucention from viibryd about two months ago. At this time I am terrified of what is to become of me. I am stuck on the drug. my last psychiatrist who I have left, did not believe what I experienced was true. She literally laughed in my face. I have a new psychiatrist who I will start seeing in two weeks. but I know what is coming. he will want me to taper down and I know that any small dose you miss causes these hellish things. I do not know if I can take it because I am far from mentally stable. I am afraid they will drive me truly insane and I will end up in an institution

I am deeply religious and thought that the trip in which I went to hell by missing a dose was my fault or some kind of gods punishment. I am still not over what I experienced and honestly would rather be dead than go through this.

What happened was this, I was paralyzed in my sleep like other people. I could not scream I could not cry out. even though I desperately wanted to. I could not wake up.. I was a prisoner in my own mind. it started with me being half naked and crawling around for what seemed like hours in deep thick mud. I was cold I was scratching at the ground. people were walking all around me.. at first I could not see their faces. I tried to raise up from the mud and scream for help but nothing would come out. people continued to ignore me. that kept going on and on. somehow I was able to sit up eventually. then for what seemed like more hours I was walking through a sea of faces screaming for help a sea of disembodied faces

it was all black dark and cold suddenly the faces started to turn demonic. every face I looked at was some type of horryfing demon. I still screamed for help. suddenly towards the end. I ran into a more demonic figure. I asked something to the effect of where was I.. he laughed and said why your in hell of course.

I know it doesn't seem bad compared to the ones ive read. but trying to come out of it. I thought I was in my grave. dead and buried. I could see dirt. Coming out I honestly did not know if I was dead or alive. where I was. what my name was. It took hours for my boyfriend to calm me down and that was a small one.

I came out to where my boyfriend was sleeping crying and in another world saying I needed to go to the e/r. What I am saying is these will get worse. I could not handle a small one. they are challenging and questioning and shaking my faith. I don't know what to do. no one will listen to me. I have never been so afraid in my life and I have been through some very bad things. I just want someone to listen. to believe me and for my faith not to crumble as I try to taper down.

Thank you for reading! it was good to get it out.

Anna

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OMG I HAD THE SAME THING... I WOULD SCREAM FOR MY SON AND HE SAID I DIDN'T AND THE "SHOCK WAVE" SO SCARY, I DID GO OFF THE VYBRID THO IT DID KEEP ME FROM HAVING ANXIETY TILL THE DREAMS AND PARALYSIS STARTED, I WEENED DOWN TO 30, THEN 20 AND 10 TILL I WAS OFF. SCARIEST THING EVER!!!

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Yes I have had bad nightmares and sleep paralysis it is terrifying to say the least! I have heard to take in the am if you experience these effects. I am about to try this myself to see if it helps. Best of luck

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yes, I had horrible nightmares from viibryd. The the thing is that I take 6 meds, and the addition of viibryd seemed to be the one that was the miracle drug that has med me feel great!! I have found that the addition of seroquil to chase the nightmares away. I take 40 mg of viirbryd and 400 mg seroquil . Yes, the seroquil makes me tired, but it lets me go to sleep, without dreading those horrible nightmares. Hope this helps

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I am an RN. I have been on Viibryd (tapered up to 40mg) now for 3 1/2 months. Gained 20 pounds. Ugh. I've been a distance runner for 25 years. Now it's an effort to run 4 miles. And I just feel dull. First time ever on andt-depressant- SSRI. I have nothing to compare it with. Nausea was terrible. But the nightmares/night terrors are unreal! Consciousness while dreaming. Screaming aloud and with the mentioned paralysis. Worse if I've missed a dose. (Only done that 3 times) Trying to wean myself off now. Thank God I have a friend who is a PharmD. Guiding me through a gradual weaning. I just hope all of the adverse effects disappear.

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I really hope the dreams stop. I got off of the drug, cold turkey. That in itself was a nightmare.

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You explained the experiences I've had to a T! I've been on this drug about 6 months and I had the weird vision thing like I saw a flash or a flicker of light and like a 2 second experience of how it feels when you pass out! And if I take the medicine and stay awake past 30 minutes that's when I have the night terrors. I feel that I'm awake and I'm trying to wake my body up by screaming in my dream for someone to physically wake me up. I love the medicine but I'm having a hard time with these dreams and may decide to discontinue.

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