POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Mental Health & HIV => Topic started by: mitch777 on August 16, 2013, 05:13:50 pm
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I'm about to start on another med adventure and was wondering if anyone had experience with Viibryd (where do they come up with these names ::).)
It's a relatively new antidepressant that is supposed to work "differently" according to my psychiatrist. She says she waits for word of mouth from colleagues before prescribing new meds. I guess she was convinced.
So far antidepressants that I've been on (not for depression) have kinda driven me up a wall. (warning! :P.)
My emotions have been closer to the surface lately and thought I could use help in dealing with this. I do get talk therapy from her but not so sure it is making much of a difference.
After AMG Chicago and the good news in regards to my disability case I'm feeling pretty good. Funny timing.
Anyway, any input would be helpful.
m.
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Mitch, I've not heard of this but found a little info about it here:
http://www.drugs.com/search.php?searchterm=Viibryd
There are different links to click there. I'm going to be interested to see how you get along with it in a few weeks (since it takes a few weeks for these pills to either be efficacious or not).
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Mitch, I've not heard of this but found a little info about it here:
http://www.drugs.com/search.php?searchterm=Viibryd
There are different links to click there. I'm going to be interested to see how you get along with it in a few weeks (since it takes a few weeks for these pills to either be efficacious or not).
Thanks Betty!
I had checked it out online but your link was more helpful.
Yikes on the side effects list!
I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Major drug interaction with Trazodone. (I mentioned that I was taking it but my doc didn't seem to be concerned.) I've already got insomnia from Isentress and Viibryd seems to list this as a common side effect. Guess I will just have to try it out.
I will let you know how it goes. The patient comments in the link seemed to be all over the map.
m.
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If it states it interacts with Trazadone, you may just want to make a quick call to the pharmacist. Because the interaction may not be severe. As far as the side effects, those seem to be pretty typical of anti-depressants. They all sound horrible, but I wouldn't project any onto you. As for the people's comments, yes, they're all over. It's kind of like that with any med, they work for some and not for some. Don't let that define your experience with this med. It could work. I'm interested to see if it does.
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I think you have to be careful with the information you find online about drugs, especially people's comments. Comments almost always are tilted to the negative (and that goes for other information online, not just medications).
That's said, my understanding is that Viibryd is an "updated" version of Effexor. Supposedly with fewer sexual side-effects. It is an SSRI type of anti-depressant, which are the most popular.
The only way to know how it will work for you is to try it. What works for you may not work for others. Personally, SSRIs have not worked well for me (and the sexual side-effects were severe). Others get good results from SSRIs, and have no sexual side-effects. Go figure.
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A 3 week update.
I've been on the lowest dose (10 mg) for 3 weeks and I started the 20 mg dose today.
Side effects so far...
The first 2 or 3 days there were some minor gut issues. A bit more gas than usual is still around to help boost the Tootvada.
Another side effect that came as a surprise is that it seems to be helping more than anything I've taken before for my headaches! My best guess is that the level of pain has been reduced by about 25% but the frequency is still the same. (daily)
I haven't had any major depression since starting but I think it's too early to know.
Onward I will go...
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Well, at least there are no disabling or horrible side effects. I hope it works for you. Do you also have a therapist?
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Well, at least there are no disabling or horrible side effects. I hope it works for you. Do you also have a therapist?
Thanks Betty. Yes I have a psychiatrist. I will be seeing her in about 2 weeks to discuss weather I jump up to the final dose. (40 mg) I'm kind of happy with the current dose but we'll see.
Yesterday was my first 20 mg dose and last night my headache pain level was a 1 (on a 1-10 pain scale that I have been tracking in my "headache diary" for over a year supplied by my neurologist and hoping to use at my disability hearing). It was the FIRST #1 pain level since I've kept track. :) :)
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viibryd has been a mixed bag. some sexual side effects. not major but bothersome.
brain fog on 20 mg has been more than I like and reminds me of the atripla days. I asked her to go back to the 10 mg dose. she said this was not a normal therapeutic dose but due to the meds that I am on she felt it was a reasonable idea. I was so happy to see she knew my health situation actually played a role in it.
The BIG news is that for the first time in my life for the past 2 1/2 years I do not have a headache tonight!!! Ready for bed as I'm tired but I am elated at the same time.
m.
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viibryd has been a mixed bag. some sexual side effects. not major but bothersome.
brain fog on 20 mg has been more than I like and reminds me of the atripla days. I asked her to go back to the 10 mg dose. she said this was not a normal therapeutic dose but due to the meds that I am on she felt it was a reasonable idea. I was so happy to see she knew my health situation actually played a role in it.
The BIG news is that for the first time in my life for the past 2 1/2 years I do not have a headache tonight!!! Ready for bed as I'm tired but I am elated at the same time.
m.
Hurray for no headache!
I take aripiprazole for bipolar I, and since it's cleared by the same thing that cobicistat (in Stribild) inhibits, my dose has to stay unusually low — I'm soaking in it longer than most people would be.
I would very much like my dose to be 0. But we shall see.
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Hope it works out for you Mitch .
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Thanks Lee and Michael.
Lee, best of luck to you with your meds too. I started on the lower dose today and the fog has lifted quite a bit already. Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue to help with my headaches. It was working before to some extend so I am optimistic.