Does Viibryd make you sleepy? 

Does Viibryd make you sleepy? 

Viibryd (Vilazodone) may make you feel sleepy during the early course of your treatment. However, the drug is more commonly associated with insomnia. 

People who are new to this medication usually complain of the inability to fall asleep at night, which is followed by tiredness and irritation in the morning. 

However, people can respond differently to medications and Viibryd may cause drowsiness in some individuals. Make sure you closely monitor your side effects and report them to your healthcare provider. 

What does research suggest?

Several research studies have discussed the effects of Viibryd on sleep architecture. Although sleepiness is considered a potential side effect of this medication, Vilazodone is more commonly associated with sleep disturbances. 

A 2015 research review indicated that Vilazodone can affect rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and can increase the frequency of wakefulness in people being treated with this antidepressant (1). 

Another research study indicated that 40 mg of Vilazodone is more commonly associated with sleep disturbances as compared to a 20 mg dose of this medication. This indicates that sleep disturbances could be dose-dependent (2). 

However, individuals respond differently to medications like Vilazodone. Just make sure you closely monitor how Vilazoone makes you feel and report your side effects to your doctor on your next visit. 

Should you be concerned about Viibryd-induced sleepiness? 

If you’re new to Viibryd or to antidepressants generally, you shouldn’t worry about feeling sleepy or tired on these medications. They are bound to cause some side effects till your body gets used to the effects of these medications. 

Once you’ve adjusted, the side effects begin to subside. However, it can take longer to get rid of them for some people compared to others. It can take up to 4-6 weeks for some people to recover. 

However, if you continue to feel this way or if your sleepiness increases with time, talk to your healthcare provider. Excess sedation and tiredness can decrease your physical activity and impair your metabolism- which can lead to weight gain.

What should you do if Viibryd makes you sleepy? 

There are a few things you can do if Viibryd causes sleepiness. These are:

  • Talk to your healthcare provider. If dose reduction is possible in your case, your doctor will most likely reduce it to help your body adjust to the medication. 
  • Take Viibryd at bedtime. Taking it in the morning can affect your daily life activities and can decrease your mental alertness during the daytime. 
  • Do not pair Viibryd with any other medication that can cause sedation. If you have more than one prescription med, talk to your healthcare provider to ensure whether or not they are safe to take concomitantly. 
  • Don’t drink alcohol with Viibryd or any other antidepressant for that matter. Alcohol can interact with the medication and further depresses your brain, which may affect your recovery from depression. 

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References

1.-

Wang SM, Han C, Lee SJ, Patkar AA, Masand PS, Pae CU. Vilazodone for the treatment of major depressive disorder: focusing on its clinical studies and mechanism of action. Psychiatry Investig. 2015 Apr;12(2):155-63. doi: 10.4306/pi.2015.12.2.155. Epub 2015 Mar 18. PMID: 25866514; PMCID: PMC4390584. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4390584/

2.-

Mathews M, Gommoll C, Chen D, Nunez R, Khan A. Efficacy and safety of vilazodone 20 and 40 mg in major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar;30(2):67-74. doi: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000057. PMID: 25500685; PMCID: PMC4314105. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4314105/

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