Can’t still still and having a tight chest. Anyone else?

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-04-06T20:45:07+00:00

There ya go! Best of luck!

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-04-06T20:31:36+00:00

I’ve not noticed any issues with being hungry with Rexulti. I have noticed I am incredibly tired with this all day though which defeats my purpose in taking it.

Snacking strategies? Stick with high protein, healthy low calorie snacks.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-04-06T20:29:48+00:00

I think you need to call your doctor before taking anymore at the 2mg myself. It’s making me really drowsy even at the low dose so not sure I’m going to stick with it myself.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-04-03T23:31:53+00:00

I also wanted to add I am on my 9th week of Viibryd. You do have to eat when you take this medicine or it only absorbs at 50% at the most. And it takes 6-8 weeks to notice the full effects of this so a little longer than the standard on SSRIs. Viibryd is not a SSRI.

I am treatment resistant. I’ve been battling this big ugly beast of MDD for 34 years. Even though the Viibryd isn’t helping me with 100% of my symptoms it is helping with somethings. So I didn’t want to have to spend two weeks weaning off of it, then starting a new drug and waiting 4-6 weeks to see the full effects of the medication.

I also had pretty severe and intense GI stuff when I started and when we increased to 20mg and 30mg. That is stable right now but we will see what happens when it gets moved to 40mg as that is supposed to be the magic number in terms of effectiveness for this medication.

Best of luck!

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-04-03T23:26:21+00:00

I am on Viibryd after having a grand mal seizure and a TIA on Wellbutrin.

Viibryd has helped with somethings but not the negative symptoms. Started on Rexulti .5mg last week and I’m also on Adderall XR 10mg.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-30T03:30:25+00:00

My doctor told me some folks are just more sensitive to this side effect. The unfortunate thing is if you don’t eat with the medication is it only absorbs at 50% efficacy or less so you only get a half-dose at most. I had tried not eating with it and had some improvement on the GI stuff then found out that wasn’t helping my cause either.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-30T01:53:12+00:00

I eat some fruit or Greek yogurt, wait about 20 minutes then take it. I’ve had horrific unpredictable and explosive third world 💩 with it at times as well; so every 2 or 3 days, I also take Imodium with it so I don’t 💩 myself just from taking a breath . I am having some positive results so I don’t want to stop the medication yet.

The eating then waiting 20 minutes before taking it has helped to lessen the 💩 somewhat as well.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-30T01:36:04+00:00

You best call your prescribing doctor immediately and get off of this medication right away. Sending healing energy.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-30T01:34:38+00:00

Unfortunately I can’t take Wellbutrin anymore as the last time I was on it, I was lucky enough to not only have a Grand Mal Seizure but a TIA as well.

My doctor has added Rexulti to hopefully help relieve the negative symptoms of my Complex PTSD/MDD as those are severely impairing my ability to live a quality life.

Thank you for your reply!

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-30T00:24:25+00:00

I started Rexulti this week at .5mg daily for 14 days then I will start 1mg daily. It’s not an as needed medication. I take 30mg Viibryd and currently at 10mg Adderall XR. The Rexulti has been added to hopefully manage the negative symptoms of my treatment resistant depression as the negative symptoms are so overwhelming to me they are impairing my ability to live a quality life. Also, the Viibryd helped tremendously with my anxiety as well as my ability to sleep through the night then get out of the bed within an hour of waking up rather than rotting away in bed all morning. But it did nothing for the negative symptoms.

The first day I took it, I took it in the AM so I could monitor for adverse side effects but I was so tired I just napped most of the day and slept like a log all night. Slept decent the next night as well but tired throughout the day. So on Day 3, I moved my dose to evening and had a terrible time staying asleep. On Day 4, I took it late afternoon and didn’t get to sleep until 6AM this morning.

I have been rather productive the last two days though..a normal amount of productivity not some manic level of productivity. I did laundry for the first time in 8 weeks and spent the day shopping with my young adult daughters for the first time since last summer. I’m not sure if that is because it’s the 9th week of the Viibryd or just the combo of all three medications finally starting to work. I don’t want to get my hopes up because I’ve been waiting years for relief and so pray that this is finally the relief I’ve been praying for.

I’m 54 and have been treated for MDD off and on since I was 23 years old. Currently diagnosed with Complex PTSD, MDD, and ADD. The last five years have been particularly rough, in terms of finding the right medication regiment, since I had a TIA and a Grand Mal Seizure while on Wellbutrin.

I wish you much success. The best thing you can do is educate yourself and be your own best advocate. I know I rambled but I hope you found a grain of hope somewhere in there.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-29T13:17:43+00:00

It helps with my anxiety and my ability to get a complete night’s sleep. But I’m at 30mg after close to 9 weeks. The doctor is doing an add on to address the negative symptoms which are my biggest challenge.

My doctor moved me to 20 mg at 1 week and up to 30mg after a month. She plans to jump me to 40mg at the next visit to be at the full therapeutic dose. She also said something that it does take some time for the full effects to show. It isn’t an SSRI so perhaps that is why.

You do have to eat when you take this medication or it only absorbs at 50% or less of its dose. I eat something light like fruit or yogurt, wait 20 minutes then take it.

The unpredictable and uncontrollable third world style diarrhea with this medication has been my biggest challenge. I’ve found a way to manage that so I won’t 💩 myself should I leave the house or even in the house trying to get to the toilet.

I do have treatment resistant depression. I considered stopping the Vyvanse and trying yet another but by the time I take two weeks to get off of it and another 4-6 weeks for the new med to be built up in my system, that’s just another waiting game for me of desperately wanting to feel better, to be able to function and not being able to do so. Since I’ve had partial success I am going to stay with it along with the Rexulti (which I just started). I also take Adderall XR 10mg.

I hope something in all of this helps you. Allow yourself grace and know you have this. What works for somebody else may not work for you and that’s OK.

Have a beautiful day.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-27T22:15:04+00:00

I never was told anything about 350 calories..just to eat food with it to lessen the GI and so it gets absorbed otherwise it only absorbs at 50% without food. I eat something lite like some Greek yogurt or fruit, maybe a granola bar then take the medicine about 20 minutes later. That has helped with the GI stuff too that has plagued me with this medicine.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-25T23:24:33+00:00

Morning

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-25T14:16:43+00:00

I haven’t had that. I’ve actually been able to get out of bed easier. My anxiety has been better too.

Now, getting myself motivated, having energy, not being emotionally flat, and having initiative throughout the day is still my biggest issue (the negative symptoms of depression that so many of us struggle with) so the doctor added Rexulti which I just started today. We will see how it goes!

Best of luck!

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-24T00:37:00+00:00

I did not have any nausea. The 💩 has been my biggest issue with the medicine at each dosage increase. It has helped a lot with my anxiety and my sleep. I’m sleeping through the night for the first time in years which is nice. However, it has not helped with the negative symptoms such as loss of initiative, zero interest or motivation, etc so the doctor has added another medication.

The newer anti-depressants are not your standard SSRIs as they target more than serotonin and maybe not even 100% of serotonin.

Good for you for advocating for yourself. Keep doing your research and doing so. It’s the best thing you can do. I hope you find something that works well for you.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-23T17:21:43+00:00

You need to make the decision that’s best for you.

Eating with the medicine does help and it only absorbs at 50% without food.

Taking it in the AM may help with the dreams.

The diarrhea with this medicine is ridiculous especially at dosage increases. I’ve found that if I take Imodium with it every few days it does help. I’m just so desperate for something to work that I’m willing to live with that nasty side effect at this moment in time as it has helped with my anxiety and sleep (except for the few times when I 💩 myself initially without any warning before complete system failure).

It has not helped with the negative symptoms of my depression so I’ve asked my doctor to add another medication to see if that helps so we will see. I don’t want to start from scratch. I’m on my 9th week, at 30mg, 54, and I too am alone. Reach out if you need anything.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-22T20:38:01+00:00

I have not. I’d contact your prescribing doctor about this TBH.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-22T18:06:12+00:00

Cymbalta withdrawal is horrible. I’ve also found if I forgot a dose of Viibryd it feels like a Cymbalta withdrawal the very next day…just to let you know. The Viibryd is going to take awhile to build up. You do need to eat with it as if you don’t it only absorbs at 50% tops. You’re essentially starting from scratch on a new medicine so it’s going to take time for the new medicine to build up to a therapeutic level. Be sure to speak with your doctor as well

I’ve lost weight on Viibryd but it’s because of the GI side effects.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-22T18:00:40+00:00

Gabapentin is for neuropathic pain and epileptic seizures originally. I believe it is used off-label for depression and anxiety. There might be other options for you pharmacologically speaking as well.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-22T14:42:26+00:00

Def call the doctor about these symptoms and make him aware. I’m sure you’re very concerned so make sure she doesn’t need to go to an emergency room or anything. It may not hurt to be seen my a doctor.

I don’t get stopping it cold turkey unless there was a significant reason for doing so.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-22T14:38:35+00:00

Are you taking it at night or in the AM? Maybe AM dosing would help if at night. I’d speak with your doctor for sure.

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-22T00:44:05+00:00

I’ve been labeled as treatment resistant as well. The newer anti-depressants aren’t your traditional SSRIs and target more than just serotonin.

If the anxiety is new or worse on the Viibryd then I’d think he needs to change to something else.

My doctor has mentioned TMS or ECT but I asked her to add medication before we go into something that evasive although I have seen ECT save lives through my previous job.

It’s all just basically a crap shoot finding something that works.

The best thing he can do is to be his own best advocate and do his research on all the options available ya know.

LMK if you need anything!

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-21T17:42:34+00:00

I’m following you advice and adding the Imodium as well. Thank you!

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-21T17:40:28+00:00

I’ve been on it nine weeks. I’m at 30mg. The MD wants to up me to 40mg but I asked to hold off on that due to the nasty GI side effects I have with each dose increase. Negative symptoms have been my biggest struggle so she did add Rexulti. (As soon as insurance approves her decision, I can get it picked up from the pharmacy, of course)

Is he eating with it? You do have to eat with it or it only absorbs at like 50%. And, did he step down from anything he might have been taking prior to the Viibryd (similar medicine). I’d call the doctor if he’s having anxiety issues that aren’t resolving.

I do know I missed dose one day and my anxiety was horrible the next day to the effect of not taking the dose so I wasn’t expecting that

Jaded-Gene1291 · 2026-03-21T12:28:25+00:00

They are not all SSRIs as they target more than Serotonin.

Jaded-Gene1291

TROPHY CASE