Viibryd (Vilazodone) Mixing It With Alcohol

Patients are advised to avoid alcohol while taking antidepressants because mixing the two can make depression symptoms worse and counteract the work being done by the antidepressant itself. In addition, alcohol can increase the chances of experiencing side effects while taking vilazodone and can make you very dizzy.

There are other medications that you shouldn’t take while on vilazodone including aspirin, which can increase your chance of bleeding and any other prescriptions or non-prescriptions which affect serotonin levels should be avoided, as that can lead to serotonin syndrome.

Viibryd is the brand name for the prescription vilazodone, which is used to treat depression.

Depression is a condition that affects the world’s population. There are many antidepressants in the market, and they are divided into different groups, which take different routes to help relieve depression in a patient. The different antidepressant prescription groups are:

1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
2. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
3. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
4. Tricyclic antidepressants

Viibryd is an antidepressant in the SSRI category, which also has a partial serotonin receptor agonist and treats depression by altering the serotonin neurochemicals in the brain.

It may take a week or two to feel the full effects of vilazodone, and your doctor may gradually increase the dosage to full strength over time to decrease the likelihood of side effects. As with other antidepressants, you still may experience side effects from taking vilazodone. The most common side effects include diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea and trouble sleeping.

Some more serious side effects to monitor are:

1. Numbness/Tingling
2. Tremors
3. Restlessness
4. Difficulty Concentrating
5. Confusion
6. Memory Problems
7. Weakness
8. Unsteadiness
9. Pounding Heartbeat

If you experience any of these side effects or have any undesirable changes in mood or behavior, contact your doctor right away. Do not abruptly stop taking vilazodone but work with your doctor to decrease the medication to decrease the chance of side effects.

As mentioned above, it is advised to avoid using alcohol while you are taking the prescription vilazodone. Mixing the two can lead to:

1. Feeling more depressed or anxious
2. Worsening side effects
3. Impairing your judgment or alertness
4. Sedation

If you feel you cannot listen to doctor recommendations while on vilazodone by drinking alcohol, talk to your doctor and seek help. He or she is there to make sure you have the best care possible.

Alcohol is a depressant itself and affects the way your brain works. If you’re already struggling with depression, you want to give your prescription antidepressant the best possible chance of helping you. That won’t happen if you add alcohol to the mix.

If you feel that you have a problem with alcohol that will prevent you from staying away from it while on this medication, please seek immediate help from your doctor. He or she is there to help you.

If you feel you or a loved one is misusing Viibryd or alcohol and is struggling, don’t wait to get help. Go online to www.TheRecoveryVillage.com or call 24/7 to our toll-free hotline at 855-548-9825 to learn more about the road to recovery. We can help you overcome your addiction today.