Key facts about Vilazodone
What dosages is Vilazodone available in?
Vilazodone is available as 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg oral tablet.
What is Vilazodone used for?
Vilazodone both a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a serotonin (5HT1A) receptor partial agonist that is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD).
How does Vilazodone work?
Vilazodone is considered both a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a serotonin (5HT1A) receptor partial agonist. While the exact way it works to treat depression isn’t well-understood, it’s thought to work by boosting the amount of serotonin circulating in your brain, and also directly acting on serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a chemical in your brain that seems to play a role in mood, anxiety, and overall well-being.
How do I take Vilazodone?
Vilazodone is typically started at 10 mg by mouth daily with food for a week. After that, your provider might raise your dose to 20 mg daily. The maximum dose is 40 mg daily.
Is it safe for me to take Vilazodone?
Vilazodone is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you have taken (or have just stopped taking within the past 2 week) a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
Vilazodone Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Vilazodone:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Problems falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
Vilazodone Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Vilazodone. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Serotonin syndrome: high fever, seizures, irregular heartbeat, confusion, loss of consciousness
- Serious bleeding: bleeding that won’t stop, bruising that doesn’t go away, blood in the urine, dark or tarry stools
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Vilazodone
The following medications may interact with Vilazodone:
- CYP3A4 Inhibitors: The Vilazodone dose should not exceed 20 mg once daily when co-administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
- CYP3A4 Inducers: Consider increasing Vilazodone dosage by 2-fold, up to 80 mg once-daily over 1 to 2 weeks when used concomitantly with strong CYP3A4 inducers for greater than 14 days.
Who makes Vilazodone?
Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers
Is Vilazodone safe in pregnancy?
Third trimester use of Vilazodone may increase risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension and withdrawal in the newborn. There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by calling the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants at 1-844-405-6185 or visiting online at women’s health . You and your doctor will have to decide if you should take VASCEPA while you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant.
