Generic name: vilazodone (vil AZ oh done)
Brand name: Viibryd, Viibryd Starter
Drug class: Miscellaneous antidepressants
Viibryd (vilazodone) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Viibryd is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD).
Viibryd may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Do not use Viibryd if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others, or if you have had a methylene blue injection. A dangerous drug interaction could occur.
Some young people (children and adults ages 24 and younger) have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.
Viibryd is not approved for use in children.
Before taking this medicine
Some medicines can interact with vilazodone and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you use, especially other anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, ADHD, or migraine medications. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.
To make sure Viibryd is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- liver or kidney disease;
- a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
- narrow-angle glaucoma;
- seizures or epilepsy;
- bipolar disorder (manic depression);
- a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts;
- if you drink alcohol; or
- if you have been diagnosed with low sodium in your blood.
Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Taking an SSRI antidepressant during the third trimester of pregnancy may cause serious lung problems or other complications in the baby. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Do not start or stop taking this medicine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of vilazodone on the baby.
It is not known whether Viibryd passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give Viibryd to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice. Viibryd is not approved for use in children.
How should I take Viibryd?
Take Viibryd exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Viibryd works best if you take it with food.
It may take several weeks or months before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.
Do not stop using Viibryd suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Dosing information
Viibryd starting dose is typically 10 mg orally once a day for 7 days, followed by 20 mg orally once a day for an additional 7 days
Maintenance dose is 20-40 mg orally once a day.
Take Viibryd with food.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of vilazodone can be fatal.
Symptoms of an overdose may include sleepiness or agitation and restlessness, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), and confusion.
What to avoid
Drinking alcohol with vilazodone can cause side effects.
Ask your doctor before taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and others. Using an NSAID with trazodone may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Viibryd side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Viibryd: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a seizure (convulsions);
- blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
- easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), blood in your urine or stools, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
- thoughts of suicide;
- racing thoughts, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or
- agitation, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing things that are not real), fever, fast heart rate, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting; or
- headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.
Common Viibryd side effects may include:
- diarrhea;
- mild nausea or vomiting; or
- sleep problems (insomnia).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Viibryd?
Taking Viibryd with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Many drugs can interact with vilazodone. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- any other antidepressant;
- a diuretic or "water pill";
- mephenytoin;
- St. John's wort;
- a blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven;
- medicine to treat anxiety, mood disorders, thought disorders, or mental illness - amitriptyline, buspirone, desipramine, lithium, nortriptyline, and many others;
- medicine to treat ADHD or narcolepsy - Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Zenzedi, and others;
- migraine headache medicine - rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and others;
- narcotic and other pain medicine - fentanyl, tramadol.
- NSAIDs - aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others;
- antifungal medication - itraconazole, voriconazole;
- certain antibiotics - clarithromycin, rifampin; or
- digoxin.
This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with vilazodone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.