vilazodone

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Pronunciation: vil AZ oh done

Brand: Viibryd, Viibryd Starter

What is the most important information I should know about vilazodone?

You should not use vilazodone if you are being treated with methylene blue injection.

Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Some young people 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.

Vilazodone is not approved for use in children.

What is vilazodone?

Vilazodone is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Vilazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD).

Vilazodone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking vilazodone?

You should not use vilazodone if you are being treated with methylene blue injection.

Do not use vilazodone if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

After you stop taking vilazodone, you must wait at least 14 days before you start taking an MAOI.

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. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.

To make sure vilazodone 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; or
  • if you drink alcohol.

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 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.

It is not known whether vilazodone 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 this medicine to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice. Vilazodone is not approved for use in children.

How should I take vilazodone?

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.

Vilazodone 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 vilazodone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using vilazodone.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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.

What should I avoid while taking vilazodone?

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

Ask your doctor before taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. Using an NSAID with vilazodone 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.

What are the possible side effects of vilazodone?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: 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;
  • racing thoughts, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or
  • high levels of serotonin in the body --agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting; or
  • low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

Common side effects may include:

  • vision changes;
  • diarrhea, mild nausea; 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 vilazodone?

Taking vilazodone 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; or
  • narcotic pain medicine --fentanyl, tramadol.

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.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about vilazodone.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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