vilazodone

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

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.

Do not stop using vilazodone without first asking your doctor.

What is vilazodone?

Vilazodone is an antidepressant that 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?

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, tranylcypromine, and others.

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

Tell your doctor if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. An interaction with vilazodone could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver or kidney disease;
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
• narrow-angle glaucoma;
• seizures or epilepsy;
• bipolar disorder (manic depression);
• sexual problems;
• drug addiction 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 this medicine during pregnancy could harm the baby, but stopping the medicine may not be safe for you. Do not start or stop vilazodone without asking your doctor.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of vilazodone on the baby.

How should I take vilazodone?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Your symptoms may not improve for up to several weeks.

Tell your doctor if you have any changes in sexual function, such as loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, or (in men) problems with erections or ejaculation. Some sexual problems can be treated.

Do not stop using vilazodone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant symptoms (such as agitation, confusion, tingling or electric shock feelings). Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking vilazodone?

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 vilazodone may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

What are the possible side effects of vilazodone?

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.

• a seizure (convulsions);
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• racing thoughts, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or
• low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea; 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?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect vilazodone, especially:

• any other antidepressants;
• mephenytoin;
• St. John's wort;
• tramadol;
• a diuretic or "water pill";
• medicine to treat anxiety, mood disorders, or mental illness such as schizophrenia;
• a blood thinner --warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or
• migraine headache medicine --sumatriptan, Imitrex, Maxalt, Treximet, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect vilazodone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about vilazodone.