From the Guidelines
You should taper off vilazodone rather than stopping it abruptly to minimize the risk of withdrawal symptoms. A gradual reduction over 1-2 weeks is typically recommended, such as reducing your dose by half for several days before further reducing or discontinuing completely. For example, if you're taking 20mg daily, you might decrease to 10mg for 5-7 days before stopping. Abrupt discontinuation of vilazodone can lead to withdrawal symptoms including dizziness, headache, nausea, mood changes, irritability, and a sensation often described as "brain zaps" or electric shock-like feelings. These symptoms occur because your brain needs time to adjust to decreasing levels of the medication, which affects serotonin signaling in your brain 1. Always consult with your healthcare provider before changing your medication regimen, as they may recommend a personalized tapering schedule based on your specific situation, including your current dose, how long you've been taking the medication, and your individual health factors. The evidence suggests that patients who stop taking antidepressants, including vilazodone, may experience withdrawal symptoms, and that a gradual taper can help minimize these symptoms 1. Some key points to consider when tapering off vilazodone include:
- Gradually reducing the dose over a period of 1-2 weeks
- Monitoring for withdrawal symptoms and adjusting the taper schedule as needed
- Consulting with a healthcare provider to determine the best taper schedule for your individual situation
- Being aware of the potential for withdrawal symptoms, including dizziness, headache, and nausea, and seeking medical attention if they become severe. It's also important to note that the risk of withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on individual factors, such as the dose and duration of treatment, and that some patients may need a more gradual taper than others 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
A gradual reduction in dosage rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. Vilazodone hydrochloride should be down tapered from the 40 mg once daily dose to 20 mg once daily for 4 days, followed by 10 mg once daily for 3 days. Patients taking vilazodone hydrochloride 20 mg once daily should be tapered to 10 mg once daily for 7 days
Yes, you need to taper off vilazodone. The recommended tapering schedule is:
- For patients taking 40 mg once daily: taper to 20 mg once daily for 4 days, then to 10 mg once daily for 3 days
- For patients taking 20 mg once daily: taper to 10 mg once daily for 7 days 2
From the Research
Tapering Off Vilazodone
- There is no direct information in the provided studies regarding the need to taper off vilazodone 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- However, it is known that vilazodone has a half-life of 20-24 hours, which may influence the decision to taper off the medication 3.
- The studies primarily focus on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of vilazodone in treating major depressive disorder, rather than the process of discontinuing the medication 4, 5, 6, 7.
- In general, tapering off antidepressants is often recommended to minimize potential withdrawal symptoms, but the specific guidelines for vilazodone are not provided in the available evidence 5.