What is the information about Viibryd (Vilazodone)?

From the Guidelines

Viibryd (Vilazodone) is a viable treatment option for major depressive disorder in adults, with a recommended starting dose of 10 mg once daily, increased to 20 mg and then 40 mg, taken with food to enhance absorption and effectiveness. The medication works as both a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a partial agonist of serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, increasing serotonin levels in the brain while directly activating certain serotonin receptors 1. Common side effects of Viibryd include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Insomnia These side effects often improve over time. However, patients should be aware of the risk of increased suicidal thoughts, especially in young adults and adolescents, particularly during the first few weeks of treatment. It is essential to note that Viibryd should not be combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and should be used cautiously with other medications that affect serotonin to avoid serotonin syndrome. Abruptly stopping Viibryd can cause withdrawal symptoms, so dosage should be gradually reduced when discontinuing. The available evidence does not support clinically significant differences in efficacy, effectiveness, or quality of life among SSRIs, SNRIs, SSNRIs, or other second-generation antidepressants for the treatment of acute-phase MDD, as reported in a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Vilazodone hydrochloride tablets are a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults It is not known if vilazodone hydrochloride tablets are safe and effective for use in children for the treatment of MDD. Vilazodone hydrochloride tablets may cause serious side effects, including: Increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, adolescents, and young adults Vilazodone hydrochloride is not a controlled substance. Vilazodone hydrochloride has been systematically studied in animals and did not demonstrate abuse or dependence potential.

Key Information about Viibryd (Vilazodone):

• Indication: Vilazodone hydrochloride tablets are used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.
• Dosage Forms: Available as 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg film-coated tablets.
• Mechanism of Action: Enhancement of serotonergic activity in the CNS through selective inhibition of serotonin reuptake and partial agonism at serotonergic 5-HT1A receptors.
• Potential Side Effects: Increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions, serotonin syndrome, lethargy, restlessness, hallucinations, and disorientation.
• Abuse and Dependence: Vilazodone hydrochloride is not a controlled substance and has not demonstrated abuse or dependence potential in animal studies. 2 2 2

From the Research

Overview of Viibryd (Vilazodone)

• Viibryd, also known as Vilazodone, is a dual-acting serotonergic agent that combines the antidepressant effects of a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with partial serotonin (5-HT)(1A)-receptor agonist activity 3.
• It is marketed by Forest Pharmaceuticals and is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults 3, 4.

Efficacy of Viibryd

• Viibryd has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of MDD, with significant improvements in depressive symptoms compared to placebo 3, 5, 4, 6.
• Studies have demonstrated that Viibryd is effective in reducing symptoms of depression, including improvements in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) 3, 5, 4, 6.
• Viibryd has also been shown to be effective in achieving response and remission in patients with MDD, with numbers needed to treat ranging from eight to nine for response and 12-17 for remission 6.

Safety and Tolerability of Viibryd

• The most common adverse events associated with Viibryd are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia 3, 5, 7, 4.
• Viibryd has been shown to have a minimal impact on sexual functioning 4.
• The recommended dosage of Viibryd is 40 mg/day, and it should be taken with food to optimize bioavailability and effectiveness 3.

Dosage and Administration of Viibryd

• Viibryd should be initiated at a dosage of 10 mg once daily and incrementally adjusted over 14 days to the recommended target daily dose of 40 mg 3.
• Different dose-initiation strategies have been studied, including starting with 10 mg/day, 20 mg/day, or 40 mg/day, with no significant differences in efficacy or tolerability between the groups 7.