From the FDA Drug Label
The recommended target dosage for vilazodone hydrochloride is 20 mg to 40 mg orally once daily with food To achieve the target dosage, titrate vilazodone hydrochloride as follows: Start with an initial dosage of 10 mg once daily with food for 7 days, Then increase to 20 mg once daily with food. The dose may be increased up to 40 mg once daily with food after a minimum of 7 days between dosage increases Patients receiving concomitant CYP3A4 inhibitors: During concomitant use of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, the vilazodone hydrochloride dose should not exceed 20 mg once daily. Patients receiving concomitant CYP3A4 inducers: Based on clinical response, consider increasing the dosage of vilazodone hydrochloride by 2-fold, up to a maximum 80 mg once daily, over 1 to 2 weeks
The dosage range of vilazodone is 10 mg to 40 mg once daily with food, with a recommended target dosage of 20 mg to 40 mg once daily with food. However, the dose can be as low as 10 mg once daily for the initial 7 days and as high as 80 mg once daily when used concomitantly with strong CYP3A4 inducers for greater than 14 days 1.
From the Research
Vilazodone is typically started at 10 mg once daily for 7 days, then increased to 20 mg once daily for another 7 days, with a final target dose of 40 mg once daily, and the recommended maintenance dose range is 20-40 mg once daily. The dosage of vilazodone should be adjusted based on the patient's response and tolerance, with careful monitoring of potential side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Key Considerations
- Vilazodone should be taken with food to enhance absorption, as taking it without food can significantly reduce its bioavailability 6.
- For elderly patients or those with hepatic impairment, dosage adjustments may be necessary, with careful monitoring 5.
- Vilazodone works as an antidepressant by functioning as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and partial agonist of serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, which helps regulate serotonin levels in the brain and improve symptoms of depression 4.
- Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia, which often improve with continued use 2, 3.
- Patients should be aware that full therapeutic effects may take several weeks to develop, and the medication should not be stopped abruptly due to potential discontinuation symptoms 6.
Dosage Recommendations
- Initial dose: 10 mg once daily for 7 days
- Titration: increase to 20 mg once daily for another 7 days
- Final target dose: 40 mg once daily
- Maintenance dose range: 20-40 mg once daily It is essential to follow the recommended dosage and administration guidelines to ensure the safe and effective use of vilazodone, as supported by the highest quality study available 2.