viibryd

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

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

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

Important information

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

Do not use Viibryd if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. After you stop taking Viibryd, you must wait at least 14 days before you start taking an MAOI.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using Viibryd. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

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.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice. Viibryd is not approved for use in children.

Before taking this medicine

Do not use Viibryd if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

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

To make sure Viibryd 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); or

• a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using Viibryd. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

FDA pregnancy category C. 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 while taking Viibryd. Do not start or stop taking this medicine during pregnancy without your doctor"s advice.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

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 medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice. Viibryd is not approved for use in children.

How should I take Viibryd?

Take Viibryd exactly as prescribed by your doctor. 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.

Viibryd 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 Viibryd suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.

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 Viibryd can be fatal.

What should I avoid?

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 Viibryd may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Drinking alcohol can increase some of the side effects of Viibryd.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Viibryd side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Viibryd: 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:

• seizures (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;

• 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 Viibryd 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.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Viibryd?

Taking Viibryd with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking vilazodone with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, 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 medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with Viibryd, especially:

• any other antidepressant;

• bosentan;

• buspirone;

• imatinib;

• lithium;

• St. John"s wort;

• tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan)

• an antibiotic - clarithromycin, nafcillin, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, telithromycin;

• antifungal medication - itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;

• heart medication - nicardipine, quinidine;

• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

• hepatitis C medications - boceprevir, telaprevir;

• HIV/AIDS medication - atazanavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir;

• migraine headache medicine - sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and others;

• pain medication - fentanyl, tramadol; or

• seizure medication - carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with Viibryd. 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.