title: Vilazodone: a novel antidepressant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the antidepressant vilazodone (approved for U.S. marketing in 2011) are reviewed, with an emphasis on efficacy and safety data from Phase III clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vilazodone (marketed as Viibryd by Forest Pharmaceuticals) 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. In two published eight-week Phase III trials involving a total of 878 adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), vilazodone use was found to yield significant symptomatic improvements relative to placebo use, as determined by mean changes from baseline in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and other widely used clinical assessment instruments. Vilazodone hydrochloride therapy 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; for optimal bioavailability and effectiveness, it should be taken after a light or high-fat meal. The adverse effects most commonly reported in clinical trials of vilazodone were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vilazodone is an efficacious and safe new antidepressant for the treatment of MDD. Its relatively high cost and adverse-effect profile, as well as a lack of data demonstrating that vilazodone can produce long-term MDD remission and offer significant advantages over the current standard of care, may limit the usefulness of vilazodone in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zmarlicka
authors.forename: Megan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ehret
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001682:Biological Availability; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069503:Vilazodone Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D007211:Indoles; D010879:Piperazines; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069503:Vilazodone Hydrochloride