Vilazodone (Oral Route)

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Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow for changes in your dose and to help prevent any unwanted effects.

Do not take this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate® within the past 14 days. Do not start taking a MAO inhibitor within 14 days of stopping vilazodone. If you do, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, sudden high body temperature, sweating, extremely high blood pressure, or severe convulsions.

Vilazodone may cause some teenagers and young adults to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. Some people may have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. If you or your caregiver notice any of these unwanted effects, tell your doctor right away. Let the doctor know if you or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.

Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines you are using. Vilazodone may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)-like reactions if taken with certain medicines such as St. John's wort, lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, or some pain medicines (e.g., tramadol [Ultram®], sumatriptan [Imitrex®], zolmitriptan [Zomig®], or rizatriptan [Maxalt®]). Check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines.

If you develop a skin rash, hives, difficulty with breathing, or any allergic reaction to this medicine, stop taking the medicine and check with your doctor as soon as possible.

This medicine may increase your risk for bleeding problems. Make sure your doctor knows if you are also taking other medicines that thin the blood, such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents also called NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, or Motrin®), or warfarin (Coumadin®).

Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. If you have been instructed to stop taking vilazodone, ask your doctor how to slowly decrease the dose. This will decrease your chance of having withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headaches, vomiting, increased sweating, irritability, nightmares, or prickling or tingling feelings.

Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) may occur with this medicine. Stop using the medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have confusion, difficulty concentrating, headaches, memory problems, weakness, and unsteadiness.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.

Vilazodone may cause some people to become dizzy or drowsy. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

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