The Safety and Tolerability Profile of Vilazodone, A Novel Antidepressant for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objective: receptor partial agonist approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). This report summarizes the safety and tolerability of vilazodone 40 mg/day during short- and long-term treatment of adult MDD. Methods: Pooled data from two 8-week, double-blind studies of vilazodone (n = 436) vs placebo (n = 433) and data from one 52-week, open-label study (n = 616, vilazodone only) were analyzed. Patients aged 18-70 with DSM-IV-TR-defined MDD received vilazodone or placebo (8-week studies only) once daily, with food, titrated to 40 mg/day over 2 weeks. Safety and tolerability assessments included adverse events (AEs), laboratory tests, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and weight. Results: The most common AEs in all studies were diarrhea, nausea, and headache. Vilazodone-associated AEs in the two 8-week studies, defined as an incidence rate of ≥5% in the vilazodone group and at least twice that for placebo, were diarrhea (28.0% vs 9.2%), nausea (23.4% vs 5.1%), and insomnia (6.0% vs 2.1%), with the majority reported as mild to moderate and <5% of those patients requiring concomitant (directed) treatment for these conditions. Discontinuation rates due to AEs were 7.1% (vilazodone) and 3.2% (placebo) in the 8-week studies and 20.7% in the 52-week study. Vilazodone had no clinically significant effects on vital signs, laboratory tests, or electrocardiograms. Conclusion: Vilazodone 40 mg/day was well tolerated during short- and long-term MDD treatment in these trials. Safety profiles associated with 8- and 52-week exposure were consistent.
Source: Psychopharmacology Bulletin
DOI: 10.64719/pb.4075
Authors: Michael Liebowitz, Harry A. Croft, Daniel K. Kajdasz, Heidi Whalen, Susan Gallipoli, Maria Athanasiou, Carol R. Reed
Institutions: Medical Research Network, Forest Laboratories (United States)
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2536054078