One of the characteristics of pharmacological treatments is that they do not always act in the same way in all patients. Hence the need to have a wide variety of medications that can be adjusted to the specific needs of each person.
In the case of antidepressants, vilazodone is one of the drugs included in the wide range of medications existing to combat depression. In this article we will analyze its characteristics, method of administration, possible side effects and precautions that should be taken during consumption.
Vilazodone, known commercially under the name Viibryd, is an antidepressant drug developed and marketed in the United States since 2011 at which time it was approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This medication, approved for use in the treatment of major depressive disorder, is characterized as a combination of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a partial agonist of serotonin receptors, and buspirone, an anti-anxiety agent that enhances the effects of the SSRI.
Vilazodone works by helping to restore the balance of a number of brain substances, including increasing the amount of serotonin in our brain. Due, This antidepressant medication helps maintain mental balance
Likewise, some of the main effects that vilazodone exerts on a person’s mental health include improvement in mood, promoting the regulation and improvement of sleep cycles, increasing appetite and energy levels, and Finally, it can help restore the person’s interest in the activities of their daily life.
Finally, studies on the effectiveness of this drug have not shown results that favor vilazodone over other types of antidepressants; Therefore, its administration or prescription is subject to the preferences of the professional who prescribes it.
In what cases is it administered?
As mentioned in the previous point, vilazodone is used as one of the drugs of choice for the treatment of major depression and depressive syndromes These disorders are characterized by being psychological or mental alterations in which the person experiences negative feelings and sadness permanently and acutely.
In a large number of cases, the emotional symptoms of depression are accompanied by low self-esteem, a decrease or loss of interest in those activities or tasks that were previously stimulating or attractive, a decrease in energy and a feeling of constant fatigue and Finally, experiencing physical pain without an apparent cause such as gastric pain.
Depressive disorders, as well as those syndromes or conditions with depressive symptoms, can become an obstacle to the patient’s daily life, generating interference in their daily activities, modifying their routines, as well as their eating habits, sleep cycles and general health. If untreated, the symptoms can worsen to the point that between 2 and 7% of people with depression resort to suicide as a way to end the suffering experienced.
How is it administered?
vilazodone It is sold in tablet format for oral administration The usual dose of this drug is one tablet a day, always taken at the same time and preferably accompanied by food.
However, these are general management recommendations. Habitually, the medical professional will adjust the treatment dose to the patient’s needs , which must follow its instructions to the letter. This means that under no circumstances will the patient be able to modify the recommended dose of vilazodone, neither by excess nor by default.
Because vilazodone belongs to the category of psychiatric medication, it is very possible that treatment begins gradually, starting with lower doses which are increased as the first weeks of treatment pass.
The effects of vilazodone can take up to eight weeks to be perceived by the patient, so, whether the patient does not experience improvement or perceives some side effect, the patient You should never stop taking medication or alter the dosage without first consulting your doctor Consequences associated with abrupt withdrawal of vilazodone may include severe headaches, mood disturbances, strong outbursts of anger, dizziness, agitation, increased sweating or seizure episodes, among many others.
What side effects does it have?
As with any type of medication, both psychiatric and otherwise, the administration of vilazodone can lead to a series of unwanted side effects that, depending on the intensity and duration with which they are experienced, can become substantially bothersome.
The side effects of vilazodone can be classified between those that are not considered serious, so they do not require immediate medical attention, and those that are more serious, in which it is necessary to consult a doctor urgently.
1. Non-serious side effects
Less serious side effects are as follows.
2. Serious side effects
Among the more serious side effects of vilazodone, the following stand out.
What precautions should be taken with its consumption?
It is necessary that, before starting vilazodone treatment, the patient informs the medical professional of any special health conditions where you are, as well as the consumption of any other type of drug, with or without a prescription. This precaution is especially important in cases of treatments with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO).
In addition, the patient must also inform the specialist if he or she suffers from any allergies or if he or she is taking any type of vitamin supplement or natural herbal complexes, since these may cause interference with the action of vilazodone.
Regarding pregnant patients or who are planning a pregnancy during the duration of treatment, the administration of vilazodone is not recommended at this time, especially in the last months of pregnancy, since it has been shown that it can cause problems in newborns.
Finally, vilazodone can cause a feeling of drowsiness, so those patients whose daily routine includes driving or operating heavy machinery should pay special attention to these symptoms and, to the extent possible, cease these activities during treatment..
