Prescription medication · SSRI / 5-HT1A Partial Agonist
vilazodone
Also sold as Viibryd. Vilazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 9,764
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 10
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 91% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $11.08
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
vilazodone (Viibryd) is a prescription SSRI / 5-HT1A Partial Agonist, reported less often than most tracked drugs (9,764 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 91% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
vilazodone (Viibryd) is a prescription SSRI / 5-HT1A Partial Agonist. Vilazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Vilazodone (Viibryd) is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It helps to improve your mood.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$11.08/unit
Generic Price
$0.97/unit
Generic Savings
91%
Generic Available
Yes (5 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: VILAZODONE HCL 10 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: +15.3% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 20, 2024 | $0.8432/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.9718/EA | +15.3% | 8 |
What it does
Vilazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from vilazodone's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Vilazodone works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. It increases the amount of serotonin available. Serotonin helps to regulate mood and emotions.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 9,764 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for vilazodone, by number of reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
808 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
808 reports
- Anxiety
Anxiety
662 reports
- Insomnia
Insomnia
634 reports
- Headache
Headache
565 reports
- Depression
Depression
522 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
508 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
491 reports
- Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal Ideation
436 reports
- Feeling Abnormal
Feeling Abnormal
421 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for vilazodone each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where vilazodone sits
vilazodone has more FDA adverse-event reports than 38% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is vilazodone; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 9,764 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2009–2025.
Total Reports
9,764
Reports Mentioning Death
328
3.4% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,195
Top Indication
Depression
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DIARRHOEA | 808 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 808 |
| 4 | ANXIETY | 662 |
| 5 | INSOMNIA | 634 |
| 7 | HEADACHE | 565 |
| 8 | DEPRESSION | 522 |
| 9 | DIZZINESS | 508 |
| 10 | FATIGUE | 491 |
| 11 | SUICIDAL IDEATION | 436 |
| 12 | FEELING ABNORMAL | 421 |
| 13 | WEIGHT INCREASED | 307 |
| 14 | PARAESTHESIA | 303 |
| 15 | VOMITING | 287 |
| 16 | TREMOR | 281 |
| 17 | SOMNOLENCE | 278 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor should closely monitor you for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts, especially when you first start taking this medicine or when your dose is changed. Vilazodone is not approved for use in children.
Known Drug Interactions
Vilazodone hydrochloride tablets are contraindicated in patients taking MAOIs, including MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue [see Contraindications (4), Dosage and Administration (2.3), and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Mechanism: Both of these drugs increase the amount of serotonin in your brain. Taking them together can cause serotonin levels to become dangerously high, which can be life-threatening.
Excessive reduction of blood glucose (additive effect) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.14)] ; CNS depressant agents (including opioids, alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics) Use with caution Increased CNS depression Dietary supplements containing sympathomimetics Contraindicated Antidepressants including but not limited to: • Other MAOIs (e.g., linezolid, intravenous methylene blue, selective MAOIs) • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) • Tricyclic antidepressants • Amoxapine, bupropion, maprotiline, nefazodone, trazodone,...
Mechanism: Both drugs increase serotonin levels in the brain, which can lead to a dangerous and life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
Table 3: Drugs that Can Increase the Risk of Bleeding Drug Class Specific Drugs Anticoagulants argatroban, dabigatran, bivalirudin, desirudin, heparin, lepirudin Antiplatelet Agents aspirin, cilostazol, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, prasugrel, ticlopidine Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents celecoxib, diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, mefenamic acid, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, sulindac Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, milnacipran, paroxetine, sertraline,...
Mechanism: Vilazodone is a type of antidepressant that can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinners. This happens because the drug can interfere with the normal clotting process.
Strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin) The concomitant use of vilazodone hydrochloride tablets and strong CYP3A4 inducers decreased the exposure of vilazodone compared to the use of vilazodone hydrochloride tablets alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Mechanism: Carbamazepine speeds up the process of your body breaking down vilazodone. This leads to lower levels of vilazodone in your system, which might make it less effective.
Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole, clarithromycin, voriconazole) The concomitant use of vilazodone hydrochloride tablets and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors increased the exposure of vilazodone compared to the use of vilazodone hydrochloride tablets alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Mechanism: Clarithromycin slows down the liver enzymes that break down vilazodone. This causes the amount of vilazodone in your blood to rise, which could increase the risk of side effects.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take this with other medications?
What should I do if I feel worse after starting this medication?
Can I stop taking this medication suddenly?
Does this medication have any effect on my ability to drive or operate machinery?
How long does it take for this medication to start working?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medication?
What if I have bipolar disorder?
Can this medication cause sexual side effects?
What if I need surgery?
What if I accidentally take too much?
What are the common side effects of vilazodone?
Does vilazodone interact with other medications?
What drug class is vilazodone?
Is there a generic version of vilazodone?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for vilazodone?
Related Medications in SSRI / 5-HT1A Partial Agonist
Other drugs grouped near vilazodone - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with vilazodone →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with vilazodone →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with vilazodone →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with vilazodone →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with vilazodone →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for vilazodone: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 9,764.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 3.36%.
- exenatide Δ 0.01 pts · 52,302 reports · GLP-1 Receptor Agonist 3.37%death share
- permethrin Δ 0.10 pts · 1,707 reports · Topical Antiparasitic 3.46%death share
- paliperidone Δ 0.16 pts · 22,775 reports · Atypical Antipsychotic 3.52%death share
- pegloticase Δ 0.17 pts · 3,350 reports · Recombinant Uricase 3.19%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on vilazodone
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for vilazodone
The FDA label for vilazodone (sold under brand names such as Viibryd) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the SSRI / 5-HT1A Partial Agonist class. Vilazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 9,764 voluntary reports. The database also lists 10 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.97 versus $11.08 for the brand - a 91% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: January 30, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages