Viibryd (vilazodone hydrochloride) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. MDD is also called depression.

Viibryd comes as an oral tablet. It belongs to a group of drugs called antidepressants.

Viibryd is available in a generic form called vilazodone.

For information about the dosage of Viibryd, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Viibryd, see this article.

This article describes typical dosages for Viibryd provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Viibryd, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Read on for more information about Viibryd’s dosage for depression.

Viibryd form

Viibryd comes as an oral tablet.

Viibryd strengths

Viibryd comes in the following strengths:

  • 10 milligrams (mg)
  • 20 mg
  • 40 mg

Viibryd also comes in two starter packs. If your doctor prescribes a starter pack, you’ll take it for the first 30 days of treatment. One pack contains seven 10-mg tablets, seven 20-mg tablets, and sixteen 40-mg tablets. The other pack contains seven 10-mg tablets and twenty-three 20-mg tablets.

Typical dosages

Typically, your doctor will prescribe a starting dose of Viibryd. You’ll take 10 mg once per day for 7 days. Then your dosage will increase to 20 mg once per day. If needed, your doctor may increase Viibryd to a maximum dose of 40 mg once per day. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Long-term treatment

Viibryd is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Viibryd is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Viibryd.

Is Viibryd used for anxiety? If so, what is the drug’s dosage for anxiety?

Viibryd is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat anxiety. It’s approved only to treat depression.

However, sometimes a drug is prescribed for a condition that it’s not approved to treat. This is known as off-label use.

If you have questions about taking Viibryd for anxiety, talk with your doctor.

Does Viibryd have a 60-mg daily dosage?

The maximum dosage of Viibryd is typically 40 milligrams (mg) once per day. If you’re taking certain medications in combination with Viibryd, your doctor may recommend that you take a higher dosage of Viibryd. That’s because some drugs cause your body to break Viibryd down more quickly.

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take before starting treatment with Viibryd. They’ll decide the best dosage of Viibryd for you.

What is the typical dose range of Viibryd?

Typically, you’ll take a starting dose of Viibryd 10 mg once per day for 1 week. After that, you’ll take Viibryd 20 mg once per day. If your doctor thinks you need the highest dose, you’ll take Viibryd 40 mg once per day.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dose of Viibryd.

With any medication, you may have questions about missed dose side effects. If you miss a dose of Viibryd, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your scheduled dose. Don’t double up on doses to make up for the missed one.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

The Viibryd dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Viibryd to treat
  • whether you take other medications in combination with Viibryd

Dosage adjustments

If you take Viibryd in combination with certain medications, your doctor may recommend that you take a dose of Viibryd that’s higher or lower than the typical dose. Some of these medications include:

  • Sporanox (itraconazole)
  • Biaxin XL (clarithromycin)
  • Vfend (voriconazole)
  • Tegretol (carbamazepine)
  • Dilantin (phenytoin)
  • Rimactane (rifampin)

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take before starting treatment with Viibryd.

Viibryd is an oral tablet that you should swallow whole. Do not crush or chew Viibryd.

You should take your dose of Viibryd once per day with food. It may be helpful to take it at the same time each day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Viibryd can work effectively.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Viibryd in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you take more Viibryd than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects.

It’s important that you don’t take more Viibryd than your doctor advises.

Symptoms of an overdose

Overdose symptoms of Viibryd can include:

If you take more than the recommended amount of Viibryd

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Viibryd. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Viibryd for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Viibryd without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Viibryd that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Viibryd. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Viibryd. For information about other aspects of Viibryd, refer to this article.
  • Side effects. To learn about side effects of Viibryd, see this article. You can also look at the Viibryd prescribing information.
  • Drug comparison. To find out how Viibryd compares with Trintellix, read this article.
  • Interactions. For details about what Viibryd interacts with, see this article.
  • Details about depression. For details about depression, see our depression hub..

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.