Viibryd vs. Lexapro

Viibryd (vilazodone hydrochloride) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type antidepressants used to treat major depressive disorder in adults.

Lexapro is also used to treat anxiety.

Side effects of Viibryd and Lexapro that are similar include nausea and sleep problems (insomnia).

Side effects of Viibryd that are different from Lexapro include vision changes, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Side effects of Lexapro that are different from Viibryd include drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach, gas, heartburn, constipation, weight changes, dry mouth, yawning, ringing in the ears, decreased sex drive, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Both Viibryd and Lexapro may interact with alcohol, other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other antidepressants, medicines to treat mood or thought disorders or mental illness, St. John's wort, blood thinners, medicines to treat ADHD, and migraine headache medicines.

Viibryd may also interact with diuretics (water pills), mephenytoin, and medicines to treat narcolepsy.

Lexapro may also interact with lithium, tramadol, L-tryptophan, and stimulants.

Do not stop using Viibryd or Lexapro suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Viibryd include:

• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting, and
• sleep problems (insomnia).

Contact your doctor if you have serious side effects of Viibryd including:

• easy bruising,
• unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum),
• blood in your urine or stools,
• purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin,
• agitation,
• hallucinations,
• fever,
• loss of coordination,
• fainting,
• overactive reflexes,
• very stiff (rigid) muscles,
• sweating,
• confusion,
• fast or uneven heartbeats,
• tremors,
• lightheadedness,
• racing thoughts,
• risk-taking behavior,
• decreased inhibitions,
• feelings of extreme happiness or sadness,
• extreme thirst with headache,
• weakness,
• trouble concentrating,
• memory problems,
• confusion,
• seizures (convulsions), or
• shallow breathing.

Common side effects of Lexapro include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• gas,
• heartburn,
• constipation,
• weight changes,
• dry mouth,
• yawning,
• ringing in the ears,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Viibryd is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of nottreating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Viibryd is used to treat:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Bulimia Nervosa*
• Panic Disorder*
• Depressive episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder, taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Treatment Resistant Depression (depression that has not gotten better with atleast 2 other treatments), taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)*

*Not approved for use in children

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting betterwith Viibryd treatment.

Lexapro is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Lexapro is also used to treat:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Lexapro treatment.

Viibryd is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risk of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Viibryd treatment.

It is not known if Viibryd is safe and effective in children.

Do not take Lexapro if you:

• are allergic to escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide or any of the ingredients in Lexapro. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Lexapro.
• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
• take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because taking this drug with Lexapro can cause serious heart problems.

Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Lexapro unless directed to do so by your physician.

Do not start Lexapro if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician.

People who take Lexapro close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• high fever
• uncontrolled muscle spasms
• stiff muscles
• rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
• confusion
• loss of consciousness (pass out)

Before starting Lexapro, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are taking certain drugs such as:
• Triptans used to treat migraine headache
• Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, amphetamines, or antipsychotics
• Tramadol
• Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort

• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• have heart problems
• have or had seizures or convulsions
• have bipolar disorder or mania
• have low sodium levels in your blood
• have a history of a stroke
• have high blood pressure
• have or had bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known if Lexapro will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some Lexapro may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking Lexapro. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Lexapro and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take Lexapro with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Lexapro without talking to your healthcare provider first.

If you take Lexapro, you should not take any other medicines that contain escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide including: Celexa.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

• triptans used to treat migraine headache
• medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, buspirone, SSRIs, SNRIs or MAOIs
• tramadol and fentanyl
• amphetamines
• cimetidine
• the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, enoxacin
• medicine to treat irregular heart rate (like propafenone, flecainide, quinidine)
• theophylline
• the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin).
• over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort
• thioridazine (Mellaril). Mellaril together with Lexapro can cause serious heart rhythm problems or sudden death.

Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Do not take Lexapro with any other medicine that contain duloxetine.

Take Viibryd exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Viibryd until it is the right dose for you.

• Take Viibryd with food. Viibryd may not work as well if you take it on an empty stomach.
• If you miss a dose of Viibryd, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Viibryd at the same time.
• If you take too much Viibryd, call your healthcare provider or poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or get emergency treatment.

Take Lexapro exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Lexapro until it is the right dose for you.

Lexapro may be taken with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Lexapro, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Lexapro at the same time.

If you take too much Lexapro, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.