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Switching From Generic Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) to Three Different Dose Initiation Strategies With Vilazodone

A Randomized, Double-Blind, 8-week Comparing Safety and Tolerability of Switching From Generic Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) to Three Different Dose Initiation Strategies With Vilazodone

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02015546
Enrollment
70
Registered
2013-12-19
Start date
2012-12-31
Completion date
2013-12-31
Last updated
2015-04-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Keywords

Major Depressive Disorder, Vilazodone

Brief summary

This is an 8-week, randomized, double blind, parallel group, 3-arm trial to compare 10 mg/day, 20 mg/day and 40 mg/day as starting doses of vilazodone following a switch from generic SSRIs and SNRIs. Vilazodone HCl under the trade name Viibryd™ is approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy (how well the drug works), safety (the side effects), and tolerability (how well tolerated) of Vilazodone in preventing relapse or recurrence of depression. As vilazodone is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent the recurrence of depression, for the purposes of this study it is considered investigational. The word investigational means that the study drug is still being tested in research studies and has not been approved for this use by the FDA.

Interventions

DRUGVilazodone

All subjects will receive Vilazodone at 10, 20 or 40mg.

Sponsors

Duke University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 18-65 years inclusive 2. DSM-IV Diagnosis of major depressive disorder 3. If female, nonpregnant/nonlactating 4. If a sexually active female of reproductive potential, must be using adequate contraception (i.e., oral contraceptives, barrier protection, or prior tubal ligation) 5. Inadequate response to antidepressants: having a score of ≥14 on the 17-item HAMD or a CGI-S score of ≥ 3 after a retrospective confirmation of an adequate trial of a single antidepressant (defined as an 6-week trial of acceptable therapeutic dose \[40 mg of fluoxetine, paroxetine 30 mg of citalopram, 20 mg of escitalopram, 37.5 mg of paroxetine CR, 150 mg of sertraline, 100 mg of fluvoxamine, 225 mg of venlafaxine XR) 6. Lack of tolerability of antidepressants: Patient reports of side effects that are judged to be clinically meaningful by the investigator 7. HAMD item 2 score ≥ 2 at screening 8. Duration of current MDD ≥ 4 weeks and \< 24 months

Exclusion criteria

1. Any Axis I disorder within previous six months of screening except Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Simple Phobias 2. MDD with postpartum onset, psychotic features or seasonal features 3. DSM-IV substance abuse or dependence in the previous 6 months 4. Medically unstable as judged by study investigators on clinical and/or laboratory findings 5. Lack of capacity to provide informed, written, consent to investigators 6. Previous intolerance to vilazodone or current use of vilazodone at screening or within 3 months of study entry 7. Significant suicide risk as judged by the investigator based on information collected on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) 8. History of augmentation with atypical antipsychotics, lithium, T3 or another antidepressant within 3 months of screening 9. Failure of ≥ 3 adequate trials of different antidepressants for the current episode of MDD 10. Concomitant medications: All medications for pre existing medical conditions will be permitted to continue unchanged provided subjects are on a stable dose of at least 12 weeks. Subjects on concomitant mood stabilizers or atypical antipsychotics will require a 2-week washout prior to screening visit. Subjects on a minimum of 3 month of stable dose of hypnotics (e.g. zolpidem 10 mg per day or benzodiazepine dose of ≤ 2 mg per day of lorazepam or trazodone ≤ 100 mg per day or quetiapine ≤ 100 mg per day) will be allowed to continue their hypnotic medication at the same dose. Quetiapine at doses ≤ 100 mg per day is appropriate only for hypnotic effects. Over the counter medications will be permitted if in the opinion of the investigator, they are not considered to have any significant impact on the study. Any medication that has the potential to cause a clinical significant drug interaction with vilazodone in the judgment of the investigator will require a washout.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Total MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8Baseline, Week 8The efficacy of switching to three different doses of vilazodone (10 mg/d, 20 mg/d, 40 mg/d) from equivalent dose range of generic SSRIs or SSNRIs in patients with MDD measured by the MADRS. The MADRS is a 10-item scale that evaluates the core symptoms and cognitive features of clinical depression. Each MADRS item is rated on a 0 to 6 scale. The MADRS Total score ranges from 0 (min) to 60 (max). Higher MADRS scores indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms.
Change in the Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms Check List (DESS)Baseline, week 9DESS: a clinician-administered 43-item assessment that evaluates discontinuation-emergent symptoms resulting from the withdrawal from test article. The primary tolerability measure for discontinuation symptoms will be The Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms Check List (DESS). Discontinuation symptoms that do not respond to education and supportive psychotherapy will be managed by reinstituting the last dose of Vilazodone at which patients did not experience discontinuation symptoms and slowly tapering the dose over 1 week or longer, if necessary. Total possible range is 0 to 172. A higher score indicates more symptoms.
Change in Safety as Assessed by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)Baseline, Weeks 8The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) is a 5-item, patient selfrated scale that evaluates a patient's recent sexual experience. Patients are asked to assess their own experience over the last week (for example, How strong is your sex drive?, Are your orgasms satisfying?) and respond on a 6-point scale for each item. The ASEX is used to identify individuals with sexual dysfunction. Possible total score ranges from 5 to 30, with the higher score indicating more patient sexual dysfunction.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) ScaleBaseline, 8 weekThe CGI-S rating scale is a 7 point global assessment that measures the clinician's impression of the severity of illness exhibited by a participant. A rating of 1 is equivalent to Normal, not at all ill and a rating of 7 is equivalent to Among the most extremely ill participants. Higher scores indicate worsening.
Change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Total ScoresBaseline, 8 weeksHAM-A=clinician-rated interview measuring presence of anxiety-related symptoms in 14 areas including anxiety, tension, depressed mood, palpitations, breathing difficulties, sleep disturbances, & restlessness. Total score ranges from 0 to 56; higher score indicates greater anxiety.
MADRS RemissionWeek 8MADRS remission is defined as MADRS score \< 10
MADRS ResponseBaseline, Week 8Number of subjects who had a ≥ 50% decrease in MADRS score from baseline
Change in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)Baseline, 8 weekThe Sheehan Disability Scale assesses functional impairment in 3 domains: work/school, social life or leisure activities, and home life or family responsibilities. The participant rates the extent to which each aspect is impaired on a 10-point visual analog scale, from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The 3 scores are added together to calculate the total score, which ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more impairment.
Change in Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) ScaleBaseline, Week 8The CGI-I is a 7-point scale that requires the clinician to assess how much the participant's illness has improved or worsened relative to a baseline state at the beginning of the intervention and rated as: 1=very much improved; 2=much improved; 3=minimally improved; 4=no change; 5=minimally worse; 6=much worse; 7=very much worse.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

All subjects who signed a consent form were randomized to a treatment group. 6 subjects were screen failures and did not begin taking the study drug.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Vilazodone 10mg
Vilazodone 10 mg/d arm (10mg/d initiation dose, titrated to 40 mg/d in 2 weeks, continued for 8 week trial) Vilazodone: All subjects will receive Vilazodone at 10, 20 or 40mg.
23
Vilazodone 20mg
vilazodone 20 mg arm (20mg/d initiation dose, titrated to 40 mg/d in 1 week, continued for 8-week trial) Vilazodone: All subjects will receive Vilazodone at 10, 20 or 40mg.
21
Vilazodone 40mg
vilazodone 40 mg/d arm (40 mg/d initiation and continuation dose for 8-week trial. Vilazodone: All subjects will receive Vilazodone at 10, 20 or 40mg.
26
Total70

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002
Overall StudyScreem Failure213
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject111

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicVilazodone 10mgVilazodone 20mgVilazodone 40mgTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
23 Participants21 Participants26 Participants70 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
14 Participants14 Participants17 Participants45 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants7 Participants9 Participants25 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
7 / 2019 / 1922 / 22
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 200 / 190 / 22

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Safety as Assessed by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)

The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) is a 5-item, patient selfrated scale that evaluates a patient's recent sexual experience. Patients are asked to assess their own experience over the last week (for example, How strong is your sex drive?, Are your orgasms satisfying?) and respond on a 6-point scale for each item. The ASEX is used to identify individuals with sexual dysfunction. Possible total score ranges from 5 to 30, with the higher score indicating more patient sexual dysfunction.

Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 8

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Vilazodone 10mgChange in Safety as Assessed by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)-3.640 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.274
Vilazodone 20mgChange in Safety as Assessed by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)-3.750 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.188
Vilazodone 40mgChange in Safety as Assessed by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)-3.741 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.267
Primary

Change in the Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms Check List (DESS)

DESS: a clinician-administered 43-item assessment that evaluates discontinuation-emergent symptoms resulting from the withdrawal from test article. The primary tolerability measure for discontinuation symptoms will be The Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms Check List (DESS). Discontinuation symptoms that do not respond to education and supportive psychotherapy will be managed by reinstituting the last dose of Vilazodone at which patients did not experience discontinuation symptoms and slowly tapering the dose over 1 week or longer, if necessary. Total possible range is 0 to 172. A higher score indicates more symptoms.

Time frame: Baseline, week 9

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Vilazodone 10mgChange in the Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms Check List (DESS)-3.597 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.201
Vilazodone 20mgChange in the Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms Check List (DESS)-4.002 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.211
Vilazodone 40mgChange in the Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms Check List (DESS)-4.120 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.992
Primary

Change in Total MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8

The efficacy of switching to three different doses of vilazodone (10 mg/d, 20 mg/d, 40 mg/d) from equivalent dose range of generic SSRIs or SSNRIs in patients with MDD measured by the MADRS. The MADRS is a 10-item scale that evaluates the core symptoms and cognitive features of clinical depression. Each MADRS item is rated on a 0 to 6 scale. The MADRS Total score ranges from 0 (min) to 60 (max). Higher MADRS scores indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms.

Time frame: Baseline, Week 8

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Vilazodone 10mgChange in Total MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8-24.95 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 10
Vilazodone 20mgChange in Total MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8-18.95 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.71
Vilazodone 40mgChange in Total MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8-23.89 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 6.75
Secondary

Change in Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scale

The CGI-I is a 7-point scale that requires the clinician to assess how much the participant's illness has improved or worsened relative to a baseline state at the beginning of the intervention and rated as: 1=very much improved; 2=much improved; 3=minimally improved; 4=no change; 5=minimally worse; 6=much worse; 7=very much worse.

Time frame: Baseline, Week 8

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Vilazodone 10mgChange in Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scale-1.647 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.114
Vilazodone 20mgChange in Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scale-1.777 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.06
Vilazodone 40mgChange in Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scale-1.529 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.624
Secondary

Change in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Scale

The CGI-S rating scale is a 7 point global assessment that measures the clinician's impression of the severity of illness exhibited by a participant. A rating of 1 is equivalent to Normal, not at all ill and a rating of 7 is equivalent to Among the most extremely ill participants. Higher scores indicate worsening.

Time frame: Baseline, 8 week

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Vilazodone 10mgChange in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Scale-2.176 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.161
Vilazodone 20mgChange in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Scale-1.944 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.898
Vilazodone 40mgChange in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Scale-2.058 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.937
Secondary

Change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Total Scores

HAM-A=clinician-rated interview measuring presence of anxiety-related symptoms in 14 areas including anxiety, tension, depressed mood, palpitations, breathing difficulties, sleep disturbances, & restlessness. Total score ranges from 0 to 56; higher score indicates greater anxiety.

Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Vilazodone 10mgChange in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Total Scores-3.937 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.278
Vilazodone 20mgChange in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Total Scores-1.856 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.494
Vilazodone 40mgChange in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Total Scores-1.013 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.214
Secondary

Change in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)

The Sheehan Disability Scale assesses functional impairment in 3 domains: work/school, social life or leisure activities, and home life or family responsibilities. The participant rates the extent to which each aspect is impaired on a 10-point visual analog scale, from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The 3 scores are added together to calculate the total score, which ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more impairment.

Time frame: Baseline, 8 week

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Vilazodone 10mgChange in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)-3.72 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.341
Vilazodone 20mgChange in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)-3.617 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.543
Vilazodone 40mgChange in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)-3.364 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.333
Secondary

MADRS Remission

MADRS remission is defined as MADRS score \< 10

Time frame: Week 8

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Vilazodone 10mgMADRS Remission9 participants
Vilazodone 20mgMADRS Remission14 participants
Vilazodone 40mgMADRS Remission14 participants
Secondary

MADRS Response

Number of subjects who had a ≥ 50% decrease in MADRS score from baseline

Time frame: Baseline, Week 8

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Vilazodone 10mgMADRS Response14 participants
Vilazodone 20mgMADRS Response15 participants
Vilazodone 40mgMADRS Response15 participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 4, 2026