Formulary
Vortioxetine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Vortioxetine inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin (5-HT) and is an antagonist at 5-HT 3 and an agonist at 5-HT 1A receptors.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Vortioxetine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Vortioxetine inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin (5-HT) and is an antagonist at 5-HT 3 and an agonist at 5-HT 1A receptors.
Drug action
Vortioxetine inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin (5-HT) and is an antagonist at 5-HT 3 and an agonist at 5-HT 1A receptors. This multimodal activity appears to be associated with antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects.
Indications and dose
**Major depression**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Initially 10 mg once daily; adjusted according to response to 5-20 mg once daily.
- **Elderly** (By Mouth): Initially 5 mg once daily; increased if necessary up to 20 mg once daily.
Cautions
Bleeding disorders; cirrhosis of the liver (risk of hyponatraemia); elderly (risk of hyponatraemia); history of mania (discontinue if patient entering manic phase); history of seizures; susceptibility to angle-closure glaucoma; unstable epilepsy Cautions, further information Seizures Manufacturer advises discontinue treatment in patients who develop seizures or if there is an increase in seizure frequency. Elderly Manufacturer advises caution when treating elderly patients with doses over 10 mg daily-limited information.
Side effects
Common or very common Abnormal dreams; constipation; diarrhoea; dizziness; nausea; skin reactions; vomiting Uncommon Flushing; night sweats Frequency not known Angioedema; haemorrhage; hyponatraemia; neuroleptic malignant syndrome (discontinue immediately); serotonin syndrome (discontinue immediately)
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises avoid unless potential benefit outweighs risk-toxicity in animal studies. If used during the later stages of pregnancy, there is a risk of neonatal withdrawal symptoms and persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn.
Breast feeding
Manufacturer advises avoid-present in milk in animal studies.
Hepatic impairment
Manufacturer advises caution in severe impairment (no information available).
Renal impairment
Use with caution (limited information available). M
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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