Vilazodone, the first of a new class of antidepressants called indolalkylamines, is an effective, safe, and quick-acting treatment for major depression, study findings indicate.

The researchers explain in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry that vilazodone shares biological effects with Prozac and Zoloft, but also works in other ways. They add that in addition to offering a rapid antidepressant effect, this agent likely has “a lower risk of sexual dysfunction” than currently available therapies.

Dr. Karl Rickels at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and colleagues report on a trial in which 410 adults with major depression received either vilazodone or inactive “placebo” for 8 weeks.

The results of two widely used tests showed that patients treated with vilazodone experienced much greater improvements in depression than did those given placebo.

In fact, the researchers note, the vilazodone group was already demonstrating significant improvements on both tests after just one week of treatment.

Most side effects seen with vilazodone were mild or moderate in severity, according to the article. Although five patients in the vilazodone group had a severe side effect, this may not have been related to the drug as the same number of patients in the placebo group also had a severe side effect.

“Vilazodone is effective for the treatment of major (depression) in adults, with symptom relief starting at 1 week, and is well tolerated,” the investigators conclude.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, March 2009.