Clinical pharmacology of viloxazine hydrochloride

Plasma concentrations of viloxazine were determined in twenty depressed inpatients during 4 weeks of treatment with progressively increasing dosage. Viloxazine plasma levels varied markedly during the day, due to the short half-life of the drug. Plasma levels rose to peak values after 7-10 days of treatment and then decreased, perhaps due to enzymatic induction by viloxazine. A negative linear correlation was found between the plasma concentration of viloxazine and its clinical effect, with the best clinical improvement in patients whose plasma concentration was 20-500 ng/ml at 7 a.m. Performance in psychomotor tests (visual reaction time and ring of Pierron was improved in many patients after treatment and was correlated with the plasma viloxazine level and the Hamilton Rating score. Assessment of viloxazine effects of electroencephalogram showed a decrease in EEG amplitude in the eight clinically improved patients.