Vraylar for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Momof
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 20, 2019

"I’ve been taking 200mg Seroquel (helps me sleep) with 3mg Vraylar and my bipolar 1 is totally under control for the past 3 years. Vraylar doesn’t make me tired but with the Seroquel I’m in great shape. Thank God and my doctor."

• TeamM...
• December 28, 2019

"HORRIBLE (for me), only 2 weeks in. Made feel so disconnected and weird, paranoid, racing horrible thoughts, panic attacks, extremely sleepy and sluggish shortly after taking it and throughout the next day. Now, coming off of it is making nervous and panicky, so I'm having to take Xanax daily to reverse these withdrawal side effects, of which I only take Xanax occasionally. I cannot wait for this drug to be completely out of my system. NEVER AGAIN!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2020

"I took two weeks of samples and started on week three when the side effects seriously started. First major hot flashes. Then the over eating and always thirsty. Then I started noticing I was constantly moving. I could not sit or stand still. My feet, my hands and hyperactivity. I also was constantly talking and over talking people. I couldn't wait. Everything had to be now. I stopped taking it and after two days was feeling much better. I have taken other medications and this was one of the worst."

• Wildc...
• October 2, 2018

"After taking all the other anti-psychotics I have found Vraylar to be the most effective in controlling my symptoms. The only side effect I've had is some minor nausea the morning after my first dose. The only problem is cost as even Medicare's co-pay is astounding! Fortunately, my new psychiatrist is able to provide me with samples."

• AylaC...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 1, 2023

"This medicine was the MOST effective drug I have taken since I started taking medications, and that includes 10+ medications. I actually felt incredibly happy for the first time in years. It is super effective for both bipolar depression and mania. Unfortunately, I gained 40 pounds in under a year. It makes me sick that I had to choose between my mental health and my physical health. The weight gain, besides the obvious huge changes to my body and self-esteem, has caused significant back pain to the extent of seeing a chiropractor as well as knee pain. Sciatica was part of the back pain sometimes, which is miserable. I just kept gaining weight. Now, when I mentioned to my psychiatric doctor I needed to change again because of the weight gain, he blithely mentioned that now they automatically start people out with metformin or similar medication when prescribing Vraylar and it keeps the patient from gaining weight. So, with that info, maybe it will help someone else."

• Help...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2020

"Awful, terrible med! Seriously! Makes you extremely tired! I was so excited about this med after watching the commercials and how it “covers all phases” of bipolar. At 1.5 mg, it knocks you out. On the next day, you're still just tired and have no motivation to get to work and be productive! Made my anxiety worse! Exacerbated the stress I was dealing with at the time! Would go to sleep with a knot in my gut. I quit the med and I had the worst 3 days of depression I’ve had in a while, maybe even the worst ever! I cried in front of my supervisor at work. Be careful with the withdrawals! Depression is the worst!!!"

• Tammy
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2020

"Tried many mood stabilizers since 2004 when after a manic episode and failed suicide, I was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, tried various mood stabilizers had too many side effects and manic episodes. Finally Vraylar came on the market and my doc prescribed it. I've been on it for 2 years and have had 1 manic episode and have an anxiety disorder I never had. With that being said, Vraylar has been the best prescribed medication yet. I have no side effects. They only problem is the cost, because it's not generic yet. So with a Medicare advantage insurance, I have a $382 out of pocket copays. Right know my physiatrist is able to give me samples. I haven't found a patient assist program that helps."

• Joonb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2019

"I take 100 mg Zoloft for depression. I also have anxiety disorder. My depression was getting worse so doc put me on Vraylar 1.5 mg which I take it in the morning, now I feel fantastic! No side effects at all! I'm disabled and on Medicare so I'm going to have to get samples from the Dr long term as there is no way I can afford it. I've been on it for almost 2 weeks."

• JJs
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2019

"I was just wondering if anyone else was experiencing rapid weight gain with this medication Vraylar. I’m on week 3 and I’ve already gained weight and my agitation is terrible. Any advice would be appreciated."

• Bipol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2017

"I've been taking Vraylar for 2 weeks now and have noticed a huge increase in my libido. No other side effects and I am definitely having less anxiety and much better impulse control! It almost feels like someone stepped into my mind and organized everything!"

• Weath...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2017

"I've been taking vraylar for about 4 months now and so far it has been the best drug I have been on with the least side effects. For the first couple of months I didn't have any at all and then I started to get my motivation back and along with that came restlessness and sleeping difficulty. That seems to be getting better as my body gets more used to the drug. My anxiety is manageable, my moods seem to be pretty stable and my depression is starting to really lift. Because of the very long half life of vraylar I've read that it can take longer than other drugs to work and to just be patient, that was easy for me seeing as there weren't many side effects. It took me years to find something to work but I'm so glad I didn't give up."

• ThePl...
• January 7, 2017

"This has been the most effective medicine I have ever taken for my Schizoaffective Bipolar Type disorder, and I have tried seven different anti-psychotics prior to starting Vraylar. I was in a manic state when I took this medicine the first time, and shortly after the first dose the mania stopped completely. I am not experiencing any side effects whatsoever from Vraylar. This medicine has the efficacy of Clozaril, without all of the nasty side effects. I am truly grateful this medicine exists, without it I would have probably been hospitalized. Overall, I am extremely happy with this medication and I am so happy I finally found something that works for me."

• Runne...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2020

"I have Treatment resistant depression and the Vraylar So far not so good....super hyperactive on it...cleaning everything. Can't sleep, but exhausted at the same time. Also can't hold anything down I'm so nauseated all the time! Hate it! It's been about two weeks now"

• Mgggg
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2017

"This was the worst drug I've ever been put on in my entire life. It literally ruined me for months. I couldn't see colors the same, I could hardly read or look at a computer screen. I was so restless and tired all at the same time I feel useless. My body always felt tired and I was so irritated that if anyone even put their hand on me it would bug me out and hurt my skin. When I finally got off, I lost my vision completely for four days and ended up in the emergency room. Literally all I could see were shapes. It was a horrifying and traumatic experience that scared me from ever going on pharmaceuticals ever again despite how bad my bipolar disorder is. Absolutely the worst medication I've ever been and I'm mad I trusted my doctor"

• momof
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2020

"I was on this for major depressive disorder, anxiety and ADD. This medicine would have been perfect if not for the akathisia. I could wake up in the morning and stay awake throughout the day. I could complete tasks and was more productive. Unfortunately the feeling of needing to constantly move around and the irritability it caused outweighed the positive."

• Momo
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 23, 2021

"I have bipolar 1 and have been taking Vraylar for four years. My doctor just took me off seroquel which I was taking as well. Now I’m on Vraylar and Trazodone for sleep. I have never felt better. I’m awake. I don’t feel flat. I have no side effects. I work. My kids stopped calling me a zombie (seroquel made me a zombie). Life couldn’t be better. I have no mood swings or irritable feelings. Thank God for Vraylar!!!"

• Boogie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2019

"Question for ppl who's been taking Vraylar for awhile. What's the best time of the day to take this medicine? Because I feel like it makes me sleepy but when I took it at night I've noticed the next day I was still snappy and in a bad mood so advice on when to take it please ? And other advice as well I would appreciate it because I am a beginner on this medicine!!!"

• anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2021

"Vraylar intensified suicidal thoughts drastically, also increased episodes of rage/anger. I survived a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head resulting from 3 months on Vraylar. Doctor doubled dose 48 hour before incident."

• guysh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2019

"I would really pay attention to the side affects while taking this med. I developed blisters on my scalp and was diagnosed with shingles but the blisters never went away one day I came across the printout of side affects and for some reason read them and blisters are a serious reaction. I have not taken it for a few days now and I have no new blisters pretty scary it really reminds me though that we need to pay attention to our health symptoms and meds side effects. These drs have too many patients to keep up with everything we are on etc."

• RMCC
• April 29, 2016

"I have tried abilify (worked but caused massive weight gain) and latuda (worked at first, then just made me restless and agitated) and now vraylar for depression/mixed episodes in BP II. I have only been on it for about a week, but I noticed a HUGE difference in my mood and agitation. I do not feel depressed and hopeless, and am no longer agitated at all. I hope this med continues to work! It is VERY expensive, but you can go on the website and get a savings card where you only pay $15/month."

• Kp111
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 1, 2020

"This is the worst medicine I have ever taken. It actually made my manic and compulsive buying worse. It messed with my sleep schedule and my blood sugar. I’m normally 103-105 lbs. I was constantly hungry on this and my blood sugar would plummet between meals. I gained 7 lbs in 2 months after my doc put me on 3mg. I have switched to lithium and feel like a new person."

• Lisa
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2018

"I was given this medication in place of lithium. I was on it for a month. I experienced many side effects while taking this. Restless (pacing around the house), anxiety, chronic dry mouth, depression (crying for days) and TD uncontrollable muscle movements. Mainly in my face and jaw. The doctor gave me samples and never warned me of the potential side effects. Please be warned. I have stopped taking Vraylar for 3 weeks and the uncontrollable muscle movements have still persisted I don’t know if they are permanent the Vraylar website says that they may be a permanent. I am scared and don’t recommend Vraylar to anyone."

• DietzT
• May 12, 2017

"After 12 years of various medications to treat my Bipolar I I have finally found true stability and my new normal. No more mood swings no more panic attacks-literally gone. All I take is 3mg of vraylar now after years of being on 3, 4 sometimes 5 meds. This is truly a miracle drug for me. I am on such an even keel I had no idea I could ever live like this. So grateful."

• Julia
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2023

"Vraylar has been a life-saving drug for me. I have had great success with it as it has helped immensely with my depression and hypomanic episodes. When I first started taking it, I was originally on 3mg, however I had to switch to 1.5mg since I started having rapid heartbeat as a symptom. It got dangerous, so my doctor recommended I get off of it and try something else. I eventually came back to Vraylar at a lower dose of 1.5mg and I have been on it since. When I switched to 1.5mg, I had a time where I was extremely tired all the time. I would take long naps on a daily basis. However, after a couple of weeks, that symptom went away and I have not had any symptoms since."

• lobos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2020

"Bipolar for 27 years. Been on every medication available prior to 2010. Never had hallucinations till trying Vraylar. After just a few doses I saw baby dragons crawling up the side of my fireplace. Didn't take it long enough to know if it helped my bipolar. But I do know that even if it did, Vraylar is definitely not for me."