Cariprazine and Restlessness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Igo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I was taking cariprazine for 3 weeks at 1.5 mg. It was fine. I felt less depressed. Then my doctor raised it to 3 mg, and after 3 days of this dosage, I felt terrible restlessness during the day. I stopped it, and restlessness went away after 2-3 days. Now I'm again on 1.5 mg, but I am not sure if this medication is right for me. In the hospital, they diagnosed me with schizophrenia, but I am not sure if this is right."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2018

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Vraylar for treatment-resistant depression. I developed extreme akathisia, and it was so miserable. I had to leave work, it was so bad. Maybe if I was able to begin with a lower dose, I would have tolerated the medicine better. However, it is currently only available in capsule form, so I was not able to break it in half at its lowest dose, 1.5 mg."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2022

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "Taking Vraylar for the last month, extreme restlessness, feeling anxious, agitated, and high heart rate, manic episodes too. Not feeling good but hoping for side effects to reduce. Few positive thoughts and will continue the next few weeks. An engineering student but took a break as not able to concentrate. Was on olanzapine for 6 months but that made me groggy, sleepy, so stopped."

• Ame...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2022

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "Tried it for 3 months. Vraylar made me delusional and paranoid. I was on Seroquel for bipolar 1, and it stopped working well. So we decided to try Vraylar. The 3 mg dose was too high. I need more like a 0.5 mg every day, it would've worked then. It made me restless and severely afraid of explosions (from the microwave and pool chemicals). Made me afraid of water too (taking a shower, washing clothes). I really wanted this med to work. Was put on Buspar and propranolol to control the anxiety side effects. It didn't help. Citalopram made me less afraid of water and microwave explosions. I did lose weight with Vraylar. It just wasn't worth the side effects of hallucinations and severe paranoia."

• tyh...
• July 24, 2021

Cariprazine "Taking this for psychotic depression. I was super scared of the side effects, especially since Abilify caused akathisia for me. Lo and behold - my psychotic symptoms, overeating, and excessive anxiety are gone, and I feel much better. I did wake up at night at the start, but that stopped after starting to take the medication in the morning instead of the evening."

• Spe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2021

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "I started Vraylar 1.5 mg after being diagnosed with Bipolar I at 48 years old. At first, it seemed nothing short of a miracle; however, the low dose didn’t help with my severe symptoms long, and I quickly experienced mania again. After increasing to 3 mg, I began experiencing severe anxiety, restlessness, and the feeling that my “skin was crawling”! I literally felt like coming out of my skin. There aren’t other words to describe it. Now, I’m back to 1.5 mg. Not much better, yet…I’m going to be asking for another drug when I see my doctor again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine pushed me into psychosis and extreme mania. I would run upwards of 6 miles a night and still have energy. With all that running, I still managed to gain 25 lbs. I would barely sleep 3 hours a night. I eventually wrecked my car and was hospitalized, doctors told me I additionally had akathisia and medication-induced psychosis. Once I came off this drug, I felt a total difference in my mood. I'm now on Prozac and Buspar, and while I still have depression, I can manage most days. No more manic or psychotic episodes."

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Just started recently. Restless, yet the 'sleepy and kind of zombie' effect. Legs tense up. New doctor only identified four drugs I haven't tried, this being one. It being newer, both of us were hopeful. Unfortunately, for me, I refuse to give up 'quality of life' for side effects just for a 'minor' improvement. As a person living with bipolar disorder for well over 20 years, I was hoping for the best, but like almost all other antipsychotics, this drug, while it may work, must be weighed by you, the person taking this drug, to help your 'quality of life' versus dealing with side effects for just how much a powerful drug like this is worth it. For me, Depakote and my nerve medicine with talk therapy and having PTSD, I obviously take nerve medicine. As I was diagnosed at 19, now 40, Depakote along with nerve medicine (one controlled, the other not), I must use all my available coping skills instead."

• AFC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I don't like my psychiatrist for the time she put me on this pill. At first, with a low dose of 1.5 mg, my depression was fine, but akathisia started. She said it was anxiety about exams and the oppositions that I was preparing for. The akathisia was getting worse, even suicidal thoughts. The psychiatrist thought it was depression, so we increased the dose to 3, that akathisia became evident, so it was withdrawn. Three weeks in hell. Now with Lamictal and asenapine, occasionally with some clonazepam, I haven't been depressed since I started lamotrigine. Asenapine is to prevent another episode of mania. I have only had one in my life, the rest have been several depressions in a row for 2 years until I developed mania. After the mania, a whole year of depression until they put me on lamotrigine."

• Sea...
• May 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been on Vraylar (1.5 dose) for only about 4 days, and I’ve never felt worse. I was rushed to the E.R. today because my anxiety has only gotten worse from this drug. I can’t stop moving my legs as I’m so worked up. I would feel my heart rate increase as well as my breathing being affected. I’ve been restless ever since starting this and refuse to take it starting tomorrow. It left me feeling so hopeless, I didn’t know what to do with myself. May work for some people, but certainly not for me."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2021

"This has been a terrible drug overall for me. I am taking it for depression and anxiety. I haven’t slept through the night in months. I’ve gained 20 pounds despite all efforts (and my ADHD meds) and have virtually come out of my skin every moment. The lack of sleep, weight gain, and terrible restlessness have been the hardest to deal with. I’m constantly hungry, anxious, and my shopping has been so impulsive. I’ve literally scared myself on this medicine. Never again!! My primary care doctor put me on this medicine to help with anxiety, but it caused more problems than I had before. I don’t think this should be prescribed unless by a psychiatrist and even then only as a last resort. This has been awful. I’ll take my anxiety, thanks. Now can I finally sleep, quit eating like crazy, have my foot muscles quit spasming, and actually get my libido back? Don’t take this unless nothing else works!!"

• Cra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2018

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "A miracle drug for my depression, but I did have to go through 2 to 3 weeks of restlessness and insomnia for me when I first started taking it."

• kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2024

Cariprazine for Major Depressive Disorder "Reduces anxiety and racing thoughts. Able to focus on tasks while having the energy and motivation to complete them. Only downside is the occasional hiccup and restlessness since I have energy now."

• You...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2020

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "Vraylar is a terrible drug. Gave me akathisia and made me really tired, felt like I couldn’t think. Withdrawal symptoms are worse, I feel terrible and nauseous."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2018

Cariprazine for Schizophrenia "I have been on Vraylar for schizophrenia since Sep 2017. I have had no negative side effects apart from a bit of drowsiness here and there. No akathisia as well. I would definitely recommend this med."

• ugh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "Side effects of Vraylar: akathisia, insomnia, mild hallucinations, rashes, nausea, double vision, worst med I've ever been on."

• ich...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "On Vraylar, I had horrendous akathisia for two weeks, with insomnia averaging 90 minutes a night. Junk should be taken off the market."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2022

Cariprazine for Bipolar Disorder "Can't sleep. Can't eat. Can't sit still. Can't smoke weed."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2021

For Schizophrenia "Worst drug I've ever taken. Horrible time on it. Body feels like I'm touching an electric wire. I'm both tired and restless at the same time. Don't trust your doctor, this is good for you."

• nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Finally found something that works! Couldn’t sit still for the first week but worth it. No other side effects. Bye-bye depression."

• Dtm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "Horrible medication. Made me very restless, anxious, and difficult to function at work. I had to stop after 4 days at the lowest dose (1.5 mg)."