Vraylar and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "For the first 3 days, I felt a reduction in anxiety but had a cloudy feeling. Over the next week, I started to get depressed and increasingly groggy. In weeks 2 and 3, I thought I was going to die. I was up all night long shaking and extremely agitated. My heart was thumping. I had a terrible headache and dizziness. I only slept 2-3 hours and only during the day. For anyone who is experiencing these side effects, I hope you find some peace knowing you are not alone. The drug has a long half-life, so it’s going to take me a few days, but I hope I can get back to my regular state."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I am on day 2 of Vraylar at 1.5 mg for manic depression and bipolar. I feel really weird. I feel cloudy. Like a zombie. As if someone has their finger on top of my head holding me down so I don’t get up. My face feels heavy. I want to talk but feel as if I can’t. Does that make sense? I will not be taking this med again. I feel really out of it. No emotions. You cannot tell me that in clinical studies none of these side effects came up. Messing with my brain, that’s for sure. I am tired and feel like I am about to have a MAJOR panic attack. I can’t wait for this feeling to go away. It’s scaring me. I feel unsteady, as if I could easily fall. No way I could drive. Things are really slowed down in movement. Weirdest I’ve felt since taking lithium. Vraylar is going to be a huge NO for me."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2025

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm 62. I had early onset of depression with my 1st incomplete suicide at 10. This is relevant because over these years I have been on numerous typical, atypical, antidepressants, anti-seizures, etc. This time I was ramping up in mania mode for a few months. It ended in a full-blown psychotic experience. Called the psychiatrist. First it was lithium, I couldn't take lithium as I had an immediate allergic reaction to it. This time this psychiatrist rx'ed this Vraylar. Never had it. 1st day, I took it as soon as I could, about 4 pm. The first day was lethargic and stumbly and fuzzy-brained and a little dizzy. 2nd day, I took it about 7 pm. Next morning I didn't feel fuzzy or lethargic. I was a little dizzy but nothing extraordinary. 3rd day, I took the Vraylar at 10:30 pm. Next day I felt more awake, not feeling suicidal anymore, although some unhealthy behaviors remained. (The usual BP stuff). Tonight, 4th day, and I am feeling more of my regular self. Before Vraylar, 30% well. After Vraylar, 80% well."

• Bla...
• June 29, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "My doctor just diagnosed me as bipolar 2 weeks ago and prescribed Vraylar to help with my moods. I'm always nervous to start new medications, so I just started it a couple of days ago. So far, the side effects are making me want to quit taking it. I was told to take it before bed, but it makes my mind race so badly that I've been laying here for 3 hours and still can't sleep. And I can't take it in the morning because it makes me feel drunk-tired and, for lack of a better word, completely high. As exhausted as I am, I still feel like I could take on the day without sleep. Other side effects are dizziness, restlessness, shakiness, headache, upset stomach, intense hunger, feeling like I'm catching a cold, can't stay asleep, blurred vision (I'm typing with one eye closed), irritability, difficulty concentrating, and an intense manic episode starting about an hour after taking the pill, lasting all day. I'm super sensitive to meds, and I really don't think this is the med for me."

• Sca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been on Vraylar for a little over 3 months for bipolar. My side effects are I’ve had such bad dizziness I fainted on my kitchen floor and split open my face in two places. I’m having super dark thoughts, afraid to leave the house. I only feel good when I’m sleeping during the day. At night, it wakes me up throughout the night, or I'm just wide awake all night, and I gained weight. I went back and forth taking it in the AM and bedtime to see which was good, but neither were. I’m just going to get off the 1.5 mg Vraylar, 80 mg Cymbalta (that is my happy pill ❤️), 50 mg Vyvanse."

• Kik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2019

"Not sure what to think yet. I’ve been bounced around on various meds trying to find the right one. I was put on Vraylar for depression since none of the SSRIs have worked. I have had a lot of nausea, dizziness, and what I would consider hot flashes. I take mine in the AM. And it doesn’t seem to cause much drowsiness. I'm also taking Lamictal with the Vraylar. I’m hoping things will get better. Because I want to feel better!"

• My ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Yesterday was my first time using Vraylar, I was supposed to take it before bedtime. I took it. I woke up at 5 a.m., feeling something was off. I started shaking, puking, having heat strokes, my head would be pounding, dizziness, and sometimes it was hard to walk straight. I called a nurse and was told to get off the medication. Now I’m lying down with a washcloth, trying to recover from my first dose. I was on the lowest dose…"

• Sta...
• November 5, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Vraylar is the first antipsychotic I've tried for my recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Even in just a few days, I noticed such a change. I was happy, motivated, not snapping on everyone, the list goes on. It was really GREAT! However, now I am experiencing horrific vertigo, to the point where I am falling and getting injured. Stopped taking the med (lowest dose, 1.5 mg) 3 days ago, and I cannot wait until it is out of my system. Also, I noticed some bad rebound agitation. Maybe because I am so worried and anxious about my dizziness, but the agitation is pretty bad. Took for two days, stopped for four days (was getting bad leg cramps and NP advised me to stop this and see if that was the cause). Started back and was going on four days, and the charley horses and dizziness began. Kept taking the med until day six. Now awaiting to see if stopping the med will make the dizziness go away. Vraylar has a long half-life, so it can take several weeks to clear one's body."

• Yel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

"Been on this for depression for not very long, my dose was increased in the hospital a couple of days ago to 3 mg. Now I'm out of the hospital, I find it hard to drive during the day. My vision kinda goes in and out a little, and I feel dizzy. BUT I'm able to be social now and go to parties and shopping without any anxiety or missing my bed or my mom! I also have a dry mouth, which I think is from this drug, so that really sucks. I've tried a lot of drugs, and this one seems to help me a lot, if only it didn't make me so sleepy or give me a dry mouth."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I didn't take it long enough to see if it would help. First try during daytime, I felt really dizzy 30 min after taking it, and it lasted 30 min. I also blinked a lot. I tried it at night next time. Woke up in the morning feeling like I was blinking my eyes a lot while asleep. This medicine supposedly has a higher risk than most other similar drugs of causing tardive dyskinesia, which can get worse or become permanent. Do not continue drugs that cause this reaction. Double-check with the doctor anyways."

• som...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I was given samples with a starting dosage of 1.5 mg. I was to continue on that dose for 5 days, then increase it to 3 mg. I've had adverse reactions to Abilify and Zyprexa in the past, so I was scared to death about what Vraylar might do. For the first two nights, I took the meds as prescribed; however, after waking up the morning after my second dose, I could barely walk a straight line. I basically bumped into every wall between my bed and the bathroom. It took a day and a half just to clear my head a bit, so I decided to take the med differently. Now I'm taking it every other night. My work requires me to have my body under me to navigate quickly, and I'm glad I changed the way I take it. I've had minimal balance issues and less dizziness. I have noticed two other side effects, though. One: I had some mild difficulty swallowing (my throat wasn't swollen; it just wouldn't respond), and two: I can't keep my thoughts straight after I've dosed. The depression has eased."

• Hun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been on Vraylar 3 mg about 2 weeks. It’s too early to tell if it’s going to work for my rapid cycling disorder, but I have hope that it will. I was prescribed this after several incidents of dizziness and passing out on SSRIs. So far, I haven’t had any bad reactions to it, just some annoying back pain at night that ibuprofen seems to help."

• Ink...
• October 18, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Doctor put me on 1.5 mg, prescribed it for depression, ADHD, and OCD symptoms, along with Vyvanse 10 mg. For the first 2 weeks, I was so, so tired. Mildly improved when I started taking it at night. I started to notice an extremely elevated heart rate, dry mouth, dizziness, which then turned into disassociation/depersonalization and extreme panic attacks, which I’ve never suffered in my life. From there, it was a rollercoaster of fearing for my life and suicidal ideation, also new. I’ve been off for 3 months, and I still don’t feel completely normal, though I have learned to cope with dizzy spells and mild disassociation that still lingers. This was an incredibly distressing experience for me. I should note that the panic attacks became really bad when I combined it with small amounts of recreational drugs or alcohol, and even caffeine. I’m pretty much afraid to take anything anymore after that experience, and I still feel like I’m just a small step away from a panic attack often."

• Be ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I was given this medication for anxiety and depression because of my bipolar. I took this one time. One 1.5 mg tablet, and it made me super sleepy, so I fell asleep for 5 hours in the middle of the day. When I woke up, I felt so bad. Nausea, dizziness, headache, body aches. I could barely keep my eyes open. It’s now the next day. I slept through the night with some tossing and turning, and when I woke up, I still felt horrible. I still feel horrible. I slept for like a total of 15 hours. Everyone is different and reacts differently to medicine, but if you’re sensitive to medicine, be careful with this one."

• Hoj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on the lowest dose of Vraylar and had really bad dizziness where I’d pass out whenever I stood up. I had no idea it was from this medication and kept going to the doctor, complaining about the dizziness. I also gained 30 lbs in the six weeks I took it, and the weight gain was what made me stop. After I stopped, the dizziness went away too. It has a long half-life, so it took a while for it to get fully out of my system, but I felt better once I was off it. I won’t not recommend this drug, as everyone reacts differently to medications. But it wasn’t for me."

• Mix...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar I with mixed episodes, and I have been taking Vraylar for 3 weeks now. I noticed the effect of lifting me out of depression at about 5 days. I was shocked at just how long and how deep and dark my depression had been once the fog started lifting. No other medication has worked for me in the past, I had all the worst side effects on every one. At first, I was really dizzy in the mornings to the point of stumbling around a bit like I was drunk. I had heartburn/reflux and a terrible headache. No akathisia, though, which I had with the others. I had to miss a week of work, but the worst went away, and I was able to return to my normal schedule. I’m taking 1.5 mg but will be increasing to 3 mg in 2 weeks. It has put me into mania, however, to a level I haven’t had in years, to the point of doing things like gambling (slots) and buying lottery tickets. This is scary because I don’t have good or happy manic episodes. I’m really hoping upping the dosage works."

• awi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Best drug I have been on so far. Has no side effects that I have found. Doesn't make you feel sick or dizzy like other drugs have done for me."

• Rot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug made me completely unsociable, unmotivated, and sleepy. I had difficulty carrying a conversation. I was dizzy and lethargic for most of the day."

• Ber...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Started taking it today, 1.5 mg, an hour later headache, blurred vision. Dizziness, hate it."