Vraylar and Hallucinations: What Users Say

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication is the best one I have been on, and I have been on many. Latuda made me hallucinate, and I ended up jumping out a second-story window. Seroquel made me sleep all of the time. Abilify did not work at all. The other medications were out of my price range. My insurance company recommended that I try these and a few others prior to approving coverage of Vraylar. I was receiving samples from the public service agency I was in prior to my mother purchasing insurance for me. I am diagnosed Bipolar 1 with psychotic tendencies (hearing voices not in my head but in the rooms I’m in). They are cruel, critical of my actions, and threatening that I will be arrested, hurt by my loved ones, etc. Vraylar is the only medication I’ve taken so far that has helped ease these symptoms."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "My doctor went on and on about this miracle drug and how it would change my life. I should've smelt the science experiment when she happened to mention I would be the first person to take it in her practice. I had extreme insomnia - lucky if I had an hour of straight sleep, sleep medications wouldn't work. Restless, I had to go, go, go. I was shaking all of the time, and my anxiety was through the roof. I had multiple panic attacks at work wherein I had to leave (this has never happened even on my worst day). Upside, the visual/auditory hallucinations stopped, as well as the delusions, and I felt like everything was hunky-dory emotionally wise, but that was due to the mania it all but catapulted me into. The doctor pretty much refused to change my medications, even after only having taken it for a month, with all of these horrible side effects. I realized I would have to do it and never went back. I will never touch Vraylar again."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "My doctor went on and on about this miracle drug and how it would change my life. I should've smelt the science experiment when she happened to mention I would be the first person to take it in her practice. I had extreme insomnia - lucky if I had an hour of straight sleep, sleep medications wouldn't work. Restless, I had to go, go, go. I was shaking all of the time, and my anxiety was through the roof. I had multiple panic attacks at work wherein I had to leave (this has never happened even on my worst day). Upside, the visual/auditory hallucinations stopped, as well as the delusions, and I felt like everything was hunky-dory emotionally wise, but that was due to the mania it all but catapulted me into. The doctor pretty much refused to change my medications, even after only having taken it for a month, with all of these horrible side effects. I realized I would have to do it and never went back. I will never touch Vraylar again."

• Pin...
• December 21, 2019

"I wrote on here a month or two ago, uncertain if I wanted to start this medication because of the reviews I was seeing, but I tried the medication and took it constantly. And I can honestly say I have seen an improvement. I’m not having as severe paranoia and/or disturbing distorted thoughts. Not saying they are completely gone because they are not, but it’s not as severe and prolonged like it used to be. I used to be 315 lb and started losing weight for my weight loss journey, and I was losing weight before I started this medication and still losing weight with this medication. I still get depressed every so often, but there are days I feel on cloud nine, and I do things I would have never done before! I can honestly say this medication has been very helpful for me."

• mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "This is the only medication (after trying 6 others) I have ever been assertive with my doc to get off of before my follow-up. After two weeks of not working and mild side effects, my doc bumped me from 1.5 mg to 3 mg. After a week of that increase, I was like, 'No way, get me off of this.' Very weak, tired, where it felt like I had worked 8 hours after only 1-2. Very unusual thoughts and feelings brought on the worst of anxiety. Paranoia. So happy I didn't have to wean off and just stopped taking. An awful trial. Weird thing is this one was a 'green light' on my GeneSight report. I am not convinced I am bipolar, but my doc was. My point being, if you have only depression, don't try this unless you really suspect you could be bipolar."

• tes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "It worked for me. In the beginning, I thought it wasn't working, but it was just building up, I guess. I was still having auditory hallucinations when I did too much stuff and didn't sleep properly, but that was just me. The Vraylar stopped my delusions of 'everyone is trying to modify me' or 'everyone is plotting to put me in the mental hospital.' I am getting along fine with everyone now! Unfortunately, even with the copay, I can't afford it. So I'm switching to another antipsychotic. Just sharing that this medication does work. My blood sugar didn't go sky high, which was a huge fear of mine because I did go full-blown diabetic and had to be hospitalized on other antipsychotics (which I will not name). I did not gain any weight."

• Dra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "My psych doctor started me on this, and at first, nothing happened at the 1.5 dose. Once he increased it to 3 mg, everything went south. I started hallucinating and not sleeping. It exasperated my bipolar problems. Needless to say, I am no longer on it."

• Oov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I just reached the 2-month mark. I’ve gained about 10 lbs (not sure if it’s from the medicine or not, but I never have trouble maintaining my usual 110 lbs until now). I also have mild akathisia induced by the medicine, so I’m thinking about changing it. I don’t have terrible hallucinations and delusions anymore, which is good, but I still hear voices that keep me up at night; I guess the medicine needs more time to fully work."

• Oov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I just reached the 2-month mark. I’ve gained about 10 lbs (not sure if it’s from the medicine or not, but I never have trouble maintaining my usual 110 lbs until now). I also have mild akathisia induced by the medicine, so I’m thinking about changing it. I don’t have terrible hallucinations and delusions anymore, which is good, but I still hear voices that keep me up at night; I guess the medicine needs more time to fully work."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Worst medication I’ve ever tried. Did not help with hallucinations/delusions, and I actually had more hallucinations while taking the drug. I was completely zonked out to the point where I could barely move/get out of bed. Also, I have a history of seizures, and I had a few dangerous seizures that could’ve put my life in jeopardy. If this works for you, then great, but I had such an awful experience with it that I cannot recommend it to anyone."

• Les...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar I many years ago but have only really started taking meds and managing it. I've been on Lamictal 150 mg twice a day and Klonopin 1 mg as needed. In the last month, I started having more anxiety, and the Lamictal just didn't seem as effective anymore. My doc started me on the Vraylar 1.5 mg 10 days ago, and I'm most definitely worse with it. I'm more agitated, emotional, shaky, can't sleep even with sleeping meds. My paranoia has significantly increased. I don't recommend this med at all."

• kun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on this rollercoaster of a med for two weeks now. At first, I could have sworn I was as good as new, except for the insomnia. Come day eight or so, I was crawling out of my skin. Jerking arms, wringing feet, and nearly impossible to sleep. Worst akathisia I ever got from a med. Also, double vision, nausea, and constipation. I'm at two weeks akathisia to the point of not being able to sleep. Actually having mild hallucinations at this point. All I feel like on this med is a guinea pig."

• Ahc...
• January 16, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Made my depression disappear with cost. I started having chest pains during exercise and having severe hallucinations. Could not drive and felt dissociative. Felt nauseated yet starving and yet had no will to eat. Gained 3 pounds in two days taking this drug. I also had trouble urinating, and it was painful. Only took for a week before stopping at 3 mg."

• Obe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I have schizoaffective disorder, which is basically schizophrenia coupled with bipolar disorder. I've been on Vraylar for a while, and it hasn't done anything. My moods are still wacky, and I still hallucinate, have delusions, sometimes, I get some kind of catatonic state going on. About 4 months of it, and nothing has changed."

• Obe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I have schizoaffective disorder, which is basically schizophrenia coupled with bipolar disorder. I've been on Vraylar for a while, and it hasn't done anything. My moods are still wacky, and I still hallucinate, have delusions, sometimes, I get some kind of catatonic state going on. About 4 months of it, and nothing has changed."

• Sco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on Vraylar because of a manic episode. I was told it would be gentle and would NOT hit hard. Within half an hour of taking the first dose, I had a full psychotic break that lasted two days. On the second day, I took another dose and was highly agitated afterwards. We reduced the dosage to every other day (1.5 mg). Two weeks after starting it, the Vraylar hit me like a truck and I went from somewhat manic all the way down. After four days of deep dark depression, I stopped taking it. I feel much better now, but I am left with genital numbness, exacerbating an existing problem that had actually gone away, but came crashing back even worse than before. I'm on different, much better meds now, older meds, but the genital numbness persists despite my having no problems with desire."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I have auditory hallucinations and changed from Zyprexa to Vraylar because I was so tired of the weight gain. I gained 20 lbs. I experienced restlessness, anxiety, upset stomach, insomnia, and so much more. I actually had chest pain and went to the emergency room, and they did a CAT scan and two EKGs and found out it was anxiety! I have never in my life had anxiety that was so bad that I had shortness of breath and chest pain. I had sharp pains in my chest. The anxiety was so bad for me that I had chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack. The shortness of breath was so terrible throughout the day that I could barely finish tasks or chores. I know everyone is different, and I wish this med could work for me because it did take away the auditory hallucinations. It made me so bloated, and I barely ate. I had leg and back pain. I didn’t want to move but felt so restless. I could hardly sleep. I was on the lowest dose. Good luck to everyone that tries it. I hope it works for you. But it's not for me!"

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was placed on this after failing Abilify. In hopes that it would manage hallucinations, paranoia, and any mania I would have, my doc insisted I try it even though I was feeling drowsy on the low dose of 1.5 mg. Cranked it up to 3 mg when my voices and paranoia continued and my depression worsened, which was later made to 4.5 mg when the 3 mg failed. That landed me in the ER, where I experienced incredible amounts of nausea and vomiting, pounding headache, and hallucinations, as well as a general feeling of malaise and confusion. So, not the drug for me at all. HOWEVER - I’ve watched a friend blossom while taking this medication, so while it may not be for everyone (including me), it may work well for others. It’s a pricy drug, so be sure to get the savings card from your doc!"

• izz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I usually don't read reviews on medication because I want to give the drug an unbiased try. After 5 weeks on Vraylar at the lowest dose, here are my adverse reactions: insomnia, panic, paranoia, fear, mania, easily startled, itching, rash, decreased vision, dry cough, GERD, upset stomach, increased urination, loose stool. The insomnia started immediately. I would sleep a couple of hours and then be wide awake. The drug wore me out because of all the resulting side effects. I had no side effects on Seroquel and, after discontinuing the Vraylar, I am relieved to be back on it."

• She...
• October 12, 2021

For Schizophrenia "My son is on Vraylar for schizophrenia. It seems to help him with his seizures. He used to take medical marijuana when he went out places. Now he just takes Vraylar, it seems to help. No more seizures, but it doesn't seem to help with his voices. Since we went up to 4.5 mg, he started washing his hands constantly. Now he is on 6 mg. He was better on 3.5 mg. He also seems distracted from the voices. I think he was better on the lower dose at 3.5 mg."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "My psychiatrist raised my dose to 3 mg after 1.5 mg dose was ineffective. After 4 days, I woke up delusional that goes away in 5 minutes. I don't know if it was the medicine or the mixture of it and the other medicines I take."

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

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."

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

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."

• JAS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I like the once-a-day dosing of Vraylar. It means I don’t forget my dose. I started on 3 mg, but my mixed episodes continued. I was increased to 4.5 mg, but I encountered hallucinations. I have now been back on 3 mg for two weeks. I remain hopeful Vraylar will even out my mood."