Vraylar (cariprazine) is a prescription antipsychotic drug that helps treat certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder. It can take at least 8 weeks for you to notice the full effects of Vraylar.
Vraylar helps manage symptoms of the following conditions in adults:
- schizophrenia
- mixed or manic episodes that occur with bipolar I disorder
- bipolar depression that occurs with bipolar I disorder
- depression (major depressive disorder) — for this use, Vraylar is taken along with an antidepressant
The active ingredient in Vraylar is cariprazine. It belongs to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. These drugs regulate your levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.
While researchers don’t know for sure how Vraylar works, they know that it acts on the receptors that serotonin and dopamine bind to. As a result, the drug can help balance your moods, thoughts, and behavior. But it may take some time for you to notice a change in your symptoms.
In this article, we explain how long it may take for Vraylar to take effect.
Each person reacts to medication differently. Your personal sensitivity and the symptoms you’re taking Vraylar to treat will influence how quickly it starts to work.
Vraylar is often recommended as part of a long-term treatment plan to help manage certain mental health symptoms. It typically takes at least 3 weeks of daily Vraylar doses to notice a change in symptoms. However, it could take 8 weeks or more for you to experience the full benefits, so try to be patient if you don’t notice changes right away.
The longer you stick with your treatment plan, the more effective the medication will be. This means that even if you start to feel better, you should keep taking Vraylar until a healthcare professional suggests otherwise.
The amount of cariprazine (Vraylar’s active ingredient) present in your bloodstream peaks up to 6 hours after a single dose. So it’s important to take your doses exactly as recommended by a healthcare professional in order to avoid an overdose.
It’s important to take only the dose that your doctor or psychiatrist prescribes, as they’ll determine what’s best for you. The typical starting dose of Vraylar is 1.5 milligrams (mg) daily, but your doctor may increase your dose over time. You’ll take a dose of Vraylar once per day, with or without food.
How do I know if Vraylar’s working?
Vraylar takes some time to start noticeably working. You may experience a subtle reduction in your symptoms over several weeks. The longer you take the medication, the more you may notice your symptoms fading.
According to a study published in 2019, Vraylar is more effective than other atypical antipsychotic drugs in managing “negative” symptoms such as emotional numbness and social withdrawal.
If you’re taking Vraylar and it doesn’t seem to be working, talk with your doctor or psychiatrist. They may change your dose or suggest a different treatment option.
The following are answers to some frequently asked questions about Vraylar.
Can Vraylar make you feel high?
No. Vraylar balances your mood, but you won’t get high from it.
Some people notice difficulty falling asleep and feelings of restlessness. Other common side effects of Vraylar include:
- involuntary jittery movements
- difficulty moving
- tremor
- nausea and vomiting
- indigestion (upset stomach)
The higher your dose, the
Is Vraylar a sedative?
While Vraylar is not used for sedation, it can trigger feelings of drowsiness in up to 10% of people.
Extreme sleepiness is a common side effect of Vraylar. You may be more likely to notice this side effect if you’re taking a higher dose to manage symptoms of schizophrenia.
However, because each person responds differently to medication, it may take a few weeks for you to learn how Vraylar affects you. Until you know how your body responds to this drug, you should avoid potentially dangerous activities such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery.
Will side effects of Vraylar go away?
Some side effects of Vraylar may go away after a few weeks as your body adjusts to the drug. Other side effects, such as high cholesterol levels, don’t go away but can be managed with medication.
However, some side effects can be more serious. For example, involuntary body movements can last for a long time. If you experience this kind of side effect, a healthcare professional may suggest a different treatment for your condition.
Note: Vraylar has a half-life of
Vraylar (cariprazine) is a drug that helps manage symptoms of mental health conditions such as bipolar I disorder and major depressive disorder. Although researchers don’t exactly understand how the drug works, they know that it helps balance the levels of dopamine and serotonin in your brain.
Healthcare professionals typically prescribe Vraylar as part of a long-term treatment plan for managing symptoms such as manic episodes or hallucinations.
Vraylar isn’t an immediate fix. It can take 3 to 8 weeks to start reducing your symptoms.
Always follow the advice of a healthcare professional and do not stop taking Vraylar unless they tell you to.
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.