So I’ve been taking Vraylar and Lithium loyally for a little over two years. My dose has remained almost unchanged, at 1.5mg Vraylar and 300mg Lithium. I am aware that this is a low dose. But goodness, I really feel (and have felt for the 2+ years I’ve been taking them), that I have lost several key parts of my “self” while taking them. I am no longer able to do strenuous physical activity due to low energy and weight gain, I am not as enthusiastic about or emotionally responsive to life as I once was, and I’ve started having trouble with minor addictions to stuff like arcades, online shopping, and pornography. Granted, not all of this is like 100% due to the medication, but I believe it is all influenced by it, and I think you’d be hard pressed to muster a compelling case otherwise.
Anyways, I just joined this forum and was eager to share my story, as I think too that not so many people have been on Vraylar for a long time (it is so dang expensive, plus it’s relatively new) and might be interested in my experiences on it, plus my journey coming off.
A bit about coming off- It is about time. I graduated college with a BA in June of 2019, moved to a new state in that month, and have been working a steady internship/job since then. I’ve been waiting for the right time, and I think it’s starting. There’s some other factors, which I can expound upon in this thread, if people are interested. I feel steady. My life is balanced, and I deeply want this to happen.
OK- that’s it. Sorry if this is an unusually long intro. Eager to get some feedback. Thanks all.
Welcome to the forum. Good luck coming off, hopefully it’s with the help of a pdoc. Are you planning on replacing them with different meds? If I have to change aps I would want to try vraylar, it seems like my logical next choice.
It sounds like you are doing well in your life. Are you sure it isn’t the vraylar that is at least benign, if not helpful, or even responsible for your good fortune? I would be careful about messing with something that’s working… Maybe you should consider trying a higher dose, sometimes that stabilizes an antipsychotic effect.
Hi! I have been on both Vraylar (4.5 mg) and Lithium (? mg) for a year and a half. I don’t have the same symptoms as you. While I am depressed, I don’t feel that it is from my medication so much as the bipolar aspect of my sza. And my weight gain started before I started taking those meds. And even before that, my weight fluctuated. It’s been going up and down by about 100 lbs. for 9 years or so now (I think… I’m bad with time). Please make sure your pdoc knows what you are doing, and be sure to come off them gradually. The consequences of not doing so can be severe. Good luck and welcome to the forum!
Thanks all for the words and the welcomes. I’ll mention: YES I do plan to talk to (1) my psychiatrist and (2) my LMFT therapist about this process. In fact, I’ve been pretty up-front with them since starting treatment with them that a long-term goal I have is to discontinue these medications. Also, I live with my (3) girlfriend who I talk to about this stuff and also talk to (4) my parents about this stuff.
To clarify: I am not going to start going off TODAY. Haha, I’d like to. At least, a part of me would. But I know that it is likely to be a looooong process to have the greatest chance of being successful. I am also considering joining a research study, and a pre-condition of joining that study is to stay on my current dose. So that would push my eventual “START-DATE” of titration out even farther (further?).
To a few of the Qs: @Leaf I do not plan to replace my current meds with any other meds @Dosadi82 Yes that is a really good point. The meds have been helping keep my stable, I do believe that is true. However, I just can’t cope with the side effects long-term. And I believe I am more healthy and whole to be stable w/o the meds at this stage of my life (i.e. I’ve grown more resilient in the past years, I believe).
UPDATE: I’ve finished my internship, and plan to start reducing my medication on March 1st. I have a meeting with my psychiatrist next week and am looking forward to bringing up my intention with her and learning what her thoughts are for a reduction plan.
Has anyone else here brought this idea up with their psychiatrist and received positive (or negative) feedback?