I’m currently on samples of Vraylar and my own Seroquel along with my old TC depression meds. Seroquel was doing nothing as it was at a non therapeutic dose. The first 3 days on Vraylar also did nothing at 1.5mg. I was very suicidal as I feel almost ready to break. I took another 1.5mg of Vraylar and felt within an hour like a new man. The next day was better than previous days but still tough. Last night and tonight I took my 3mg of Vraylar and am somewhere between motivated and akathisia. I can sit still but it’s tough. I can’t really concentrate either. It does kill my positive symptoms for several hours after taking it but I wake up to voices and/or inserted thoughts. I don’t know what my point is in this. Maybe just to tell someone.
I take just 6 mg of Vraylar for schizoaffective disorder and 90 mg of cymbalta for depression and buspar for anxiety. I mainly have delusions and negative symptoms but no hallucinations with or without meds.
Vraylar helps me with negative symptoms.
I hope the akathesia goes away for you. It did for me, it just took some time. Vraylar has been a life saver for me. I’m on 4.5mg. Good luck!
I’m glad it’s working for the two of you. Things have gotten worse for me. I’m extremely restless up to akathisia twice a day ever now that I’m back to 1.5mg once per day once after taking Vraylar and twelve hours later. Walking in circles, “treading water” with my feet, etc. Extremely irritated, almost angry. Inserted thoughts also increase. I must have told myself to shut up and hit myself a thousand times each on 1/25. Not quite as much today. I (still) feel that Seroquel is somehow connected with my worsening state though since everything but the restlessness began before Vraylar, right after being put back on Seroquel again.
I can understand how Vraylar helps with your negative symptoms. It certainly gives motivation and energy.
Sorry you’re going through a tough time. It can take a while to find a medication that works. I had to go through 5 different anti-depressants before i found the right one, and 5 different anti-psychotics. Keep talking to your pdoc about your symptoms and experiences on Vraylar. They should be able to find something that works well for you. Good luck!
I’m so glad you wrote this. I switched from Risperidone to Vraylar back in October and I can relate to the symptoms you’re describing. I feel energetic, but I’m also very easily distracted. I work from home on my computer but I frequently get sucked into binge-watching TV or obsessively searching on the internet for hours at a time. This didn’t happen to me back when I was Risperidone.
The reason I’m extremely reluctant to go back to Risperidone is because Vraylar has improved my physical health in substantial ways. I’m a guy who used to shave twice a week. Now I need to do it every other day. I can now exert more energy when I exercise. My body, particularly my midsection, looks better now on Vraylar.
It’s a tricky tradeoff. I’m worried I’ll lose my job if I keep getting distracted like this. And this job is very important to me. But in my anecdotal, nonprofessional opinion, Risperidone inhibits me physically, which is close to being a dealbreaker. I’m not sure what to do.
Oh also, like you, I talk to myself more now. Which is deeply troubling.
I have a next-day update. I forgot to mention that the side effects flared up for me because I stopped exercising for a week. I got back to weightlifting yesterday and I feel soooo much better, even now, several hours after finishing. I haven’t talked to myself at all since I worked out. I think Vraylar works great provided you stay committed to an exercise regimen. At least that’s been my experience.
Awesome to hear it works for you. My akathisia got worse and I went into the hospital not long after starting this topic. I’ve tried zyprexa again and am now on Seroquel XR 400 mg.
Has the vraylar helped you with symptoms?
Oh i see you stopped it