Vraylar

hopealwayz · Jun 16, 2020, 01:21 PM

I’ve been taking Vraylar and now I’m extremely restless which is one of the side effects. I can’t sit still and I can’t stop pacing.

Will this go away?

WastingAsparagus · Jun 17, 2020, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopealwayz

I’ve been taking Vraylar and now I’m extremely restless which is one of the side effects. I can’t sit still and I can’t stop pacing.

Will this go away?

Have you talked to your doctor about the restlessness? What does he/she say?

Sometimes it goes away, but it also can be so annoying and agitating that we need to switch medicines. So perhaps it'll go away. But perhaps you need to be on a diff. drug that doesn't cause such restlessness.

But I would talk to your pdoc about it and see what he/she recommends.

Sometimes psychotic · Jun 17, 2020, 10:59 AM

There are other meds to stop this side effect....I think it’s cogentin....that is if you’re otherwise happy with the med.

hopealwayz · Jun 18, 2020, 06:19 PM

My doctor says it will go away. But the constant movement and pacing is exhausting.

hopealwayz · Jun 21, 2020, 12:27 PM

The hardest part is being patient while waiting to see if it goes away.

*Beth* · Jun 21, 2020, 03:40 PM

Oooh, I don't like the "go away" part. There are a number of meds to treat med-related agitation. Why suffer through it? I'd ask her about those meds.

WastingAsparagus · Jun 21, 2020, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopealwayz

The hardest part is being patient while waiting to see if it goes away.

Yeah, that's the thing, is that while you're "waiting" for it to go away, you're still experiencing the negative side effect. And "waiting" is especially hard given what you're experiencing: restlessness.

I would definitely tell the doctor this.

hopealwayz · Jun 21, 2020, 05:48 PM

I’m scared to tell my doctor that I want to try a different med because I think he’s frustrated with my meds. However, the problems were with the antidepressants. Now we are focusing on controlling Bipolar depression and mania.

I’m scared of Depakote. I’ve thought about Latuda.

hopealwayz · Jun 21, 2020, 05:51 PM

It’s still the early days with Vraylar. He didn’t count the previous 2 weeks because I made a change in my meds so basically I “messed up” the Vraylar trial because the other change caused him to not be able to evaluate the Vraylar.

hopealwayz · Jun 21, 2020, 05:51 PM

I like the idea of Abilify.

*Beth* · Jun 21, 2020, 09:49 PM

I know exactly what you mean about being afraid to suggest yet another med. I felt the same way, but my pdoc was almost always understanding (when she wasn't I did my best to ignore it). It took almost 3 years, but I am finally on a really good med combination.

What I'm saying is, that's the job of a psychiatrist.

hopealwayz · Jun 22, 2020, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

I know exactly what you mean about being afraid to suggest yet another med. I felt the same way, but my pdoc was almost always understanding (when she wasn't I did my best to ignore it). It took almost 3 years, but I am finally on a really good med combination.

What I'm saying is, that's the job of a psychiatrist.

You are absolutely right. I will bring it up at my appointment this week. The worst he can say is no.

I’m not sure what to try next.

*Beth* · Jun 22, 2020, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopealwayz

You are absolutely right. I will bring it up at my appointment this week. The worst he can say is no.

I’m not sure what to try next.

What is the reason she prescribed Vraylar?

Polibeth · Jun 22, 2020, 10:27 AM

I'm on Vraylar and I have absolutely no restlessness. Talk to your pdoc about it.

hopealwayz · Jun 22, 2020, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

What is the reason she prescribed Vraylar?

For bipolar depression and to prevent mania.

hopealwayz · Jun 22, 2020, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polibeth

I'm on Vraylar and I have absolutely no restlessness. Talk to your pdoc about it.

It could be my ADHD. My ADHD has been worse due to being under extreme stress.

*Beth* · Jun 22, 2020, 02:40 PM

It's true, you do have options. Are you on Lamictal? I know that many people with BD cannot take an antidepressant. But some can. A year or so ago I fell into a deep depression; my pdoc and I discussed ECT. But she said she wanted to try one more med before we committed to ECT. She prescribed Pristiq (an antidepressant) and it was like magic for me. Within 3 days the depression lifted and it has remained quite stable.

Anyway, some of them you've mentioned...Abilify, Latuda. But giving Vrayler a chance seems wise, do you think? It does seem that discussing a med such as cogentin or propanalol - also there's one my own pdoc wants me to try for tremor...start with an "Am...". I cannot recall the name of it, but when I talk with her on Friday I'll write it down.

In the meantime, you shouldn't have to suffer with akathesia, agitation, etc. I do hope you'll reach out to her and be assertive about your need for relief.

hopealwayz · Jun 22, 2020, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

It's true, you do have options. Are you on Lamictal? I know that many people with BD cannot take an antidepressant. But some can. A year or so ago I fell into a deep depression; my pdoc and I discussed ECT. But she said she wanted to try one more med before we committed to ECT. She prescribed Pristiq (an antidepressant) and it was like magic for me. Within 3 days the depression lifted and it has remained quite stable.

Anyway, some of them you've mentioned...Abilify, Latuda. But giving Vrayler a chance seems wise, do you think? It does seem that discussing a med such as cogentin or propanalol - also there's one my own pdoc wants me to try for tremor...start with an "Am...". I cannot recall the name of it, but when I talk with her on Friday I'll write it down.

In the meantime, you shouldn't have to suffer with akathesia, agitation, etc. I do hope you'll reach out to her and be assertive about your need for relief.

I am unable to take antidepressants because they always trigger a manic episode in me.

I would like to give Vraylar a chance. I had thought about asking for propanalol. Do you think that I will have to see my primary care doctor for a propanalol prescription or can my psychiatrist prescribe that?

*Beth* · Jun 23, 2020, 12:23 AM

My pdoc prescribed propanolol for me. I'm thinking that the doctor notates what the medication is for...a GP would say high blood pressure, whereas a pdoc would say the prescription is to treat psych med side effects.

*Beth* · Jun 24, 2020, 10:33 PM

The medication that is sometimes used to treat movement disorders (such as those caused by psych meds) is called Amantadine. Since neither cogentin, nor propanolol have been helpful for me, I'm going to give Amantadine a try.

Mile70 · Jun 26, 2020, 10:03 PM

It's a good idea to give the Vraylar a try for as long as possible. All the antipsychotics can cause restlessness. You might adjust to it within a few weeks. You mentioned an interest in Abilify, but studies indicate Abilify is one of the most likely to cause restlessness.

YouBipolar2 · Jul 04, 2020, 12:11 AM

I just started taking it! Did you notice any weight gain? I haven't had the other side effects yet.

hopealwayz · Jul 10, 2020, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

The medication that is sometimes used to treat movement disorders (such as those caused by psych meds) is called Amantadine. Since neither cogentin, nor propanolol have been helpful for me, I'm going to give Amantadine a try.

Have you started it yet?

hopealwayz · Jul 10, 2020, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile70

It's a good idea to give the Vraylar a try for as long as possible. All the antipsychotics can cause restlessness. You might adjust to it within a few weeks. You mentioned an interest in Abilify, but studies indicate Abilify is one of the most likely to cause restlessness.

Is it normal to constantly pace?