Atypical AntipsychoticPrescription OnlyPregnancy Cat. Not classifiedFDA Yes
Vraylar
CARIPRAZINE
1 . INDICATIONS AND USAGE VRAYLAR ® is indicated for: • Treatment of schizophrenia in adult and pediatric patients 13 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] • Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adult and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )] • Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) in adult patients [see Clinical Studies ( 14.3 )] • Adjunctive the...
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Brand names:Vraylar
Quick Reference
Medicine ClassAtypical Antipsychotic
FDA ApprovedYes
PregnancyCategory Not classified
Quick Facts
- Active ingredient
- CARIPRAZINE
- Medicine class
- Atypical Antipsychotic
- Brand names
- Vraylar
- Availability
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Pregnancy category
- Not classified
- FDA approved
- Yes
What Is Vraylar?
1 . INDICATIONS AND USAGE VRAYLAR ® is indicated for: • Treatment of schizophrenia in adult and pediatric patients 13 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] • Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adult and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )] • Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) in adult patients [see Clinical Studies ( 14.3 )] • Adjunctive the...
Vraylar (CARIPRAZINE) belongs to the Atypical Antipsychotic class of medications. It was first approved by the FDA in Yes. This medication requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
Key Safety Information
- •Always follow the dose recommended by your healthcare professional. Taking more than prescribed increases the risk of side effects including serious complications.
- •Seek emergency care if you experience signs of an allergic reaction — hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, or rash. Stop the medication and call your doctor immediately.
- •Some medications can increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, a history of heart attack or stroke, or any pre-existing health condition.
- •Avoid or limit alcohol while taking Vraylar. Do not drink alcohol without first discussing it with your healthcare provider as it may increase adverse effects.
- •Take Vraylar with food or a full glass of water if stomach upset occurs. Stop use and talk to your doctor if you experience persistent stomach pain or GI symptoms.
- •Tell your doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins you take. Some combinations significantly increase the risk of harm.
This is a summary only. Always read the full prescribing information and consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.
Uses & Indications
Vraylar is prescribed for the following conditions. Some uses are FDA-approved indications; others may be evidence-based off-label uses. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE VRAYLAR ® is indicated for: • Treatment of schizophrenia in adult and pediatric patients 13 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] • Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adult and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )] • Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) in adult patients [see Clinical Studies ( 14.3 )] • Adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adult patients [see Clinical Studies ( 14.4 )] VRAYLAR is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for: Treatment of schizophrenia in adults and pediatric patients 13 years of age and older ( 1 ) Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older ( 1 ) Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) in adults ( 1 ) Adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults ( 1 )
Dosage Guide
The following are general dosing guidelines only. Your actual dose should be determined by your healthcare provider based on your condition, renal/hepatic function, and other medications.
AD
Adult Dosage
2 . DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Administer VRAYLAR orally once daily with or without food ( 2 ) Starting Dose Recommended Dose Schizophrenia in Adults ( 2.2 ) 1.5 mg daily 1.5 mg to 6 mg daily Schizophrenia in Pediatric Patients (13-17 years) ( 2.2 ) 0.5 mg daily 1.5 mg to 4.5 mg daily Bipolar Mania in Adults ( 2.3 ) 1.5 mg daily 3 mg to 6 mg daily Bipolar Mania in Pediatric Patients (10-17 years) ( 2.3 ) 0.5 mg daily 3 mg or 4.5 mg daily Bipolar Depression in Adults ( 2.4 ) 1.5 mg daily 1.5 mg or 3 mg daily Adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for MDD in Adults ( 2.5 ) 1.5 mg daily 1.5 mg or 3 mg daily Adults with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mania: Maximum recommended daily dosage is 6 mg. Dosages above 6 mg daily do not confer significant benefit, but increase the risk of dose-related adverse reactions ( 2.2 , 2.3 ) Pediatric patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mania: Maximum recommended daily dosage is 4.5 mg. Adults with Bipolar Depression: Maximum recommended daily dosage is 3 mg
Available Forms
Available Strengths
Side Effects
Common
- 6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions, Including Stroke, in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Tardive Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Late Occurring Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Metabolic Changes [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Falls [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] Seizures [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 )] Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.12 )] Body Temperature Dysregulation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.13 )] Dysphagia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.14 )] Most common adverse reactions in adults (incidence ≥ 5% and at least twice the rate of placebo) were ( 6.1 ) : Schizophrenia: extrapyramidal symptoms and akathisia Bipolar mania: extrapyramidal symptoms, akathisia, dyspepsia, vomiting, somnolence, and restlessness Bipolar depression: nausea, akathisia, restlessness, and extrapyramidal symptoms Adjunctive treatment of MDD: akathisia, restlessness, fatigue, constipation, nausea, insomnia, increased appetite, dizziness, and extrapyramidal symptoms To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AbbVie at 1-800-633-9110 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
- 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
- The information below is derived from an integrated clinical study database for VRAYLAR consisting of 6,722 adult patients exposed to one or more doses of VRAYLAR for the treatment of schizophrenia, manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, bipolar depression, and adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder in placebo-controlled studies.
- This experience corresponds with a total experience of 1,182.8 patient-years.
- A total of 4,329 VRAYLAR-treated patients had at least 6 weeks and 296 VRAYLAR-treated patients had at least 48 weeks of exposure.
- Adult Patients with Schizophrenia The following findings are based on four placebo-controlled, 6-week schizophrenia trials with VRAYLAR doses ranging from 1.5 to 12 mg once daily.
- The maximum recommended dosage is 6 mg daily.
Serious
- WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Increased incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack) ( 5.3 ) Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Manage with immediate discontinuation and close monitoring ( 5.4 ) Tardive Dyskinesia : Discontinue if appropriate ( 5.5 ) Late-Occurring Adverse Reactions: Because of VRAYLAR’s long half-life, monitor for adverse reactions and patient response for several weeks after starting VRAYLAR and with each dosage change ( 5.6 ) Metabolic Changes : Monitor for hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and weight gain ( 5.7 ) Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis : Perform complete blood counts (CBC) in patients with pre-existing low white blood cell counts (WBC) or history of leukopenia or neutropenia.
- Consider discontinuing VRAYLAR if a clinically significant decline in WBC occurs in absence of other causative factors ( 5.8 ) Orthostatic H ypotension and Syncope : Monitor heart rate and blood pressure and warn patients with known cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, and risk of dehydration or syncope ( 5.9 ) Seizures: Use cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold ( 5.11 ) Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: Use caution when operating machinery ( 5.12 ) 5.1 Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Antipsychotic drugs increase the all-cause risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.
- Analyses of 17 dementia-related psychosis placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks and largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs) revealed a risk of death in the drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times that in placebo-treated patients.
- Over the course of a typical 10-week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in placebo-treated patients.
- Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature.
Rare
Medicine Interactions
Always inform your healthcare provider and pharmacist about ALL medications you take, including prescriptions, OTC medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
MajorModerateMinor
Warnings & Contraindications
5 . WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Increased incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack) ( 5.3 ) Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Manage with immediate discontinuation and close monitoring ( 5.4 ) Tardive Dyskinesia : Discontinue if appropriate ( 5.5 ) Late-Occurring Adverse
How Vraylar Works
12.1 Mechanism of Action The mechanism of action of cariprazine is unknown. However, the efficacy of cariprazine could be mediated through a combination of partial agonist activity at central dopamine D 2 and serotonin 5-HT 1A receptors and antagonist activity at serotonin 5-HT 2A receptors. Cariprazine forms two major metabolites, desmethylcariprazine (DCAR) and didesmethylcariprazine (DDCAR), that have in vitro receptor binding profiles similar to the parent drug.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Absorption After single dose administration of VRAYLAR, the peak plasma cariprazine concentration occurred in approximately 3-6 hours
Metabolism
metabolites, desmethylcariprazine (DCAR) and didesmethylcariprazine (DDCAR), which are pharmacologically equipotent to cariprazine
Excretion
Excretion Following administration of 12
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safety
Not classified
Breastfeeding
Many medications pass into breast milk in varying amounts. Before using Vraylarwhile breastfeeding, discuss the benefits and risks with your healthcare provider or pharmacist — they can weigh your dose, your infant's age, and available lactation safety data to find the safest option for you and your baby.
Storage & Handling
16.2 Storage and Handling Store at 20ºC to 25°C (68ºF to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature] . Protect 3 mg and 4.5 mg capsules from light to prevent potential color fading.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Vraylar side effects
Complete adverse effect profile including common, serious, and rare reactions
Sources & References
- • FDA Prescribing Information — Official labeling and package insert for Vraylar
- • U.S. National Library of Medicine — MedlinePlus drug information
- • American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) — Clinical pharmacology monograph
- • PubMed / MEDLINE — View clinical studies
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Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.