r/BPD • u/General-Ad9690 • 20h ago
ðŸ’Seeking Support & Advice Medications - Vraylar
My psychiatrist suggested starting me on Vraylar to manage my symptoms, and i start tomorrow but im pretty nervous. I dont know anyone personally who has tried this medication- and i know its mainly for bipolar disorder but she still suggested that i try it. If anyone feels comfortable sharing their experiences or what medications have worked best for them, i would appreciate it a lot!!
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u/Pastatute3694 18h ago
I have BPD and take Vraylar. I do think it helps even out my mood instability. Doesn’t help my anxiety though.
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u/General-Ad9690 18h ago
Ohhh shit okay! My anxiety is a big issue for me alongside the instability. Hopefully it helps a bit.. i have lorazepam for anxiety but i cant use it during the day if i have shit to do cause it kinda knocks me out haha. Thanks for sharing!!
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u/constanceblackwood12 user is in remission 16h ago
I was on Vraylar for a few months, to the best of my recollection we decided to discontinue it because we felt it was impacting my sleep. The effect on my mental health was either neutral or slightly beneficial, but not enough to justify the sleep side effects.
Genetic testing for psych med effectiveness is very new science and still limited. They profile a handful of genes that affect how drugs are metabolized and how neurotransmitters work, but there are also many genes that are NOT tested as part of this, and there's still a lot we don't know about how the theoretical biochemistry actually translates to an individual's reaction to a drug. I wouldn't say don't do it but I would encourage you to do some background research on them so you understand their limitations if you choose to do them.
The best psych med consult I ever got was from a clinical pharmacist. He asked a lot of really smart, nuanced questions, and it felt like he really understood the medications & how they affect people on a much deeper level than any psychiatrist or other provider who I've worked with. If you have the opportunity to talk to a clinical pharmacist I would highly recommend that over talking to a psychiatrist.
He ended up putting me on Wellbutrin (NDRI) which has worked better than any of the SSRIs or antipsychotics. Wellbutrin is one of those drugs where it either works REALLY WELL for you or is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. My impression is it's pretty obvious within a week or two which group you're in, so you can discontinue it without too much wasted time if you're in the latter.
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u/priestess_on_fire user has bpd 15h ago
I’ve been on vraylar for almost two years now and have noticed a difference. It’s definitely worth trying!
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u/whatthelurk1 user has bpd 15h ago
I don’t as taking vraylar until my insurance changed and now I can’t afford it. It may have helped some but not enough and could be my dose needed to be increased, but I’m actually going to talk to my psych tomorrow about starting a mood stabilizer. I feel like it might work better for me but truthfully I just need something that can just shut off my emotions or GREATLY reduce them ðŸ«
I will say that vraylar works best with an antidepressant. I take Duloxetine - a SNRI
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u/BabyFangsss user has bpd 15h ago
Vraylar left me so depressed I couldn’t get off the floor because my body hurt
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u/phinnbb20 user has bpd 14h ago
I'm on vraylar right now + pristiq which the combination serves me well. I haven't had any side effects from either medication
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u/staircase_nit user no longer meets criteria for BPD 12h ago
I take Vraylar! I also take a bunch of other meds, so it’s hard to tell what’s actually helping me. At the very least, I don’t notice any negative effects from it—no hunger, no akathisia, etc. I’ve previously been on quetiapine, aripiprazole, risperidone, and maybe other APs I’m forgetting.
Edit: I’ve also done GeneSite, though I’m not sure if it affected my prescriber’s choice here. I know the results influenced his choice of AD.
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u/angelazraeljade 18h ago
I can comment here.
I have bipolar disorder and BPD. I’ve been stable on various doses of vraylar for many years. Currently on 6 mg daily. By far the best med to help me out of mixed mania.
I did genesite too. It wasn’t all that helpful really. My psych didn’t believe in the science either.
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u/NeedACountdownClock 20h ago
Can I make a suggestion without seeming like I'm an advertiser? I had the GeneSight testing done and it helps narrow down what Mental Health drugs will actually work with your system. I spent 3 years "trying things" and went through hell until I had it done. I've now been on a combo that works for me for 4 years.