Does Vraylar (Cariprazine) Cause Weight Gain?
speciality medications
Vraylar, an atypical antipsychotic, is a widely prescribed medication that can change lives.
Perhaps you’ve seen this firsthand. If you or a loved one has bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, you’re aware of the impact their mood swings, manic episodes, or depressive symptoms have on them and everyone in their orbit. By safely using a medication like Vraylar, people with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia can lead a significantly more balanced life.
However, Vraylar, like all medications, comes with possible side effects.
What should you look out for when taking Vraylar?
Will Vrayar work for you?
And what if it causes headaches? Or affects your metabolism? Does Vraylar cause weight gain, anyway?
Some antipsychotics, like Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Seroquel (quetiapine), are well-known for causing significant weight gain. But where does Vraylar fall on the spectrum?
Your Complete Introduction to Vraylar (Cariprazine) and Its Effects
Let’s take a quick look at what Vraylar does.
What Is Vraylar Used For?
Vraylar is used to help treat the following conditions:
- Bipolar I disorder. When used as directed, Vraylar can help patients with bipolar I disorder manage their depressive and manic episodes.
- Schizophrenia. For people who are a good fit for Vraylar, Vraylar can assist with reductions in delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.
- Major depressive disorder. While Vraylar is not the primary treatment for major depressive disorder in most cases, it has been approved as an adjunct (or secondary and assisting) treatment for use with antidepressants for people who have treatment-resistant depression.
How Does Vraylar Work?
Vraylar is a type of medication called an “atypical antipsychotic”. This doesn’t mean that it’s not a normal medication. That name simply distinguishes it from an older class of medications called typical antipsychotics.
Vraylar works by changing the way that your brain produces and interacts with dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that are linked to antidepressant tendencies.
Vraylar is, specifically, a dopamine D2 and D3 partial agonist.
This means Vraylar can help balance dopamine levels uniquely, instead of completely blocking them (as was the case with older antipsychotic meds).
Why Does That Matter?
Dopamine, as a neurotransmitter, is intimately linked to your mood regulation, appetite, motivation, and a whole range of other mental and physical health attributes.
When mood regulation, appetite, and motivation are perfectly in check, life is great. When they’re imbalanced, there can be challenges cropping up on the horizon. For some people, one of those challenges is weight gain. Since antipsychotics influence dopamine, some antipsychotics can impact weight gain.
Further, since Vraylar is a partial dopamine agonist instead of a complete one, for some people, working with Vraylar can result in a lower risk of weight gain.
However, the specific way you react to Vraylar will depend on your unique biochemistry, your lifestyle, your diet, and more. As you start taking Vraylar, your doctor will want to monitor you closely for any relevant changes.
Why Does Vraylar Cause Weight Gain in Some Patients?
Aside from the biochemical underpinnings of the drug, are there any larger puzzle pieces we can point to in order to understand the way Vraylar influences weight gain?
Let’s follow the biochemical cascade.
- Vraylar affects dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters regulate appetite and metabolism.
- For some people, that means they feel like eating more when they take Vraylar (appetite).
- For some people, that means their body uses the fuel from that food differently—perhaps more or less efficiently (metabolism).
- If a person eats more and uses fuel less efficiently, that may result in a caloric imbalance.
- If a person also experiences sedation or fatigue either as a result of their underlying condition or their experience with a new medication, that could result in underactivity.
- When these risk factors come together, that can result in moderate weight gain.
- If an individual has a personal history of weight gain or a family history of either diabetes or obesity, their risk of weight gain may increase.
This is, more or less, why some people experience less severe weight gain than others while on antipsychotics.
It’s always a good idea to be aware of the potential metabolic effects of your prescription medications, along with your unique personal and historical risk for heightened risk in association with those effects.
Does Vraylar Affect Metabolism? Yes—Here’s How
Your metabolism is a critical part of your body’s process for breaking down food, burning calories, and storing fat.
Some atypical antipsychotics slow down your metabolism. When you have a slower metabolism, that tends to result in increased fat storage and higher blood sugar levels.
Not all atypical antipsychotics act this way, and Vraylar isn’t like older, more traditional antipsychotic medications.
Here are a few quick, specific ways that Vraylar impacts your metabolism.
Vraylar is involved in dopamine regulation. It doesn’t fully block dopamine production like other medications, it just downregulates it a little. For you, this should mean that you won’t have intense, extreme cravings; instead, you might notice that you’re slightly more hungry than usual.
Vraylar also affects your brain’s use and management of serotonin. Serotonin, in addition to its famed role in happiness management, also plays a role in appetite regulation.
For some people, this may result in increased cravings specifically for sweets or carbs, which tend to have a marked effect on blood sugar levels (and subsequent diabetes or obesity risk).
That can sound scary, but it may not happen for everyone—and, of course, knowledge is power. If you know that these risks are possible, you can take precautions as necessary.
There are also some studies that suggest Vraylar could have a lower risk of, specifically, raising a patient’s blood sugar when compared to other atypical antipsychotics. This isn’t a promise, though. If you have prediabetes or know that you have insulin resistance, it’s a good idea to monitor your blood sugar levels very closely.
Does Vraylar Increase the Risk of Diabetes?
Since Vraylar may result in changed blood sugar levels, patients may rightly wonder if taking Vraylar or another antipsychotic could result in diabetes.
Vraylar is considered a lower-risk antipsychotic in this way. But your risk will vary, and your specific risk will depend on your lifestyle, your genetic risk, and several other factors.
Here are a few signs to watch out for to see if your body is reacting to Vraylar in a way that might indicate heightened blood sugar:
- Increased thirst (without an obvious cause)
- Really frequent urination (again, without an obvious cause)
- Sudden weight gain
- Unexplained fatigue or tiredness
- Blurred vision
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, a more serious version of these symptoms, or several of these at the same time, talk to your doctor at once.
How to Manage Weight While Taking Vraylar
Throughout this guide, we’ve mentioned a few times that your diet and lifestyle choices might have an impact on the way Vraylar triggers weight gain.
That’s true for many people. Depending on your situation, there may be proactive steps you can take that can help you mitigate any effects Vraylar could be having on your weight.
It’s important not to overemphasize this.
Some people’s biochemistry, particularly when combined with a potent medication, can make losing or maintaining weight very, very difficult.
However, if you’re able to implement a few healthy habits, you should stand a better chance of keeping any unwanted weight gain at bay—or, at least, having more energy and feeling more rested while you’re undergoing treatment.
These lifestyle modifications include:
- Monitoring your diet, and, in particular, avoiding high-carb snacks and processed sugar whenever possible. Instead, opt for fibrous veggies, whole grains, and proteins to keep you full and satisfied.
- Staying active. You don’t need to get into lifting or become a marathon runner! Just resolving to move your body on a regular basis by stretching or walking can make a big difference in supporting your metabolism and reducing weight gain.
- Staying hydrated. Drinking lots of water can help you determine when you’re actually hungry…and when you’re actually just dehydrated.
But remember to be realistic (and nice to yourself). As Dr. Brynna Connor, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician who specializes in regenerative medicine, puts it:
“When deciding which strategies to try or which plans to follow, think about what is most likely to work for your current routine. If you tend to wake up 15 minutes before you leave for work, then planning to cook a large, protein-packed breakfast every morning probably isn't going to happen. If you live on a busy street with no sidewalks, then going for a jog in your neighborhood every day isn't realistic. Find ways to incorporate healthier habits into your normal lifestyle.”
Your Vraylar and Weight Gain FAQ
Still have questions about Vraylar?
We’ve got you covered. Here are simple, straightforward Qs-and-As detailing everything you need to know.
1. How Common Is Weight Gain on Vraylar?
For most patients, Vraylar doesn’t cause significant weight gain. Some, however, do experience mild-to-moderate weight increases.
2. Who Is More Likely to Experience Weight Gain?
People with the following factors may have an increased likelihood of gaining weight while taking Vraylar:
- Pre-existing diabetes
- Pre-existing insulin resistance
- A sedentary lifestyle
- A sugar-rich diet
- A genetic predisposition to diabetes or weight gain
3. Does Vraylar Increase Appetite?
Yes, for some people, taking Vraylar does tend to correlate to an increase in hunger levels. Vraylar’s effect on serotonin and dopamine likely has something to do with this.
If you’re experiencing increased hunger, you don’t have to fight it. (To a certain extent, fighting hunger signals isn’t really possible).
However, if you’re hoping to avoid unnecessary weight gain, when you feel hungry, eat protein-rich, fiber-rich foods to keep blood sugar low and keep you satiated as long as possible.
4. How Does Vraylar Compare to Other Antipsychotics for Weight Gain?
Vraylar can cause mild weight gain, but, overall, it’s less likely to lead to the serious weight gain often associated with other atypical antipsychotics.
Here’s a brief rundown of other atypical antipsychotics that may compare for weight gain:
It’s worth remembering, though, that this is not the only way to assess a medication.
Just because a medication like Zyprexa may be associated with a high risk of weight gain doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad fit for you—just that if you’re already at risk for weight gain, you may need to be particularly careful about lifestyle changes.
Talk to your doctor to determine your next best steps.
5. Can You Lose Weight While Taking Vraylar?
Yes, you can lose weight while you’re taking Vraylar.
For the most part, this happens when a person is predisposed to weight loss genetically or is extremely conscious about the lifestyle choices they make after starting their medication.
6. How Long Can You Stay on Vraylar?
You can stay on Vraylar for quite a long time.
It’s designed for long-term use, which is fitting, as its primary indications are long-term conditions that require ongoing management.
If you are planning on taking Vraylar for a while, it may be worth investing in regular health monitoring and bloodwork, dosing adjustments in collaboration with your licensed healthcare provider, and a tapering-off plan if you find that one is necessary. (It’s rarely a good idea to stop a medication suddenly.)
Are There Ways to Get Vraylar Cheaper?
Yes—there are definitely ways to get Vraylar cheaper.
Which is a good thing, as Vraylar’s sticker price, especially in the United States, can be steep.
Patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder I whose doctors prescribe Vraylar may find themselves paying upwards of $1,500.00 for just one month’s supply of the medication.
Clearly, that’s not going to work with many people’s budgets. (But buying from a Canadian internet pharmacy and international drugstore might: Here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy Vraylar for around $265.00 for a four weeks’ supply.)
If you’re looking for more ways to save, you may be able to:
- Check for generic alternatives. Cariprazine (or generic Vraylar) is available. Check our listing for generic Vraylar and save big.
- Research manufacturer savings programs. In some cases, Vraylar’s manufacturer may be able to offer limited assistance to qualifying individuals. Your doctor’s office will have the latest information about any possible programs.
- Source your prescription medications through an online and international Canadian pharmacy. Ordering from a certified Canadian pharmacy online and international drug source can lead to significant savings compared to U.S. prices.
Which, to that last point: We know someone you can call. (Or reach online.)
If you’re interested in using Vraylar to manage your condition, talk to your doctor—and be sure to mention any worries about weight gain that you may have. That’s the best way to gain personalized strategies to manage your health.
Then, once you have an updated and valid prescription for Vraylar, we’re here to help.
Check out our Vraylar information page and our neatly organized online “aisles” to find the products you need. The team at NorthWestPharmacy.com looks forward to supporting you and your healthcare journey.
