Last Updated on August 4, 2021 by
Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr Samuel Lee MD
Understanding Vraylar Withdrawal Symptoms
Antipsychotic withdrawal symptoms are notoriously difficult to tolerate. Therefore, without constant and careful assistance, the process often results in repeated hospitalizations. This is due to the extreme reactions and impacts on the person. Drugmakers state they don’t know how these drugs work, beyond ambiguous statements and theories, but sell them anyway after a few very short drug trials.19
However, studies have shown that antipsychotics like Vraylar likely target certain key receptors in the CNS. These are the areas that transport (or block) essential hormones and neurotransmitters needed for life to function. The effects that a person experiences on a Vraylar withdrawal program come about, at least in part, due to the deficient and dysfunctional state of the CNS that the drug has left in its wake.19,20,21
There are other factors, if unresolved, that can contribute to the severity of Vraylar withdrawal symptoms. There may be a history of lifestyle considerations, or poor diet, where the affected neurochemistry seems to be nutritionally or emotionally starved and shows signs of degrading. A massive review of medical literature published in the World Journal of Psychiatry showed the extraordinarily positive effects of dietary and psycho-social interventions in successfully treating schizophrenia patients.22 In contrast, a person taking antipsychotics commonly relies on stimulants to feel any pleasure and interest in life. This can create a whole other dependence issue. Ignoring whatever underlying factors were present when mania or other mental health events occurred could unnecessarily complicate antipsychotic drug withdrawal. However, this investigative work is always done at Alternative to Meds Center, and a person’s program consists of treatments for these underlying conditions before, during, and even after Vraylar withdrawal. You can learn more about the many withdrawal protocols used at Alternative to Meds by reviewing our antipsychotic withdrawal page.
Common Vraylar Withdrawal Symptoms
The FDA drug label contains zero information on Vraylar withdrawal symptoms except regarding withdrawals for an infant after birth, where the mother took Vraylar. Studies and clinical trials can help fill in some of this vital information, as well as researching antipsychotic medications generally for common antipsychotic withdrawal adverse effects.2 For your info, below you will find some important data to know.
- Abruptly stopping antipsychotic drugs often results in “rebound psychosis”, often more intense than what was experienced before treatment began. This can include hallucinations, delusions, mania, hearing voices, catatonia. Abrupt withdrawal from Vraylar can cause NMS or Tardive Dyskinesia or other movement disorders to suddenly emerge. 2,30,31
- Common antipsychotic withdrawal symptoms include physical, emotional, and psychiatric adverse effects: nausea, vomiting, headache, insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, tension, restlessness, hyperkinesia, sweating, numbness, and many others at varying degrees of intensity.23
- An Infant can experience Vraylar withdrawal symptoms, extrapyramidal symptoms and “fetal harm” (unspecified) where the mother has taken the medication through the pregnancy. According to the FDA data on the Vraylar label, in rats, the drug was present in the mother’s milk. In rabbits, 1st generation pups had cold, pale bodies, and males had sluggish startle-response and other under-developments. These symptoms reappeared in 2nd generation pups.1
In several 3-week trials, the most commonly emerging side effects of Vraylar were akathisia, extrapyramidal disorders, tremor, dyspepsia (stomach pain or discomfort), and vomiting.28 According to the FDA,1 and like virtually all of the antipsychotic drugs, Vraylar comes with a significant load of potential risks and warnings (including the black-box warnings) under the umbrella of Vraylar side effects. The FDA reports that “late-onset” adverse effects can begin well after 3 or 6 weeks. In a 2017 review of research on cariprazine drug trials, Campbell et al point out that some adverse effects may not show up until the drug exposure reaches stability at the 12th week, well beyond the length of trials mentioned on the drug’s label.1,4 One becomes curious as to the absence of long-term testing before giving the green light to market a potentially ruinous drug. Vraylar is thought to suppress certain dopamine receptors’ functionality, possibly leaving the person in an emotionally and mentally bankrupt, numb condition not to mention the physical discomforts that go along with this drug.27
Nonetheless, we can say that in general, the slow road is the best road when it comes to discontinuing antipsychotics. Research tells us this type of drug is primarily dopaminergic.24 In other words, Vraylar starves the CNS of dopamine. The body responds to this starvation by building more dopamine receptors, just as when the temperature goes up, you get thirsty and seek water. The body gets “thirsty” for dopamine. So, now when you stop the drug, there can be a great surge of dopamine and an increase in the intensity of stimulation effects. And that can cause psychosis and other overstimulation-type reactions that typically are associated with abrupt Vraylar withdrawal. These risks are also associated with so-called “rapid detox” which we do NOT recommend as it carries too much risk, even when comfort drugs temporarily mask the after-effects. Switching medications can be useful in some instances, but must be done extremely cautiously, with absolutely 24/7 monitoring for safety.
Correcting the diet is also of great importance during 
