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Does Vraylar Cause Weight Gain?
Question: I have bipolar I mixed. I am scared to try Vraylar 3 mg. In the drug report, it mentioned weight gain and decreased appetite. It also mentioned somnolence and insomnia. So does Vraylar cause weight gain or not? and do I take it in the morning or the evening? Has Vraylar really worked for bipolar I mixed? Do I take it alone? Right now, I am taking clonazepam 2mg at night for sleep and Adderall 15 mg 3-4 times a day, which I would like to get off of both of them. I am also taking Geodon 160 mg at night along with Abilify 15mg at night. Plus, I take Wellbutrin 300mg in the morning. My doctor doesn't know what to do with me. I am doing pretty well on the cocktail that I am on right now, but it seems to me to be a lot of meds. I would rather just take one pill. What do you recommend? I have some Vraylar 3 mg that the doctor gave me to try. If i do take the Vraylar 3 mg, what do I do about the drugs that I am on currently?
Brief Answer:
I do not think it works alone
Detailed Answer:
Dear Friend,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns.
First of all I like to inform you that there is no single drug which is recommended for treatment of bipolar 1 mixed episode. Often it is a combination of mood stabilizer and antidepressant which gives the best results.
Your current prescription contains antidepressant (wellbutrin) and mood stabilizers (Geodon and abilify) so I feel the treatment prescribed is in recommended lines. Having said this I observed two flaws that need to be corrected.
First I do not understand why two antipsychotics or mood stabilizers are prescribed (Geodon and abilify) so in my view it will be better to take one off from the current prescription.
Since weight gain is more common with geode I will recommend geode to take off and continue abilify.
Secondly using abilify at night is rarely indicated and most patients do better when it is taken in the morning.
I think these two issues need discussion with your doctor as night dose of ability could be reason for 2 mg of clonazepam (abilify is activating).
Now regarding Vraylar yes it is true it causes weight gain and sedation and very rarely insomnia but the side effects are generally moderate and almost never in the severe range. Regarding the intake it should be taken at night as have more propensity to cause sedation than insomnia.
I do not think you should stop other drugs till you feel better and never without talking to your doctor.
My last advice is since you are doing well and your doctor knows little about Vrayvar I do not think you should use the new drug but try to decrease the medications as advised above.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
I do not think it works alone
Detailed Answer:
Dear Friend,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns.
First of all I like to inform you that there is no single drug which is recommended for treatment of bipolar 1 mixed episode. Often it is a combination of mood stabilizer and antidepressant which gives the best results.
Your current prescription contains antidepressant (wellbutrin) and mood stabilizers (Geodon and abilify) so I feel the treatment prescribed is in recommended lines. Having said this I observed two flaws that need to be corrected.
First I do not understand why two antipsychotics or mood stabilizers are prescribed (Geodon and abilify) so in my view it will be better to take one off from the current prescription.
Since weight gain is more common with geode I will recommend geode to take off and continue abilify.
Secondly using abilify at night is rarely indicated and most patients do better when it is taken in the morning.
I think these two issues need discussion with your doctor as night dose of ability could be reason for 2 mg of clonazepam (abilify is activating).
Now regarding Vraylar yes it is true it causes weight gain and sedation and very rarely insomnia but the side effects are generally moderate and almost never in the severe range. Regarding the intake it should be taken at night as have more propensity to cause sedation than insomnia.
I do not think you should stop other drugs till you feel better and never without talking to your doctor.
My last advice is since you are doing well and your doctor knows little about Vrayvar I do not think you should use the new drug but try to decrease the medications as advised above.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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