Vraylar Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Vraylar (cariprazine) is an atypical antipsychotic medication. It’s approved to treat several mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Here, we’ll review the recommended Vraylar dosages for adults. Vraylar is not approved for children. Keep in mind that your prescriber may recommend a different dosage for you than what’s described below. Always follow your healthcare team’s instructions when taking Vraylar.

What’s the typical Vraylar dosage for adults?

Vraylar is approved for a number of mental health conditions. The recommended dosage will depend on what you’re taking it for. You can take Vraylar with or without food, but taking it with food may help prevent nausea.

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Vraylar comes as an oral capsule in the following doses:

• 1.5 mg

• 3 mg

• 4.5 mg

• 6 mg

It’s also available in a dose pack containing a single 1.5 mg capsule and six 3 mg capsules.

Good to know: It can take several weeks or more to feel the full benefits of Vraylar. So if you don’t feel a change right away, that’s OK. Be sure to give the medication time to work, and stay in touch with your healthcare team so they know how you’re doing.

Below is a chart summarizing the recommended Vraylar dosages by condition, followed by a more detailed explanation for each indication.

Schizophrenia

The recommended Vraylar dosage for schizophrenia is 1.5 mg to 6 mg once daily. It’s recommended to start with 1.5 mg, then increase the dose to 3 mg on day 2. From there, your prescriber may increase your dose by 1.5 mg to 3 mg at a time based on your response. The maximum recommended dosage is 6 mg daily.

Manic or mixed episodes of bipolar 1 disorder

Bipolar 1 disorder is a mental health condition that causes large mood swings. This includes periods of manic behavior, depression, or a combination of both (mixed episodes).

For adults with manic or mixed episodes of bipolar 1 disorder, the recommended Vraylar dosage is 3 mg to 6 mg. But you’ll likely start with a lower dose of 1.5 mg, followed by an increase to 3 mg on day 2 of treatment. From there, your prescriber may increase your dose by 1.5 mg to 3 mg at a time, up to a maximum of 6 mg, based on your response.

Depressive episodes of bipolar 1 disorder

The recommended Vraylar dosage for depressive episodes of bipolar 1 disorder is 1.5 mg to 3 mg per day. The usual starting dose is 1.5 mg per day. If needed, your prescriber may increase your dose to 3 mg on day 15 of treatment. The maximum recommended dosage is 3 mg per day.

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Add-on therapy for depression

Major depressive disorder, often simply referred to as depression, is a condition that can make you feel disconnected and withdrawn from daily life. If first-choice antidepressants don’t help improve your symptoms, your prescriber may add Vraylar to help.

The recommended Vraylar dosage as add-on therapy for depression is 1.5 mg to 3 mg per day. You’ll likely start with 1.5 mg daily. On day 15, your prescriber may raise your dose to 3 mg daily, if needed. Dosages higher than 3 mg per day aren’t recommended.

Are there any dosage adjustments of Vraylar with other medications?

If you’re taking another medication that interacts with Vraylar, your prescriber may need to adjust your Vraylar dosage.

An enzyme in your liver called CYP3A4 helps break down Vraylar and remove it from your body. When other medications block this enzyme from working, it can raise Vraylar levels in the body. If you start taking these medications (known as CYP3A4 inhibitors) while taking Vraylar, your Vraylar dosage should be cut in half. 

Examples of CYP3A4 inhibitors include:

• Macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin (Biaxin XL) and erythromycin (Ery-tab)

• Oral antifungals, such as ketoconazole

• Calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil (Verelan)

• Antivirals, such as ritonavir (Norvir) and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir)

If you’re already taking one of these medications when you start Vraylar, your recommended dosage is different than described above. It’s best to start with 1.5 mg on day 1, no dose on day 2, then 1.5 mg on day 3. You’ll then continue with 1.5 mg daily. Your dose may be increased to a maximum of 3 mg daily if needed.

If you take medications that increase the activity of CYP3A4 (known as CYP3A4 inducers), Vraylar isn’t recommended. Be sure your pharmacist and prescriber know about all of the medications you take, including OTC medications and herbal products. They’ll review your medication list to be sure there aren’t any interactions that could affect your Vraylar dosage.

What happens if you miss a dose of Vraylar?

If you miss a dose of Vraylar, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next one as scheduled. Don’t take two doses at the same time.

If you miss more than one dose in a row, or you find yourself missing doses often, speak to your healthcare team. They can work with you to get back on track with your doses. They can also give you tips to help you remember to take your medication.

What should you do if you take too much Vraylar?

Taking an extra dose of Vraylar is unlikely to cause serious issues. You may experience more side effects, including drowsiness and headache. But they should go away once the extra dose wears off.

Taking a large amount of Vraylar can cause you to feel extremely drowsy and lightheaded. If you or a loved one take too much Vraylar, contact your prescriber immediately or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. They’ll be able to advise you on what steps to take based on your symptoms and other medications you’re taking.

How to save on Vraylar

There are ways to save on Vraylar, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for your first two 30-day fills of Vraylar (and $5 monthly thereafter) using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Vraylar’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

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Written by:

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA, has been a pharmacist for 12 years. His first job was floating in a community chain pharmacy.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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