This grade answers one narrow question: how strong is the public evidence and safety record behind this drug, and how clean is its money trail and court record? It is not a verdict on whether the drug is right for you.
WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. VRAYLAR is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients in short-term studies. Closely monitor all antidepressant-treated patients for clinical worsening, and for the emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . WARNING : INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. VRAYLAR is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. ( 5.1 ) Antidepressants increased the risk of su...
1 . INDICATIONS AND USAGE VRAYLAR ® is indicated for: • Treatment of schizophrenia in adult and pediatric patients 13 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] • Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adult and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )] • Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) in adult patients [see Clinical Studies ( 14.3 )] • Adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adult patients [see Clinical Studies ( 14.4 )] VRAYLAR is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for: Treatment of schizophrenia in adults and pediatric patients 13 years of age and older ( 1 ) Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older ( 1 ) Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) in adults ( 1 ) Adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults ( 1 )
4 . CONTRAINDICATIONS VRAYLAR is contraindicated in patients with history of a hypersensitivity reaction to cariprazine. Reactions have ranged from rash, pruritus, urticaria, and reactions suggestive of angioedema (e.g., swollen tongue, lip swelling, face edema, pharyngeal edema, and swelling face). Known hypersensitivity to VRAYLAR ( 4 )
5 . WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Increased incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack) ( 5.3 ) Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Manage with immediate discontinuation and close monitoring ( 5.4 ) Tardive Dyskinesia : Discontinue if appropriate ( 5.5 ) Late-Occurring Adverse Reactions: Because of VRAYLAR’s long half-life, monitor for adverse reactions and patient response for several weeks after starting VRAYLAR and with each dosage change ( 5.6 ) Metabolic Changes : Monitor for hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and weight gain ( 5.7 ) Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis : Perform complete blood counts (CBC) in patients with pre-existing low white blood cell counts (WBC) or history of leukopenia or neutropenia. Consider discontinuing VRAYLAR if a clinically significant decline in WBC occurs in absence of other causative factors ( 5.8 ) Orthostatic H ypotension and Syncope : Monitor heart rate and blood pressure and warn patients with known cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, and risk of dehydration or syncope ( 5.9 ) Seizures: Use ...
The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions, Including Stroke, in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Tardive Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Late Occurring Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Metabolic Changes [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Falls [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] Seizures [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 )] Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.12 )] Body Temperature Dysregulation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.13 )] Dysphagia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.14 )] Most common adverse reac...
Indications and Usage ( 1 ) 12/2025 Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.6 ) 12/2025 Warnings and Precautions, Metabolic Changes ( 5.7 ) 12/2025
Source: FDA SPL label for Vraylar (Allergan, Inc.), effective 20251218. Full label on DailyMed.
These are counts of reports people filed, not rates of harm. Anyone can file one, and nobody checks whether the drug was the cause. Millions of doses are taken for every report sent, so the useful part is how this drug compares with the average across all drugs.
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 952 | 1,129 | 936 | 905 | 1,325 | 1,310 | 1,532 | 661 |
4,513 reports blaming this drug for every million Medicare prescriptions filled, which is 1.6× the typical drug on this site. (3,461 reports in 2024–2026, against 766,962 Medicare fills in one year. This is the one number here that accounts for how many people take the drug.)
Source: the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports are voluntary and unverified. Drugs that are prescribed a lot, in the news, or in lawsuits attract more reports, so the percentages are compared with the whole database to correct for that partly, not fully.
Counts measure how much evidence exists and how transparent it is, not how big the benefit is. For that, ask your prescriber: if 100 people like me took this, how many would get better because of it, and how many would be harmed? (Doctors call these the "number needed to treat" and "number needed to harm.") It differs by condition and is the number drug ads leave out. Sources: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov.
In 2024, drug companies reported $19,742,694 in payments to US physicians and hospitals tied to this drug across 395,929 transactions (Vraylar $19,742,694).
No pending federal MDL names this drug or its brands.
Not named in any federal pharmaceutical settlement of $100M or more on record.
Sources: CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act); Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation pending docket list; DOJ settlements as tabulated on Wikipedia with links to the primary record. State-court and individual suits are not included.
No same-class alternatives found in RxClass.