Vraylar interactions

When to avoid Vraylar

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Vraylar due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Vraylar include:

Having had an allergic reaction to Vraylar or any of its ingredients

If you have had an allergic reaction to Vraylar or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vraylar. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note: Before you start treatment with Vraylar, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Vraylar.

Vraylar interaction with alcohol

Your doctor will likely recommend that you not drink alcohol while taking Vraylar. This is because drinking alcohol with Vraylar may increase your risk of certain side effects. These may include:

• sleepiness
• dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting

Drinking alcohol may also make your depression symptoms worse.

If you have questions about avoiding alcohol while taking Vraylar, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Vraylar interactions with other medications

Before you start treatment with Vraylar, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Vraylar interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Vraylar and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Vraylar. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Vraylar. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

Drug interactions in depth

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Vraylar.

Antidepressants

Tell your doctor if you’re taking any antidepressants before starting treatment with Vraylar. In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking Vraylar along with an antidepressant drug.

Interaction result. Taking an antidepressant drug with Vraylar may increase your risk of side effects from both Vraylar and the antidepressant drug.

Interaction explained. Both Vraylar and antidepressant drugs may cause an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors* in children and adults ages 25 years and younger. Taking these medications in combination may further increase this risk.

In addition, side effects of antidepressants and Vraylar may be similar. For example, antidepressants and Vraylar may cause sleepiness, dizziness, or seizures. Taking these drugs in combination may increase your risk even more.

Examples of antidepressant drugs. Here are some antidepressants that may interact with Vraylar:

• bupropion (Wellbutrin SR)
• venlafaxine (Effexor)
• citalopram (Celexa)
• nefazodone

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you experience side effects that are severe or bothersome to you, be sure to talk with your doctor. They may monitor you more often for side effects if you’re taking both Vraylar and an antidepressant drug. In some cases, they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

* Vraylar has a boxed warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the top of this article.

Mood stabilizers

Tell your doctor if you take any medications to help manage your mood. They can help determine whether Vraylar may be safe for you.

Interaction result. Taking Vraylar with a mood stabilizer may increase your risk of side effects.

Interaction explained. In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking Vraylar along with a mood stabilizer. But both Vraylar and mood stabilizers may cause similar side effects. For example, both drugs may cause sleepiness or dizziness. Taking these medications in combination may increase your risk even further.

Examples of mood stabilizer drugs. Here are some mood stabilizers that may interact with Vraylar:

• lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• aripiprazole (Abilify)
• haloperidol (Haldol)

Steps you or your doctor may take. If your doctor recommends taking Vraylar with a mood stabilizer, they may monitor you more often for side effects. If you experience side effects that are severe or bothersome to you, be sure to talk with your doctor. They can help determine the best treatment option for you. In some cases, they may recommend changes to your treatment plan.

Certain antibiotics

Some antibiotics may interact with Vraylar. Tell your doctor that you’re taking Vraylar before starting any antibiotics.

Interaction result. Vraylar and some antibiotics may increase your risk of side effects from Vraylar.

Interaction explained. Taking certain antibiotics with Vraylar may cause you to be exposed to too much Vraylar. This can increase your risk of side effects occurring.

Examples of antibiotic drugs. Here are some antibiotics that may interact with Vraylar:

• clarithromycin
• erythromycin (Eryc)

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you need to take an antibiotic while taking Vraylar, tell your doctor before starting the antibiotic. In some cases, they may recommend decreasing your Vraylar dose while you’re taking the antibiotic. Other times, they may be able to recommend a different antibiotic to treat your infection.

Vraylar and other interactions

Vraylar may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Vraylar.

Vraylar interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Vraylar, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Vraylar and herbs

Vraylar may interact with St. John’s wort. This is a supplement that can be taken for depression or other conditions. However, St. Joh’s wort can decrease the amount of Vraylar in your body. This means Vraylar may be less effective.

In this case, your doctor may recommend that you try a different way to treat your depression or other conditions while you’re taking Vraylar. Talk with your doctor to determine the best treatment plan for you.

Vraylar and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Vraylar. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Vraylar.

Vraylar interactions with food

Vraylar can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. It’s possible for grapefruit or grapefruit juice to increase the amount of Vraylar in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects from Vraylar.

Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend avoiding grapefruit or grapefruit juice when you’re taking Vraylar. Talk with your doctor for more information about grapefruit and Vraylar.

Vraylar and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Vraylar and vaccines. If you’re interested in finding out whether you’re up to date on your vaccines, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Vraylar and lab tests

Vraylar isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about your medications interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

VRAYLAR AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been specifically reported to interact with Vraylar.

Taking Vraylar while using cannabis products may increase your risk of side effects from Vraylar and cannabis. Examples include sleepiness and dizziness.

Before you start treatment with Vraylar, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Vraylar and health-related interactions

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Vraylar. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Vraylar may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Vraylar include:

• Older adults with dementia-related psychosis. Vraylar has a boxed warning about the risk of increased risk of death in certain older adults (ages 65 years and over). This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the top of this article.
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Vraylar has a boxed warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This is the most serious warning from the FDA. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the top of this article.
• Seizures. Tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures or a seizure disorder, such as epilepsy, before starting Vraylar. This medication can increase your risk of seizures occurring. And if you already have a history of seizures, taking Vraylar may increase your risk even further. Your doctor can help determine whether Vraylar may be a safe treatment option for you.
• Blood pressure problems, heart problems, or stroke. If you have blood pressure problems, heart problems, or a history of stroke, tell your doctor before starting Vraylar. This medication can cause changes in your blood pressure, including high or low blood pressure. You may be at an increased risk of this side effect if you already have high or low blood pressure or other heart problems, including a history of stroke. This medication hasn’t been trialed in certain people with heart problems or who have had a recent heart attack. Your doctor can help determine whether Vraylar is a safe treatment option for you.
• Diabetes. If you have diabetes, tell your doctor before starting Vraylar. This medication can increase your blood sugar level, which can make your diabetes worse. In this case, your doctor can help determine whether Vraylar may be safe for you. In some cases, they may recommend monitoring your blood sugar more often to be sure it isn’t too high.
• High cholesterol or triglycerides. Tell your doctor if you have high cholesterol or high triglycerides before starting treatment with Vraylar. This medication can cause increases in both your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If you already have high cholesterol or triglycerides, Vraylar may make your condition worse. Due to this, your doctor may monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels more often throughout your treatment with Vraylar.
• Kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you have any kidney problems before starting treatment with Vraylar. Vraylar hasn’t been tested in people with severe kidney problems. Doctors typically won’t recommend that people with severe kidney problems take the drug. If you have kidney problems, tell your doctor before starting treatment. Your doctor can help determine whether Vraylar may be safe for you.
• Liver problems. If you have any liver problems, tell your doctor before starting Vraylar. This medication hasn’t been trialed in people with severe liver disease. Because of this risk, Vraylar isn’t typically recommended for people with severe liver disease. If you have any liver problems, tell your doctor before starting treatment with Vraylar. They can help determine whether this drug may be safe for you.
• Low white blood cell levels. If you have a history of low white blood cell levels, tell your doctor before starting Vraylar. This medication may cause low white blood cell levels. If you have had low white blood cell levels in the past, you may be at an increased risk of this side effect. Your doctor may monitor your white blood cell levels more often. If your white blood cell levels become too low, your doctor may recommend stopping treatment with Vraylar and trying a different treatment option instead.
• Dehydration. It’s important to stay hydrated when taking Vraylar. Being dehydrated while taking Vraylar can increase your risk of side effects, such as dizziness and blood pressure problems. Talk with your doctor about ways that you can stay hydrated while taking Vraylar.
• Pregnancy. It’s not known whether it may be safe to take Vraylar during pregnancy. At this time, there aren’t any trials to show what effects the drug may have on a developing fetus. Animal studies show that this medication may cause harm to a developing fetus. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans.
  There is a pregnancy registry for Vraylar. This registry collects health information about the effects of antipsychotics on pregnancy. The purpose of a pregnancy registry is to study whether a medication is safe to take during pregnancy. For more information about the pregnancy registry, call 866-961-2388 or visit the webpage. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Vraylar.
• Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether it may be safe to breastfeed while you’re taking Vraylar or what effects the drug may have on a child who is breastfed. In animal studies, Vraylar passed into animal milk. But animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking Vraylar.
• Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vraylar or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vraylar. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Vraylar. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Vraylar label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Vraylar doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Vraylar by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Other resources

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Vraylar. These resources might help:

• Overview of Vraylar. For a general overview of Vraylar, you can see this article.
• Side effects. If you’re interested in the side effects of Vraylar, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Vraylar prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics. To learn about the dosage of Vraylar, see this article.
• Drug comparison. Find out how Vraylar compares with Abilify, Latuda, Rexulti, and Seroquel by reading the relevant sections of this article.
• Cost. If you’d like to learn about Vraylar and cost, see this article.
• Facts about your condition. To learn more about mental health, refer to our mental health hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.