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Real people, real stories.
Alec and Fatherhood
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This is Alec’s story. He is living with bipolar I disorder and is currently taking VRAYLAR. His experience may not be representative of all patients.
VRAYLAR is approved for depressive, and acute manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I in adults.
Please see Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warnings, throughout this video.
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Alec
Husband and father
VRAYLAR patient. Results may vary.
Alec: My name is Alec. I have bipolar I.
I’m a husband, I’m a father, I’m a jokester, but my kids probably wouldn’t agree.
I love to take my sons fishing. They’ve gotten better at it than I am, which is encouraging, but disappointing at the same time.
The thing that makes me the most proud to be a dad is seeing my sons come into their own, develop their own personalities, their own beliefs, their own sense of adventure.
I was diagnosed with bipolar I 24 years ago. It's so hard to go through a struggle like this. That's why it's important to find a source of support, like family, to help keep you motivated and pushing you toward finding a treatment that can help manage your bipolar l symptoms.
I learned about VRAYLAR from my doctor and we both decided it was a good option for me. I was really excited that I’d found a medicine that reduces both my depressive and manic symptoms.
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VRAYLAR effectively treats bipolar I depression and short-term manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder in adults.
Alec: VRAYLAR has been affordable for me and that’s very important. And it fits into my routine because it’s just one pill a day.
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VRAYLAR is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis or for people under 18. Elderly patients with dementia have an increased risk of death or stroke. Call your doctor about unusual changes in behavior or suicidal thoughts. VRAYLAR and antidepressants can increase these in children and young adults.
Report fever, stiff muscles, or confusion, which may mean a life threatening reaction, or uncontrollable muscle movements, which may be permanent.
Metabolic changes such as high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and weight gain, may occur. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death.
Alec: My bipolar I symptoms are improving.
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Keep watching to see additional Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warnings.
Alec: I am greater than my bipolar I and so are you. Ask your doctor if VRAYLAR is right for you.
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You are greater than your bipolar I.
Ask about
Vraylar
(cariprazine) capsules
1.5mg ᐧ 3mg ᐧ 4.5mg ᐧ 6mg
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VRAYLAR is approved in adults to treat bipolar I depression and short-term manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about VRAYLAR?
Elderly people with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) taking medicines like VRAYLAR are at an increased risk of death. VRAYLAR is not approved for treating patients with dementia-related psychosis.
VRAYLAR and antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children and young adults especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Depression and other mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Patients on antidepressants and their families or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression symptoms, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when VRAYLAR or the antidepressant is started or when the dose is changed. Report any change in these symptoms immediately to the doctor.
VRAYLAR may cause serious side effects, including:
- Stroke (cerebrovascular problems) in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis that can lead to death
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS): Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have high fever, stiff muscles, confusion, increased sweating, or changes in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. These can be symptoms of a rare but potentially fatal side effect called NMS. VRAYLAR should be stopped if you have NMS.
- Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia or TD): VRAYLAR may cause movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop taking VRAYLAR. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop taking VRAYLAR.
- Late-occurring side effects: VRAYLAR stays in your body for a long time. Some side effects may not happen right away and can start a few weeks after starting VRAYLAR, or if your dose increases. Your healthcare provider should monitor you for side effects for several weeks after starting or increasing dose of VRAYLAR.
- Problems with your metabolism, such as:
- High blood sugar and diabetes: Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who take VRAYLAR. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. Your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before or soon after starting VRAYLAR and regularly during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you have symptoms such as feeling very thirsty, very hungry, or sick to your stomach, urinating more than usual, feeling weak, tired, confused, or your breath smells fruity.
- Increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood: Your healthcare provider should check fat levels in your blood before or soon after starting VRAYLAR and during treatment.
- Weight gain: Weight gain has been reported with VRAYLAR. You and your healthcare provider should check your weight before and regularly during treatment.
- Low white blood cell count: Low white blood cell counts have been reported with antipsychotic drugs, including VRAYLAR. This may increase your risk of infection. Very low white blood cell counts, which can be fatal, have been reported with other antipsychotics. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests during the first few months of treatment with VRAYLAR.
- Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension): You may feel lightheaded or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position.
- Falls: VRAYLAR may make you sleepy or dizzy, may cause a decrease in blood pressure when changing position (orthostatic hypotension), and can slow thinking and motor skills, which may lead to falls that can cause fractures or other injuries.
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Sleepiness, drowsiness, feeling tired, difficulty thinking and doing normal activities: Do NOT drive, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how VRAYLAR affects you. VRAYLAR may make you drowsy.
- Increased body temperature: Do not become too hot or dehydrated during VRAYLAR treatment. Do not exercise too much. In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible. Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much clothing or heavy clothing. Drink plenty of water.
- Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs
Who should not take VRAYLAR?
Do not take VRAYLAR if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Get emergency medical help if you are having an allergic reaction (eg, rash, itching, hives, swelling of the tongue, lip, face or throat).
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking VRAYLAR?
Tell your healthcare provider about any medical conditions and if you:
- have or have had heart problems or a stroke
- have or have had low or high blood pressure
- have or have had diabetes or high blood sugar in you or your family
- have or have had high levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, or triglycerides; or low levels of HDL-cholesterol
- have or have had seizures (convulsions)
- have or have had kidney or liver problems
- have or have had low white blood cell count
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. VRAYLAR may harm your unborn baby. Taking VRAYLAR during your third trimester of pregnancy may cause your baby to have abnormal muscle movements or withdrawal symptoms after birth. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risk to your unborn baby if you take VRAYLAR during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics at 1-866-961-2388 or http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VRAYLAR passes into breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with VRAYLAR.
Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. VRAYLAR may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how VRAYLAR works. Do not start or stop any medicines while taking VRAYLAR without talking to your healthcare provider.
What are the most common side effects of VRAYLAR?
- The most common side effects include difficulty moving or slow movements, tremors, uncontrolled body movements, restlessness and feeling like you need to move around, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, feeling tired, trouble sleeping, increased appetite, and dizziness.
These are not all the possible side effects of VRAYLAR.
INDICATION AND USAGE
VRAYLAR is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat depressive episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) and for the short-term (acute) treatment of manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder.
Please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warnings, and Medication Guide.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/myAbbVieAssist to learn more.
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