Vraylar is an atypical antipsychotic, which generally have fewer side effects and long-term health effects. I'd see it as a good thing if it were me.

Why fix it if it ain’t broke? That’s what I think. I would strongly object if I were in that situation. All of my meds work fine and the side effects aren’t enough for me to take a chance on something else that “might” work

I agree with kisses I tolerate haldol well and there is the risk of diabetes which I fear more I am staying on haldol the price difference is a factor too even though I have full meds coverage it costs 50 times as much why let them get rich

Surely the doctor gave you a reason for the change? If not, it should be him/her you should be asking. Everyone is different which is why doctors go through the whole diagnosis & treatment in person rather than simply prescribing remotely. Presumably they had a reason for making the change and so only they would be able to tell you the advantages or disadvantages of the change.

The problem with being on Haldol is that as a medication it carries more risk than 99% of all other Anti-psychotics both typical and Atypical. It has close to 100 serious side effects with the main ones being:

Parkinson's
Akathisia
Dystonia
Prolonged QT Syndrome
Hypotension

When taken for extended periods of time, which it was not intended to be taken for years at at time it can cause impaired Liver function, as its metabolized and eliminated primarily by the Liver.

It has a long list of Drug Interaction, other Psych meds that cannot be taken with it, because it either alters the way they work, making them dangerous or it alters their chemical makeup in the body, reducing the efficacy of them.

Haldol was not created to be taken on an "outpatient" basis, but amongst medical "progress" here we are.

If it works for you, it works. But know that your choices for adding any other meds to it are limited. Your strange reaction to some of the other meds you've tried with it, may have nothing to do with your body, it may have just been the Haldol.

When you take drugs that cause sleepiness for a long time, like years, that side effect wears off and generally the opposite occurs. Your brain gets used to a chemical and readjusts its makeup to accommodate that chemical over time. Its why meds don't tend to last for years upon years.

If you don't want to change your Anti-Psych you might talk to you Pdoc about a sleep aid. It can't be an Anti-Depressant though because many of them become toxic when mixed with Haldol.

Take care,
Kat

seroquel works great once you get used to the side effects of tiredness and appetite increase. It is the only one that helps sleep and mood stability.

Seroquel does not cause appetite increase in everyone, nor does it cause weight gain in everyone.

The drowsiness side effect of Seroquel in only in the "low dose" stage, once you get over 100mg and continue on to the therapeutic level for BiPolar the drowsiness side effect goes away.

I feel the same about haldol. Now that it's out on the table, I was a bit stunned to read that you were given it long-term. Haloperidol is for the most extreme mania and psychosis. It is heavy, heavy stuff.

Like I said, if it were me, I'd see this as a very good thing. Especially since you have prescription coverage.

seroquel makes me manic without haldol. I was off of haldol for years on zyprexa lamictal klonipin stopped sleeping. took away klonipin had bad tremor took away lamictal. now i am as stable as i can be have mild moodswings i will try the vraylar for a couple of weeks and see. i am afraid of diabetes it is in the family. they will not give me a sleep aid tried n antidepressant trileptal i think did not work still awake for a year