Hello, I was hoping to get some opinions from those that have tried Vraylar and experienced tardive dyskinesia. I have treatment resistant MDD and went through a very rough patch. I take 30mg of Nortriptaline which helps take the edge off but due to the side effects I cannot raise the dose. I tried lithium for a while to augment it which helped with depression/anxiety, but also made me feel like a zombie. I asked to switch because I was making noticeable mistakes at work since I was so out of it I was switched to Vraylar and it has been a miracle drug for me.

I take the lowest dose and it has helped with my depression, anxiety, energy, motivation, and it was starting to help with my anhedonia. It also has helped improved my stomach issues that I have had most of my life that the Nortriptaline makes worse.

But around throughout the 6 weeks I was on it I had a lot of restlessness. Though, at week 6 I noticed that was slowly starting to get better. My biggest concern, which is why I decided with my Doctor to discontinue is the blinking. I noticed I was blinking more but didn’t pay much attention to it until I had to do a video interview and I got to see it on video. It was very excessive and noticeable. I was afraid it would become permanent. It didn’t seem like it was something that was always happening though, just more so when I was anxious/nervous/talking. My doctor mentioned there is a medication you can take to help with it, benztrophine, but I opted to stop the Vraylar. Since then my depression/anxiety have decreased, I have low energy, and low motivation.

She mentioned I could try Rexulti, but I have tried abilify before and have read they are pretty much the same thing.

Has anyone else experienced this and what did you do? Any advice would be appreciated