aripiprazole vs cariprazine
Side-by-side comparison of aripiprazole and cariprazine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Abilify
Vraylar
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems. It can help to improve your mood, thinking, and behavior.
Vraylar is a medicine used to treat certain mental health conditions. It can help with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.
Aripiprazole is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens. It also treats irritability in children with autism. Additionally, it can treat Tourette's disorder.
Vraylar can treat schizophrenia in adults and kids 13 and older. It also treats manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in adults and kids 10 and older. In adults, Vraylar treats the depressive episodes of bipolar I disorder. Vraylar can also be used with antidepressants to treat major depressive disorder in adults.
Aripiprazole works by affecting the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, can affect mood and behavior. By balancing these chemicals, aripiprazole helps to reduce symptoms of mental health conditions.
Vraylar affects certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. By changing the balance of these chemicals, Vraylar can help reduce symptoms of mental health conditions.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Constipation
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Problems with muscle movement
- • Feeling restless
- • Upset stomach
- • Throwing up
- • Feeling sleepy
- The medicine is not working 8,141
- Gaining weight 7,698
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 7,393
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 5,248
- Feeling worried or nervous 4,995
- Using the medicine for something it is not approved for 1,017
- The medicine is not working 502
- Gaining weight 441
- Restlessness 395
- Feeling worried or nervous 354
Aripiprazole may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. It is not approved for this use. Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening mood or suicidal thoughts.
Vraylar may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. Vraylar and antidepressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. Tell your doctor right away if you have thoughts of harming yourself.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. Aripiprazole may cause withdrawal symptoms or other problems in newborns if taken during the third trimester. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take aripiprazole during pregnancy.
Vraylar may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take Vraylar during pregnancy; you can contact them at 1-866-961-2388.
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How to Read This aripiprazole vs cariprazine Comparison
aripiprazole is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while cariprazine sits within the Atypical Antipsychotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aripiprazole has 33,475 submissions while cariprazine has 2,709. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between aripiprazole and cariprazine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.