PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

cariprazine vs iloperidone

Side-by-side comparison of cariprazine and iloperidone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
cariprazine Atypical Antipsychotic
iloperidone Atypical Antipsychotic
Type
cariprazine Prescription
iloperidone Prescription
Summary
cariprazine

Vraylar is a medicine used to treat certain mental health conditions. It can help with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.

iloperidone

Fanapt is a medicine used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It helps to balance chemicals in the brain to improve mood and behavior.

What It Treats
cariprazine

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.

iloperidone

Fanapt is used to treat schizophrenia in adults. Schizophrenia can cause confused thinking, hallucinations, and changes in behavior. Fanapt is also used for the short-term treatment of manic or mixed episodes linked to bipolar I disorder in adults.

How It Works
cariprazine

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.

iloperidone

Fanapt is an atypical antipsychotic. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. This helps to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Common Side Effects
cariprazine
  • Problems with muscle movement
  • Feeling restless
  • Upset stomach
  • Throwing up
  • Feeling sleepy
iloperidone
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Feeling tired
  • Stuffy nose
  • Low blood pressure when standing up
FAERS Reports
cariprazine
  • 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
iloperidone
  • The medicine is not working 107
  • Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 99
  • Trouble sleeping 83
  • Gaining weight 76
  • Feeling worried or nervous 68
Serious Warnings
cariprazine

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.

iloperidone

Fanapt may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Fanapt is not approved to treat this condition.

Pregnancy
cariprazine

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.

iloperidone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Babies born to mothers who take antipsychotics like Fanapt in the last 3 months of pregnancy may have withdrawal symptoms after birth. Talk to your doctor about whether to breastfeed while taking Fanapt.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This cariprazine vs iloperidone Comparison

cariprazine is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while iloperidone 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, cariprazine has 2,709 submissions while iloperidone has 433. 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 cariprazine and iloperidone — 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.