Caplyta and Headaches: What Users Say

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Amazing so far. I have been on it for six weeks and after getting past the first three days taking it- which gave me awful headaches, nausea, dry mouth, and fatigue - I started to feel something in me change. After three weeks I can say I noticed that the typical bad, ruminating thoughts of despair and general negativity were decreasing. And now at six weeks I can honestly say I have days where I catch myself and think, “Wow— I haven’t thought anything bad today”. I have never had a med this effective, and have a very sensitive/resistant system that has made med therapy a chore because nothing ever seems to work, or I end up having bad side effects. For the first time in 25+ years I feel hopeful; I am finding real joy in things, laughing genuinely, and I am able to be more compassionate and realistic with the pressures I put on myself. It’s improving my outlook on life and in turn improving my relationships. This is a miracle med for me."

• Cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2022

For Schizophrenia "I have had a very positive experience with Caplyta so far. I have been on several antipsychotics that worked but had side effects that were not tolerable. On the first day of taking this, I had dry mouth and a headache. Since then, I have not had a single side effect. After a week on it, I feel great. I haven't gained weight on it which is a good sign. I have more motivation and am sleeping normally after having those problems on Vraylar. My mood is also not flat like it was on the other medications that I had been on previously. I am not normally the person to write reviews but I saw all of the bad reviews and thought that maybe by sharing my experience it would help others. Maybe many people don't write reviews unless they have a bad experience? I am not sure but my experience on it has been very good. Would recommend to anyone who couldn't tolerate the side effects of other antipsychotics."

• RL8...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I’m very early into taking this medication. About six days to be exact. I have BP1 disorder, generalized anxiety, and panic disorder. I have been on several different medications over the years. Currently, I take 450mg ER Lithium once in the AM and twice at night. Lamictal (brand name) 100mg once daily and 1mg Xanax 4x daily as needed. Speaking with my psychiatrist about my irritability and flat mood, we decided to give Caplyta a try. I was skeptical because of how new it is, not to mention seemingly bad reviews. That being said, the first night was a bit hairy. I would get unbelievably cold like I was in Antarctica with no clothes on. Then I would be burning up. A brutal headache ensued late and into the next day. I was considering not taking it the next day, but I decided to stick with it. I’m glad I did. The side effects were drastically less the next day and more or less gone completely, and I noticed a difference for sure (i.e., more engaged, better mood)"

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I would ignore these negative reviews. They seem to be people who only stayed on the drug for a couple of days. I have bipolar depression. Eleven months ago, I was hit with the worst depression of my life. I couldn't get off my bed or off the couch. I slept a ton. My house was trashed for months. My doctor wanted me to try Caplyta. Now. The first day I took it, it was horrifying. I took it at night and woke up in the middle of the night with the worst throbbing headache I have ever had. ER worthy. I rushed to take an 800mg ibuprofen, and that only cut the pain down in half. A few hours after I went to bed after being awoken by a headache, I woke up in the AM. I felt completely drunk. I couldn't walk straight, bumping into walls, etc. I will tell you, after the first day of taking this med, the next day I had no symptoms. No headache, I did feel a little wobbly, but not as bad as the first day. On the third day, no side effects. The third day is when my depression completely vanished. Amazing."

• Cor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I took one dosage of Caplyta and about 20 minutes in my arms and legs started to burn as if I took a niacin. Then the next day I had a searing headache. If this drug works for some, great. But not for me. I couldn't find any of my side effects on the internet."

• DeA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Took this on day one for bipolar 2, and 2 hours later I felt like I had icy hot all over my body. Then I felt lethargic to the point I had slurred speech, and I could barely move without help. I had a very dry mouth and excessive thirst. The severe headache started, so I took a nap for about an hour. I woke up with neck pain connecting to the back of my head, nausea, and vomiting. A 2-hour shower eased the headache very little, but it continued along with the nausea until the following day. Also, on the following day I had dark urination. I was advised to discontinue the medication."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Took Caplyta for the first time and only time 2 days ago. I am also on lamotrigine 400 mg and Lexapro 15 mg. The next morning, I could barely open my eyes, that’s how drugged up I felt. I felt dizzy, foggy, nauseous, and confused. I had one of the worst headaches I have ever experienced. My husband had to come home from work that morning because I literally could not function and take care of our 9-month-old. I slept all day, but the headache got worse. I did not take it last night, and I am still having horrible side effects. I couldn’t go to work because I still feel very foggy. My insides feel like they are burning. I either need to explosively vomit or go to the bathroom but can’t do either. I still have a severe headache, and my pee is also unusually dark. I’m so bummed. I had high hopes for this med, but I have never reacted to a medication like this in the last 14 years of being on meds."

• nun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I only needed to take it once, 10.5 mg, to know I'd never take it again. Within an hour, I was passed out completely and don't remember getting to the bed. Woke up after 4 hours and started having hope for it as I was feeling something shifting, more balanced, if you will. Well, then came the major headache everyone is talking about, then the burning from the inside out, unable to regulate body temperature, wobbly. Still wobbly for a couple of days, and my nose was so stuffy the next day. I really had hope. Try it for yourself but I would definitely recommend the lowest dose of 10.5 mg."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "After a year of trying 5 different meds, this has been the most effective by far. I started at 42 mg. The first two weeks I took it, the side effects were unbearable. For me, it was intense dizziness, nausea, headache, and lightheadedness—to the point that I couldn’t drive, and I would repeatedly fall. Despite that, I stuck with it, and I quickly noticed my depressive symptoms improved. After lowering the dose to 21 mg, the side effects almost went completely away. Eventually, Caplyta brought me out of a months-long, severe depressive episode. I still experience mood fluctuation, but it is absolutely manageable. I feel more like myself than I have in a long time. If you can manage to get Caplyta covered by insurance, or if you are able to use the discount card, I absolutely recommend this medication!"

• Cap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 11, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "I don't think it works for my bipolar depression, it does prevent schizo episodes from forming. (I have schizoaffective bipolar.) The medicine makes me very tired. I can only tolerate 21 mg because of that. Also, the full capsule gives me quite the headache that doesn't respond to Tylenol or Advil. That being said, I strongly prefer it to older antipsychotics, all of which give me severe akathisia."

• lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Possibly the worst I have ever felt from just one use. First, I thought I was being paranoid, but like 20 minutes after taking it, my arms felt like they were on fire. And then I threw up, and then my feet started burning, but I was freezing and instantly felt high. It was an extreme high. I then got my mom to come get me because I couldn’t walk from being dizzy and I kept falling. She took me to her house and I instantly had one of the worst headaches I have ever felt in my entire life and started throwing up. Then I checked my temp, and my fever was 100, and my heart rate wouldn’t go down and my oxygen level was 93. My feet and hands got swollen too. And I instantly started going in and out of consciousness. I ended up taking a nap, and I couldn’t stop sweating with chills, and when my bf picked me up, he said I kept passing out. I woke up this morning still sick and I went to the doctor to change my meds."

• Jde...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "This was the worst medicine I’ve ever been on. I took it, and one hour later, my skin was burning, and I was so restless despite taking melatonin. Then, I fell asleep and woke up with a massive headache, severe dizziness, and nausea. This lasted all day. I couldn’t make food because of dizziness, and not that that mattered because I was so nauseous I had no appetite. As the day progressed, it never eased to the point where I had to go to the ER. DO NOT TAKE THIS! Try it for yourself, but I’m warning you, it’s done its damage. I’m now terrified to start new meds."

• k-b...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "First, it has been 6 days, and already my bipolar depression is lifting. I cleaned today, showered, and made food. Crazy if you saw before. I do have a slight headache still. I will say the first night was awful. I have never been so hot in my life. Just my hands and legs. The rest of me was freezing. I was shivering and sweating for almost 20 hours, with red and swollen feet I couldn't walk on. I had one of the worst headaches I have ever had, a severely stuffy nose, and was exhausted, having not slept but maybe an hour that night. I had to call out of work. I decided to try it one more night on the off chance that I was coincidentally sick the night before. I still got a little hot in my feet, but nothing like before. Now, 6 days in, all the side effects are gone, with the exception of a mild headache. It's getting better every day, though. I am already laughing and smiling, today was my first day of motivation, and I'm getting the desire to journal and paint again."

• ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "This is a BIG no for me. I took ONE capsule and literally could barely walk, I was so tired. Then I woke up with the biggest headache. I couldn't even fathom having to go through a few days of this, let alone possibly weeks."

• ish...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I've had an overall pleasant experience with Caplyta 42 mg. I took my first dose on a Friday night and quickly became very drowsy and went to bed early. I woke up the next morning with a horrible headache, but it stopped after a few days. I've been on Caplyta for 5 weeks now, and it still makes me slightly drowsy, which is fine. It helps me sleep, my depression has greatly lifted, and I'm able to get more things done instead of being in a cycle of being too overwhelmed to get anything done. Much to my husband's satisfaction, my libido seems to be coming back a bit after a 2-year dry spell. If you can push through a rough headache for a few days, I think it's worth it. It does give me a dry mouth, but after getting some water and brushing my teeth in the morning, it subsides."

• Dia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Caplyta on April 16, 2023, at 10.5 mg. On April 21, I started 21 mg. On April 24, I started 31.5 mg. On April 29, I started 42 mg. I am so severely depressed. Having headaches, coughing, sneezing, a raw nervous stomach, and diarrhea. Don’t know how I am going to continue feeling this way. Suicide ideations are very scary. Is there still hope for me? I can’t decide if I should continue on this medication or not. Not sure how much more misery I can take. I have also considered going back down to 31.5 mg, maybe 42 mg is too much for my system. I just need some relief from this depression. I wake up every day not wanting to do another day. I am Bipolar II depression. I usually feel good for about 15-19 days of feeling normal and then I tank for 28-25 days. I have been deeply depressed since April 14. I am barely surviving right now. Does anyone have any helpful advice for me?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on it for 5 days, and it is awful! My mood isn't better. I can't do anything. I feel like crap! My head hurts, my neck is all tensed up constantly, my stomach feels like it's in knots. I don't want to drink anything, I have to force myself to drink. I pee every 5 minutes, and I feel like I have a UTI. I just want to sleep, but I can't sleep soundly. It's the worst feeling! I want to just stop taking it, but I'm afraid of what will happen."

• siw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "It's been about 2 weeks since I started taking Caplyta, and so far, I've only noticed the side effects and not so much of any drastic change in depression. Maybe a little more clear-headed and calm, but it still needs more time to work. The side effects I've noticed seem weird and uncommon compared to other reviews. It definitely puts me to sleep, so I take it at night. I've noticed the palms of my hands are super red, but I'm not hot at all. Also, my acid reflux came back, frequent urination, the occasional headache, and my hair is shedding a lot/falling out :/ (assuming it's the medication). On the bright side, I'm losing a lot of weight, have no changes in libido (thank God), and have no feelings of suicide, which most other meds cause for me. Going to keep taking it as I hear the side effects should be going away soon. * Will be taking vitamins for my hair though."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "The first time I tried this med, the side effects after just one pill were unbearable. But, I contacted my doctor and asked him to switch me to another antipsychotic that I could titrate up. He then wrote a script for Caplyta again, but at a dose of 10.5. They’ve recently released lower doses (10.5 and 21 mg). I think they did this because a lot of people were reporting terrible side effects when starting at 42 mg. I believe they did this because of all the negative reviews from starting right at 42 mg. So starting at the 10.5, I still had side effects for a week or so. The headaches hung on the longest. I’ve been on it about two weeks now and the side effects have completely subsided. I’m starting to feel better. My mood is lifting, I’m more productive, and I’m even getting my libido back! I’m so glad I tried again."

• Amg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I got this medication this week. The first night I took it, and an hour later I had a huge headache, and when I got up, the whole room spun so badly I had to hold onto my bed. The next morning I was getting up for school, and nobody could wake me up for a long time, even shaking me. I eventually woke up and was exhausted even though I had slept 9 hours. I couldn’t even stay awake while on my Adderall prescription and fell asleep doing my makeup on the floor. Then all day people were telling me I looked like I was on something, and I seemed drugged up, and I really felt like I was. I also had a major migraine and extreme dizziness, and the exhaustion stayed the whole day. The third and second day was pretty much the same as the first two, but it just seemed to be getting worse. Supposed to take my fourth dose tonight, but I’m not. Worst med I have ever taken."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I first took Caplyta last night. Within 30 minutes, my skin was on fire! No hives, but like someone else said, Icy Hot. Then I projectile vomited all over my bathroom: nausea, diarrhea, terrible headache, and body aches. I was chilled to my bones and then had hot flashes. Fever of 102.1 that didn’t go away with ibuprofen. Then at 5 AM, I started seeing aliens from the corner of my eyes. I took Benadryl and slept with my light on. I had to call into work, and the kids missed school because there was no way I could drive. My body does NOT like this stuff. One and done forever!"

• Van...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2022

For Schizophrenia "I am taking Caplyta for schizoaffective disorder and bipolar. I took the 42 mg daily dose for a month. This drug is designed for no tapering. Reading other reviews, I was prepared for 1 to 3 days of headache initially and a niacin-like flushing that made me feel feverish. I was not prepared for my IBD symptoms to worsen. Food I ate would go through me not fully digested. I had diarrhea constantly. Now that I take Latuda, I am regular and have no diarrhea. As far as ameliorating paranoia, I still felt fearful occasionally."

• Rod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2023

"I took this to relieve stress. Seems to have cleared out my sinuses well, yet given me the worst headache while sleeping and literally couldn't sleep last night, was cold even in a 76.1-degree room. I felt dizzy for 24 hours and like I was going to fall backward as my knees would weaken. I have no energy to remember what I came in a room for or to grocery shop or anything, especially mind and memory there."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2022

For Schizophrenia "I’ve been on Caplyta for two weeks. I only sleep 5 hours a night and have headaches, brain fog, and extreme fatigue, as well as depression. I’m stopping it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Make me feel super tired and hungover the next day, terrible headache, and body temp fluctuations."