Drug Approved for Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder Vraylar is an atypical antipsychotic taken once a day FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES By Mary Elizabeth Dallas HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A new antipsychotic drug to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug, Vraylar (cariprazine), is a capsule taken once a day. "Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be disabling and can greatly interfere with day-to-day activities," Dr. Mitchell Mathis, director of the division of psychiatry products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release. "It is important to have a variety of treatment options available to patients with mental illnesses so that treatment plans can be tailored to meet a patient's individual needs," Mathis said. Schizophrenia, a chronic and disabling braindisorder that usually develops in early adulthood, occurs in 1 percent of the general population, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. People with the condition often see or hear things that are not there. They are also withdrawn or paranoid, believing others are trying to read their mind or control their thoughts. CONTINUE READING BELOW WEBMD How to Get Pregnant 10 Tips. Vraylar belongs to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. Others in this group include Abilify (aripiprazole), Seroquel(quetiapine) and Risperdal (risperidone). The drug's effectiveness in treating schizophrenia was tested among more than 1,750 patients in three six-week clinical trials. It was shown to reduce schizophrenia symptoms compared to the placebo. The drug's maker, Forest Labs, and distributor, Actavis Pharma, are based in New Jersey. The most commonly reported side effects in the schizophrenia trials were tremor, slurred speech and involuntary muscle movements. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, leads to dramatic ...