What is Latuda?

Latuda is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (such as schizophrenia, depression associated with bipolar disorder). Lurasidone helps you to think more clearly, feel less nervous, and take part in everyday life. It may also help to decrease hallucinations (hearing/seeing things that are not there). In addition, this medication may improve your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy level. Lurasidone is a psychiatric medication that belongs to the class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain. Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it.

Always read the patient information and instructions carefully before using this medication.

• Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily.
• Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
• Continue taking this medication exactly as prescribed, even if you are feeling better and thinking more clearly. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than prescribed. Your symptoms will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Make sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist:

• If you have any drug allergies.
• Which other prescription and non-prescription medications you currently take.
• Your medical history, especially of: kidney problems, liver problems, stroke, breast cancer, diabetes (including family history), obesity, low blood pressure, seizures, low white blood cell count, dementia (such as Alzheimer's Disease), trouble swallowing, breathing trouble during sleep (sleep apnea).
• If you are using marijuana.
• If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breast feeding.

Also be aware that:

• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
• This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
• This medication may make you sweat less, making you more likely to get heat stroke. Avoid doing things that may cause you to overheat, such as hard work or exercise in hot weather, or using hot tubs. When the weather is hot, drink a lot of fluids and dress lightly. If you overheat, quickly look for a place to cool down and rest. Get medical help right away if you have a fever that does not go away, mental/mood changes, headache, or dizziness.
• Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness can increase the risk of falling.
• During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Babies born to mothers who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may rarely develop symptoms including muscle stiffness or shakiness, drowsiness, feeding/breathing difficulties, or constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn especially during their first month, tell the doctor right away.

Common side-effects may include but are not limited to:

• Drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, shaking, weight gain, mask-like facial expression, inability to keep still, and agitation.
• A serious drop in blood pressure, especially when starting this medication. Dizziness and lightheadedness can increase the risk of falling. Get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following side-effects:

• Drooling/trouble swallowing, fainting, interrupted breathing during sleep.
• Infrequently, this medication may cause face/muscle twitching and uncontrollable movements (tardive dyskinesia). In some cases, this condition may be permanent. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any uncontrollable movements such as lip smacking, mouth puckering, tongue thrusting, chewing, or unusual arm/leg movements.
• Symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination
• In rare cases, lurasidone may increase your level of a certain substance made by the body (prolactin). For females, this increase in prolactin may result in unwanted breast milk, missed/stopped periods, or difficulty becoming pregnant. For males, it may result in decreased sexual ability, inability to produce sperm, or enlarged breasts.
• This medication may also cause a rise in your blood fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides). These increases, along with diabetes and weight gain, may increase your risk for developing heart disease.
• Rarely, males may have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours. If this occurs, stop using this drug and get medical help right away, or permanent problems could occur.
• Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as rashes, itching, swelling especially of the face, tongue or throat, severe dizziness or trouble breathing.
• Any of the following symptoms: fever, muscle stiffness/pain/tenderness/weakness, severe tiredness, severe confusion, sweating, fast/irregular heartbeat, dark urine, signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine).
• Any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing

Q: What happens if I miss a dose?

A: Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.