What Latuda Is Used For
Latuda was approved by the FDA for treating adult schizophrenia and for depressive episodes in bipolar patients. While the FDA approval specifies depressive episodes in bipolar, no studies have provided sufficient evidence of efficacy in treating manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder.
Off label uses for Latuda cover a wide range, including insomnia, OCD, Tourette’s, autism, borderline personality disorder, and other psychiatric disorders.26
The package insert states that elderly patients with symptoms of dementia should not be prescribed because of the increased risk of death in that segment of the population. The medication carries black box warning labels for the pediatric (child/adolescent) population (under age 25), particularly in relation to increased suicidality for this age group, as well as cautions for taking Latuda during pregnancy because of the risks of birth defects and infant withdrawal syndrome after birth.3,21
Latuda Withdrawal Help
Because of the long-acting nature of antipsychotic medications and the typically critical scenarios in which they are prescribed, Latuda withdrawal help is especially advised. Antipsychotic drug withdrawal needs to be very gradual and slow, over months or longer.20 The risks of abrupt or too fast cessation or trying to quit Latuda on your own give considerable need for caution. Always seek help and guidance for Latuda withdrawal.
Getting Off Latuda and Dopamine Fluctuations
Unless a medical emergency arises where the drug must be immediately withdrawn to save the patient’s life, as in Steven-Johnson syndrome, or NMS, Latuda cessation is recommended to be done on a gradual tapering basis to mitigate the severity of withdrawal phenomena.
It is thought that Latuda may deflect dopamine from the D2 receptor and that this could reduce psychotic symptoms. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with “reward” and also regulates voluntary movements, mood, sleep, appetite, learning, and uncountable other functions in the body. When this natural chemical is suppressed, a person may lose the sensation of reward in life, making long-term use particularly subject to non-compliance as well as using stimulants to revive some pleasure in life. Dopamine suppresses prolactin, and this is thought to be why male and female breast enhancement and lactation are side effects of dopamine agonist drugs.27 Dopamine fluctuations are of prime concern both in managing antipsychotic medications and in safely withdrawing from them.
As is the case with most drugs, the body has the ability to adapt to medication over time, which limits its effectiveness. Based on the aforementioned theory of the drug’s mechanism of restricting the expression of dopamine, during Latuda withdrawal a surge of dopamine expression may occur, which would flood the up-regulated (highly sensitive) receptors. This may clinically present as a rapid onset of re-emerging psychosis that needs to be addressed without delay.16,17
There may be a point where the patient becomes resistive or unable to follow pragmatic guidelines and directions when such changes occur. In an outpatient setting, working closely with a physician with hospital admitting privileges is highly advised to regain control in an effective yet compassionate way.
In extreme cases, a decision may be made to hospitalize the patient under the care of trusted physicians, so that after stabilization, resuming the taper at a much slower pace may be able to be considered. Such considerations are more relevant in cases where the patient has been medicated for many years. With such careful precautions and procedures, many patients can transition to either being completely medication-free or to the smallest possible dose that yet supports the highest possible quality of life.26
Latuda Alternative Names and Slang
Latuda is the trade name for the generic drug lurasidone. Latuda is also sold under many other trade names, as the medication is sold in various countries. In India, for example, the drug is sold under various brand names:
- Atlura©
- Lurace©
- Luratic©
- Luramax©
- Luratrend©
- Tablura©
- And many others
The generic active ingredient is lurasidone. Lurasidone is nearly identical in molecular structure to certain other antipsychotic medications, such as Risperdal, Fanapt, and Invega.
No evidence has been found of Latuda being popularized as a street drug for producing euphoric effects, or for having acquired a street “nickname.”15
Latuda Side Effects
Many patients taking Latuda may experience mild or no severe side effects. Where side effects do present, these can be severe and some rare side effects may come on quickly and can be potentially life-threatening. Some severe side effects include various movement disorders and serious metabolic and other changes common to virtually all antipsychotic medications.
Latuda Side Effects include:
- Akathisia (motor movement disorder accompanied by a relentless compulsion to stay in motion) 1,26
- Tardive dyskinesia* (a typically irreversible movement disorder involving twisting or writhing, spasmodic gestures, rolling tongue, facial movements, etc.) can occur even after brief Latuda use and may emerge after discontinuation of Latuda.5,6,19,20,23
- Hyponatremia 1,24
- Metabolic changes can result in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk, weight gain, hyperglycemia, breast enhancement and lactation in males and females, and other consequences.1,5,7,25,27
- Parkinsonism (muscle rigidity, slowness that looks like Parkinson’s but is drug-induced) and other extrapyramidal disorders involving spasmodic or unnatural fixed or repeating muscle movements or gestures or postures 26
- Sedation, or its opposite, restlessness, and agitation in some persons.15
- Tachycardia (elevated heart rate when the body is at rest)
- Increased rate of infections including urinary tract infection
- Influenza type symptoms
*Tardive dyskinesia is drug-induced in 20% to 50% of all patients taking antipsychotic medications, and TD occurs with a wide variety of other classes of drugs as well, according to Cornett et al’s study published in the summer of 2017.
The FDA label for Latuda (lurasidone hydrochloride) tablets lists these side effects:
- Suicidal behavior (19 more suicides occurred during short-term (8 weeks) trials compared to placebo in each group of 1000 participants during these clinical trials) 1
- Worsening suicidal ideation
- NMS, or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: symptoms include altered mental state, irregular heartbeat/blood pressure, tachycardia (elevated heart rate), rigidity in muscles, diaphoresis (acute sweating as a drug reaction), acute renal failure (kidney failure), and hyperpyrexia (fever above 106.7°F).1
- Seizures
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level) leading to coma or death
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (potentially fatal reaction to drugs, causes fever, raised hives or welts that erupt, crust, and cause the skin to fall away, susceptible to sepsis and requires care in ICU or burn unit)
- Anemia
- Cerebrovascular events in elderly patients with dementia leading to stroke, death, or other adverse events
There may be other symptoms not listed here. Should side effects become noticeably uncomfortable, one should seek medical attention right away.