Side Effects of Latuda Reported in Short-Term Drug Trials
The following are the side effects from Latuda’s label citing a number of drug company funded clinical trials, mostly short-term. Of concern, no data is provided on the drug’s label whether these side effects persisted or became chronic after the trials were complete. In fact, some cases of movement disorders emerged after only a few days into the drug trial. Tragically, some movement disorders and other injuries can become irreversible over time.
Since prescribing guidelines encourage prescribing Latuda in combination with an antidepressant, or with another antipsychotic medication, some of these side effects may be more frequent with multiple drug prescriptions.1
Short-term side effects of Latuda listed on the drug’s label include:
- Suicidality
- Movement disorders, dystonia, seizures, akathisia, Parkinsonism, restlessness, up to 3-4 times placebo, even at low dosages
- Psychomotor hyperactivity
- Somnolence, fatigue
- Back pain
- Nausea, vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Insomnia
- Tachycardia
- Agitation, anxiety
- Weight gain
- Metabolic/blood sugar dysregulation
- Diarrhea
- Falls
- Elevated prolactin levels
- Activation of mania/hypomania
- Pain or difficulty swallowing
- Blood pressure dysregulation, hypotension
- Syncope (fainting, dizziness, lightheadedness after rising from a sitting or laying position)
- Dry mouth
- Hypersalivation (drooling)
- Runny nose, nasal congestion
- Viral infections, influenza
- Abdominal pain, indigestion
- Emotional numbness
- Lack of motivation
Marijuana, THC & Psychosis
There is a well-documented prevalence of psychosis connected with marijuana and other cannabis products used recreationally. There are reasons why some persons experience a state of psychosis after marijuana use.12
Some persons opt to use recreational drugs or other types of stimulants while taking antipsychotics for a measure of relief or levity. But this can be catastrophic where dopamine has become dysregulated, especially when trying to lower the dose.
We recommended carefully studying the material presented in antipsychotic withdrawal and the videos presented here, to learn more about what to avoid and what to add to your daily regimen, and to help as you progress smoothly along in your recovery.
Movement Disorders Associated with Latuda
There are many forms of movement disorders that occur with antipsychotics like Latuda. Generally these become more prominent over time, and at higher doses. They are found more commonly in women than men, where 30% of women taking antipsychotics for a year or more will present with a movement disorder. Following is a list and expanded description of various types of movement disorders caused by long-term antipsychotics like Latuda.5-10
Tardive Dyskinesias
Tardive means appearing late, or developing in late stages. Dyskinesia means interfering with, or impairing voluntary muscle movements.
Tardive dyskinesia, or TD is an umbrella term. TD includes many types of medication-induced movement disorders associated with long-term use of antipsychotics, that can persist after discontinuation or change in medication. Although “tardive” implies appearing late, cases of dystonia were reported a few days after starting Latuda in early clinical trials.
TD as a classification actually includes many types of movement disorders. Examples include akathisia, chorea, dystonia, tics, buccolingual stereotypy, and other kinds of movement disorders. These will be described below.
Akathisia – a movement disorder characterized by a severe internal restlessness, coupled with a compulsion to keep the body in motion. The condition can look like pacing, rocking, marching, or similar repetitive motions. Akathisia feels acutely disturbing, can cause high anxiety and distress, and persons suffering with akathisia describe it as wanting to jump out of one’s skin.
Chorea – Involuntary motions that are described as “dance-like,” brief and random unpredictable motions, sometimes described as restless fidgeting. Chorea can be accompanied by mood swings and feelings of distress.
Dystonia – Sustained involuntary twisting of the body, cramping and muscle contractions that persist and can be painful. Dystonia can look like odd postures and involuntary spams that can be mild or severe. Examples might include rapid repetitive blinking, cramping of the foot, tremors in the hand.
Buccolingual stereotypy – (stereotypy means repetitive motions, buccolingual refers to the tongue and cheek) Motions affecting the mouth, jaw, tongue, facial areas. It may look like smacking the lips, sticking out or rolling the tongue, puffing out of the cheeks, grimacing, and other uncontrollable muscle movements in these areas around the mouth.
Parkinsonism
Parkinsonism is associated with long-term antipsychotics like Latuda. The condition resembles Parkinson’s disease, which is described as a disease where dopaminergic neurons are dying off which blocks dopamine getting to the brain.
Parkinsonism is a drug-induced condition where dopamine transmitters are suppressed, blocking dopamine to the brain.
The symptoms are similar, including tremors, slow or shuffling walk, muscle stiffness, hallucination, dementia, and others. (dementia means memory loss, cognitive skill loss, and behavioral or personality changes).
Leukopenia, Neutropenia
Leukopenia is a health condition where too few white blood cells (leukocytes) are in the blood. Neutropenia is a similar condition where too few of a specific type of white blood cell called neutrophils are present. Both leukocytes and neutrophils are responsible for a health and functioning immune system. This means a person would be more prone to infections, because the immune cells are missing that would normally be there to fight off infections and pathogens.6
Metabolic Dysregulation and Long-Term Antipsychotics
The purpose of metabolism is to sustain life in the human body. Metabolism is our physiological chemistry, our internal chemistry lab. Metabolism entails breaking down food, water, and oxygen via chemical reactions, to make and manage the distribution of energy throughout the body so that each cell, organ, and system can properly function. Stay alive in other words.
Dysregulation means broken.
Research has determined that between 37% and 63% of patients medicated with antipsychotics experience metabolic syndrome. In taking Latuda long-term metabolic dysregulation can cause specific health concerns. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in persons with metabolic dysregulation.8-10
Metabolic dysregulation associated with long-term Latuda can include:
- Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
- Increased risk for cardiovascular diseases
- increased risk of liver or other internal organ damage
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Insulin resistance
- Chronic inflammation
ATMC’s Approach to Medication Reduction and Discontinuation after Long-Term Latuda
Antipsychotics are understood to work by suppression of dopamine and other natural hormones/neurotransmitters and their receptors. However, as mentioned in several topics above, the suppression of dopamine (and possible other neurotransmitters) for a very long time can have serious adverse health effects.
It can be disheartening in treating major mental health concerns like schizophrenia and depression in bipolar to be faced with a “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” approach to traditional treatment.
Over the past nearly 2 decades, ATMC has developed new approaches to the problem. Not everyone may be able to completely discontinue taking antipsychotic medication such as Latuda, taken long-term, and still keep original symptoms well in check. But we have found a significant percentage of our clients who actually can reduce dosage quite substantially, or even entirely, and with strong supports in place, can successfully attain more energy, more zest, and regain a much more satisfying quality of life without a heavy burden of medication side effects.
As mentioned in Lyle’s video above, a study by Harrow showed that after 2 years of treatment with antipsychotic medications, persons who continued taking antipsychotics had a 6 times greater chance of being re-hospitalized compared to those who safely and gradually tapered off the medication.11
Our approach entails education, neurotoxin removal, diet correction, exercise, counseling, and many other holistic and proven methods of recovery. Each person’s case is unique and their approach to treatment must also be uniquely tailored for the best possible outcome. Please visit our services overview pages to find out more about specific protocols and the science behind them, that are offered at ATMC.
Please call us for more information to see if our gentle approach to better mental wellness is what you or your loved one has been looking for, especially after long-term Latuda or other medication treatment. We are here to help.
Latuda also carries a black box warning for suicidality in children, teens and young adults. Suicidal ideation associated with Latuda was not flagged during initial drug trials, but became evident post-marketing.
Brain volume reduction
