Lurasidone
1 medicine
Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar depression. It must be taken with a meal of at least 350 calories, since food roughly doubles how much of the drug your body absorbs.
Key facts
- Lurasidone (sold as Latuda) is an atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder.
- You must take it with food, at least 350 calories; taking it on an empty stomach roughly halves absorption and can make it less effective.
- Like other antipsychotics, it carries a risk of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare life-threatening reaction, and can cause metabolic changes such as weight gain and rises in blood sugar and cholesterol.
- Seek urgent care for high fever with muscle rigidity, or new thoughts of self-harm.
What lurasidone treats
Lurasidone treats schizophrenia in adults and adolescents, and depressive episodes of bipolar I disorder, taken alone or alongside lithium or valproate. It is not approved for the manic phase of bipolar disorder or for dementia-related psychosis.
How lurasidone works
Lurasidone blocks dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, and partially blocks serotonin 5-HT7 receptors. This rebalances signaling pathways involved in hallucinations, delusions and mood, easing psychotic symptoms and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.
Before you take it
- Take lurasidone with a meal of at least 350 calories every day; food substantially increases how much the body absorbs.
- Tell your prescriber about diabetes, high cholesterol, heart rhythm problems, Parkinson's disease, or a history of seizures.
- Avoid combining it with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, or inducers, such as rifampin, since these substantially change lurasidone levels.
- Older adults with dementia-related psychosis should generally avoid lurasidone: antipsychotics as a class raise the risk of death in this group.
Side effects
Common effects include nausea, drowsiness, restlessness (akathisia) and dizziness on standing.
Stop and seek urgent medical care for:
- High fever, muscle rigidity or confusion, which can signal NMS.
- Uncontrollable movements of the face or limbs, which can signal tardive dyskinesia.
- New or worsening depression, agitation, or thoughts of self-harm.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat.
Safety essentials
- Always take lurasidone with food totaling at least 350 calories; without it, blood levels drop enough to reduce the drug's effect.
- Ask your prescriber to check your weight, blood sugar and cholesterol periodically, since metabolic changes are a known class effect.
- It carries the same NMS and movement-disorder risks as other antipsychotics; report new muscle stiffness or fever right away.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.