Indications
- Lurasidone is a medication used to treat mental/mood disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar depression.
- It works by balancing certain chemicals in the brain.
Dosage and administration
- Read the Medication Guide before starting lurasidone and each time you get a refill. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
- Take lurasidone by mouth with food, once daily as directed by your doctor. Dosage depends on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and other medications you take. Tell your doctor about all your medications including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products.
- Take lurasidone regularly to get the most benefit from it. Try to take it at the same time each day.
- Continue taking lurasidone exactly as prescribed, even if you feel better. Don’t increase your dose or take it more often. Stopping lurasidone without consulting your doctor can worsen your condition.
- Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking lurasidone unless your doctor says it’s safe.
- Tell your doctor if your condition doesn’t improve or worsens. It may take several weeks to feel the full benefit of this medication.
Side effects
- Lurasidone may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, shaking, weight gain, facial expression changes, trouble keeping still, and agitation. Tell your doctor if these effects bother you.
- Lurasidone may cause dizziness or lightheadedness that can lead to falls. Get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
- Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: drooling, trouble swallowing, fainting, interrupted breathing during sleep, face twitching, uncontrolled movements, symptoms of high blood sugar (increased thirst/urination), or seizure.
- In rare cases, lurasidone may cause males to have a painful or prolonged erection. Get medical help right away if this occurs.
- Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: fever, muscle stiffness/pain/tenderness/weakness, severe tiredness, severe confusion, sweating, fast/irregular heartbeat, dark urine, signs of kidney problems, fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, itching/swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
- This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
- Before taking lurasidone, tell your doctor about any allergies you have, kidney problems, liver problems, stroke, breast cancer, diabetes (including family history), obesity, low blood pressure, seizures, low white blood cell count, dementia, trouble swallowing, or breathing trouble during sleep.
- Lurasidone may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or activities needing alertness until you can do them safely. Talk to your doctor about alcohol and marijuana use.
- Before having surgery, tell your doctor about all medications you take including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products.
- Lurasidone may make you sweat less, increasing the risk of heat stroke. Avoid hot weather activities, drink plenty of fluids, and dress lightly. Seek medical help for fever, mental/mood changes, headache, or dizziness.
- Older adults may be more sensitive to side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness, which can increase the risk of falling.
- Lurasidone should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed. Discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.
- It is unknown if lurasidone passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.