{"id":628172,"date":"2024-05-10T14:38:58","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T18:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628172"},"modified":"2024-10-25T09:57:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:57:41","slug":"latuda-withdrawal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/latuda-withdrawal\/","title":{"rendered":"Latuda withdrawal: What happens when you stop taking Latuda?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Latuda<\/span><\/a> is a brand of lurasidone, a prescription drug used in the treatment of bipolar disorder (specifically, bipolar depression) and schizophrenia. Latuda is part of a class of medications called atypical, or second-generation, <\/span>antipsychotics<\/span><\/a>. Abruptly stopping a drug like Latuda may result in a rebound of symptoms. Quitting antipsychotics may also cause withdrawal-like symptoms such as <\/span>nausea<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>diarrhea<\/span><\/a>, restlessness, and uncontrolled muscle movements. Latuda is <\/span>not<\/i><\/b> intended to treat dementia-related psychosis in older adult patients as it may cause an increased risk of death. <\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Latuda withdrawal<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are no studies or clinical trials on Latuda withdrawal. The drug’s manufacturer, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., does not list withdrawal as a side effect of discontinuing this medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Medications like Latuda … do not have ‘formal’ withdrawal symptoms, but some people may experience some minor discomfort when reducing doses,” said <\/span>Howard Weeks, MD<\/span><\/a>, chief medical officer at Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center in Denver, Colorado.<\/span><\/p>\n

Psychiatrist <\/span>Sid Khurana, MD<\/span><\/a>, the medical director for Nevada Mental Health, agrees. “There is not a discontinuation syndrome or withdrawal,” Dr. Khurana said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Still, there are anecdotal reports of withdrawal-like symptoms from quitting Latuda, especially if the person stops taking the medication suddenly. A <\/span>report published in 2021 in <\/span>Schizophrenia Bulletin<\/span><\/i><\/a> noted that while antipsychotic withdrawal symptoms are not widely recognized, withdrawal-like symptoms can occur when quitting second-generation antipsychotic medications. However, it’s important to note that while Latuda is a second-generation antipsychotic, none of the clinical studies in the report involved Latuda or other brands of lurasidone.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what might cause unpleasant symptoms when quitting or tapering off Latuda? It’s likely the sudden change in brain chemicals. Antipsychotics like Latuda are intended to treat severe mood disorders by <\/span>changing the activity of certain chemicals in the brain<\/span><\/a>. Abruptly quitting this medication may cause an imbalance of brain chemicals and a relapse of the treated condition (schizophrenia or depression from bipolar disorder). <\/span><\/p>\n

“Latuda should be tapered off gradually,” Dr. Khurana emphasized. “It is not recommended to stop this medicine suddenly, especially when taking a <\/span>high dose<\/span><\/a> for a long time.” Ultimately, it is essential never to stop taking Latuda without the guidance of a healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Timeline for Latuda withdrawal<\/span><\/h2>\n

Not all patients experience withdrawal effects from discontinuing atypical antipsychotics like Latuda. For those who do, symptoms begin within four weeks of quitting, according to a <\/span>review of five studies<\/span><\/a> published in <\/span>Frontiers of Psychology<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same review found that withdrawal symptoms typically last one to four weeks. The exception is hyperkinesia, or involuntary muscle movement, which may last months after stopping the medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s important to reiterate that not everyone experiences unwanted side effects from stopping Latuda. To reduce the risk of withdrawal or symptom rebound, the <\/span>American Psychiatric Association<\/span><\/a> recommends gradual discontinuation under the guidance of a medical team. In most cases, tapering off Latuda takes weeks or even months. In <\/span>an online survey of 585 antipsychotic users<\/span><\/a> who had tried to stop taking the drugs, 23% said discontinuation took at least one year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common symptoms of Latuda withdrawal<\/span><\/h3>\n

The most common Latuda withdrawal symptom is symptom rebound. In other words, a person who has been symptom-free while taking Latuda may experience a return of mood disorder symptoms that seem worse than pretreatment symptoms. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other symptoms of antipsychotic withdrawal, according to the <\/span>Frontiers in Psychology<\/span><\/i> review, include:<\/span><\/p>\n