Millions of people across the United States have bipolar depression, and the list of medications that help with this affliction is quite long. Ever since 2013, when it was approved by the FDA to treat bipolar depression, Latuda has been proven to reduce the symptoms of this illness and has helped millions of people feel better and more in control of their lives. Latuda is a brand name for lurasidone HCI and has had extensive clinical trials conducted on it, so if this is something that you’d like to try, here is some information you need to know.
What Is Bipolar Depression?
Formerly called manic depression, bipolar depression is a mental health condition that results in patients having extreme mood swings. This includes both mania or hypomania, which are emotional highs, and depression, which are lows. With the highs, you might feel full of energy or euphoric. With the lows, you might feel sad or hopeless and even lose interest in activities that you usually love. The number of times you feel these things can be once a year or regularly throughout the year. Each person is different, but with such extreme highs and lows, medication plus therapy usually is what’s recommended.
In between your episodes, you might still experience some type of emotional symptoms, although this isn’t true for all patients. The bottom line is, that with bipolar depression medication, you’ll feel more in control of your symptoms as your mood swings level out some, enabling you to improve your overall quality of life. Though different patients react differently to Latuda, the majority of users find that their illness improves quite a bit. If you’re wondering about Lurasidone dosages, keep reading because the following are things you need to know.
Roughly 4% of the adult population in the United States will experience bipolar depression at some point in their lives. Of that number, 82% of the episodes will be severe. While many of these people never get on medication of any type, many others will seek treatment from a physician. If you feel like you cannot control your moods and you’re experiencing highs and lows that are making your life less enjoyable, it is recommended that you see a doctor as soon as possible.
Are You Experiencing Bipolar Depression?
There are several types of bipolar depression, so even if you feel like you may have this illness, it’s still good to know what the symptoms are of each type. They include the following:
● Bipolar I disorder. If you’ve experienced one or more manic episodes that were preceded or followed by any major depressive episode, you could be suffering from bipolar depression. Some people, in fact, have it so bad that they suffer with a break from reality or psychosis.
● Bipolar II disorder. If you’ve experienced one or more major depressive episodes along with one or more hypomanic episodes but no manic episodes, you could have Bipolar II disorder.
● Cyclothymic disorder. This refers to people who have suffered from many periods of both hypomania symptoms and depressive symptoms over the past two years (one year in children and teenagers). In these cases, the depressive symptoms are not always too bad.
There are other types of bipolar depression as well, including those that are brought on by either drug or alcohol abuse or due to a medical condition such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, or Cushing’s disease. This is why it is so important to talk to a doctor if your highs and lows have become incapacitating or they’re making your life less fulfilling or enjoyable. You’ll need to discuss with the doctor not only your symptoms but also any medications you’re taking to make sure the medication prescribed doesn’t interact with those you’re already taking.
What Is Latuda?
Latuda (lurasidone HCI) was originally an antipsychotic medication recommended for schizophrenia, but since 2013 it has been FDA-approved for use in patients with bipolar depression. The medication can take a few weeks before patients start feeling better, but it makes living with bipolar depression a lot easier on all types of patients. Sometimes, Latuda is used in combination with another medication, but your doctor may determine that Latuda is all you need for improvement of symptoms.
Latuda comes in five different doses – 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, and 120 mg. One of the things that patients like best about Latuda is that it has been approved not only for adults but also for children ages 10 to 17. Many times, doctors will start a patient on the lowest dosage and then monitor that patient to determine how the medication is working. Doctors can adjust the medication as needed until they find the exact dosage that is right for you.
The numbers regarding Latuda are impressive. Overall, roughly 44% of patients saw a reduction in their depressive symptoms versus those taking a placebo. Latuda can be used alone or along with a treatment plan that includes a mood stabilizer such as lithium or valproate. If adults take Latuda along with some type of mood stabilizer, they see an average of a 27% reduction in symptoms.
When children take Latuda alone, they experience an average of a 37% reduction in depressive symptoms versus placebo. Even at the lowest number (27%), this still means that at least one-third of patients get some relief from using Latuda either with or without a mood stabilizer. But keep in mind that the success rate is different depending on the patient, so your number might be much higher than the ones already mentioned.
When patients were studied, adults who took Latuda alone had improved scores in overall quality of life and in their ability to function. While Latuda can take a while to start working, most patients saw a drastic improvement by the six-week mark. This is based on a scoring system that measures functional impairment and improvement in adults who were already taking a mood stabilizer; adding Latuda to their treatment plan resulted in a 36% greater improvement in total functioning score versus those who took a placebo at six weeks.
Are There Side Effects?
Like many other medications, it is possible for people to have side effects when taking Latuda. Some of these side effects include:
● Slow or difficult movement
● Sleepiness or drowsiness
● Restlessness
● Weight changes
● Diabetes or hypoglycemia
● Motor instability that leads to falls
● Seizures
● Problems with regulating your body temperature
The important tip to remember is to talk to your doctor if you have any symptoms so that your condition and reaction to the medication can be monitored the entire time. Your doctor can decide if the dosage needs to be changed or if you need another type of medication altogether, but be sure you inform your doctor about all of these things so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. Even if you experience symptoms not included on this list, your doctor needs to be made aware of them.
In addition to becoming familiar with possible side effects, you should also keep in mind the following tips that will help your medication work more effectively.
● Always stay hydrated and drink plenty of water
● Do not drink alcohol because your side effects may worsen
● Do not eat or drink anything with grapefruit in it
● Take Latuda on a full stomach, preferably after eating a minimum of 350 calories
● Be careful when operating machinery since Latuda can make you drowsy
In addition to all of these things, always take your Latuda as prescribed by your doctor. In most cases, Latuda is taken only once a day, so stick with that regimen to get the best results. Also, to reduce the likelihood of suffering from any side effects, always make sure your doctor knows if you’ve ever had one of the following conditions:
● High cholesterol or triglycerides
● Heart problems or stroke
● High or low blood pressure
● Seizures
● Kidney or liver problems
● Diabetes or high blood sugar
● Low white blood cell count
● High prolactin levels
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding or intend to become pregnant, you should let your doctor know before taking Latuda. In fact, any and all medical conditions need to be discussed with your doctor just to make sure this medication is safe for you to take.
How Much Does Latuda Cost?
Latuda is not a very expensive medication, especially if you purchase it from the right source. The company that makes the medicine sometimes offers free trials and discounts, so you can check with them to determine if there are ways to pay less. Latuda is usually prescribed once a day, and doses vary depending on whether a child or an adult is being treated. Your doctor may also be able to help you get the medication a little less expensive.
Latuda is a miracle worker for millions of people in the United States alone, and it is an overall very safe medication to take. If you think you might have bipolar depression, it’s time to see your doctor. Be honest about everything you feel so that the right dose of Latuda is determined. But most of all, don’t wait – do it today. Latuda® (Lurasidone) Dosing and Administration Information
