Latuda and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 5)

• shr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2022

For Schizophrenia "Akathisia on this drug was so bad I would pace my roommate's house and drove him crazy. Eventually, it started evening off with some anxiety medicine, but I couldn't go back to work due to the high price without insurance. I got off it, but there were times I would be with my friends and simply have to leave due to moving my feet around, needing space to move and stuff. My doctor helped it a little by lowering it and slowly raising it over a few days, but I agree the akathisia may make you want to get off it, it's not always comfortable for every person, I am sure. Just pure pacing circles all day, and when I would take it at night, I felt dysphoria, like a sense of dread that made me cuddle up in a ball. It wasn't too bad on weight gain at the time, which is why I liked it so much, and I will say it was the most effective med I have been on other than Seroquel, which is my current medication. I literally had to leave friends' houses due to the uncomfortableness and canceled plans."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Horrible, evil pill. Didn't realize it was causing me anxiety after being EPC for false statements, they put me on it in the hospital and I was like, sure, okay. They rapidly ramped me to 60 mg, the anxiety/nervousness from it was intense, crippling, and basically made me botch an easy in-and-out hearing where my family fully supported me - they weren't even allowed in to testify to the falseness of why I was EPC'd because I shut down and said no contest to total BS. This drug is known for causing people to be violent. I can sort of see why it might do that. It's immensely powerful, and the 'doctors' like to give out a needlessly high dose. The irony is, the doc I have now says I'm not even bipolar."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Horrible, evil pill. Didn't realize it was causing me anxiety after being EPC for false statements, they put me on it in the hospital and I was like, sure, okay. They rapidly ramped me to 60 mg, the anxiety/nervousness from it was intense, crippling, and basically made me botch an easy in-and-out hearing where my family fully supported me - they weren't even allowed in to testify to the falseness of why I was EPC'd because I shut down and said no contest to total BS. This drug is known for causing people to be violent. I can sort of see why it might do that. It's immensely powerful, and the 'doctors' like to give out a needlessly high dose. The irony is, the doc I have now says I'm not even bipolar."

• cob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2017

For Schizophrenia "At first, I thought I had found a *miracle medicine* for my schizoaffective disorder, as I was waking up early each morning with energy. Over time, I noticed an increasingly strong yet underlying feeling of anxiety, which led me to have constant severe panic attacks. At one point, I had to leave the mall as I had such a feeling of anxiety, terror, and paranoia washing over me. If you are prone to anxiety or paranoia, steer clear, as you will likely feel out of control on this medication, especially at the doses above 10 mg."

• cob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2017

For Schizophrenia "At first, I thought I had found a *miracle medicine* for my schizoaffective disorder, as I was waking up early each morning with energy. Over time, I noticed an increasingly strong yet underlying feeling of anxiety, which led me to have constant severe panic attacks. At one point, I had to leave the mall as I had such a feeling of anxiety, terror, and paranoia washing over me. If you are prone to anxiety or paranoia, steer clear, as you will likely feel out of control on this medication, especially at the doses above 10 mg."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "It's been about 6 weeks on Latuda. During this time, I experienced joint pain, severe anxiety, and panic attacks. I have asked for advice from pharmacists, doctors, and other sources. I have Ativan to help with the akathisia. Lamictal started helps with the panic and anxiety but helps, the Latuda built up a wall between my brain and body. And Latuda - I can only sleep a couple of hours each night. No drowsiness here. What I really want is to be titrated down to 20 mg and see if the side effects are negated. Otherwise, looking towards Seroquel... help!"

• Hap...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm taking Latuda for bipolar 2. I started on 20 mg and eventually went up to 40 mg. It seems to work well for me. I haven't experienced any hypomania, and over time, the bouts of depression subsided. In the beginning, I experienced a lot of nausea and sleepiness. That went away after several months. I also experience anxiety an hour or two after taking it occasionally, so now I take it at bedtime. That seemed to solve that problem. Other than the anxiety, I really don't experience any other side effects anymore."

• Ivy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was prescribed this earlier this year, in July, and I was only on it for a day. It helped my benzodiazepine withdrawal SOME, but it immediately gave me insane akathisia, where I felt extremely anxious in my legs and couldn’t sit still. Everything was making me panic and cry, and I felt sleepy as anything, almost nodded off several times while in public and even on my date with my boyfriend, and I threw up a few times. That was my first and last time taking it. Never again, wouldn’t recommend 0/10."

• Mel...
• November 15, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug was a terrible experience for me. It worsened my depression and anxiety symptoms, but one of the most unbearable parts was the restless leg syndrome. I couldn't sleep. I would lay awake for hours with the craziest feeling in my legs. Brain fog. I slowly was weaning off and then quit cold turkey because I wanted this OUT of my system! All in all, do NOT recommend."

• Eve...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 12, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "This is among the most tolerable antipsychotic medications you could take, ignoring the few hours of anxiety that could range from dread to panic attacks after taking the medication, and this is something almost impossible to deal with, so I’d advise taking it when you are very, very sleepy. If you don’t eat enough, you will become nauseous, and nausea/headaches are a real issue. Restless legs too. Weight gain is a minimal issue, and the nausea can even reduce appetite, I find. As for sleep, you could find yourself sleeping for up to 12 hours initially, but after some months, insomnia could become a problem, or sleeping 3 hours, then dozing off in the day for at least 10. Now, the real issues would be hair loss to the extent of balding, facial muscle irregularities and tension (felt this in my jaw and had extreme asymmetry then went off and I look ok-ish), mild hypotension, very dry skin, tremors/trembling and shakes (this could be dramatic), and manic symptoms missing a dose for 2+ days."

• TDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "This made a big difference at first, but I think it almost put me in a manic episode initially, that’s why it felt so good. Gave me a deep sense of guilt and dread right after taking the pill at night, but if I slept it off, I was great in the morning. Starting noticing more anxiety from it, and honestly, my mood swings and outbursts came back. Don’t think it’s helping enough for how expensive it is."

• TDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "This made a big difference at first, but I think it almost put me in a manic episode initially, that’s why it felt so good. Gave me a deep sense of guilt and dread right after taking the pill at night, but if I slept it off, I was great in the morning. Starting noticing more anxiety from it, and honestly, my mood swings and outbursts came back. Don’t think it’s helping enough for how expensive it is."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Switched from ziprasidone to an introductory dose of Latuda. Had to quit within the first few days. Made me dizzy all day and feel terrible anxiety. This medicine is not for everyone. Did not calm my mind."

• Lea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "On Latuda for bipolar depression for 3 months, bipolar 1. I’m coming off of this medication now. It worked great while it did, but the side effects had eventually become too much for me. My biggest problem is productivity and motivation. This helped with that, I was going to the gym often, I was taking care of things like grocery shopping and laundry, which I had problems getting the motivation to do. I had a lot less social anxiety and began meeting with friends again. I began to develop tardive dyskinesia. At night, when I took the med, I wouldn’t be able to stop fidgeting my feet and legs, and during the day, I had an intense feeling like I needed to do something, and it made my feelings and my behaviors irrational and impulsive. I was on 80 milligrams. I would also, some nights, get intense anxiety. I’m dropping the Latuda and I’m trying out Vraylar next. I wish the side effects were easier to deal with."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2018

"I was on Latuda 40 mg, went up to 60, and couldn't stomach it. I'm currently on 20 mg. It's been about three months. Latuda worked well for my depression, but it increased my anxiety a lot. It killed my libido and made me very numb. I've been on other meds before, but this was a bit extreme. I went off of it for a while, and it made me have uncontrollable rage and relapse into a mild depression. So I'm back on 20 mg until my doctor and I figure out what to do in the meantime. Long story short, it works well for depression. Too many trade-offs."

• Zor...
• March 3, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "So I was on lithium for Bipolar 2 and the doc put me on 80 mg. After about a week, the 'edge' was lifted. But then the craziness started. I could NOT sit still. I would at times literally be upside down in an armchair, legs over the back, just trying to find comfort. My dad said it was painful to watch. I never took it with food as you're supposed to. I took it before bed and went to sleep. If I took it earlier, I felt I was about to have anxiety attacks almost to the point of vomiting. Dread and doom, people. But I liked how that edge was gone. So, we went down to 60 mg. Better, but still too much moving around all day long, unable to sit still. 40 mg. Nope, still moving. 20 mg. AAAAAh, better, but the edge was back. So, now we're back at 40. Oh, the adventure of psych meds. I will say this: I named my Balance Druid Troll on World of Warcraft after this drug. If I can withstand the restlessness and anxiety, it's worth not having that... feeling... around anymore."

• DPa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Latuda for two months. It helped with the mania and crying spells, although it made me tired. I felt sluggish all the time. It worsens tardive dyskinesia. I felt restless at times and had severe anxiety. I worried about anything. I'm now on week three since quitting. The withdrawals were awful at first. I'm finally beginning to feel like myself again. I'm having headaches and mild depression, but so glad I quit. I wouldn't recommend this drug. The side effects and withdrawals are awful!!!"

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda basically saved my life. I was suicidal and swung between severe depression and wild mania. I've been on 80 mg for about 3 months now, and the only side effects I've had were sleepiness (which is good because I had raging insomnia) and some anxiety. The doctor gave me a script for low-dose Xanax, and I've never felt better!"

• Kae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I went to a mental hospital for suicidal thoughts, and they talked to me for 5 minutes. All I told them was bipolar runs in my family, so supposedly that means I have it. They put me on this med and went from 20 mg to 40 mg to 60 mg in the span of three days. Every day I told them I felt horrible. I’m skipping my dose tonight and want to get off this. It’s horrible. I experienced such bad akathisia and horrible anxiety. I felt like I was in a nightmare, and I've only been on it for a week. I've never felt so horrible in my life. I have horrible insomnia and exhaustion at the same time, but the inability to stop fidgeting. The doctor even knew I was having these problems and prescribed a med to help, but it didn’t, and I only felt worse. And never gave me the information on it before I took it. Do not take this med until you dig deeper and find all the side effects. It works for some, but sure didn’t work for me. Good luck, everyone. Live a full life!"

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I took this medication for about 2 weeks, and it made my anxiety worse! I couldn’t stop the anxiety feeling and the depression. I was taking Abilify before Latuda, so I decided to go back on the Abilify, which really does help!"

• Hal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "Was taking 30 mg and am now on 60 mg to treat bipolar depression. This medication helped my mania. I am able to think before I speak and be calmer than I was before. However, I noticed that it gave me anxiety when I went up to 60 mg. So, I make sure that I take it right before I go to sleep, so I can sleep through that. Also, the medication makes me feel sleepy. That’s why I take it at night, but I notice I am still tired throughout the day. Cymbalta is helping with that though."

• Vic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Latuda for treatment-resistant depression. I took it for around 6 months at different doses. It gave me energy. However, I felt a bit jittery at times. I hated having to eat a minimum of 350 calories with it when taking it before going to sleep. Other than giving me energy, it did not alleviate any of my other depression symptoms."

• Wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "After taking for three days, had a severe anxiety attack while driving a car. Ended up an emotional wreck the rest of the night. I've never had anything like that happen."

• Sam...
• June 9, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I've had a horrible experience on this medicine. It makes me really irritable, even more depressed and anxious."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Increased muscle and joint pain, panic and anxiety attacks, confusion, exhaustion."