Lurasidone and Restlessness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Arr...
• February 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked extremely well when I first started it at 20 mg - I felt amazing good, started listening to music, became more affectionate and loving with friends and family, I was feeling so good that I started telling people out of the blue that I feel happy for the first time in my life. BUT that didn't last for very long. Over the next 4-5 weeks, it completely stopped working and my old depressive symptoms of my bipolar disease came back. My doc upped the dosage to 40 mg to see if I could get back to the old positive state I had before at the beginning, but no dice. The higher 40 mg dose gave me horrible, severe anxiousness, agitation, and restlessness. Others have referred to this state of agitation as akathisia. I was climbing the walls!"

• Arr...
• February 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked extremely well when I first started it at 20 mg - I felt amazing good, started listening to music, became more affectionate and loving with friends and family, I was feeling so good that I started telling people out of the blue that I feel happy for the first time in my life. BUT that didn't last for very long. Over the next 4-5 weeks, it completely stopped working and my old depressive symptoms of my bipolar disease came back. My doc upped the dosage to 40 mg to see if I could get back to the old positive state I had before at the beginning, but no dice. The higher 40 mg dose gave me horrible, severe anxiousness, agitation, and restlessness. Others have referred to this state of agitation as akathisia. I was climbing the walls!"

• dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda gave me horrible akathisia, it was unbearable. I couldn't figure out what was going on, but shortly after taking this each night, it felt like I was trying to claw my way through my own skin. I couldn't be still, and my heart would race so fast I thought I was dying. I have never felt like this before taking this medication. I had to take my Ativan to help with the side effects from the Latuda! I told my doctor about it, and she said it was akathisia and to try splitting the dose up during the day or try at night with Benadryl. No matter what I did, I still had that extreme feeling, it was not worth it for me at all. I never want to feel like that again in my life. Please be careful!"

• Cos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I hate this drug, Latuda! I have been on it for four weeks. At first, it helped a lot, I felt like it was working. Two weeks in, and I started sweating profusely, am constantly overheated. I’m restless. My anxiety is at a 5 24/7. I can’t relax, can’t sleep. I’ve gained 7 pounds, even though I have no appetite, and my stomach is in pain and I am bloated. I feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin. I think it is also affecting my hormones as well. Going to the doctor today to get off of this stuff. I was doing much better on risperidone."

• Mad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm 21 years old and have been diagnosed with major depression and generalized anxiety since I was 17. Since then, I've been on three different antidepressants, from citalopram to Zoloft, and they all had mediocre effects on my depression. It wasn't until I saw a new psychiatrist and had a new diagnosis of bipolar I that I started to experience genuine relief. I attribute most of my recovery to Latuda. In the first weeks of taking this medicine, I experienced terrible akathisia (the feeling of tickles or ants in your body), which kept me up at night, but after a few weeks, I was told to take it with my trazodone (my sleeping pill) at night, and the sensation went away. It was probably only a few weeks when I began to feel normal."

• mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "When I was first prescribed it, it was pretty nice. It stabilized my mood and turned off the 'static' in my head, and I could think way clearer. My family commented on how much I was more like myself again. However, over time, I think it lost its effectiveness and eventually suffered a bout of akathisia. I switched to Geodon, which I find better than Latuda."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 8, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar 1 with psychotic features. Since being put on Latuda, my mood swings have lessened considerably, and I am no longer experiencing any psychotic symptoms. My doctor was so pleased with the improvements that he gave me the okay to go to college. I am in my first week of college, hours away from home and have never felt better. I experienced akathisia with Latuda, so my doctor prescribed Cogentin to combat that, and it helps a lot. Overall, I would say Latuda has helped me get my life on track and my symptoms under control."

• Iaa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda was one of the first drugs I was prescribed once I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. I took it along with Lamictal. I hated the Latuda. I gave it six weeks before I had enough, and I got my doctor to prescribe me something else. The Latuda gave me horrible akathisia. If you know what restless leg syndrome is like, just imagine it for your entire body and your brain, all day, every day. I was miserable. I couldn't be out socially because it made me feel trapped and out of control to the point where I felt paralyzed by it all. I couldn't be at home by myself because it was all I could focus on. I began to just cry out of frustration."

• Kbh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 10, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I am a 30-year-old female battling treatment-resistant depression since I was 15 years old, and Latuda was the best thing to ever happen to me! I was a new person after just 2 days on this medication… my husband was in complete shock at the change. My depressive mood disappeared, energy came back, and the internal restlessness I struggled with vanished. I was no longer compelled with OCD and compulsions like shopping and spending. Everything felt calm and quiet in my brain. I now can sit and be present with my son and truly enjoy life. It’s a miracle for me, and I pray that it doesn’t poop out. This medication is expensive, but thankfully, because it’s in my covered formulary and with the savings program, I only pay $0-$10/month for my fill. Given how I feel, I would pay full price if I had to. That’s how much my life has changed for the better…"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I can only describe my experience in hopes that it potentially helps the reader considering this drug. I have struggled with bipolar for years. Tried 9 different drugs now. Latuda induced a feeling of being high, and I experienced horrible nightmares and akathisia on it. But that wasn't the worst part. After increasing the dose in hopes that it would help me, I had an experience of what I can only describe as out-of-body severe panic and anxiety that lasted 2 days. I have anxiety already, but this was not that. I thought I was going to die. After reducing the dose, this feeling went away, and now I am slowly tapering off the drug. Please be aware of any and all potential risks involved when taking any kind of psychiatric drug, especially Latuda. Bad experience, will never use this drug again."

• Tra...
• November 5, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I took Latuda for three years until I figured out it was causing my anxiety attacks the whole time. It caused uncontrollable movements of my face, jaw, tongue, and hands. I also had restlessness, an uncontrollable urge to get up and walk around, self-isolation and fear of others, high blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, extreme sweating, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, weight gain, and racing thoughts. It was torture. I will take the chance of relapsing in order to determine if I will remain normal without meds. In these three years, I never had any symptoms, and I don't think it would be intelligent to immediately assume it was because the meds had been working the whole time. I now believe antipsychotics are not the end-all solution to mental illness, and more attentive and accurate evaluations of patients need to be conducted to get people off these horrible drugs as soon as possible."

• Har...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "The withdrawal is horrific if you already have akathisia. One of the biggest side effects is akathisia, and no one talks about it. I had akathisia from coming off meds cold turkey. Before being put on Latuda, I was rapidly tapered off all my meds and given no time to adjust. The guy started Latuda along with another cocktail. I’ve been diagnosed as bipolar with depressive episodes. I’ve never been psychotic or had mania or even hypomania. The doctor tapered me too fast off Latuda, and now I have all kinds of issues. New symptoms include grinding of teeth, jaw clenching, cracking jaw, flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, muscle twitches and spasms, itching, headaches/migraines, diarrhea, irritability, fatigue, chills/sweats, brain fog, and more. My symptoms of akathisia and insomnia are unbearable now after being tapered too fast."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "If you always get anxious or akathisia a couple of hours after taking Latuda, try taking 80 mg of Propranolol at the same time you take your dose in the evening. I have found a small dose of Valium (between 2 to 5 mg) on particularly anxious evenings works also, but try the Propranolol first. Latuda has helped my mental health immensely. Best wishes."

• zom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "For the first two weeks, I felt an improvement in mood (I have bipolar). I am on Lamictal, Seroquel, and Ativan for the occasional anxiety. I started out on 20 mg, then after two weeks went to 40 mg. Right at the three-week mark, that’s when I started to have extreme panic attacks, restlessness, and I felt out of my mind. I already suffer from hypomania, disassociation, and anxiety, and this medication exponentially increased it. I felt out of my mind and decided to quit cold turkey, which is kind of disheartening because I was desperate for a pill that would work for my severe depression and hypomania. Everything was intensified to the point. Voices in my head, panic attacks, anxiety over everything, and a complete loss of time and space. I wouldn’t recommend this drug to anyone with preexisting anxiety disorders."

• Ann...
• April 18, 2015

For Schizophrenia "I have suffered for 8 years, been hospitalized and tried many different meds, with side effects varying and different levels of therapeutic results for my schizophrenia/bipolar disorders. A few months ago, I had a severe schizophrenic episode, was hospitalized, and went from a high dose of Seroquel to a high dose of Abilify. Once home, I experienced severe muscle spasms, insane restlessness, and weight gain. I knew I could not tolerate the medication, but I wasn't stable enough or even completely to a good baseline despite the high dose. My doc introduced me to Latuda, and it was a miracle pill almost immediately. My weight continued to creep up on it, but that is my only complaint. I take 20 mg with no nausea or side effects."

• ket...
• December 15, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I recently sought help from a psychiatrist, and he prescribed me starter doses of Lamictal. He also gave me samples of Latuda for if I began to notice myself experiencing an episode. I noticed that I began to have a quick decline into depression after a hypomanic state and reluctantly began to take the Latuda. It is AMAZING. After only 5 days of use, I already feel so much better. Today I just noticed that I am not depressed anymore, as I was a few days ago. I am able to take better care of my body (eating better, exercise) because I already am feeling so much better. I get very sleepy and some akathisia, I just take it at night to avoid those side effects."

• rda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication Latuda is the ONLY thing that has worked for my depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. I thought I was treatment-resistant because I'd had terrible luck with psych meds, and nothing else had had any effect on my mood or thinking (aside from anticonvulsants having a horrific cognitive dulling effect on me), but this lifted me out of depression at 40 mg instantly (20 mg had no effect). Decided to stop taking it after about 3 months due to nausea and restlessness caused by it (not severe enough to call it akathisia though), but I will not be afraid to return to it if I ever need to get out of a depressive episode quickly."

• Msp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "It's okay, I'm not suicidal anymore because of Latuda. Not too long ago, I got off of Pristiq and Lamictal, even tried getting off of Vyvanse. Everything went downhill from there, so my psych doc decided to put me on Latuda. At first, I felt restless at bedtime, but now I feel super tired and sluggish, zombie-like. Also, emotionless, so I don't know if I will keep taking it. I want to feel again. Right now, I've not been feeling like myself. So we will see what the doctor says."

• KC ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I really don't know what to say. I've been on Latuda 40mg for two months, and I don't see much of a difference between 40mg and 20mg. I tried a higher dose, but I experience restlessness and anxiety. Now, I am so irritable, and my panic attacks have returned. I'm not sure what my doctor has in mind, but we are trying to control the panic attacks right now and find a way to help me sleep throughout the night."

• Cli...
• December 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was hospitalized after a suicide attempt, and while inpatient, I was put on this in combination with my other medication (Prazosin, Lexapro, Lamictal). On the upside, I wasn't depressed. But I was very restless, irritable, and just downright angry all of the time-sometimes seething. I recommend it if, like me, your bipolar depression seems to be untouched, but be very careful if you're a naturally irritable person."

• Oli...
• September 17, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I love this medication because it has cleared my head and made me feel a lot more stable. I also take Luvox, Lamictal, and Klonopin for panic disorder and insomnia. Even before going on Latuda, I was having severe insomnia but only at night. I have had problems with that all my life, however. The Klonopin helps me sleep during the day but not at night as it was doing. Despite the great effects of Latuda, I recently went off of it because for several hours after I take it, I am so restless I can't stop moving. Doc recommended Cogentin, but I don't want to be on any more meds than necessary. However, after going off the Latuda, I went manic and then crashed. I think I may give it a go again, WITH the Cogentin this time. I have Bipolar 1."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Latuda for 3 months now. I take it at nighttime and usually I can't sleep! In the morning when I wake up, I have such little energy, and my blood pressure is so low. I still get nauseous. I feel extremely restless. I don't feel like myself at all."

• Joh...
• August 18, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Great medication, should be noted that all of those who are suffering side effects such as nausea or akathisia are suffering needlessly, as there are multiple medications that resolve those effects quickly and are not very taxing on the body. Zofran 30 minutes before taking medication for nausea, cheap and effective, just ask your doc for a script. Plenty of people who take Latuda use Zofran in conjunction and do just fine. For akathisia, either Cogentin or Propranolol will resolve it quickly and effectively with little side effects. I have used Latuda for over 3 years now, and there is no better, highly recommend this med, as nothing else has worked even close to as well. Most importantly, for those complaining about weight gain, they must watch what they eat or workout, as I have LOST tons of weight since the switch from Geodon to Latuda years ago and have kept it off."

• Lea...
• September 5, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication Latuda made me want to jump out of my skin with jitteriness and restlessness. I’ve never felt anything like it in my life. It was extremely uncomfortable even on only 40 mg. The good things about the medication are that I had energy and I can sleep well at night. Also, my appetite wasn’t as high as when I took other medications. The feelings it gave me definitely outweighed the good."

• CJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Only been on Latuda a couple of weeks, and I'm noticing improvements in my depression that are bizarre, in a good way. Didn't do much at a dose of 20mg, but now at a 40mg dose, it really works - I feel like the king of the world. I can't explain it. I just want to jump for joy. Anyway, male, 6'5, 220 lbs. No akathisia yet, like everyone talks about, but if it happens, I will just lower the dose. Excited about this med because the improvements in my extreme depression are miraculous. Medicaid covers it too - it is pretty expensive if you don't have good insurance."