Latuda depression reviews
Effectiveness, Ease of Use, and Satisfaction
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3.3 Overall Rating
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Most voted positive review
90 People found this comment helpful
Simply put: Latuda is the most positive game changer of 20-25 med combinations my doctor and I have tried. He stopped my mirtazipine(Remeron)and replaced it with Latuda. Wow. What a difference for all the right reasons. Latuda is the very best drug I have been on during the five years I have been treated for "basic" depression, horrid nightmares, lack of focus (ADHD), chronic pain from two failed ...
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Most voted negative review
9 People found this comment helpful
I am in lots of pain.
Shared reviews and ratings
SORT BYCondition: Schizophrenia With Mood Changes
Overall rating 4. 3
I haven't been using Latuda for very long. My experience is positive. I have zero negative side effects. I am having more dreams than usual, not nightmares, just very vivid and long. I have a bit more energy and my moods have stabilized. I do not take additional meds with it. I think I found the right medication.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 2.7
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionI took latuda for two years for bipolar 2. The side effects for me were nausea, tardive dyskinesia, and when my psychiatrist took me from 40mg to 60mg I developed akathesia.
I HAD to take another medication such as Clonidine to counteract the tardive dyskinesia, it was unbearable. I also simply could not tolerate a larger dose from 40mg. Overall, I would rate this drug fair to poor. I haven’t had a severe depressive episode for a few years which is great because my last one had me unable to get out of bed for 30 days. I still suffer from mild to moderate depression, though. I also have some suicidal thoughts still. As for the hypomanic episodes, they have not gone away and have still made my life a little unmanageable. I sometimes feel like a shell of a person and have a low mood most of the time. I have tried a lot of different antipsychotics and even antidepressants and I have not tolerated anything other than Latuda, though. Since I still have hypomanic episodes, suicidal thoughts, and moderate depression, my psychiatrist is switching me from latuda to vraylar next week. Hopefully that drug works and I don’t have to suffer anymore. I don’t think I would take this medication again.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Other
Overall rating 2.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionI was prescribed this medication after a recent increase in my MDD and severe anxiety/panic attacks. I was previously on Cipralex 20mg for 8 years that worked really well, along with Quetiapine 25mg for the anxiety. I was prescribed 20mg of Latuda. I’ve been taking it only 3 days and feel like a complete zombie. I feel dizzy when I stand up, still had an anxiety attack today and get no joy out of anything. I feel like I have no personality, when I normally have a very loud and animated personality. It’s a complete shift and I hate it. Went to a clinic today, after describing my side effects was told to skip my dose tonight since it’s only been 3 days.
Speaking with my doctor tomorrow to discuss switching meds.Read More Read Less
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Other
Overall rating 1.7
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionI was sleepy all the time and small things made not even angry but furious
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionI started taking Latuda after my new psych suspected I might have bipolar depression.
I had been on Prozac 20mgs for about three years and was doing fine, but I trusted her judgement. It seemed to be working fine for the first month(took it for around 4 months), until I started with horrible episodes of akathisia. I would fall into horrible dread and felt like world was coming to an end. My depression worsened horribly and I was having thoughts of suicide. Around this time I got a new doctor and she began trying to wean me off the medication, going from 40mgs to 20mgs..this was a mistake because I suddenly gained insomnia, completely lost my appetite and would suffer from horrible bouts of panic and anxiety, not to mention the diarrhea and vomiting. Because the withdrawal symptoms were so horrible and strong I decided to go back on the pill at 40mgs but none of these symptoms improved, in fact they got worse. I became so suicidal that the doctor ordered me to lower the dose to 10mgs for 5 days before weaning off completely. Within those those 5 days of taking 10 mgs I began to see improvement.
I recognize that this medication might work for some, but it was not the drug for me. Read More Read Less
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionThis medicine caused so many seizures I have permanent brain damage. Don't make the same mistake I did, there are better medicines out there.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 4.
7
I started Latuda after a severe manic episode that led to an arrest. I haven’t felt so good in years. I feel stable and happy. My sleeping pattern is normal for the first time I can remember. I’m no longer making the impulsive decisions, no more depression, or suicidal ideations. I still experience anxiety which hasn’t become worse or better but is still the same. One thing I noticed on the medication though is if I do not go to bed when I feel tired, then I end up restless and cannot sleep at night. My doctor recommended I start taking the medication at night about an hour before bed and that did the trick. I’m so happy I found this medication. Also, side note: If you do not have Bipolar or other chemically imbalanced me STL health issues this drug will not work for you and it will cause adverse effects so keep that in mind when reading other negative reviews. Read More Read Less
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 4.7
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionIt has been a good drug for me. I am a very noncompliant patient usually because I had drugs that numb me but I have not been sedated by Latuda. I feel pretty stable on it usually. The only thing is that I get a little insomnia from it. I am using it in combination with low dosed propranolol which may combat the anxiety other people are experiencing. I am in a doctorate program and haven't had any loss of concentration. As a matter of fact, I think it may help my concentration a little.
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Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 2.7
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionAwful experience. I feel incredibly restless, yet constantly exhausted at the same time. My body isn't tired, but my head is, and I feel like I can't think or do anything at all. All I can muster is laying in bed hoping for this feeling to go away. I want to be productive and move around, but I can't, because of this drug, and I hate it.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionPanic attacks.
Trouble catching my breath and expanding my lungs. Excessive sweating day and night. Muscle pain and cramping. Muscle spasms in pelvic area. Dizzy. Nauseous. No change in mood. This drug will kill people
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 2.7
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionThis was my first experience taking any type of antipsychotic/mood stabilizing medication, I honestly think it was too intense for me, I have GAD and was diagnosed Bipolar II with Major Depression. I feel like this medication did help with the overall “bipolar” issues but I had major side effect problems, the first was is what I would describe as a “foggy brain” I got confused when driving and totally disoriented which is not typical of me I am only in my twenties and I could not for the life of me figure out where or how to get home which was scary.
The second was this medication made me physically sick, I was nauseas and even threw up a few times. However the worst side effect was the intense restlessness this medication made me feel, I was crawling out of my skin and so uncomfortable, I was literally crying because I felt so uncomfortable in my own body which was absolutely awful. After a month I quit taking it and found a good therapist and haven’t had any medication since, could I probably use some meds to help with my depression? Yes, but I have managed to find coping skills and more help from therapy to keep me in a good place, I have my ups and downs and if I ever need to, I will try meds again, but as of now I am having children and breast feeding so I’m staying away from the meds for now. Read More Read Less
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.
0
My psychiatrist, if you could call her that, prescribed me Latuda during my most recent massive depressive episode (that started around October of last year). She figured I had bipolar depression and immediately told me to go on Latuda and being a complete fool I listened to her (she's recommended a myriad of medications for every little problem that I've come to her with, everything from benzodiazapine for sleeping to anti seizure medication for sweating). My depression got progressively worse over the next few months and I could not sleep at all. I couldn't even get into bed without having massive panic attacks. It got so bad that I had to sleep in my clothes (like jeans and a sweater) on the couch in my living room because the thought of my bed made me disgusted. This was when my doctor told me to take benzos to knock me out at night which I of course did not do. I kept taking Latuda and she kept raising the dosage to try and get me out of my depression but It wasn't working.
Finally one night I snapped and couldn't take the depression anymore. I was suicidal and took matters into my own hands. My course of action was to change my life situation and go off of the medication. I moved back home and weened myself off of the Latuda. I rebounded really well and am feeling much better. My doctor was skeptical and kept trying to convince me that I was bipolar, she would call me and my parents and make me question my sanity. I stopped talking to her recently and decided to go off of all my medication because I have no faith in the established psychiatry field anymore. TLDR Latuda is a massive waste of time. Read More Read Less
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Other
Overall rating 1.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionThis drug has been a living nightmare for our teenage son who struggles with mood disorder due to severe ODD.
We had hoped to take him off of Abilify even though it has worked for years because Latuda works as a mood stabilizer PLUS an anti depressant. Our 15 yr old son has been on Latuda for just over a month. Started on 10mg and worked up to 30mg. Just 2 weeks into it he started experiencing nightmares that always ended in him committing suicide (which he never had prior). Then I had to abruptly pull him off of it this past weekend because he blacked out which also has never happened before. While he was blacked out he had visions of him murdering his father and all he could do after he came to was cry to me and ask what was happening to him. Within the next hour he was in full hives so we took him straight to the ER. They agreed on taking him off of it immediately which I had already planned on. We will transition him back to Abilify however that does not help with depression. Read More Read Less
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.7
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionI have neither had a good experience or a bad one. I simply do not believe latuda does anything. I'd be better off with a placebo.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 4.7
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionFirst you all I have Bipolar & Anxiety was on sequoia & Zanax ER for years They had to change my Sequoia to put me on another blood thinner.
I didn’t realize that my brain was frogged over the many years that I was on Sequoia. But since I’ve been on Latuda my brain is more alive than it has been for years. I will tell but for me this is a life changer. I’m 62 years old & my husband didn’t know when I would I would go crazy. I really believe n this medicine but I know that when we get to draw Medicare it probably won’t cover it. It’s so freaking SAD what we do to older Americans!!!!!Read More Read Less
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 5.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionAfter trying different antipsychotics to treat Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use Disorder, Latuda (120mg) was the most effective medication I have taken so far.
My mood swings are much better, I can focus again and do not need ADHD medication, and my cravings for drugs and alcohol have substantially gone away. I began taking this medication when I was 26 years of age. Today, I am 29 years old, clean and sober, and doing much better because of Latuda.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Schizophrenia With Mood Changes
Overall rating 5.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionI am taking this medicine for schizoaffective bipolar type, at first it seemed really bad but once it balanced itself I was very sharp. I was allergic to captyla and Seroquel but this is a related family but not in the same family. You will need to takea stimulant to produce dopamine.
Alot of uneducated schizophrenics think just take one antipsychotic and get a horrible doctor. No. No. NO. Get A STIMULANT W/ this medication.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Schizophrenia
Overall rating 1.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionThis is the worst medication I’ve ever taken for my condition. I couldn’t function the following day while taking this medication. Not only was I tired, I was lethargic, confused and completely lost. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone with schizophrenia.
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Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionIt make me wake up After 4-5 hours and i can t take sleep another time. Severe insomnia. Horrible sensations at legs. Now i take tolep, very better.
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Fill 3Created with Sketch.Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 4.0
EffectivenessEase of UseSatisfactionI was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in 2018 and for 2 months we tried many different medications and combinations of medications. It took a lot of trial and error to find what works for me.
I know every physical body is different and what works for some won’t for others. Latuda was a game changer for me. I was able to regulate my sleep patterns and my motivation was coming back. My mood swings are definitely under control now. It may not be all the Latuda. I take Latuda, Lamictal, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin. That’s the cocktail that works for me. But I do think the Latuda has made a huge difference for me.Read More Read Less
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Latuda (Lurasidone) Reviews | Everyday Health
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3 Stars
Posted 2 months ago (11/8/2022) 3
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I started on 40mg of latuda after major depression with suicidal thoughts. Raised to 80 mg in two months. Felt very edgy, like skin crawling and could barely keep my eyes open. Doctor raised it to 120mg. Been at this dosage for a few months. Tiredness became worse and was unbearable. Decided to start taking it in the evening instead of mornings which helped tremendously with the sleepiness during the day. Wake up easily in the mornings now. Moods are less drastic. The twitching is very annoying when in bed. I currently have very anxious thoughts and feeling dissociated from myself and reality. Not sure if the pros outweigh the cons. Going to talk to my doctor ASAP.
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3 Stars
Posted 4 months ago (9/11/2022) 3
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Crazy Dreams Like watching movies all night Getting tired of that at first it was amusing now I'm over it.
Knocks me out at night but crazy exhausting dreams. Depression pretty bad today Take 20 mg, 40 was too much Felt better for a while especially in morning more mild mannered but lately very down and want to stay in bed all day. I also take Prozac and Lamictal twice a day I've gained 30 lbs in a year. Lost a lof weight on Wellbutrin but too manic shaking, lip quivering Latuda worked for a while in the mix but not lately
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5 Stars
Posted 6 months ago (7/30/2022) 5
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Worked for me when nothing else would.
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5 Stars
Posted 6 months ago (7/21/2022) 5
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Have been taking 40mg Latuda for about 3 years now. It has dramatically changed my life. I suffered from major recurring depression (episode every 6 - 8 months for 20 years) and haven't experienced anything worse than just the occasional bad day since starting this medication.
I sometimes get mildly nauseated after taking it, but gravol resolves this issue. It does make me sleepy, but I take it at night and so it can just help me sleep.
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1 Stars
Posted 7 months ago (6/9/2022) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I was diagnosed with having Bipolar 2 disorder by a psychiatrist who saw me for one and a half hours. His diagnosis made sense to me. He prescribed Latuda. I forget the amount, sorry. It turned me into a suicidal zombie. I couldn't feel anything, no emotions, no feelings, no motivation. I couldn't laugh, cry, be angry, be happy or sad. That being said I was miserable. I couldn't see beauty, no response to the arts which I love. It was awful. My friends noticed easily, became seriously concerned for me. My doctor said I had to get off of it. I did what they tell you not to do, quit cold turkey and isolated myself. As you know Bipolar disorder is all the rage now.
It is in fashion and drug companies are advertising their products for Bipolar with regularity on TV. This drug may be effective and good for some people. For me it was horrific. Please get multiple opinions on whatever you may decide to take. These medications have serious consequences for your life and health.
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5 Stars
Posted 8 months ago (6/2/2022) 5
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I've been taking this a little over a month. Still take adjunct low dose of lithium and 3 Depakote pills. Also, atomoxetine for ADD inattention. This combination seems (so far to be working phenomenally well). I've had a period of mania/hypomania, but the mood dives down into deep depression every week and a half to two weeks for my rapid cycling are gone. For the first time in over five years, while taking this medication, I've been consistently happy. Even the mania was more pleasant, with much less irritability than I was previously dealing with.
Its not going to work for everyone, but it sure is working for me so far. I'm so pleased. Don't give up trying to find the right meds for your bipolar . . . so worth it if you can figure that out with your doc. Good luck and God Bless!
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5 Stars
Posted 10 months ago (3/24/2022) 5
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Best medication I’ve ever been put on for the bipolar. I’m stable, clear headed, calm and less impulsive. It does still make me tired soon after I take it, but I wake up refreshed. I’ve been on it four years now at a dose of 60 mgs
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2 Stars
Posted 10 months ago (3/8/2022) 2
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I tried Latuda for Bipolar depression related to bipolar type II. Prior to this, had been on Abilfy, which caused massive weight gain.
I did lose weight on Latuda, however it made me EXTREMELY irritable and impatient; I didn't even like being around myself. This was after starting at 20mg and going up to 40mg. At 60mg I developed severe akathisia, which is a horribly uncomfortable feeling that you have to constantly move and just want to crawl out of your skin. That and the irritability were unbearable. I know some people say it works very well for them, and that is great, but I don't understand how it turned me into an extremely irritable person who wanted to crawl out of my skin? I will never take this again. I tried it a second time after Vraylar helped my depression but also caused me to gain back all the weight I lost after stopping Abilify, so tried Latuda again and my irritability was absolutely horrible. Within 3 days of going off the med I was starting to feel so much better. I will never take this medication again.
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5 Stars
Posted 14 months ago (11/21/2021) 5
Rated for Schizophrenia Report
Latuda is a very comfortable drug it really helped me with my condition.
Gave me the sleep at night the best sleep I ever had. I did experience some weight gain but it was a combination of invega and abilify not that much latuda. I do get stiff muscles at night which is not too comfy. Overall is the best drug I had been on so far. My weight gain was twenty pounds.
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1 Stars
Posted 18 months ago (8/2/2021) 1
Rated for Schizophrenia Report
I hate this drug. I’m taking 80mg for a month for I Don’t Know What. I’m on day 4 of a severe panic attack. I cut the dose in half as per the on-call psychiatrist. It’s still terrible. Don’t take this.
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1 Stars
Posted 19 months ago (6/22/2021) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
This medication causes severe epilepsy in more than 50% of patients. I was lucky enough to get grand mal seizures from it and needed to be hospitalized.
My life has been permanently ruined because of this worthless pill. It causes seizures in those who have not been previously diagnosed with them and the company that produces it in Japan has gone to court nonstop since its inception to avoid listing that common side effect. If you have bipolar disorder, depression or schizophrenia, please ask for anything else but this poison. I never recovered from my seizure. My psychiatrist was at first hesitant to blame latuda then confirmed it was the culprit, thereafter not prescribing it to any more of his patients. No medication will have a 5 star review. Look closely at the most negative reviews first to see an honest experience of the medication. Don't make the mistake I made, your life will be ruined if you take this medication. I was at a low dose and it still caused paralyzing seizures.
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4 Stars
Posted 20 months ago (5/10/2021) 4
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I had been on Geodon and Adderall for over 14 years.
The Geodon knocked me out so had to take at night and the Adderall was taken in morning and non for ADHD. No matter what antidepressant I went on they made me suicidal. Starting last fall my new therapist slowly took me off Geodon and then started weaning me into latuda. I can't take the 60 mg of latuda at night cause then I can't sleep and I get restless legs. Talking it in the morning, I haven't noticed side effects. It's hard to say right now if it has lifted my mood significantly because my horse, my comfort cat and my working k9 have all been euthanized since starting the Latuda. So my therapist doesn't want to increase or decrease Latuda until I get further through my grief process.
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3 Stars
Posted 20 months ago (5/9/2021) 3
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I was diagnosed with bipolar type 1 in 2018 and ever since been trialing medications as none of them really stuck or made things better without triggering the other.
I started on latuda a month ago roughly, it’s done wonders for my bipolar depression pulled me straight out so quickly. However, I’m now sleeping 12-13 hours a day about half an hour after I take the medication. The nausea is what gets me though, it’s shortly after taking latuda I feel so sick to my stomach I can’t eat after I’ve taken it. I’ve thrown up a few times because of the nausea. It’s also caused my liver enzymes to become really high.
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1 Stars
Posted 21 months ago (5/4/2021) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
They gave this to my 16 year old daughter that had Bipolar II Disorder. She was immediately nauseous the first night, and could not sleep but about 2 hours. This went away in the morning, but that evening before she even had her second dose, she started feeling sick to her stomach again. She was outside and her legs gave way and she needed to be helped to her feet.
She was slurring and then she'd stop for a second, and then start slurring again. She seriously was acting like she was drunk or on drugs, which she does not have a history of. I didn't smell any alcohol on her breath and she swore to me that she hadn't taken anything. I called the Doctor the next morning and they told me to go ahead and take her off of it, and that yes, it does sometimes have those side effects in teenagers. EEEEEK, so scary.
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3 Stars
Posted 21 months ago (4/23/2021) 3
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I take latuda for bipolar disorder with psychosis. I take Latuda 40mg I switched from Invega to Latuda from a psychiatrist. The side effects are terrible twitchy movements and tongue clicking at night. I also sleep 12 hours I feel like this drug makes me very sedated. I usually take Latuda at night with food which helps but makes me twitchy sometimes in which I take benztropine to stop the twitchy side effects.
Overall, my mood has been stable.
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1 Stars
Posted 21 months ago (4/22/2021) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I started this medication at 20mg, then increased to 40mg then 60mg. At 60mg, I started feeling very uncomfortable side effects. At night, I felt very short of breath along with rapid heartbeat. It got so bad that I had to go to the hospital. I literally felt like my next breath would be my last. Also severe panic, as you can imagine. I’m now tapering off Latuda and the feeling went away. I’m hoping my review will help someone who has the same symptoms.
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1 Stars
Posted 22 months ago (3/30/2021) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
i feel down and hopeless when taking this. i get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach and feel suicidal.
i take it with prozac to help my bipolar depression and it just makes me miserable. i’m 17 and take 10 mg of prozac with 40 mg of latuda.
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4 Stars
Posted 22 months ago (3/20/2021) 4
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 last year and have since tried a number of meds. Lithium made me too “flat,” paired with Wellbutrin which made me hallucinate. I take 20Mg of Latuda and so far it has really helped. Started this med around thanksgiving (late Nov.) and so far it has been pretty good to, compared to all the other meds i’ve tried. I do shake a bit but my body seems to have adjusted over time and it really isn’t that bad. my skin has been breaking out some, but it’s been manageable. No weight gain or weight loss. I am able to sleep, which is very important to me. I work graves and also sometimes take Hydroxyzine 50mg to help me get to sleep.
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1 Stars
Posted 22 months ago (3/12/2021) 1
Rated for Schizophrenia Report
I started at 10 milligrams. When I went up to 30 milligrams my period stopped and I started getting the shakes. I also gained 10 pounds in a month. It has caused me to have severe acne.
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4 Stars
Posted 24 months ago (2/2/2021) 4
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Akathesia horribly!! Now that I'm off of it, I can see how latuda was working! Taking it is just not an option for me anymore ??
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5 Stars
Posted 24 months ago (1/12/2021) 5
Rated for Schizophrenia Report
Schizoaffective Disorder - Schizophrenia and Bipolar. It's great. Am currently on Abilify, Latuda 80mg and Lithium.
Was on Zyprexa 5mg instead of Latuda, gained a lot of weight, still had residual delusions. All delusions have gone and I think due to diarrhoea side effects during the transitional phase, have lost about five kilograms. Don't sleep much and I wake up early ready for the day despite a feeling of mild laziness. Strongly recommend.
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1 Stars
Posted 25 months ago (1/3/2021) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
My 17 year old daughter took this after abilify was not working to help her depression. Latuda was started at 40mg. She became angry and irritable. Still could not get out of bed. No motivation to do schoolwork. Increased to 60mg, side effects were worse. She developed allergic rxn. Skin itched like crazy and she literally screamed from the rash. This drug was awful and did not work. She was only on it for a month. Hoping we find something to help her depression.
Also she was prescribed .1mg clonidine to help her sleep.
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5 Stars
Posted 25 months ago (12/9/2020) 5
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I have tried every anti depressant know to man with little to no help or I was what I call a fixture on the couch for days. I would have intrusive thoughts and cry all the time, My doctor had me on zoloft 50 mg and added Latuda 10mg. Let me express to you how much bettter my life is!! I feel alive again. I take it at 9pm and zoloft around noon, Somedays I am a little jittery but its controllable. I hope this may help someone because it did me. I was a little nauseous in the beginning but rarely now .
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5 Stars
Posted 26 months ago (11/16/2020) 5
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I just started taking it about 2 weeks ago.
I feel a big difference in my mood already. Normally the week before my period I get depressed but so far I’m able to let bad thoughts pass as soon as I think about them. Before I would dwell on them. It doesn’t help much with anxiety but can be paired with Gabapentin, a relatively safe antianxiety med that works GREAT! Causes extreme drowsiness. Plan to take a 2 hour nap a couple hours after taking Latuda.
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1 Stars
Posted 26 months ago (11/9/2020) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Latina is big old nothin’ for me. I’ve been on 40mg for a few weeks now and I notice no difference. Luckily, I don’t have any real bad side effects, but for me, it may as well be a placebo.
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5 Stars
Posted 28 months ago (9/16/2020) 5
Rated for Schizophrenia Report
80mg @ night, after dinner.
Side affects, nausea! I sleep 6 good hours, so I have to watch what time I go to bed, I tend to get up real early & I don’t nap. My sexdrive drives my partner nuts, no pun! I’m also bipolar & I take another medication for that! I still have mania & even I notice & I still have bouts of DEEP SAD depression so I’m thinking I’m not medicated properly! But my loved ones love the Latuda 80mg (I did start @ 40mg, did that for a month, went up to 60mg, did that for a month been on 80mg for a year!) I get it, this is NOT for everyone with just ANY diagnosis!!
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5 Stars
Posted 28 months ago (9/8/2020) 5
Rated for Schizophrenia Report
Taking for Borderline Personality disorder. Love how I feel during the day now. But also I wake uo 830 am no matter how late I stay up. Sleep deprived and when I take the meds at night I feel awful.
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1 Stars
Posted 29 months ago (8/7/2020) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I have Bipolar Disorder and I am currently in a severe depressive state.
I take Lamictal and Seroquel. My doctor added Latuda as an antidepressant and it has made my depression much worse. Total hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Also terribly sedating, can't wake up in the morning. Sleep like 12 hours before I can get up. Horrible drug for me.
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3 Stars
Posted 30 months ago (7/13/2020) 3
Rated for Schizophrenia Report
I was put on latuda for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and it hasn’t done anything for my mood but has stopped my hallucinations. I have been on latuda for 5 months now and I take it at night after dinner because it makes me very sick without food.
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1 Stars
Posted 30 months ago (7/12/2020) 1
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Sadly I was misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I took Latuda for 2 years.
I became a different person. I had no joy. I had no sadness. I could only do the minimal things to stay alive. I didn't want to shower. I hardly slept. At times I was completely disassociated with myself. It took me some time to realize I was not bipolar. I went on a board for people with bipolar and I could not relate at all. None of their issues were mine. I asked the psych about it, and she reviewed it and said I didn't have it. It has since taken me a solid 2 years to recover my brain to where it used to be. Dangerous drug.
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5 Stars
Posted 30 months ago (7/6/2020) 5
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I've been on lurasidone now for about 4 months after being changed from aripriprozole (which sedated me) it has helped with my mood and motivation... hasn't been cured 100% got another review with my pd weather my lurasidone needs increasing
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3 Stars
Posted 31 months ago (6/25/2020) 3
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
i have only taken this drug once, yesterday, and it made me feel very out of it.
i work at a call center and my job is to do chat customer service, but after taking this, i couldn’t even type on my keyboard. i don’t know if i couldn’t focus or if it made me just really out of it, or both. since i only have taken it the one time, im sure i haven’t given my body time to adjust to the meds, but if that’s how it’s going to make me feel every time i take it, i’ll stop now and ask for a different prescription...
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2 Stars
Posted 32 months ago (6/4/2020) 2
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
I’ve only been taking this for two weeksBut had to stop. My depression got so much worse. I was already feeling quite depressed but because of my bipolar diagnosis, my doc didn’t want to add another antidepressant (I already take 300 mg Wellbutrin) unless I was on a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic. We tried this primarily because it’s not supposed to cause weight gain.
It does give me severe acid reflux soon after I take it, every time. But I had several days where I couldn’t get out of bed and had suicidal ideation. I couldn’t find any mention of these side effects anywhere but know it’s from the meds. I stoped it last night and didn’t have the acid and feel a little better today already. I was hoping for the miracle drug everyone talks about.
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3 Stars
Posted 32 months ago (6/3/2020) 3
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
so i didnt get nausea but i do have dizzy spells on 20mg. My doctor thought it would be good for my anxiety but i feel worse like i dont know how to deal with it on this drug. i do get tired but its tolerable except my depression is worse.
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4 Stars
Posted 32 months ago (6/2/2020) 4
Rated for Bipolar Disorder Report
Lifts depression but caused Insomnia.
I only take 10mg and feel very restless, have to take a sleeping pill which I hate doing. Had to stop due to the activation. I don't understand other post people taking 80-120mgs? Why would someone let a doctor prescribe that higher dosage. Do your research before letting a doctor walk all over you. Plus an doc that put you on such a high so, it's time to find another doctors.
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Use of atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder | Streltsov
Introduction
Bipolar disorder is an endogenous affective disorder that manifests itself with episodes of mania (hypomania) and depression [1]. There are currently two types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder [2]. Bipolar I disorder is manifested by mania and mixed states [3]. Type II bipolar disorder is manifested by depressive and hypomanic episodes. Manic episodes do not occur in this type of disorder. nine0005
Depressive episodes are more pronounced in type II bipolar disorder than in type I [4].
Depressive episodes are the leading manifestation of the disease in patients with bipolar disorder [5]. In a systematic literature review of long-term treated patients with bipolar I disorder, researchers concluded that depression accounts for approximately 70% of affective episodes [6].
The prevalence of bipolar disorder ranges from 1% to 2.4% [7]. The percentage of suicides in patients with bipolar disorder is 4 - 19% [8].
Problems in the treatment of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
Adequate treatment of recurrent depressive episodes in bipolar disorder has long been a clinical problem, as antidepressants have failed to demonstrate sufficient efficacy in bipolar depression in short- and long-term studies [9].
Long-term treatment for bipolar type 2 disorder is primarily "prophylactic" in that it aims to prevent and/or reduce the frequency and severity of relapses of affective symptoms through a combination of pharmacological and complementary psychological interventions [10].
Compared to bipolar I disorder, there are limited studies demonstrating the sufficient efficacy of one treatment option over others in bipolar II disorder [11]. nine0005
Use of atypical antipsychotics in bipolar depression
Lurasidone
Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug with high affinity for dopamine D2 receptors, serotonin 5-HT7 and 5-HT2A receptors, moderate affinity for seroton-HT5 receptor the absence of a noticeable affinity for h2-histamine and M1-muscarinic receptors [12].
Ishigooka J., Kato T., Miyajima M. et al. conducted a 28-week study of the safety and efficacy of lurasidone. For this, patients were selected from a 6-week, double-blind, randomized study, in which patients were divided into three groups: taking the drug at dosages from 20 to 60 mg, taking 80-120 mg and taking placebo. Efficacy was assessed using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). By the end of week 28, the overall mean MADRS score decreased as in the group previously treated with lurasidone for 6 weeks (by 8.
9points) and in the group previously treated with placebo (by 11.3 points). Side effects included akathisia, headache, and drowsiness [13].
Raison C.L., Siu C., Pikalov A. et al. performed a double-blind, 6-week, placebo-controlled study to investigate the association between pre-treatment levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) and changes in depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning in 10 patients – 17 years old with bipolar disorder. Patients were divided into groups taking flexible doses of lurasidone (20-80 mg) and groups taking placebo. The study found that patients with high baseline CRP levels responded better to lurasidone treatment than those with low baseline CRP levels, but only in patients with normal or low body mass index (BMI) levels. Lurasidone was more effective than placebo regardless of baseline CRP [14]. nine0005
Cariprazine
Cariprazine is a partial agonist of dopamine receptors D 2 and D 3 , and serotonin receptor 5-HT 1A [15].
The unique affinity for the D 3 receptor may mediate the anti-anhedonic, procognitive, and antidepressant effects of cariprazine [16][17].
Durgam S., Earley W., Lipschitz A. et al. conducted an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of cariprazine in patients with major depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. Patients were randomly assigned to either placebo or cariprazine at doses of 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/day. Efficacy was assessed using the MADRS and the severity subscale of the Global Clinical Impression Scale (GCI-S). Cariprazine at 1.5 mg/day showed a significant reduction in MADRS scores from baseline at study week 6 compared with placebo (least squares mean difference was -4.0). When taking cariprazine at a dosage of 3 mg/day, the difference in the mean least squares was -2.5. The 0.75 mg daily dose was similar to the placebo dose. nine0005
The most commonly reported adverse events in patients treated with cariprazine were akathisia and insomnia.
Weight gain was slightly higher in patients treated with cariprazine than with placebo [18].
Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of cariprazine by Earley W., Burgess M.V., Rekeda L. et al. reported similar results. Patients aged 18 to 65 years who met the DSM-5 criteria for bipolar I disorder with a current depressive episode were selected for the study. Patients were divided into three groups: taking 3 mg cariprazine per day, taking 1.5 mg cariprazine per day and taking placebo. Efficacy was assessed using MADRS and GCI-S. After 6 weeks, data were obtained that both doses of cariprazine were significantly more effective than placebo. Both doses of cariprazine were associated with lower CGI-S scores compared with placebo, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Side effects in the groups taking cariprazine were recorded twice as often as in the placebo group. The most common side effects were nausea, akathisia and dizziness [19].
Olanzapin
Olanzapin-a drug that has an affinity to serotonin 5-nt 2a , 5-nt 2C , 5-nt 3 , 5-nt 6 , D 1 , D 3333 2 , D 3 , D 4 and D 5 , muscarinic, adrenergic α 1 and histamine H 1 receptors [20].
Katagiri H., Tohen M., McDonnell D.P. et al. conducted a 6-week, double-blind, randomized trial of the efficacy and safety of olanzapine in bipolar depression. Compared with placebo, patients in the olanzapine group showed a decrease in MADRS scores. But in this group, side effects were more common, such as weight gain, increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, and a decrease in high-density lipoproteins [21]. nine0005
Pan P.Y., Lee M.S., Lo M.C. found that olanzapine
was more effective than lamotrigine in preventing
depressive episodes in patients with bipolar disorder [22].
Quetiapine
Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that blocks dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2 receptors [23].
Kishi T., Ikuta T., Matsuda Y. et al. studied the efficacy and safety of extended-release quetiapine 300 mg/day and olanzapine 5-20 mg/day in patients with bipolar depression using Bayesian analysis. As a result, it was found that there is no significant difference in effectiveness between the drugs. In patients treated with quetiapine, drowsiness was a common side effect, and in the olanzapine group, frequent side effects were: weight gain, increased blood prolactin levels, and decreased high-density lipoprotein levels [24]. nine0005
Simon J., Geddes J.R., Gardiner A. conducted a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing quetiapine alone versus quetiapine plus lamotrigine. It was found that the combination of quetiapine with lamotrigine was more effective than quetiapine alone [25].
Risperidone
Lindström L.
, Lindström E., Nilsson M. et al. conducted a meta-analysis of 15 RCTs to investigate the efficacy of atypical neuroleptics from 6 months to 4 years in bipolar disorder in 6142 patients. As monotherapy, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone were found to be superior to placebo in reducing the overall risk of relapse [26]. nine0005
A retrospective study of the effectiveness of taking risperidone to reduce the risk of affective episodes in patients with bipolar disorder showed that additional administration of the drug reduced the risk of developing manic episodes, but did not reduce the risk of developing depressive episodes [27].
In the course of comparing the safety of quetiapine and risperidone in patients with bipolar disorder, it was found that side effects such as weight gain, increased prolactin levels were detected when taking risperidone [28]. nine0005
Aripiprazole and ziprasidone
Bahji A., Ermacora D., Stephenson C. et al. conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs on the efficacy and safety of pharmacological therapy for bipolar depression.
During which 50 studies with 11448 patients were analyzed. aripiprazole and ziprasidone were ineffective compared with placebo in the treatment of bipolar depression. Aripiprazole had more side effects than placebo.
Olanzapine, quetiapine and cariprazine were more effective than placebo in the treatment of bipolar depression [29].
In another systematic review and meta-analysis conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in bipolar disorder, it was found that the drug was effective in the treatment of mania, psychosis, but did not show efficacy in the treatment of bipolar depression [30].
Conclusion
Lurasidone, cariprazine, olanzapine, and quetiapine were significantly more effective than placebo.
Risperidone, aripiprazole and ziprasidone have been shown to be ineffective in the treatment of bipolar depression. nine0005
Olanzapine causes more serious side effects (weight gain, increased cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and decreased high-density lipoprotein) than lurasidone, cariprazine, and quetiapine.
Combination of quetiapine with lamotrigine is more effective than antipsychotic alone.
In normal weight children and adolescents with higher pre-treatment CRP levels, lurasidone was associated with a better response to antidepressant therapy than placebo. CRP and BMI may be useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in the treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar depression with lurasidone. nine0005
1. Tondo L, Vázquez GH, Baldessarini RJ. Depression and Mania in Bipolar Disorder. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(3):353-358. DOI: 10.2174/1570159X14666160606210811
2. Geddes JR, Miklowitz DJ. treatment of bipolar disorder. Lancet. 2013;381(9878):1672-82. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60857-0
3. Zargar F, Haghshenas N, Rajabi F, Tarrahi MJ. Eff ectiveness of Dialectical Behavioral Thrapy on Executive Function, Emotional Control and Severity of Symptoms in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder. Adv Biomed Res. 2019;8:59. DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_42_19
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Novick DM, Swartz HA. Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Bipolar Disorder. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2019;17(3):238-248. DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.201
5. Baldessarini RJ, Vieta E, Calabrese JR, Tohen M, Bowden CL. Bipolar depression: overview and commentary. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2010;18(3):143-57. DOI: 10.3109/10673221003747955
6. Forte A, Baldessarini RJ, Tondo L, Vázquez GH, Pompili M, Girardi P. Long-term morbidity in bipolar-I, bipolar-II, and unipolar major depressive disorders. J Affect Disord. 2015;178:71-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.02.011
7. Rowland TA, Marwaha S. Epidemiology and risk factors for bipolar disorder. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(9):251-269. DOI: 10.1177/2045125318769235
8. Dome P, Rihmer Z, Gonda X. Suicide Risk in Bipolar Disorder: A Brief Review. Medicine (Kaunas). 2019;55(8):403. DOI: 10.3390/medicina55080403
9. Liu B, Zhang Y, Fang H, Liu J, Liu T, Li L. Efficacy and safety of long-term antidepressant treatment for bipolar disorders – A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
J Affect Disord. 2017;223:41-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.023
10. Grande I, Berk M, Birmaher B, Vieta E. Bipolar disorder. Lancet. 2016;387(10027):1561-1572. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00241-X
11. Yatham LN. Diagnosis and management of patients with bipolar II disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;66 Suppl 1:13-7.PMID: 15693747.
12. Ishibashi T, Horisawa T, Tokuda K, Ishiyama T, Ogasa M, et al. Pharmacological profile of lurasidone, a novel antipsychotic agent with potent 5-hydroxytryptamine 7 (5-HT7) and 5-HT1A receptor activity. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010;334(1):171-81. DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.167346
13. Ishigooka J, Kato T, Miyajima M, Watabe K, Masuda T, et al. Lurasidone in the Long-Term Treatment of Bipolar I Depression: A 28-week Open Label Extension Study. J Affect Disord. 2021;281:160-167. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.005
14. Raison CL, Siu C, Pikalov A, Tocco M., Loebel A. C-reactive protein and response to lurasidone treatment in children and adolescents with bipolar I depression: Results from a placebo-controlled trial.
Brain Behav Immun. 2020;84:269-274. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.12.010
15. Duric V, Banasr M, Franklin T, Lepack A, Adham N, et al. Cariprazine Exhibits Anxiolytic and Dopamine D3 Receptor- Dependent Antidepressant Effects in the Chronic Stress Model. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;20(10):788-796. DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyx038
16. Neill JC, Grayson B, Kiss B, Gyertyán I, Ferguson P, Adham N. Effects of cariprazine, a novel antipsychotic, on cognitive defi cit and negative symptoms in a rodent model of schizophrenia symptomatology. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;26(1):3-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.11.016
17. Watson DJG, King MV, Gyertyán I, Kiss B, Adham N, Fone KCF. Th e dopamine D₃-preferring D₂/D₃ dopamine receptor partial agonist, cariprazine, reverses behavioral changes in a rat neurodevelopmental model for schizophrenia. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;26(2):208-224. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.12.020
18. Durgam S, Earley W, Lipschitz A, Guo H, Laszlovszky I, et al.
An 8-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Cariprazine in Patients With Bipolar I Depression. Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(3):271-81. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020164
19. Earley W, Burgess MV, Rekeda L, Dickinson R, Szatmári B, et al. Cariprazine Treatment of Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study. Am J Psychiatry. 2019;176(6):439-448. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18070824
20. Lehman AF, Lieberman JA, Dixon LB, McGlashan TH, Miller AL, et al. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, second edition. Am J Psychiatry. 2004;161(2 Suppl):1-56. PMID: 15000267.
21. Katagiri H, Tohen M, McDonnell DP, Fujikoshi S, Case M, et al. Efficacy and safety of olanzapine for treatment of patients with bipolar depression: Japanese subpopulation analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. B.M.C. Psychiatry. 2013;13:138. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-138
22.
Pan PY, Lee MS, Lo MC, Yang EL, Yeh CB. Olanzapine is superior to lamotrigine in the prevention of bipolar depression: a naturalistic observational study. B.M.C. Psychiatry. 2014;14:145. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-14-145
23. Sanford M, Keating GM. Quetiapine: A review of its use in the management of bipolar depression. CNS Drugs. 2012;26(5):435-60. doi: 10.2165/11203840-000000000-00000
24. Kishi T, Ikuta T, Matsuda Y, Iwata N. Quetiapine extendedrelease vs olanzapine for Japanese patients with bipolar depression: A Bayesian analysis. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2019;39(3):256-259. DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12070
25. Simon J, Geddes JR, Gardiner A, Rendell J, Goodwin GM, Mayer S. Comparative economic evaluation of quetiapine plus lamotrigine combination vs quetiapine monotherapy (and folic acid vs placebo) in patients with bipolar depression (CEQUEL). Bipolar Discord. 2018;20(8):733-745. DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12713
26. Lindström L, Lindström E, Nilsson M, Höistad M. Maintenance therapy with second generation antipsychotics for bipolar disorder – A systematic review and metaanalysis.
J Affect Disord. 2017;213:138-150. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.02.012
27. Valdes M, Bertolin S, Qian H, Wong H, Lam RW, Yatham LN. Risperidone adjunctive therapy duration in the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder: A post hoc analysis. J Affect Disord. 2019;246:861-866. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.01.003
28. Masi G, Milone A, Stawinoga A, Veltri S, Pisano S. Efficacy and Safety of Risperidone and Quetiapine in Adolescents With Bipolar II Disorder Comorbid With Conduct Disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;35(5):587-90. DOI: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000371
29. Bahji A, Ermacora D, Stephenson C, Hawken ER, Vazquez G. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological treatments for the treatment of acute bipolar depression: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2020;269:154-184. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.030
30. Li DJ, Tseng PT, Stubbs B, Chu CS, Chang HY, et al. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of aripiprazole in bipolar disorder: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2017;79(PtB):289-301. DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.06.023
how I live with schizoaffective disorder
This text was written by a reader in the Community. Carefully edited and formatted according to editorial standards.
Egor Kamaev
lives with schizoaffective disorder
Author profile
I am 19 years old. Six months ago, I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder of the depressive type.
Ironically, I am a medical student and plan to become a psychiatrist. For some time I doubted whether it was worth continuing my studies with my illness. But now I see my purpose in this: I want to help people with mental disorders in the same way that they helped me. nine0005
I'll tell you how my story began, why they couldn't diagnose me for a long time, and how, as a result, they chose the treatment that changed my life.
What is schizoaffective disorder?
The prefix "schizo" indicates the presence of psychotic symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia: delusions or hallucinations.
Delusions are understood as persistent false beliefs - for example, a person may experience an inexplicable feeling of guilt, worthlessness, think that those around him are watching or reading his thoughts. With hallucinations, the patient feels something that is not there - for example, he hears non-existent voices or smells. nine0005
In addition to psychotic, the disease is accompanied by affective symptoms, i.e. mood changes. There are two types of schizoaffective disorder:
- Bipolar type - in this case, the patient experiences strong emotional upsurges, or episodes of mania, and sometimes strong emotional downturns, or episodes of depression.
- Depressive type - it is characterized only by episodes of depression.
The disease periodically worsens, then subsides. Exacerbations last at least a month. At the same time, psychotic and affective symptoms can be combined or replace each other within two weeks. nine0005
Why schizoaffective disorder develops is not exactly clear.
Among the reasons are genetic predisposition, stressful events, childhood psychological trauma and disruption in the production of neurotransmitters - substances that help brain cells exchange signals.
Typically, symptoms first appear in adolescence or early 30s. Due to the similarity of the disease with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder, it can be difficult for psychiatrists to make a diagnosis. nine0005
It is impossible to get rid of schizoaffective disorder once and for all, but it is possible to achieve a long-term remission - a state in which a person feels normal.
Treatment includes psychotherapy and drug therapy. Antipsychotics are prescribed as the main drugs, they help to eliminate delusions and hallucinations. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers are recommended to stabilize mood. Medications are usually taken for the rest of one's life, but sometimes a doctor may reduce the doses of medications or stop them. nine0005
Without treatment, schizoaffective disorder worsens: exacerbations become more frequent and prolonged, and patients are at increased risk of suicide.
How I first felt bad
The first time the disease manifested itself at the age of 14. The symptoms were similar to depression: I was in a depressed mood, I thought that I was insignificant and nobody needed me.
In the next three years, bouts of "despondency" were repeated annually and lasted about a month. They ended with me trying to commit suicide. It was lucky that all attempts were childishly inept. For example, one day I decided to poison myself and took the first pills I came across from the first-aid kit - in the end I just vomited. Another time he tried to starve himself to death, but nothing came of it either. After the suicide attempt, the disease let go, and I returned to normal life for several months. nine0005
My condition scared my parents very much, but they were afraid of being registered with a psychiatrist, so they started taking me to psychologists. I visited several private specialists, and I also went to the school one. I no longer remember what we talked about, I only remember how I passed countless boring tests.
Once, after one of them, the school psychologist said that I had depression. I asked: "So what to do now?" In response, I heard: "I don't know."
Although the psychologists did not help much, by the age of 17 the disease subsided, and I forgot about my strange behavior. nine0005
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How to choose a psychotherapist
See a doctor
We do not make recommendations in this article. Please consult with your doctor before deciding on treatment. The responsibility for your health rests solely with you.
How I got worse
The aggravation happened again in the second year of university. During this period, I not only studied, but also worked a lot: I was a courier and a steward at sports matches. I wanted to become independent as soon as possible and move away from my parents, so I went to work almost every day. Sometimes the voice of reason still prevailed, and I allowed myself to rest. But due to greed and the desire to accumulate the required amount as soon as possible, this was rare.
nine0005
I stopped devoting enough time to my studies, even though the material at the university became more and more difficult. The tension built up every day. The situation was aggravated by the fact that, despite the exhausting schedule, I did not earn enough to separate from my parents.
Community 11/23/21
What is depression?
Against this background, several other problems arose in life - not so significant, but probably also contributed to mental health. As a result, the delusional idea of worthlessness and insignificance returned to me. It seemed that by my very existence I bring people great inconvenience, and if I leave this life, it will become easier for everyone. nine0005
At first, these thoughts flashed through my head from time to time, and then they began to repeat themselves with frightening frequency. This condition was much worse than what I experienced before.
My treatment
Day hospital in a psychiatric hospital A month and a half after the onset of symptoms, I went to a neuropsychiatric dispensary.
I didn’t tell my parents about this: they were still afraid of psychiatrists and offered the help of psychologists.
The doctor at the dispensary diagnosed me with depression and offered to go to the hospital, but I refused. At that moment, hospitalization seemed an unaffordable luxury, you had to work and get rid of the tails for your studies. In addition, I didn’t want to inform my parents about the diagnosis: until the last moment I pretended that everything was fine with me - I was just “a little sad”. nine0005
We discussed various options with the doctor and came to a compromise - a day hospital. Treatment in the hospital was organized as follows: I came and talked with a psychiatrist for about half an hour. He asked about my well-being. After the conversation, they gave me a Rocon antidepressant pill, and I left.
I took an antidepressant for two weeksHow I tried to commit suicide
I did not feel the effect of the antidepressant: every day I got worse.
The thought grew stronger in my head that there was only one way to end suffering - by dying. nine0005
About two weeks after starting treatment, I made another suicide attempt. The idea matured in one day. I remember that around 5 pm I returned home, sat on the bed and started thinking. I considered three options: poison myself with pills, jump under a train, or jump out of a window. The first option seemed vulgar, the second was inconvenient for others, and the third was the most suitable.
I decided that in the morning I would withdraw all the money that I had accumulated from my accounts, go to the railway station and get to any city by the first train. There I will rent a hotel room on the highest floor and do what I have in mind. nine0005
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12 important questions to psychiatrist Kirill Sychev
Having made my decision, I looked at my watch: it was 5 in the morning. It turned out that I spent 12 hours in my thoughts.
I went to bed, and two hours later my mother woke me up: it was time to get ready for the university.
I remember that I did not want to leave. I told my mom that I didn't feel well, but she wasn't convinced. We left the house, and she gave me a ride in a car to the subway. I went down, then went back to the surface. I went to Dodo Pizza and ordered my favorite milkshake and a slice of pizza. I thought maybe if I please myself, I will feel like dying. But it didn't get any easier. nine0005
I went down to the subway again and realized that I would not go to the station anymore. I transferred money to my mother, wrote to a friend that I would not be able to come to his birthday party in two days, took off my jacket, put it in a backpack and put it against the wall. And then he jumped under the approaching train. What happened next, I don't remember.
My treatment
24-hour hospital in a psychiatric hospital Woke up in the hospital with a bunch of injuries.
I was diagnosed with fractures of the bones of the skull, fractures of the bones of the pelvis, one rib, sternum, processes of two lumbar vertebrae, bruises of the brain, lungs and heart. nine0005
For the first two weeks I was in the intensive care unit. During this period, various doctors visited me, but there was no psychiatrist among them. Then I was transferred to another hospital to have an MRI. There I was visited by a staff psychiatrist. The doctor talked to me, but superficially: she did not collect a detailed history. Suicidal thoughts by this moment no longer bothered me, but there was a feeling of depression, shame and longing for missed opportunities. I cried a lot, which was generally uncharacteristic for me. nine0005
I was diagnosed with depression again, started taking antidepressants, and a week later, still bedridden, I was transferred to a psychiatric hospital. The translation went badly. Already in the hospital, I was asked to sign a voluntary consent for treatment.
At the same time, the doctor, in my opinion, behaved unethically: he said that if I did not sign the document, I would be hospitalized by force - by a court decision. In this case, it will take longer to treat me. I wanted to stay in the hospital and was not going to argue with the psychiatrist.
/bipolyarnoe-rasstroystvo/
How much does the treatment of bipolar affective disorder cost? I was asked in detail about how the disease developed and what preceded it. Depression was eventually ruled out and schizoaffective disorder of the depressive type was assumed.
After some time of observation, the diagnosis was confirmed and the antipsychotic Latuda was prescribed. This medicine helps to eliminate delusional ideas, in my case, the idea of worthlessness. Therapy almost immediately made me feel better. nine0005
The psychiatric hospital also had its own department of physiotherapy and a polyclinic with doctors of various specialties - they helped me recover from injuries.
Closer to discharge, I contracted the coronavirus. I was transferred to the covid ward, then back to the "clean" one. To be discharged from the “clean” department, one had to pass a test from a psychologist. And I could not meet him for a long time, because the time of his appointments coincided with the physiotherapy procedures. As a result, I left the hospital only after two months. nine0005 Discharge report from the psychiatric hospital
How do I continue to be treated at home
I am being followed up by compulsory health insurance in a psycho-neurological dispensary. It is necessary to visit a psychiatrist once a month, but I do not always manage to keep this schedule. I try to go for consultations at least once every one and a half months.
I continue to take Latuda. I get the drug for free - on preferential prescriptions.
Recently, my anxiety increased, I went to the dispensary unscheduled. The psychiatrist put me on the Rocon antidepressant again.
But, remembering the previous experience, I doubted that it would help, so I turned to a private psychiatrist. He prescribed a tranquilizer tofisopam, this drug should eliminate the feeling of anxiety. nine0005
How much the doctor's consultation cost, I don't know exactly - it was paid by my father. The tranquilizer cost Rs 800.
/free-drugs/
The government owes you free drugs. How to get them?
Doctors say that neuroleptic therapy will last for several yearsHow my life has changed
Now I feel like a different person: happy, contented with life and full of energy. I stopped crying, my emotional state is stable. He completely recovered from his injuries. nine0005
I took a leave of absence from the university because I missed a lot of classes. I received a certificate of orderly and now I work in a specialized clinic of my university. I like the work. But I hid the diagnosis during employment just in case. Fortunately, against the background of treatment, the disease does not make itself felt.
