dragonfly79 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Hello, everyone. I have been on Latuda for about 7 weeks now. I weaned off of Zyprexa while raising the dose of my Latuda from 20mg to 40mg. At 20mg, I often had that nervous feeling like I had butterflies in my stomach, but nothing too serious. Then when we raised the dose to 40mg, which was a week ago, my energy and anxiety took off. I find it very activating, and also find it to cause nervousness/anxiety as if I drank too much caffeine. Has anyone else found this? Did it wear off after awhile? If so, after how long? This med is really helping me overall, and I like the side effect profile, so I want it to work. I have noticed the anxiety not being as bad the past few days. Thanks to all who read and reply! =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterflykisses Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I take Latuda and I found it to be activating as well. However, it does not make me anxious, actually it helps me with anxiousness and it makes me feel overall good. If the nervousness continues I would contact your pdoc. Being nervous is no fun. BTW: I have only been on Latuda a little over a week and it has worked wonders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingteapot Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I don't think it is activating for me. I take it at night. I was told to take it at night. Then again, I take it with klonopin + trazodone + ambien. So if it is activating it is likely masked by the other drugs. I take 120mgs, if that matters. Glad to hear it is helping you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equivilency Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Its more sedating for me than activating. It actually takes my anxiety away. Your right though, its supposed to be an activating drug like abilify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 Thanks, everyone! I think I am going to ask my doctor if we can lower it back down to 20 mg since I did not feel this way on that dose, and my symptoms were still controlled. Anyone else have experience with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 Well, the lower dose has not helped. I feel hypomanic at times but have no psychotic symptoms. My mood is just very unstable. I either feel anxious or am flying high, and I can not sleep. My doctor is switching me to Abilify, and we are going to work up to 30mg. I did well on Abilify before, and I am hoping it works well this time with no weight gain. If not, back to Risperdal (my tried and true for symptoms but with physical side effects I don't like). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 I also find that it increases the effects of caffeine (I drink tea, can't do coffee with Latuda) and alcohol (I drink moderately). Has anyone else found these interactions to be rather intense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medsitis Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Hello, everyone. I have been on Latuda for about 7 weeks now. I weaned off of Zyprexa while raising the dose of my Latuda from 20mg to 40mg. At 20mg, I often had that nervous feeling like I had butterflies in my stomach, but nothing too serious. Then when we raised the dose to 40mg, which was a week ago, my energy and anxiety took off. I find it very activating, and also find it to cause nervousness/anxiety as if I drank too much caffeine. Has anyone else found this? Did it wear off after awhile? If so, after how long? This med is really helping me overall, and I like the side effect profile, so I want it to work. I have noticed the anxiety not being as bad the past few days. Thanks to all who read and reply! =) You may be anxious because of the zyprexa withdrawal? I only took zyprexa for about a month to get me through a rough anxiety spell and even though I titrated it down, I felt a horrible anxiety....the drug seemed to take much longer to eliminate than it's half life indicated it should. It felt like it took 3 weeks after my last dose before my brain could even begin to start dealing with a zyprexa-free environment. I've never before had a drug linger longer than the published half life indicated it should. The withdrawal sucked, but I'm very addictive. Btw, I took my first dose of latuda about 45 minutes ago. I'm hoping it will help insomnia and anxiety. So far I feel nothing which really isn't surprising. Based on what I've read on other boards this drug tends to be loved or regarded as useless. I'm hopeful but am wary of any drug after my zyprexa experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 Oh, wow, Medsitis, thank you. I wonder if this could be what is happening to me. Definitely something to consider. I really appreciate your comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surreal Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I took Latuda before and had to be taken off because about an hour or so after taking my dose at night, I would get extreme fear and panic feeling. It felt like a restless hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medsitis Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Last night was my first dose....it made me sleepy about an hour later, and I slept for about 4 hours, hard. then I woke up at 3:30 and was rather restless. my skin feels jittery/trembly. is that what Akathisia is? I've never had it before so I don't know what it is. Or is this just "new drug" jitteriness? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTastybutt Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Latuda gives me akathesia until I get used to it. About a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifluous Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Last night was my first dose....it made me sleepy about an hour later, and I slept for about 4 hours, hard. then I woke up at 3:30 and was rather restless. my skin feels jittery/trembly. is that what Akathisia is? I've never had it before so I don't know what it is. Or is this just "new drug" jitteriness? it could be the early bits of. i'm trying to think back to how it starts, but it's difficult for me because when it is really hitting me, the akathisia, i mean, my body feels like it wants to turn itself inside out; the thought of sitting down is unfathomable; trying to sleep amounts to just writhing in bed to where i've balled up the sheets and just no amount of screaming would mirror what it feels like on the inside of me. twitchiness of skin, jittery, trembly... i would associate that with just coming onto the medication. that you awoke at half three all restless...i'm with tasty in saying there's an adjustment period and that's a good week (though it could be far more for some folks...or practically nonexistent for others). the bottom line here is that you should mention it to your prescriber, just to get it "documented" so that if it does get worse, there's an established "this happened" AND so that s/he knows how you're responding to the medication. i really think that keeping track of what side effects you're having, maybe get a rating system going, and then if you jot that down daily, after a week or so you can reflect back and see progress or problem. that all's easy for me to suggest and far more difficult to implement, but could be incredibly helpful to you and your prescribing physician in the future. i use my blog in that way at times...to see if there are patterns of dissolving or what might've precipitate success or lack thereof. it hasn't been hugely fruitful for me to do so thus far, but hope springs eternal. best to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medsitis Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Thanks Tasty and Melifluous. Very kind of you both to provide your insights and suggestions. I think jotting it down makes sense, particularly since when I get into my prescriber's office, I just babble fragments. I'm still nervous and embarrassed around doctors and I'm not young. I think the twitchy feeling might have subsided a bit as the day has progressed. probably the meds dropping down a bit in my system, or acclimating or both. Will see what tomorrow brings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 I hope it works out for you Medsitis! I have heard such wonderful things. I have noticed that the jitteriness is practically nonexistent for me if I keep taking my low dose of Zyprexa. I was on 20mg and am now on 5mg. I was looking forward to losing my Zyprexa weight with taking just the Latuda, but this may not be possible for me. I felt better than ever on a low dose of both. A little jittery after my morning coffee, but nothing too big. I hope it works for both of us! =) Best wishes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medsitis Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 (edited) Dragon, going from 20 to 5 is a huge accomplishment. Zyprexa is a strong drug...maybe just reducing your zyprexa will bring down the weight. I have to admit, I have no appetite today. the thought of food makes me slightly ill. I'm not terribly overweight, so I'll need to watch this. I'm just worried that it will be hard to discontinue this drug if it doesn't work. I hate withdrawals and have found that there's no way for me to cheat them. I need to endure them, or else the process just takes longer for me. I've already read that this drug is not really water soluble...I did a water titration to wean off of seroquel and it was so gradual that I had little or no problem. I also don't understand how a drug that makes you sleep can also make you jittery. the chemistry puzzles me. but I guess my antidepressant did similar. Edited April 23, 2014 by Medsitis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 Yes, I find that odd too...how it makes me sleepy yet jittery the next day. I also have had the same odd sleeping patterns you described, but the little bit of Zyprexa helps me sleep until morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickis Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Hi. I find that Latuda causes me to wake up in the middle of the night if I take it at dinner. It doesn't prevent me from falling asleep; I fall asleep and then 90 minutes later am UP and am up for sometimes three hours. (Granted, I also take Parnate, which is known for its sleep fracturing.) My pdoc suggested the sensible step of taking the Latuda in the a.m., but I don't really eat breakfast, and as you're supposed to take it with food that's a problem. I think I'll put it in my backpack and try to remember to take it at lunch. Thank the Lord I don't have the akathisia-esque responses some of you have had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly79 Posted April 30, 2014 Author Share Posted April 30, 2014 Medsitis, how is the Latuda going? Any details would be appreciated. I am still having a rocky time and see the doctor tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisarado Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I took Latuda before and had to be taken off because about an hour or so after taking my dose at night, I would get extreme fear and panic feeling. It felt like a restless hell. I experience this exact same thing! I don't want to stop Latuda because I feel great during the day. But it's awful from the time I take it until I can fall asleep..dread, anxious, nervous legs. Maybe I should take 2 mg Klonopin right after but I feel anxious if I feel too tired at once. It's weird I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equivilency Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I actually just went off of it for sleep problems. Couldn't take it anymore. Looking into other things. AM didn't help.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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