New Here...Dread after taking Latuda

[Hiding]

Hello, all. I've been lurking on these forums, but this is my first post. 

The question I have has sort of been addressed before, but the thread was somewhat old. 

I have bipolar 1. I had a major manic episode (my first major one) that lasted from September 2013 to April 2014. I was in denial about my diagnosis during this time and was not medicated. I've been stuck in a horrible depression since I crashed. 

My question is about Latuda. I took 20mg for one month with no noticeable effects. I've since been on 40mg for three days. I take it at about 6pm with at least 350 calories.

About 1.5 to 2 hours after taking it, I get this horrible feeling that's hard to describe. Claustrophobia, depression, dread, crying. I take clonezapam and trazadone around this time but it doesn't help.

My question is for those who've had similar effects. Does it go away with time? Has anyone stuck with it long enough to find out? 

I believe the med is helping with my depression somewhat during the day, but these nighttime episodes are hard to take. 

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. 

[crtclms]

You are on very little for bipolar depression. This is not to say you aren't having those side-effects, I'm just telling you that there are always outliers for whom 40mg works, but it is usually more. I was on 80mg. I liked Latuda very much, though, and had few side-effects. I'd still be on it if I could afford it.

The question is do you want to try to push through those side-effects. While there are no guarantees, a lot of side effects stop after an initial "breaking in" period.

To me, this sounds like something you need to talk about with your pdoc.

Hopefully, others with more experience with your exact symptoms will post.

[Hiding]

Thanks so much for your reply. I see my pdoc again on Oct. 1, so I'll definitely ask then, if not sooner. Last time I saw him, he said it was up to me as to whether to take 40mg or 80mg...just said to give the 40 a try first. 

Since the 40mg are helping with my depression somewhat, I'd love to move up to 80mg if that would help even more. However, what happens to me after I take my pill is truly awful, and aside from wondering if these side effects will pass, I also wonder if 80mg would make them worse. 

Another thing is that I'm splitting 80mg tabs in half. I wonder if that's a problem...the coating or something. 

Anyway, thanks again, and I hope some others here might be able to chime in with their experiences. 

[jt07]

I've heard about this side effect so I know you are not alone. In fact, I remember a similar thread about it some time ago. I did a search on "Latuda" and "dread" and here are a couple of threads that mention it. I read somewhere that it might be an atypical presentation of akathisia, but don't hold me to that.

Edited August 20, 2015 by jt07
Deleted duplicate threads

[Hiding]

Thanks for the links. I'm really not sure what to make of these side effects and whether or not they'll go away or if I'll need to take another med to combat them if they continue.

It could very well be akathisia, but it's not the physical kind. It's all internal. I was on Abilify for about three days once, and I know I had akathisia then. Couldn't stop fidgeting, had to move, felt like I was coming out of my skin. Quit taking it immediately. There was no dread though. What I'm experiencing now is different and worse in many ways.

 

[jt07]

If you know you get this 1.5 - 2 hours after you take your dose, what would happen if you took your dose before you go to bed (with your doctor's approval)? I get the munchies about 1 hour after I take my Remeron, so I combat that by taking it right before I go to sleep. That way I sleep through the worst of it. Just a thought. I've never taken Latuda so I don't know if you have to take it earlier or not.

I finally found that similar thread that I remembered:

http://www.crazyboards.org/forums/index.php?/topic/63813-latuda-and-a-feeling-of-dread/#comment-655969

[Hiding]

Thanks for the link, jt. I'd take the Latuda at bedtime, but it has to be taken with at least 350 calories. I don't want to eat that late because I'm trying to lose about 70 pounds I put on due to depression and Seroquel. 

At this point, even though it's still early in the game, I feel like I might have to take an anti akathisia med to combat this. 

Thanks for all the replies so far. 

[geekything]

I take my Latuda at bedtime....but I have altered my life so that bedtime is 8:30pm and dinner is 6:30-7:00pm.

I get a feeling similar but not exactly the same as you described. It's somewhat like agitation rather than dread. If for some reason there's a delay in sleeping at 8:30pm (I sleep with my 3-year old son, sometimes he won't fall asleep) it definitely gets worse.

The thing that really deals with it is...you guessed it...sleep I'm afraid.

Are you taking Latuda as an AAP or AD? It's important to know which is that it effects your target dose generally. Latuda is prescribed for me as an APP, and you can see my dosing information below.

Definitely mention what's going on to your p-doc. Let us know how we can help more.

[Hiding]

Thanks for your reply. I'm really taking it for bipolar depression because I haven't had any mania whatsoever since my one and only episode of acute psychosis and severe mania that ended in the spring of 2014. I'm also on Lamictal, which did nothing at 300mg and caused cognitive problems. Down to 150mg on that now.

I called my pdoc and he said I could go back down to 20mg, which I've done. I'm not feeling as well during the day (not well at all, actually), but the night dread is completely gone. 

I was taking the 80mg at 6:00 with dinner, and the dread was coming within an hour, even after taking a clonezapam, so I just don't think that dosage is for me. 

Still searching for the right combo. Thanks again. 

[geekything]

That's interesting that lamotrigine didn't help with your depression, even at 300mg. 

You might have a little cessation syndrome from going down on the Latuda dose (I haven't gone down, so this is just conjecture on my part). Hopefully it passes.

Maybe get in and see you p-doc ASAP to discuss what's going on and other options? As I'm sure you know, sometimes it's a bit of a crap shoot finding the meds that work for you.

Hang in there.

[Hiding]

Thanks for the encouragement, geekything. I currently don't have health insurance, so I'm seeing a pdoc through a free program, and I don't think I can get in any sooner than my next appt. hopefully I can stick it out till then. 

Thanks again.