Does Latuda HAVE to be taken with food? What happens if you dont?

Latuda wont work properly without 350 calories.

I've gained only a minimal amount of weight around ten pounds, and yes you have to take Latuda with 350 calories. However, I'm actually losing the weight gained. I started to take Latuda with milk before bed because I already eaten something earlier.

I take it at night with 350 calories of peanut butter and I’m gaining weight.
I eat dinner at 5, so for me to have such a high intake of calories at 8:30-9 is not working for me.
I’m going to try without and see what happens.

I saw on here that someone said not to listen to what the pharmacist says because they aren’t a physician. Actually, they ARE a doctor. They hold a doctor of pharmacy degree which means they specialize in using, storing, preserving, and providing medicine.

In my experience, taking 20mg Latuda on 350 cals. approx. simply acts faster, than taking it on 250 cals. or less. But I have stopped taking it because of its severe sedation.

I noticed a recent question on this thread, yes you do need to eat it with a full meal it’s unfortunate to me too. I’m gaining weight being medicated. Used to have the fastest metabolism, I’m 19.

I’m reading the 350 calories in here. My doctors told me I needed only 250 calories. I’m having a very hard time eating 250 calories so that I can take it. I wouldn’t be able to take it if I had to stuff more calories into me. I noticed the dates on these posts were a couple of years ago. Maybe something has changed??

I’ve been taking Latuda for over a year now. I can’t recall what my initial dose was, but for awhile now I’ve been on 80mg. At first I wasn’t taking it right, ie, not eating and just taking the medication on an empty stomach. Finally it was explained to me very specifically that if I don’t eat, I won’t get the full benefits of the medication. So now I make sure I eat something in the afternoon, usually when I get home from work around 4 or 5. I do experience drowsiness but after that fades away I get extremely restless, I can’t relax, I move around a lot, and I recently discussed this with my PA who suggested I take a Klonopin along with the Latuda to help me relax. For now it does seem to be working, so we’ll see. This drug has helped me a lot, my PA diagnosed me with BI Polar 2 and I could get really manic. No more of that, just a lot clearer thinking.

If you don't take this with food you're in for a bad time. Currently prescribed 40 mg. I did this by accident once and it made me feel terrible for almost a full 24 hours. Nausea, head in a fog, bad anxiety. I keep 1.5 Cliff bars with me just in case I'm in a pinch. Don't mess with the directions for this medication.

I wanted to reply because I read on this thread that someone spoke with a pharmacist who said Latuda does not need to be taken with food. This is untrue; Latuda cannot be effectively absorbed without 350 calories. Taking Latuda with food improves the body's absorption by 2- or 3-times what it would be without food. Yes, you can feel free to take it without food, but you will not be taking the full prescribed dose.

I just spoke with a pharmacist about taking food with latuda and she tole me that you DO NOT have to take food with this drug. She said the reason people take food with Latuda is because some people get an upset stomach if they don't take it with food but it doesn't effect anything at all if you don't.

How many calories are we suppose to eat in a day while on these drugs to prevent weight gain??? I know they change the metabolism... If doctors told us how many calories to eat in a day while on these drugs none of us would gain weight..it's almost like we aren't supposed to eat at all.

I don't eat much in the mornings so I started taking it at lunch I noticed I get real sleepy around 3 or I forget to take it. I was thinking about taking it before I go to bed with a bowl of cereal.

I’ve been taking latuda and always have been taking it at night. Recently I had to switch the time of taking it because I am regularly eating dinner earlier in the evening. I’ve been noticing nausea and weakness, what should I do?

Hi, Bunny! Yes, when I was taking Latuda I had a terrible time because I'm a very light eater and you require that food for proper absorption of the drug. For me this was a blessing because I also began losing weight while taking it.
You can take it earlier in the day if you wish ~ whatever's most convenient for you. Remember, too, no grapefruit juice.
Best wishes, WCV