I you don’t want to eat with Latuda, can you just drink grapefruit juice with it?
If you don’t want to eat with Latuda?
Question posted by nicnickk on 15 Oct 2018
Last updated on 21 March 2019
Answers
WildcatVet
15 Oct 2018
Hi, nic! If you don't eat at least 350 calories with Latuda your body will not absorb the medication. Waste of time and $$$$$. Also, you cannot have grapefruit while taking Latuda.
"Latuda should be taken with food (at least 350 calories)."
"Avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with lurasidone, as it may increase blood levels of the medication. This can increase the risk of side effects such as Parkinson-like symptoms, abnormal muscle movements, seizures, high blood sugar, diabetes, high cholesterol, weight gain, sex hormone irregularities, and heat-related disorders such as heat intolerance or heat stroke. In addition, you may be more likely to experience side effects associated with low blood pressure such as dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, flushing, fainting, and heart palpitations."
Regards,
pdeyoreo
21 March 2019
This does not answer the OP's question. I comment because would also like to know the answer.
WildcatVet
21 March 2019
The answer is exactly what I posted. Either you eat or you don't absorb the medication properly.
pdeyoreo
21 March 2019
Right, I get that, and that's a fair point, but I think what the OP is getting at is, assuming one already is and has been on Latuda for long enough to a reach steady-state concentration in their blood stream, could they skip eating 350 calories one day and simply eat grapefruit (or drink grapefruit juice) to effectively raise the levels of Latuda in their blood? Exactly one cup of grapefruit juice is approx. 96 calories according to Google, so one could easily get close to half the necessary calories from grapefruit juice alone, which, as I understand, would allow their body to absorb at least some of a dose.
WildcatVet
21 March 2019
If you want to take the risks:
"Avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with lurasidone, as it may increase blood levels of the medication. This can increase the risk of side effects such as Parkinson-like symptoms, abnormal muscle movements, seizures, high blood sugar, diabetes, high cholesterol, weight gain, sex hormone irregularities, and heat-related disorders such as heat intolerance or heat stroke. In addition, you may be more likely to experience side effects associated with low blood pressure such as dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, flushing, fainting, and heart palpitations. "
"One whole grapefruit, or a small glass (200 mL (6.8 US fl oz)) of grapefruit juice, can cause drug overdose toxicity.[1] Fruit consumed three days before the medicine can still have an effect."
"The effects are caused by furanocoumarins (and, to a lesser extent, flavonoids). These chemicals inhibit key drug metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). CYP3A4 is a metabolizing enzyme for almost 50% of drugs, and is found in the liver and small intestinal epithelial cells.[11] As a result, many drugs are affected. Inhibition of enzymes can have two different effects, depending on whether the drug is either
>metabolized by the enzyme to an inactive metabolite, or
>activated by the enzyme to an active metabolite.
If the active drug is metabolized by the inhibited enzyme, then the fruit will stop the drug being metabolized, leaving elevated concentrations of the medication in the body, which can cause adverse effects."
pdeyoreo
21 March 2019
Very informative, thank you. It does still seem plausible to me that substituting grapefruit for a meal could sustain rather than elevate levels of Latuda in the blood, but the note that "fruit consumed three days before the medicine can still have an effect" indicates to me that this substitution could lead to complications in the days following. I think you highlight an excellent point by opening with, "If you want to take the risk." In other words, is the juice worth the squeeze? ;)
WildcatVet
21 March 2019
LOL! It begs the questions: Exactly how much medication IS in your bloodstream at any given time and exactly how much constitutes a toxic level (factoring in height and weight, etc.)?
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grapefruit, latuda, grapefruit juice
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