Latuda and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Opa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I have Borderline OCD, anxiety, and depression, and Latuda changed my world. It took 6 different parts of me that all seemed disconnected and made them one. I stopped living in fear and what-if paralysis. I’m in the moment. I’m now the 'me' that’s been trying so hard to surface. I’m withdrawing from 250mg of Lamictal, so uncertain what, if any, side effects are present. I take it at night, fall asleep hard, then wake up early. I feel like I’m waking up to my life, like I’ve been on autopilot controlled by emotions and delusional overthinking my entire life. Enjoying my life for the first time."

• she...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I don't review medicines often, but thought this might be valuable. Love this medicine, been on everything, like most of us. I take it as monotherapy for bipolar II. No bad side effects. When first started, I had a headache for a few days. That went away completely and now it helps prevent them. I also tire a little more upon exertion, but not too much. I feel slightly shaky, but even that has improved. In the beginning, I had slightly restless sleep, but now have great sleep with pleasant dreams. I feel normal, calm, happy, and stable. I have NEVER felt this way. Definitely not manic at all. I have not gained or lost weight. I have no nausea, and my cognition is good. I hope this helps. Give this medicine a try."

• ful...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm the type to lurk in the review section, and man... I never thought I would be one of those people to actually review a medication. This medication completely ruined me, it really did. I consider this medication to be evil, it made everything worse. I stopped taking it about a week ago, and I'm still recovering, I'm still horribly suicidal. Yep, that's right, this medication made me suicidal. I've been having mental breakdowns every single day because of how this medication made me feel. I'm waiting for my brain to go back to its original working order. It just messed up my entire view of life, and I regret ever putting this horrible medication into my body. This experience has scarred me for life, and I will never forget it, it has truly messed me up. I got the horrible Akathisia side effect, and this medication really tested the limits of me mentally. I can barely sleep anymore. I'm sorry if I scared you, but this is just my experience. Best of luck to you."

• Jon...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda 80 mg made me so manic that I could not lay still in bed. I did not understand what was happening. I told the doctor, and he tried to add more drugs. I rejected most of them as I felt worse or unable to function on them. I was not sleeping well and felt empty, emotionless, like a zombie. After 7 months of this awfulness on 80 mg Latuda, I became manic and psychotic, developed extreme paranoia, was not sleeping, and tried to end my life. The doctor switched me to Quetiapine, and things got better."

• NEW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Latuda yesterday for the first time. I took it around 5 p.m. I couldn't sleep well during the night, but that was probably just getting used to the medicine. I went for a walk for exercise and felt great. I felt pleasure again. I felt joy, happiness, and love."

• Reb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on Latuda for 23 days for my post-traumatic stress disorder, manic attacks, etc. At first, it seemed to be working. By day 19, I began having uncontrollable muscle shaking. On the last day I took it, my throat started closing up. My tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth. Luckily, I had some Xanax. Otherwise, I'd have been in the ER. I couldn't sleep, think clearly, or simply sit still. I'm sure for some people this medication is helpful. It scared me because I was having problems swallowing and breathing."

• Mr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Latuda for about 6 weeks for Bipolar depression. It is one of the most effective medications that I have taken for depression, but I'm dealing with a few side effects that I hope will go away. I have the paradox of extreme tiredness followed by difficulty sleeping. If I take it during the day, I will have a few hours of fighting falling asleep. When I take it at night (which is what I do now), after the initial sleepiness wears off, I wake up several times and am somewhat restless. Hopefully, I will be able to adjust better over time. If you need something that works fast for depression, I would recommend."

• Mr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Latuda for about 6 weeks for Bipolar depression. It is one of the most effective medications that I have taken for depression, but I'm dealing with a few side effects that I hope will go away. I have the paradox of extreme tiredness followed by difficulty sleeping. If I take it during the day, I will have a few hours of fighting falling asleep. When I take it at night (which is what I do now), after the initial sleepiness wears off, I wake up several times and am somewhat restless. Hopefully, I will be able to adjust better over time. If you need something that works fast for depression, I would recommend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I started taking 20 mg of Latuda in addition to the 900 mg of Lithium that I've been on for over 10 years. Even before the dosage was increased to 40 mg after one week, I noticed a difference in my mood: I became less depressed, wanted to do things like cleaning up, less withdrawn, and the suicidal thoughts disappeared. My sleeping is still not as good as it should be, however, even with the 25 mg of Seroquel, I sleep very poorly without. I also take Lorazepam as needed for anxiety. I am starting on an 80 mg dosage of Latuda shortly, and if all goes well, my psych said the Lithium may eventually be dropped."

• dmi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I switched from Zyprexa to Latuda about 2 months ago. At first, I was having a little bit of trouble staying asleep. Now, I feel much more energized when I wake up. It keeps symptoms at bay. I was also able to lose almost 50 pounds (through diet and exercise). It is possible to lose weight on this drug as you are not constantly thinking about food and feeling sluggish. Definitely recommend for those looking for an alternative."

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Latuda for 3 months after being on Lithium for Bipolar Disorder and have experienced nothing but great results. Lithium, which I was on for 10 years, began to rot my teeth because of dry mouth, so I asked for a new medicine. The doctor told me Latuda was brand new and is used primarily for schizophrenia but is also used for Bipolar Disorder. About 5 days into treatment, I had experienced noticeable changes. There was a sense of calm without the 'tunnel vision' and tiredness. I am a little more manic, but not bad, it's more like just being awake more, not bouncing off the walls. I sleep about 3 hours less, but because of the awake aspect of the medicine, you can't really notice. So, I say it's an excellent medicine and is worth a try."

• San...
• November 10, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I am diagnosed with Bipolar 2 and ADHD. I take Strattera for ADHD, which stopped the anxiousness, and I just started Latuda two days ago. It has been a dream! Since I have had such difficulty responding to several bipolar medicines that were prescribed, it is so refreshing to have found a medicine that makes me feel like myself without the moods. I am so grateful! However, my only struggle with Latuda has affected my sleep slightly. I am a bit more restless when I sleep, but I have been compensating for this issue by taking melatonin. Not a big issue for the amount of positives I am experiencing! Hopefully, it will improve with continued use."

• San...
• November 10, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I am diagnosed with Bipolar 2 and ADHD. I take Strattera for ADHD, which stopped the anxiousness, and I just started Latuda two days ago. It has been a dream! Since I have had such difficulty responding to several bipolar medicines that were prescribed, it is so refreshing to have found a medicine that makes me feel like myself without the moods. I am so grateful! However, my only struggle with Latuda has affected my sleep slightly. I am a bit more restless when I sleep, but I have been compensating for this issue by taking melatonin. Not a big issue for the amount of positives I am experiencing! Hopefully, it will improve with continued use."

• web...
• October 16, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Latuda now for three weeks and am quite pleased. My anger and agitation level is tolerable (great difference). My manic is still elevated but where I like it. First week I had bouts of headaches that have since passed. I can't take it at dinner because I only last about an hour and a half after taking it. Only issue I'm struggling with right now is although I get tired from the pill, I can't fall asleep."

• Apo...
• January 20, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have experienced some side effects, otherwise, I would rate this as a 10. Watch what you eat and pick the right time to take it. The first few days I had side effects that lasted for a few hours. After the side effects wore off, I felt amazing. I have bipolar depression that I feel is very bad. Most people think I am okay. However, there is so much going on in my head all the time. Latuda has helped me to feel good and stay focused. I am able to have more control over my life. I have tried different meds, and this one has worked well for me. I have taken it at night, but switched to the day due to sleep issues. Sleep issues are better now."

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2022

For Schizophrenia "Taken for three months. Only slightly stopped paranoid thoughts. Within weeks caused severe akathisia 'restlessness or need to move,' which really means having to move 24/7 while knees and feet hurt, terror anxiety, inability for any stimulation, tremors, insane insomnia like an hour -3 a night, nausea, and diarrhea. These symptoms didn’t stop until months after stopping the med. Insomnia and outside and inside tremors after the meds took over a year. When I go to an online support group for those with akathisia who took Latuda, they all have the same issues. I’ve heard multiple times from doctors that this drug doesn’t work for schizophrenia. I often wonder where these positive reviews come from."

• HTA...
• September 21, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on Latuda for 3 weeks, and it was horrible. Where to begin? From day 2, I was unable to sleep at all. I averaged 2 hours of sleep for 3 weeks straight! Fortunately, my Bipolar 1 and Schizoaffective Disorder were held in check. I don't know how. My sleep has now come back due to 100 mg of Seroquel. Albeit, I cannot fall asleep without it. The worst lingering side effect has been with my tongue. It is constantly pushed up against the roof of my mouth! It never ends. I also constantly grind and clench my teeth. This has been the worst experience with any medication I have been on. I am also on 900 mg of Lithium and 300 mg of Lamictal."

• Lis...
• December 6, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Latuda 40 mg for a week and then 80 the next week. I had to stop halfway through week 2 because I wasn't sleeping, and I was feeling more agitated. Actually, it made my bipolar worse. I was up and down and up and down within a matter of minutes."

• Kaw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Latuda for two years. I increased the first time and slept like a baby (I had terrible insomnia and nightmares on 20 mg). I just increased my dose to 60 mg and now I'm back to waking up every single night at 3:00 am and feel wide awake. I also have very vivid dreams on this med. However, it controls my symptoms so well that I won't stop taking it. It is the only medication in its class that works for me. I miss sleeping well, but the benefits outweigh the risks for me. Just in case anyone is wondering, when it's combined with gabapentin at night, I have no trouble sleeping, so I'll definitely add that back into the mix."

• Tra...
• November 5, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I took Latuda for three years until I figured out it was causing my anxiety attacks the whole time. It caused uncontrollable movements of my face, jaw, tongue, and hands. I also had restlessness, an uncontrollable urge to get up and walk around, self-isolation and fear of others, high blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, extreme sweating, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, weight gain, and racing thoughts. It was torture. I will take the chance of relapsing in order to determine if I will remain normal without meds. In these three years, I never had any symptoms, and I don't think it would be intelligent to immediately assume it was because the meds had been working the whole time. I now believe antipsychotics are not the end-all solution to mental illness, and more attentive and accurate evaluations of patients need to be conducted to get people off these horrible drugs as soon as possible."

• Rea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 29, 2012

For Schizoaffective Disorder "There are a lot of nausea experiences out there with Latuda. I am trying to post my findings everywhere. I have run a controlled experiment over the course of 4 months to see what I could do about the nausea. Ever read the entire black label sheet that comes with this? I have. It's incredibly intense. One thing to keep in mind is what sorts of foods and drinks (and herbs) interact with the CYP3A4 enzyme that processes the medicine. If you are eating things that do, you could be in for the spins, or insomnia, or worse. Another thing is that you must eat 350 calories with Latuda. Take the dose no earlier than 30 minutes after you eat, and you will feel much better for it."

• Wop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I took this, started at 60 mg. Caused severe restlessness and lack of sleep. Felt like I had tachycardia going on, but didn't. Switched down to 30 mg without doctor's consent and don't get restless or have the feeling in my chest as bad. It's been a little over a week, wish I had a better idea on if it's working or not."

• sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I was deeply suicidal for 15 years, with repetitive suicidal thoughts on a daily basis. I was at the end of my rope, close to killing myself, and my doctor suggested Latuda. I started at 80 mg 1x a day at bedtime. Suicidal thoughts and constant thoughts of my 15-year-old cat constantly dying largely diminished. I have a down episode once every 6 days about where I am hopeless and have negative thinking again, but that lasts only a day or two. I am not missing work anymore and have no problem waking up. I can only sleep 3 hours a night, though, after 3 months, and my doctor upped me to 120 mg. Bad decision, still sleepless. Going to try to go down to 40 mg to help sleep, will report back with results. Xanax and Unisom help sleep. Well, after 6 months on."

• ReR...
• September 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I switched from 800 mg Seroquel to 40 mg Latuda. At first, it was okay, but Latuda does NOT sit well with me. Once I finished the taper of Seroquel, the Latuda side effects came out. 1: extreme insomnia: trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. 2: restless leg syndrome, my legs hurt ALL the time. 3: nausea to the point where it would wake me up in the morning. 4: just general restlessness, it felt like my mind was always running, and I couldn't rest at all. Tapering down off it was also AWFUL. Going from 40 mg to 20 mg, my body felt like it was shutting down. I had to take time off because I could barely walk, I was so nauseous, I was exhausted but couldn't sleep, my vision was swimming, and I felt like I was going to pass out any second. This went on for 2 days of torture and then became survivable enough for me to go back to work. Still suffering through the nausea and exhaustion and hoping that it will go away soon so I can finish off the taper."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm very frustrated. I gained so much weight on Seroquel, but felt great. But I continued to gain weight, so switched to Latuda. I'm miserable. I cannot sleep, which of course makes everything worse. I've tried it for a week and am having to switch back now. I hope I can find something eventually that helps me sleep and feel stable, but I don't gain weight."