Latuda and Irritability: What Users Say

• Van...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "My husband was diagnosed with bipolar depression. Many other underlying issues over the years but was put on Latuda 3-4 weeks. Then he started hearing voices & committed suicide. He was so agitated on it."

• jul...
• June 28, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have taken Latuda for about 2 weeks for Bipolar Depression. I also take Prozac and Depakote. I have never had a medicine work so quickly and dramatically. I can feel again...love for my family...optimism...although I am not sleeping as I did before. I have gone from 12-13 hours/night to 6-8 hours/night. I have had brief episodes of irritability but so far have been able to resolve them quickly. I feel better than I have in years."

• Wia...
• November 24, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder with psychotic features. When I first started this medication about 8 months ago, I would get extremely tired soon after I took it, also nauseous. I have to take it at night. The tiredness put me in a low mood but not depressed. After steadily taking it, my doctor put me on a stimulant and that cancels out the tiredness. Honestly I'm so happy at this point in time and I've come so far. I have a job now and a 4.5 GPA and I volunteer. It really has changed my life. I also lost almost 40 pounds and I feel healthier and love life. If you take this medicine every day and stick to it, it really works. If I skip, I definitely feel very agitated and paranoid and angry. I take 40mg a night, sometimes I do still get nauseous."

• Bal...
• December 30, 2011

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I always read reviews, but this is the first time I have ever felt the need to comment on anything online. I am on Wellbutrin 300mg and recently began Latuda 40mg and a month later Topamax. I didn't realize it was working until I noticed that EVERY relationship in my life had improved. My relationship with my husband, mother, siblings, kids, etc. My appetite began to increase so my doctor added Topamax and I regrettably stopped Latuda thinking they were both the same. Well I did stop eating as much, but a week later it was like I had lost all that progress. I was back to my old irritable unstable self. I will give Latuda credit for being the first and only medicine to make me 'normal'."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2012

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine is a godsend. I am not overly hungry on it, in fact, I have started losing weight. I have only had a little nausea, but it just seems like my stomach is weaker (i.e., I get more car sick, or more queasy when hungry). I fall asleep 2 hours after taking this, so it helps me sleep, but I don't have to pass out right away. Barely any akathisia, hardly any agitation, happiness, and energy. I have started reading, working out, and eating healthy again. I'm going back to school. It doesn't dull my senses or cognition, so I'm still intelligent and aware. I'm on 40 mg right now, and it's enough to hold back the voices and paranoia. The only frustrating thing about it is that you have to take it with 350 calories, or it absorbs less."

• Tan...
• July 20, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I was recently taken off of lithium for bipolar because of my thyroid problems. I am very happy with Latuda. It works quickly and makes me feel normal for the most part. I have only had a little irritability, but it quickly subsided. The main problem I have had with Latuda is drowsiness. I take it at night, but I am still having a difficult time waking up. I'm going to try taking it earlier, like right after dinner, and see if that helps me wake up earlier. I have to wake up by 6:00 a.m. once school starts again since I am a teacher. I have been waking up around 10:00 a.m. and don't think that will work. I recommend trying Latuda!"

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed Latuda 20 mg for type 2 bipolar to help with the depression side. I was having suicidal ideations before starting Latuda. The first month it helped with my depression, and I give it credit for that. However, after a month of using it, it stopped working. I had moments of sadness here and there, not as deep. They increased the dose to 40 mg. At 40 mg, I wasn't sad, but I was extremely irritable and angry. I stopped taking Latuda because I would rather be sad than so very angry at everyone and everything for no reason."

• jen...
• March 31, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have rapid cycling bipolar. I started with 20 mg of Latuda per day for 4 weeks. Tried it in the morning and felt so tired and groggy that I could barely function at work. So, I tried taking it at night with Klonazepam for sleep, and it worked perfectly, except for vivid dreams. At 20 mg, I was finally feeling happy, smiling, talking to everyone, just all around pleasant. Recently, I've bumped up to 40 mg and am feeling agitated, cranky, reluctant to talk to anyone, the opposite of where I was emotionally on 20 mg. I am going to reduce to 20 mg again and see if my positive attitude returns. Definitely take with food. Suicidal thoughts eliminated. Good medication overall!"

• Arr...
• February 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked extremely well when I first started it at 20 mg - I felt amazing good, started listening to music, became more affectionate and loving with friends and family, I was feeling so good that I started telling people out of the blue that I feel happy for the first time in my life. BUT that didn't last for very long. Over the next 4-5 weeks, it completely stopped working and my old depressive symptoms of my bipolar disease came back. My doc upped the dosage to 40 mg to see if I could get back to the old positive state I had before at the beginning, but no dice. The higher 40 mg dose gave me horrible, severe anxiousness, agitation, and restlessness. Others have referred to this state of agitation as akathisia. I was climbing the walls!"

• Pgk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda was effective at first, however, one day I suddenly started feeling so nervous and agitated that I was extremely suicidal to the point of having the police called on me. This continued until I stopped taking Latuda."

• Win...
• May 3, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Because of Latuda, I now have side effects of constant restlessness. I'm always sleepy, I have uncontrollable facial movements, teeth grinding, blinking excessively at times, very dizzy a lot of the time and lightheaded, lots of nausea and vomiting, major loss of appetite. I lost 40 lbs, inability to keep still most of the time, agitation, blurred vision, no sex drive, confused, dry skin, stiff neck, I can't turn all the way, twitching uncontrollably of my eyes, mouth, tongue, face, arms, legs, lips. My back is always sore, my anxiety attacks are worse. I'm hyperactive, I feel manic all the time, always feel nervous. I have tightening of my jaw and snapping, and I even chipped a tooth. Constant headaches, back lower skull always tense, trouble collecting my words, weird jerking movements from my fingers, toes, arms, legs, face, lips, mouth, tongue, and eyes. Unsure of what to do next, restless, confused, looking for something to do constantly. I always feel weak, sweating of my hands and feet. And it won't go away!!"

• Anonymous
• June 17, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Hate, hate, hate, hate this medication. I was on 20 mg, and I felt okay. Made me very irritable, so I upped to 40 mg. Biggest mistake. I feel so sick. Severely depressed. I wasn't depressed. I'm in such pain. I cry a lot. I want to feel happy. It's an absolute nightmare for me. I lowered to 30 mg yesterday, and I feel even sicker. I really don't know what to do. I'm so sad, and I don't want anyone to go through this. Every medication works differently for everyone. I'm not saying this medication won't work for you. It might do wonders. This is just my bad experience. Good luck."

• spo...
• February 23, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Before I was prescribed Latuda, I was at the end of my rope. I was so depressed. My doctor put me on 20 mg, and overnight everything was beautiful again. I enjoyed doing things I hadn't in years. The Latuda would put me right to sleep, and I had vivid dreams. Two months later, all those good feelings were gone. My doctor bumped me up to 40 mg, but I only experienced horrible side effects like agitation and anxiety. I'm back at 20 mg, and I want off it completely. I can't eat or sleep. I have to take Xanax to fall asleep now, and I feel myself slipping back into depression. I should also mention that whenever I have a drink, I automatically black out, so I can't even have a few drinks with my friends anymore."

• KC ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I really don't know what to say. I've been on Latuda 40mg for two months, and I don't see much of a difference between 40mg and 20mg. I tried a higher dose, but I experience restlessness and anxiety. Now, I am so irritable, and my panic attacks have returned. I'm not sure what my doctor has in mind, but we are trying to control the panic attacks right now and find a way to help me sleep throughout the night."

• Har...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "The withdrawal is horrific if you already have akathisia. One of the biggest side effects is akathisia, and no one talks about it. I had akathisia from coming off meds cold turkey. Before being put on Latuda, I was rapidly tapered off all my meds and given no time to adjust. The guy started Latuda along with another cocktail. I’ve been diagnosed as bipolar with depressive episodes. I’ve never been psychotic or had mania or even hypomania. The doctor tapered me too fast off Latuda, and now I have all kinds of issues. New symptoms include grinding of teeth, jaw clenching, cracking jaw, flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, muscle twitches and spasms, itching, headaches/migraines, diarrhea, irritability, fatigue, chills/sweats, brain fog, and more. My symptoms of akathisia and insomnia are unbearable now after being tapered too fast."

• Cli...
• December 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was hospitalized after a suicide attempt, and while inpatient, I was put on this in combination with my other medication (Prazosin, Lexapro, Lamictal). On the upside, I wasn't depressed. But I was very restless, irritable, and just downright angry all of the time-sometimes seething. I recommend it if, like me, your bipolar depression seems to be untouched, but be very careful if you're a naturally irritable person."

• geo...
• February 3, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar and have been on Latuda for 3 days. Until reading your post, I was going to take myself off. The irritability is through the roof, and right now I am in my manic mode, getting up every day at 4:00, so lack of sleep doesn't help. My thoughts are foggy. But I am giving this medicine 2 weeks, I should know by then. Latuda replaced the Risperdal. I am on 1500 lithium, Klonopin, Prozac, and Vyvanse. So I hope to feel as good as all of you. Thanks for your experiences."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on this medicine for 2 months now. They upped my dosage every week as follows: 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg. I went to my check-up, and I still felt very irritable and mean, so she bumped me to 80 mg and said that should work. No! I hated it! I felt like I was jumping out of my skin, I couldn't sit still and felt so antsy that I couldn't sleep. I had to drink a beer or take a Xanax to fall asleep. I decided to take matters into my own hands and dropped myself back down to 40 mg, and I feel great now. I have no depression, and I feel alive again. My anxiety is still here, but I will be back on my Klonopin soon to help. I have to take this with dinner, or I feel nauseous."

• tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Latuda for my recently diagnosed bipolar II. I started on 20 mg, and it was great for my mood. It did have a strange side effect of making me incredibly anxious to go to bed. I physically had to go to sleep at the same time every day, or I would be jittery, irritable, and anxious the whole time I stayed up. My doctor thought going up in dosage could reduce this and help my mood more, but it just made the akathisia worse, leaving me with shaky hands and a clenching jaw as well. I wish this drug didn't have the physical side effects because, during the day, I felt great!"

• Ban...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Took Latuda 3 years ago for major depressive and anxiety disorder for about half a year at 20 mg, and it worked incredibly well, but I lost insurance. Side effects that I remember were mostly tremors. I was able to get a trial from a new doctor this year, but he only had 120 mg. I know it's seriously ill-advised, but he suggested I cut the pill into 6 pieces. I did that out of desperation and even shaved them down to make sure it was less than 20 mg. I've been doing this for about 3 months. It helps, but the side effects can be bad. I feel discomfort during the day sometimes that I can't really describe; I feel irritable and scared when I'm going to sleep, which is the worst of my side effects: head tremors. I also gained some weight, but only a couple lbs at best. Obviously, my current experience is through manipulation of the pill, which you definitely should not do, but hopefully it helps someone weigh their thoughts."

• Pol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Worst medicine for bipolar I have tried, it made me extremely angry and irritable. I got extreme hot flashes that got worse during the night, which prevented me from sleeping. It also made me feel more depressed and I actually gained weight on it. The withdrawals weren't that bad but the hot flashes haven't gone away completely. Not a good drug for me personally but I hope it works well for others."

• P93...
• March 26, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I first started on Latuda at 20 mg two years ago, and then my psychiatrist upped it to 80 mg over a month ago. I do not have the same irritability and agitation like I had when I was on 60 mg, and small things that rubbed me the wrong way before do not have the same effect on me now. I also take Wellbutrin 300 mg and Viibyrd 20 mg in combination with Latuda. Altogether, I now feel more stable than I have since I was 16, and I am now 23."

• P93...
• March 26, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I first started on Latuda at 20 mg two years ago, and then my psychiatrist upped it to 80 mg over a month ago. I do not have the same irritability and agitation like I had when I was on 60 mg, and small things that rubbed me the wrong way before do not have the same effect on me now. I also take Wellbutrin 300 mg and Viibyrd 20 mg in combination with Latuda. Altogether, I now feel more stable than I have since I was 16, and I am now 23."

• may...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I was misdiagnosed with bipolar when I took Latuda. I couldn't stay on it for more than a few months. I became very suicidal, and it didn't help my mood at all. Taking it with food was bothersome. I experienced akathisia every time I took it. Within an hour, I'd feel sickly and uncomfortable, couldn't sit still, and I was irritable. This happened every time I took it. My doctor prescribed another medicine for it, but it didn't help at all. I felt like my bones were itching inside of my skin. This was what made me quit taking meds for years."

• Cak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2016

For Schizophrenia "40 mg for schizoaffective disorder: Somewhat improved my paranoia, insomnia, and intrusive thoughts. However, it made my body feel extremely tense and agitated. I can hardly describe how horrendous this feeling was, like every cell in my body was screaming, like I needed to physically explode. I would try to pace around to relieve it, but nothing worked, and I felt exhausted at the same time, so I would lie down, but the feeling was unbearable, so I would get right back up again. It was maddening. My pdoc gave me a beta blocker to make it go away, but that didn't work. After a month on this med, I just quit it cold turkey as I was terrified of it, felt like I could not handle one more night of feeling that way."