Latuda and Restlessness: What Users Say

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 3, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I started taking Latuda a year ago for my bipolar type 1. I was so depressed, I was unable to do absolutely anything that I stopped working and had horrible social anxiety. I started with 20mg and went as high as 60 mg. I am now stable with Latuda 40mg and 10mg of Prozac. I feel like myself again. I now have the energy to do anything, my anxiety is gone, I can sleep, and I genuinely feel happy. The side effects I felt at first were restlessness, feeling extremely tired, and subtle headaches. Now, I usually get tired within 2 hours. I sometimes get panic attacks every 3 months or so. I have lost weight on the medication and finally have the energy to work out. I've lost 30 pounds since taking the medicine. Overall, this has worked for me."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda was a NIGHTMARE. Akathisia was so bad it physically hurt. I tried to power through for 3 weeks to see if there was a light at the end of the tunnel, but it just continued and got worse. My Dr. took me off of it 3 days ago, and besides sweating and jitters, I'm back to 'normal'. For some, Latuda is a miracle drug, but for me, it was a total nightmare that put me into a suicidal, desperate place that I never, ever want to be in again. Good luck with your search for peace everyone!"

• 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."

• bpg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Been on Latuda for 2 months and for the first time in years I feel happy and content. Plus, I'm not flip-flopping between mad confusion to hyperactive depression anymore. It gives me that second to think before I react, and that has been all the time I need to see where I could go down the angry paranoid path or CHOOSE to take another route. My anxiety is almost gone with or without benzos. I smile and have a positive outlook on things now. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is as of now, it creates a very uncomfortable energy, almost like I can't keep still. So worth it to me, I can deal with that. I have been on all the antipsychotic and mood disorder medications out there, and this so far has been the best."

• Bro...
• February 18, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and a foundation to treat my depression. Found it was insufficient on its own, so the doctor started me on 40mg of Latuda. It worked very well, but I just felt 'ok,' and it was quite expensive. Tried to switch to Abilify, but the restlessness was intolerable, and the therapeutic effect wasn't nearly as palpable. Switched back to Latuda at 60mg and don't think I'll ever look back. Tried Zoloft, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Pristiq, Effexor, and Cymbalta also."

• PBS...
• August 26, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda is a miracle for me. I started on 40 mg at bedtime then moved up to 80 mg at bedtime. 80 mg was too much as I started having inner restlessness, so with my doctor's approval, I went back to 40 mg. At 40 mg, everything is perfect. My depression lifted, my compulsive thoughts went away, and I can think again."

• 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."

• owl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on Latuda (started at 40mg and ended at 80mg) for about a month and a half before deciding to switch. The best thing about Latuda was the significant decrease in my appetite, but that could have been an effect of removing Seroquel from my regimen. When I first started, I had a very hard time sleeping due to restlessness, but that went away with time. The main issues I had with Latuda were a feeling of 'numbness' to the world around me (no desire to do anything or say anything), a definite decrease in my sex drive, and the cost. Neither of my insurance plans will cover it, so unfortunately, it's no longer an option. If you do decide to try it, take it with plenty of food, otherwise you may get nausea."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed this medication to treat bipolar depression. At first, it seemed to improve the mood swings, but from day one, I experienced severe akathisia and anxiety. I would take it at night, and every time I did, it would ruin my night. I tried to be patient with it for months, but it ultimately landed me in the ER with the first panic attack I've ever had in my life. Even the ER told me to stop taking it immediately. I'm glad I did, as I've felt much better since being off of it and trying something else. It's also insanely expensive, which makes it even more frustrating."

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Latuda about a month ago. So far, I feel amazing. My negative thoughts (voices in my head) are not gone but more positive and not so attacking. I haven't had any urges in my body to yell, scream, or cry for no reason. I haven't yet popped off quickly like I did before, I have no feeling to even be upset. I'm feeling as if I've let go of all the bad energy I had inside me. I'm a lot more tired and restless, I'm sure I will get more used to it later, but it's helped me not wake up in a panic like I did every day before. I would truly recommend it to anyone who just wants to figure out who they truly are, someone who wants consistency with themselves, if that makes sense? I love the person I am now, and I hope to keep feeling this way. Good luck."

• STP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 15, 2020

"I can't tell you how much this drug Latuda screwed up my life. I started taking it in January 2019 for a mood disorder, and by February I started getting severe, severe akathisia that lasted for months. I could literally not sit still. I would get up at night and pace the floor crying. My mom just thought it was anxiety, but I kept telling her that it was really severe. As night approached, I would get severe anxiety, and I still do now, even off the medication. During August, I also developed tardive dyskinesia. Before I would go to sleep, I would make these weird faces uncontrollably. Sometimes I would pull all-nighters and not take my meds because I didn’t want to take the medication. If I did, I would just wake up at night, take a cold shower, and drink 8 cups of coffee so I would be awake. I recently got off of it and I feel a lot better, although my nightly anxiety kicks in here and there. I just wish I never would have taken this drug because it screwed up my mind. I do not recommend this to anyone."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2020

For Schizophrenia "At the max dose, Latuda works for me when nothing else did. It's been a literal lifesaver. I take it at night with food. I've woken up sweating one time. It does make me restless during the day, so I pace a lot, but because of that, I'm really productive at work. I happily manage the couple of side effects I experience to live free of psychosis."

• Bip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking Latuda for about 3 months now for Bipolar II disorder. At first, I started out at 20 mg and gradually increased to 80 mg. I was in a deep depression, so even within weeks of taking Latuda, I didn't feel that much better. Once my doc switched me to 80 mg, I slowly started climbing out of my depression. It was a slow recovery, but it worked. I am now 80% depression-symptom free, and I feel like I'm back to my old self. I am able to function much better at work and life in general. I had restlessness as a side effect for some time, but it slowly went away. I usually take Latuda before bedtime and haven't experienced any other side effects."

• Owl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I started out taking 40 mg. Things were going okay for a week. I was restless, and my mind was racing, but I wasn't depressed, and to me, that was what mattered. But then the psych brought me up to 60, then 80 mg. My mind was racing, I was having anxiety attacks, I couldn't sit still, I was having random outbursts of crying. I did not feel like myself, and I felt so much worse than I did unmedicated. I went back down to 40 mg but still felt terrible and off. I was afraid to be alone because I was so low. I've been off it for about a week now, and I feel like me again for the first time in what feels like forever. I can finally just chill out without the restlessness and racing mind. My emotions are coming back (Latuda made me extremely flat). Latuda may work for you, but it didn't for me."

• 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."

• vel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I have schizoaffective disorder and Latuda gave me back my life (along with an outpatient program and other medications). I felt like me again. I went back to work at a part-time job because I'm not in psychosis or depressed all the time. I have my own apartment. I drive and own my own car. Pretty soon, I'm going to try going off disability by working full time. It hasn't done everything, I still have delusions sometimes. I still had nasty side effects at first, like akathisia and sleepiness. I get depression at times, mostly just not wanting to leave the bed."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on Latuda 20 mg and slowly went up to 60 mg. Let me start off by saying that I cannot stress enough how much this medication has changed my life! I have never felt so normal. I can see and think clearly. I did experience akathisia but was put on propranolol for a week, and it went away. I feel like life is worth living now! Latuda has saved my life!"

• sha...
• July 15, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Been on Latuda about 3 weeks now. The only downfall is staying asleep for the whole night. I go to bed around 10 pm and I wake up about one hour later feeling restless. Doctor told me to take melatonin before bed. I'll see if that works. Also, like someone above my message said, my doctor asked me to go off the medication and notice the signs of depression again and see what the medication has been doing. So true. After 3 days off the medication, I noticed my symptoms of anger and impulsiveness return, also my depression hitting hard again. So I'm going back on after today and staying on. It's finally a miracle that I can be symptom-free and no more racing thoughts. Thank you, medicine."

• kai...
• June 27, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I take this for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I was taking 850 mg of Seroquel, 1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and 2 at night before bedtime. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. This is something like having both schizophrenia and bipolar at the same time. I did not like taking Seroquel because it made me gain weight and I felt like I always had to keep moving. I was put on Latuda 40 mg and it seems to work. I have been taking it for a week now. Almost no side effects. I am still here and see things that are not there, but the Latuda helps me know what is real and not and it helps me better handle them. It works as well as any other one I have tried but side effect-free. I highly recommend trying this out."

• Bov...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 25, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Latuda 40 mg for 1.5 years. In 2012, I was hospitalized after a manic episode-hallucinating and not eating or sleeping for 2 days. Hospitalized in 2014 for another manic episode. I was prescribed Latuda 40 mg, haven't changed since then. I also started seeing a Christian therapist after my 2nd episode. I don't always take my Latuda with food and rarely after dinner (otherwise, I get restless and anxious). But so far, I have been healthy mentally, no manic episodes, no major depressive states. This year, I have even lost 10-12 lbs, but I'm very active now. I don't have a history of drug use, never been medicated before this, but family history of mental health issues."

• vag...
• October 25, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Latuda has been a lifesaver. I've been battling crippling depression, suicide attempts, and extreme mania. I have been through it all, tons of money and success to literally living out of a van. Latuda has completely equalized me and has allowed me to live a normal life. Bad akathisia as a side effect, but if I take it at night, I'm okay. Make sure to take this drug with food, that's vital! Give it a try, it may save your life :)"

• DWJ...
• February 25, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Latuda about 4 months ago with gradually increases in dosage. This medication has been wonderful. I have PTSD and bipolar anxiety/depression. I've taken all the usual meds, Depakote, Zoloft, and many others with weight gain and other side effects more than I can mention. When it comes to Latuda, though, I have had some restlessness, but that only comes when I don't eat proper meals with it. Otherwise, I find that with Trazodone and lamotrigine, I sleep well, and my night terrors are better controlled. I love this medication."

• 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!"

• 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!"