[Jensitive22]

I have BPII and have been off meds for almost a year. It's been a tough year. Lost my job and insurance August of 2014. I recently began the process of getting help through our county mental health services and saw the psychiatrist today. She has decided to put me on Latuda. She says it will treat my depression, anxiety and act as a mood stabilizer as well. Anybody else out there on Latuda and any opinions on just being on this alone? Thank you. Jen

[scatterbrained04]

It's worked well for me as far as depression and helped regulate my sleep. Probably the best med I've been on. I did deal with hypomania and irritabilty while adjusting to it though. I hear a lot of people do. It took about a month for me to adjust, but I'm glad I didn't give up on it.

[ShrinkPatient]

I'm actually looking for info on Latuda as well. I have been diagnosed BPII. I do take other medications but I can clearly see the difference it's made since I started taking it. I have to say that it has made a difference in my depression. No other med has come even close. Overall, I think my anxiety is a little better as well. I have been sleeping more as well. I have a long history of extreme insomnia.
The thing that's bothering me is that I am having some cognitive issues. My short term memory is horrid right now. I will literally lose the very next word that I intended to say will disappear from my mind. This is happening in the middle of a sentence. Usually, if I can pause for a minute or so, I can pull it back, but not always. Also, I am experiencing some confusion and.....a couple weeks ago, I had an evening where I experienced some psychosis. I don't remember it clearly and what I can remember is due to my family telling me what happened and having a few very clouded moments replay in my head. I was talking to and answering myself and when I was talking to them, I made no sense. Finally, someone told me that I was confused and I needed sleep and I turned around and went to bed.
Honestly, it may have nothing to do with the medicine. I'm not schizophrenic or anything close but, there is something else that may have triggered all of it. I haven't talked to anyone about it. I'm waiting until I know for sure.
I'm sorry to hijack your post but right now, I'm really hoping it's the Latuda. I do think my memory and confusion haven't been as bad this last week. I've been taking the med for close to 6 weeks now.
If you or someone you knoe has had these reactions when starting this med then please let me know.
This really has been the best med I've used. (Subtracting the cognitive dysfunction.) However, I do have to point out that Latuda is uber - expensive. Yikes.

[raspberrytorte]

My pdoc wants me to go on latuda too, but I can't afford it (ninety dollars a with the savings card!).

My story is just a horror story, most likely the flip side and in the minority. Latuda at any dose jumped my anxiety a thousand times causing me to have very vivid dreams, night sweats, at most 4 hours of sleep, and extremely agitated and hyper. After 3 nights, we were done.

I hope that it does better for you.

[tree7car]

At 60mg of Latuda, my BP2 symptoms were gone. However, I had really bad restlessness and agitation that wouldn't go away. I was sleeping 4-5 hours a night and had so much energy...almost like a hypomania. I also had really bad suicidal idealization that came AFTER starting the medicine. For these reasons, I had to decrease the dose. 40mg of Latuda did nothing for me.

For me it wasn't that magic drug...but I know others for whom it worked wonders. I'd say it's worth a try.

[Woolly Bugger]

I take latuda (along with ability, lithium, and lamotragine) for anxiety and intrusive thoughts. It has helped quite a bit. I only take 20 mg, however. For some reason, it only costs me $15 per month. Good luck.

Latuda was a nightmare for me. Lowest dose sent me suicidal planing settung date etc... Coming off was hell even though only on for 6 weeks. I get brain zaps every night at the time i would have taken it ive been off a month.

Remember every one is different. I have a sensitivity to meds that is rare.

[Amy Today]

I was on Latuda for about 5 months with Lamictal. Low side effects and it did slightly lift my depression. But only slightly. I was still left with a heavy sad kind of feeling that just wouldn't lift. It was expensive - $100/month even with insurance. I probably would have stayed on it if it was cheaper because it was slightly better than the alternative major depression. It did nothing for my mania, though.