Dangers of Mixing Latuda and Alcohol

Sitting in your psychiatrist’s office, you may feel nervous about starting a new prescription. After all, there’s a learning curve with any medication, especially when you’re trying to manage conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. What can you do while taking these prescriptions? What should you avoid? Can you even drink alcohol anymore? Let’s explore Latuda, its side effects, and its contraindications.

What Is Latuda?

Available under the generic name lurasidone hydrochloride, Latuda is a popular antipsychotic medication designed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It’s especially helpful for battling bouts of bipolar depression — the weeks-long lows you may experience from time to time.

Latuda works by blocking the action of certain dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain. This balances the levels of these neurotransmitters. Reducing excess dopamine alleviates psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, while enhancing serotonin activity regulates our mood. Additionally, blocking certain serotonin receptors improves cognition and reduces psychosis.

To summarize: by altering our serotonin and dopamine levels, Latuda (lurasidone) acts as an antidepressant and antipsychotic.

Latuda Side Effects

Unlike many antipsychotics, Latuda leaves most other receptors alone, meaning that we’re a bit less likely to experience serious complications like cognitive impairment, weight gain, and oversedation. However, we may still experience side effects after starting this medication:

• Irritability and impulsivity
• Nausea and difficulty swallowing
• Insomnia and drowsiness
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Risk of overheating
• Muscle stiffness and jerking motions
• Restlessness or slow, molasses-like movements
• Depression and suicidal ideation

Latuda side effects: long-term, they vary from person to person. We might observe instances of involuntary movement (tardive dyskinesia) and metabolic change. Discontinuing the medication may result in Latuda withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and dizziness. We shouldn’t try to stop taking the drug on our own — instead, it’s best to seek medical advice before making any changes.

Some side effects are a warning sign that something is very wrong. High blood sugar can be a major concern, especially for those of us with diabetes. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include confusion, frequent urination, excessive hunger or thirst, nausea, weakness, and fruit-scented breath. If your blood sugar levels seem to change after starting Latuda, or if you begin to have thoughts of suicide, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Latuda Contraindications

Whenever we start a new medication, it’s important to be aware of how it will interact with other substances we eat or use. Antibiotics, antifungals, herbs (especially cannabis and St. John’s Wort), and even grapefruit can influence the effects of lurasidone hydrochloride. To prevent any problems, tell your doctor about all over-the-counter or prescription drugs you are currently taking.

It’s also important to be aware of how lifestyle choices will interact with Latuda. For example, since Latuda reduces our ability to regulate our body temperature, we should avoid dehydration, heavy exercise, and prolonged sun exposure to avoid overheating.

Drinking on lurasidone hydrochloride can also be a bad idea. Let’s explore the relationship between Latuda and alcohol, how these substances interact with one another, and the potential risks of combining them.

Alcohol, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar Disorder

First, we need to consider the conditions Latuda is prescribed for and how alcohol can impact them. Those of us with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia may be more likely to drink heavily than the general population, which places us at increased risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Alcohol is the most misused substance among people diagnosed with schizophrenia. In fact, an estimated 24% to 36% of those diagnosed with schizophrenia have struggled with alcohol use disorder. The numbers are similar in the bipolar population — over 46% of those with bipolar disorder meet the criteria for AUD.

Schizophrenia and Alcohol Use Disorder

Ongoing alcohol misuse can worsen the symptoms of people with schizophrenia, placing us at increased risk of depression, suicidality, aggression, and acts of violence. Additionally, it heightens the likelihood of medication nonadherence, meaning that we probably won’t take our antipsychotics on time. This reduces the efficacy of our meds and may cause a resurgence of delusions or visual and auditory hallucinations.

Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Misuse

If we’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, especially if we have hallmarks of treatment-resistant bipolar, we should be mindful of our alcohol use. Research shows that AUD exposes those of us with this condition to risks like rapid cycling, mixed mania, frequent hospitalizations, and slower recovery from our symptoms.

Now that we understand how drinking can impact our underlying conditions, let’s explore the interaction of alcohol and Latuda.

Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Latuda

While there is limited research about how drinking affects those of us taking Latuda, the available information paints an unsettling picture. Everyone will be affected by both lurasidone hydrochloride and alcohol differently; however, many trends have emerged.

Respiratory Depression and Overdose Risk

Both alcohol and Latuda are central nervous system (CNS) depressants. This means they suppress automatic functions like breathing and the beating of our heart. Combining these drugs multiplies their depressant effects, which increases our risk of respiratory depression: slow, shallow breathing that may stop entirely.

Although respiratory depression is the main factor behind many overdoses, taking too much Latuda can also trigger seizures, low blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat. These potentially fatal consequences should be top of mind when we think about drinking while on our antipsychotic. If you begin experiencing these symptoms, contact the poison control center at 800-222-1222 or call 911.

Double Depressants

CNS depressants also affect our cognitive abilities. Mixing Latuda and alcohol may slow brain activity, increasing feelings of sedation and reducing our ability to make well-reasoned decisions. All told, CNS depressants can weaken our problem-solving skills, blunt our emotions, slow our processing speed, and impair our concentration. They might also increase our risk of delirium, leaving us dizzy and disoriented.

Orthostatic Hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension is an abrupt drop in blood pressure that happens when standing: if you’ve ever felt dizzy after suddenly changing positions, you’ve probably experienced it. As mentioned, Latuda can affect our blood pressure, which increases our chances of balance/stability-altering issues like orthostatic hypotension.

Unexpected Side Effects

Even if we’ve taken Latuda for months or years, adding new substances to the mix can surprise us. Alcohol may enhance certain side effects of this drug, including confusion, nausea, and dizziness. As a result, tasks that aren’t usually difficult for us — like driving our car on familiar roadways or walking around the house — may become incredibly challenging, increasing our risk of accidents, falls, and other injury-causing incidents.

How To Avoid Alcohol While Taking Latuda

Fortunately, with some lifestyle changes and a dash of professional help, we can successfully avoid alcohol while taking Latuda. If you’re sober curious, consider trying one or more of these 10 actionable tips.

1. Remind yourself of your priorities. What are your greatest priorities? Mental wellness? A sense of emotional balance? No more hallucinations? Writing out your priorities and taping that list in an obvious place (like a bathroom mirror or refrigerator) can reinforce our decision to avoid alcohol while on Latuda.

2. Cope differently. Meditation, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, and creative outlets are all great ways to deal with life’s challenges — all without alcohol.

3. Try boozeless alternatives. Craving a fun bev? Substitute mocktails, smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, herbal teas, and other non-alcoholic beverages for that after-work glass of wine. Sometimes we’re more attached to the ritual than the drink, so whip one up that doesn’t interact with Latuda.

4. Set financial goals. It’s no secret that alcohol costs us a lot of money. If you’re having a hard time getting started on your alcohol journey, calculating your expenses and setting financial goals can help you muster the motivation to quit or cut back.

5. Stay busy. Fill your hours with engaging activities like painting, gentle exercise, museum trips, catching up with friends, playing with pets, or volunteering. The busier you are, the less time you’ll spend thinking about drinking.
6. Focus on living well. Self-care is key to both sobriety and mental health. Prioritizing sleep, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and socializing with others can give you the peace and clarity you need to achieve your goals.
7. Clear out your bar cart. It’s hard to stay on track with substances in the house. If your home is brimming with beverages you’d rather avoid, consider donating them to friends and family. That way, you don’t have to deal with the temptation of on-hand alcohol.

8. Learn how to deal with triggers. For some of us, drinking is a near-automatic response after encountering triggers, which are people, places, and events we associate with alcohol use. If you feel compelled to drink, note it in a journal or contact a supportive friend to better understand that feeling.

9. Find folks who understand. Not everyone will understand your experiences with alcohol, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, but someone will. Seek out local or virtual support groups full of people who know what you’re going through — for example, the 24/7 Forum available through Reframe. These folks will be your biggest supporters. They can also offer advice when times are tough because they’ve been in the same situation before.
10. Talk to professionals. Alcohol use disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia all require treatment from credentialed experts. If you’re struggling with one or more of these conditions, talk to a therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional.

It will take some time and consistent effort, but applying any of these tips will be a step toward a healthier, happier life.

Ready for Relief?

If your psychiatrist recommends Latuda, have an open and honest conversation with them about your lifestyle, including how much you drink. This medication can be incredibly effective for managing bipolar depression and schizophrenia, but its interaction with alcohol may pose a risk to your health and safety. Drinking while on Latuda can increase the risk of severe side effects, respiratory depression, and overdosing. However, for some of us, it’s the best medication for hallucinations, delusions, and depressive episodes.

If you’re ready to rethink your relationship with alcohol in preparation to start taking Latuda, Reframe can help. Our proven alcohol cessation app offers the support and scientific backing you need to make a sustainable, lasting change.