Lurasidone Dose Adjustment from 20 mg to 30 mg
No, you should not increase your Latuda (lurasidone) dose from 20 mg to 30 mg for your next dose without consulting your healthcare provider, as 20 mg is the standard starting dose and dose adjustments should follow established protocols.
Dosing Guidelines for Lurasidone
According to the FDA label for lurasidone:
- The recommended starting dose is 20 mg given once daily for depressive episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder 1
- Initial dose titration is not required
- Lurasidone has been shown to be effective in a dose range of 20-120 mg per day for adults
- Dose adjustments should be made based on clinical response and tolerability
Proper Dose Adjustment Protocol
When considering dose increases for lurasidone:
Timing: Allow adequate time (typically 1-2 weeks) on the current dose to assess full response
Clinical assessment: Dose increases should be based on:
- Inadequate symptom control at current dose
- Tolerability of current dose
- Absence of significant side effects
Increments: Standard dose increases are typically from 20 mg to 40 mg, not to 30 mg 1, 2
Administration Requirements
- Lurasidone must be taken with food (at least 350 calories) 1
- Food substantially increases absorption (approximately 2-fold increase in AUC and 3-fold increase in Cmax)
- Taking without food may result in subtherapeutic levels
Common Side Effects to Monitor
Special Considerations
- Renal impairment: If you have moderate to severe renal impairment, dose should not exceed 80 mg/day 1
- Hepatic impairment: If you have moderate to severe hepatic impairment, dose should not exceed 80 mg/day (moderate) or 40 mg/day (severe) 1
- Drug interactions: Dose adjustment is needed if taking moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors 1
Clinical Pearls
- Most side effects with lurasidone are transitory and can be managed with dose adjustments 4
- Lurasidone has a favorable metabolic profile compared to many other antipsychotics 3, 4
- The effectiveness of lurasidone for longer-term use (more than 6 weeks) has not been established in controlled studies 1
Bottom Line
Stick with your current 20 mg dose until you can consult with your healthcare provider. They will evaluate your clinical response, side effect profile, and determine if and when a dose increase is appropriate. The standard dose increase would be to 40 mg, not 30 mg.