Should I take Latuda (lurasidone) at night or in the morning?

Timing of Latuda (Lurasidone) Administration

Latuda should be taken at night with food (at least 350 calories), as this timing optimizes absorption while leveraging its sedating properties to improve sleep maintenance. 1, 2

Key Administration Requirements

Food Requirement (Critical)

• Lurasidone must be taken with food containing at least 350 calories 1, 3
• Absorption is reduced by approximately 50% when taken on an empty stomach 2
• This food requirement is non-negotiable and applies regardless of timing chosen

Recommended Timing: Night Administration

Primary rationale for nighttime dosing:

• Sleep benefits: Lurasidone significantly increases total sleep time by approximately 28 minutes and improves sleep maintenance without affecting sleep onset or REM sleep 4
• Sedation management: Somnolence is one of the most common adverse effects, particularly early in treatment 1, 3
• Taking at night allows any sedating effects to be therapeutically beneficial rather than impairing daytime function 4

Dosing Specifications

• Starting dose: 40 mg once daily 1, 3
• Therapeutic range: 40-160 mg once daily 3
• No titration required: Can start at therapeutic dose immediately 1, 3
• Half-life: 18 ± 7 hours, reaching steady state in 5 days 2

Clinical Advantages of Nighttime Dosing

For patients with sleep disturbances:

• Lurasidone demonstrates specific sleep maintenance effects, decreasing wake time after sleep onset and increasing sleep efficiency 4
• Particularly beneficial for patients with schizophrenia or bipolar depression who commonly experience sleep maintenance problems 4

Managing common side effects:

• Somnolence, akathisia, nausea, and parkinsonism occur most commonly at treatment initiation 1, 3
• Nighttime administration allows patients to sleep through peak sedation effects
• Nausea may be better tolerated when occurring during sleep hours

Important Caveats

If morning dosing is considered:

• Only appropriate for patients who experience activation rather than sedation (uncommon with lurasidone) 5
• Must still be taken with substantial food (≥350 calories) 2
• May cause problematic daytime somnolence in most patients 1

Metabolic advantages (timing-independent):

• Lurasidone has minimal weight gain risk and favorable metabolic profile compared to other atypical antipsychotics 1, 3
• No clinically meaningful alterations in glucose, lipids, or QTc interval 3
• These benefits apply regardless of administration timing

Practical Implementation

Establish a consistent routine:

• Take with dinner or substantial evening snack (≥350 calories) 2
• Same time each night to maintain steady plasma levels 2
• Reaches steady state within 5 days of consistent dosing 2