Before taking lurasidone,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lurasidone, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in lurasidone tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking ketoconazole (Nizoral) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take lurasidone if you are taking either of these medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: antidepressants; antihistamines; carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Taztia, Tiazac, others); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, others); indinavir (Crixivan); ipratropium (Atrovent, in Combivent, in Duoneb); itraconazole (Sporanox); medications to control anxiety, sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers; medications to control blood pressure; medications for glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease, motion sickness, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson's disease, ulcers, or urinary problems; nefazodone; nelfinavir (Viracept); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); pioglitazone (Actos, in Duetact, in Actoplus Met); rifabutin (Mycobutin); ritonavir (Norvir); or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan, others, in Tarka). Other medications may also interact with lurasidone, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
tell your doctor if you use or have ever used street drugs or have overused prescription medications and if you have or have ever had a stroke; a ministroke (TIA); chest pain, heart disease, or a heart attack; an irregular heartbeat; heart failure; Parkinson's disease (a disorder of the nervous system that causes difficulties with movement, muscle control, and balance); seizures; breast cancer; trouble keeping your balance; any condition that makes it difficult for you to swallow; high or low blood pressure; a high level of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood; a low number of white blood cells; kidney or liver disease; high blood sugar; or if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had diabetes. Tell your doctor if you have severe vomiting or diarrhea or signs of dehydration now, or if you develop these symptoms at any time during your treatment. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had to stop taking a medication for mental illness because of severe side effects.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, or if you plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking lurasidone, call your doctor. Lurasidone may cause problems in newborns following delivery if it is taken during the last months of pregnancy.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking lurasidone.
you should know that lurasidone may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate hazardous machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
you should know that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication. Do not drink alcohol while taking lurasidone.
you should know that you may experience hyperglycemia (increases in your blood sugar) while you are taking this medication, even if you do not already have diabetes. If you have schizophrenia, you are more likely to develop diabetes than people who do not have schizophrenia, and taking lurasidone or similar medications may increase this risk. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms while you are taking lurasidone: extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision, or weakness. It is very important to call your doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms, because high blood sugar can cause a serious condition called ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis may become life-threatening if it is not treated at an early stage. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, breath that smells fruity, and decreased consciousness.
you should know that lurasidone may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start taking lurasidone. To help avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
you should know that lurasidone may make it harder for your body to cool down when it gets very hot. Tell your doctor if you plan to exercise or be exposed to extreme heat.
you should know that lurasidone may cause an increase in weight. It is important to have your weight checked periodically while you are taking this medication.