Studies have shown that older adults taking antipsychotics (medications for mental illness) like lumateperone have an increased risk of dying while receiving treatment. Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory, thinking clearly, communication, and daily activities as well as possibly causing changes in mood and personality. Moreover, older people with dementia may be more likely to get a stroke or mini-stroke while receiving treatment.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To determine how your body is responding to lumateperone, your doctor may prescribe specific tests.

Schizophrenia symptoms are treated with lumateperone (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Lumateperone belongs to the group of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. It functions by altering the way that a few organic brain chemicals behave.

Lumateperone is available as a pill to swallow. It is typically taken once daily with food. Take lumateperone every day at about the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Use lumateperone as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Lumateperone might help you manage your symptoms, but it won’t make you better. Before you experience all of lumateperone’s benefits, it could take weeks or even longer. Even if you feel good, keep taking lumateperone. Without consulting your doctor, do not stop taking lumateperone.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you think this drug may be recommended for other conditions.

Before taking lumateperone,

• If you have an allergy to lumateperone, any other drugs, or any of the substances in lumateperone capsules, inform your doctor right away. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: aprepitant (Emend), armodafinil (Nuvigil), bosentan (Tracleer), certain antifungals like fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole, and voriconazole (Vfend); antihistamines; medications for anxiety, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson’s disease, ulcers, or urinary problems; erythromycin (Eryc), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, and Verelan), calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), and verapamil; fluvoxamine (Luvox); anti-HIV/AIDS drugs such ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), amprenavir (Agenerase) (not commercially available in the US), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); nafcillin, nefazodone, pioglitazone (Actos), prednisone (Rayos), probenecid (Probalan), and modafinil (Provigil); drugs for seizures include carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and valproic acid; rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); sedatives; and tranquillizers. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Tell your doctor about every medicine you are taking, even those not on this list, since many other drugs may also interact with lumateperone.
• Please let your doctor know if you are taking any herbal supplements, especially St. John’s wort.
• If you have persistent diarrhoea or vomiting or suspect dehydration, let your doctor know right away. Additionally, let your doctor know if you have ever experienced any of the following: liver disease, diabetes, a low number of white blood cells, heart failure, a heart attack, an irregular heartbeat, high or low blood pressure, a stroke, or a ministroke; any condition that makes it difficult for you to swallow; seizures; trouble staying balanced; high cholesterol; or high dyslipidemia levels.
• If you are pregnant, particularly if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, if you plan to get pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding, let your doctor know. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking lumateperone. If taken throughout the final months of pregnancy, lumiateperone may have negative effects on babies.
• Inform your doctor if you are nursing a baby. Lumateperone usage should not be accompanied by breastfeeding.
• You should be aware that this medicine may lower both male and female fertility. Describe the dangers of taking lumateperone to your doctor.
• You ought to be aware that lumateperone might make you feel sleepy. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.
• Alcohol may intensify the drowsiness brought on by this prescription, so you should be aware of that. If you are using lumateperone, avoid drinking alcohol.
• You should be aware that lumateperone may result in lightheadedness, fainting, and dizziness if you stand up suddenly from a reclining position. When you initially start using lumateperone, this happens more frequently. Get out of bed gradually, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up, to avoid this issue.
• You should be aware that lumateperone may hinder your body’s ability to cool down when it becomes really hot. If you want to exercise or be in a very hot environment, let your doctor know.
• You should be aware that even if you do not currently have diabetes, you could develop hyperglycemia (increases in blood sugar) while taking this drug. Diabetes is more likely to occur in those with schizophrenia than in those without the disorder, and taking lumateperone or related drugs may make diabetes more likely. While taking lumateperone, report any of the following symptoms to your doctor right away: excessive hunger, intense thirst, frequent urination, hazy vision, or weakness. Because high blood sugar might result in the deadly disease known as ketoacidosis, it is crucial that you contact your doctor as soon as you experience any of these symptoms. If ketoacidosis is not treated at an early stage, it could turn fatal. Ketoacidosis symptoms include dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, a fruity odour to the breath, and a loss of consciousness.

While using this medication, avoid consuming grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice.

As soon as you recall, take the missed dose with food. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Lumateperone could have undesirable effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Extreme fatigue or exhaustion
• Gaining weight
• Nausea
• Mouth ache
• Dizziness

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you suffer any of the symptoms, including those mentioned in the sections on IMPORTANT WARNING and SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:

• Itching, hives, or a rash
• Difficulties with coordination or more falls
• Uncontrollable or odd facial or bodily movements
• Fever, chills, or other symptoms of illness in addition to a sore throat
• Perspiration, bewilderment, stiff muscles, or a rapid, thumping, or irregular pulse
• Neck or throat constriction; breathing or swallowing challenges
• Seizures

Further negative effects of lumateperone could exist. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.