All About Caplyta
Your doctor may recommend that you take Caplyta if you have a certain mood condition.
Caplyta can be used to treat the following in adults:
- schizophrenia
- depression related to bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder
Caplyta basics
Caplyta comes as a capsule that you take by mouth. It belongs to a group of medications called atypical antipsychotics, and its active drug ingredient is lumateperone.
At this time, Caplyta is only available in brand-name form. There are currently no generic forms of Caplyta available.
In this article, we’ll describe the uses, side effects, dosage, and other information about Caplyta.
Like most drugs, Caplyta may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Caplyta may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Caplyta. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Caplyta can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Caplyta’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Caplyta that have been reported include:
- nausea
- dry mouth
- dizziness
- sleepiness or sedation (feeling drowsy or less alert)
- weight gain*
- headache*
* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Caplyta can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Caplyta, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Caplyta or antipsychotics like Caplyta that have been reported include:
- neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can occur in people taking antipsychotic medications
- high blood sugar, which can lead to diabetes
- high cholesterol or high triglycerides
- trouble swallowing
- seizures
- trouble controlling your body temperature
- low levels of white blood cells
- low blood pressure when standing up that can lead to passing out
- tardive dyskinesia, which causes abnormal and uncontrollable muscle movements
- boxed warnings:*
- risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- risk of death in older adults with psychosis related to dementia (problems with thinking, memory, and communication)
* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.
Side effect focus
Learn more about some of the side effects Caplyta may cause.
Boxed warnings
Caplyta has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug’s boxed warnings are described below.
Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people. Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors in children and young adults. This includes Caplyta, which is prescribed to treat depression related to bipolar disorder. Since Caplyta is only approved for use in adults, this risk may affect adults ages 18 to 24 years who take this drug.
Risk of death in older adults with psychosis related to dementia. Antipsychotic drugs such as Caplyta may increase the risk of death in adults ages 65 years or older with dementia-related psychosis. Dementia is a condition that affects memory. Psychosis involves losing touch with reality.
Older adults with dementia-related psychosis who take Caplyta may also have an increased risk of stroke.
What might help
Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Before you start taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor about your mental health history. And tell your family and friends about this warning for Caplyta. Your risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors can be worse at the start of treatment and when your doctor changes your drug dosage.
If you notice any symptoms of worsening depression, changes in mood, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors, contact a doctor right away for treatment. Examples of symptoms to watch for include:
- feeling alone
- not enjoying activities that used to make you happy
- thoughts of harming yourself
- anxiety
- changes in your sleep patterns
If you notice worsening of your mood or that you’re having suicidal thoughts or behaviors, your doctor may recommend that you stop taking Caplyta.
Risk of death in older adults with psychosis related to dementia. Due to the risk of death, it is not likely that a doctor would prescribe Caplyta to an older adult with dementia-related psychosis. Before starting Caplyta treatment, tell your doctor about any history of dementia-related psychosis that you have. In this case, your doctor may recommend a different treatment option for you.
- Call 911 or your local emergency number.
- Stay with the person until help arrives.
- Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other things that may cause harm.
- Listen, but don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell.
Weight gain
Antipsychotic medications such as Caplyta may cause weight gain to occur. This is because the drug can cause changes in your metabolism.
Although weight gain wasn’t one of the most common side effects of Caplyta, it may still occur in people taking it.
What might help
Before you start taking Caplyta, your doctor will check your weight and continue to monitor it throughout treatment. If you experience weight gain while you’re taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend changes in your diet or exercise routine that can help you maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.
Headache
You may have headaches from taking Caplyta, although this isn’t one of the most common side effects of the drug. In studies, only people taking this medication to treat depression related to bipolar disorder reported headaches. This side effect wasn’t reported in people taking it for schizophrenia.
What might help
If you have headaches during Caplyta treatment, talk with your doctor. They may recommend ways to help treat this side effect. For example, your doctor may suggest taking an over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), to ease headache pain.
- skin rash
- itchiness
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Caplyta is used in adults to treat:
- schizophrenia
- depression related to bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder
Caplyta is not used to treat these conditions in children.
Schizophrenia causes problems with perception. It’s possible for people with schizophrenia to have delusions (believing in something that’s false) or hallucinations (seeing, sensing, or hearing things that aren’t there).
Bipolar disorder causes extreme changes in mood, such as feeling euphoric or manic, energetic, or depressed. Two common kinds of bipolar disorder are bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. With the first kind, you have a manic episode with or without a depressive episode. With the second, you experience depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes (which are less severe than manic episodes).
Caplyta is only used to treat depression associated with bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder. (This drug isn’t used to treat mania or hypomania.) For this purpose, it can be used alone or with lithium (Lithobid) or valproate.
Although the causes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder aren’t known, these conditions may occur due to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. It’s thought that Caplyta affects two different hormones in the brain, serotonin and dopamine, which may help to decrease the symptoms of these conditions.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Caplyta.
How does Caplyta work?
It’s not known exactly how Caplyta works for treating schizophrenia and depression related to bipolar disorder.
Although the causes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are uncertain, these conditions may occur due to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. It’s thought that Caplyta affects two different hormones in the brain, serotonin and dopamine. It’s this possible mechanism of action (how a drug works) that may help to decrease the symptoms of these conditions.
What should I know about alternatives to Caplyta, such as Vraylar, clozapine, Abilify, Latuda, and Seroquel?
Many different treatment options are available for schizophrenia and depression related to bipolar disorder. Before starting any treatment options, you should discuss with your doctor what may be the best medication for you.
The list below includes a few examples of drugs used to treat both schizophrenia and certain kinds of bipolar disorder:
- cariprazine (Vraylar)
- aripiprazole (Abilify)
- lurasidone (Latuda)
- quetiapine (Seroquel)
Clozapine (Clozaril) can be used to treat schizophrenia.
Some of these medications can also be prescribed to treat other conditions.
These medications may have different side effects and different dosing schedules. Some will likely require different lab tests for monitoring certain side effects.
Before you start treatment for schizophrenia or depression related to bipolar disorder, talk with your doctor. They can work with you to determine which medication may be best for your condition.
Is Caplyta used to treat depression?
One condition Caplyta is used to treat is depression that’s related to bipolar disorder. But Caplyta isn’t used to treat other kinds of depression. At this time, Caplyta hasn’t been studied for treating other forms of depression. So it’s not known if the drug may be safe or effective for this purpose.
If you’re interested in learning more about treatment options available for depression, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best treatment plan for your specific symptoms.
What’s the half-life of Caplyta?
The half-life of Caplyta is about 18 hours. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for the body to rid itself of half of a dose of medication. So taking your dose of Caplyta every day helps to keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body.
Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the Caplyta manufacturer’s website to see if it has support options.
And check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
Savings for Caplyta
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for Caplyta when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Caplyta that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Form and strengths
Caplyta comes as a capsule that you swallow. It’s available in three strengths:
- 42 milligrams (mg)
- 21 mg
- 10.5 mg
Recommended dosage
You’ll take Caplyta by mouth once daily.
Questions about Caplyta’s dosage
Here are some answers to questions you may have about Caplyta’s dosage.
- What if I miss a dose of Caplyta? If you miss your dose of Caplyta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the best time to take your next dose. In some cases, they may recommend that you take your dose as soon as you remember. Or they may recommend that you skip the dose you missed and continue with your regular dosing schedule.
- Will I need to use Caplyta long term? If Caplyta works for you, your doctor will likely recommend that you take it long term.
- How long does Caplyta take to work? Caplyta begins working as soon as you take your first dose. But since the drug affects chemical levels in your brain, it may take time to notice a difference in your mood. It takes about 5 days for Caplyta to reach a consistent level in your body.
Your doctor will explain how you should take Caplyta. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Taking Caplyta
You should take your dose of Caplyta once daily. Try to take your dose of Caplyta at about the same time each day. This helps to keep a consistent level of the medication in your body.
Accessible medication containers and labels
If it’s hard for you to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies may provide medication labels that:
- have large print
- use braille
- contain a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text into audio
Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that offers these options if your current pharmacy doesn’t.
Also, if you’re having trouble opening your medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to put Caplyta in an easy-open container. Your pharmacist may also recommend tools to help make it easier to open the drug’s container.
Taking Caplyta with other drugs
In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take your dose of Caplyta together with other medications for your condition. For example, to treat depression related to bipolar disorder, your doctor may recommend that you also take either lithium (Lithobid) or valproate with Caplyta. Before you start taking Caplyta, your doctor will recommend the best treatment plan for your condition.
Questions about taking Caplyta
Here are some answers to questions you may have about taking Caplyta.
- Can Caplyta be chewed, crushed, or split? The manufacturer of Caplyta doesn’t specify whether the capsules can be opened, chewed, crushed, or split. It’s recommended that you take your Caplyta dose as a whole capsule. If you have difficulty swallowing your capsules, see this article for tips on swallowing pills. Or talk with your doctor about a using a different treatment for your condition.
- Should I take Caplyta with food? You can take your dose of Caplyta with or without food.
- Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
- How will Caplyta affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
Before you start taking Caplyta, it’s important to talk with your doctor about other medications that you take. You should also tell your doctor about any medical conditions that you have. Letting your doctor know about these factors will help them determine if Caplyta may be a safe and effective treatment option for you.
Interactions
Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.
Before taking Caplyta, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter kinds. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Caplyta.
Interactions with drugs or supplements
Caplyta can interact with several kinds of drugs. These drugs include:
- certain seizure medications, such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- certain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), erythromycin (Eryc), and clarithromycin (Biaxin XL)
- certain antifungal medications, such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and voriconazole (Vfend)
- certain heart medications, such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil (Verelan)
- the diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos)
- the corticosteroid prednisone (Rayos)
- certain HIV medications, such as fosamprenavir (Lexiva), ritonavir (Norvir), nelfinavir (Viracept), efavirenz (Sustiva), and etravirine (Intelence)
- the organ transplant medication cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
- the antidepressant medicationsfluvoxamine (Luvox) and nefazodone
- the tuberculosis medication rifampin (Rimactane)
- the lung medication bosentan (Tracleer)
- the narcolepsy drugs modafinil (Provigil) and armodafinil (Nuvigil)
- the nausea and vomiting medication aprepitant (Emend)
This list does not contain all kinds of drugs that may interact with Caplyta. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with Caplyta.
Other interactions
You should avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking Caplyta. Grapefruit can reduce how your liver breaks down Caplyta, which can cause you to have more side effects.
In addition, Caplyta can also interact with the herbal supplement St. John’s wort. If you’re taking this supplement, talk with your doctor before starting Caplyta.
Boxed warnings
Caplyta has boxed warnings . These are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.
Boxed warnings include:
- Risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in certain people. Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors in children and young adults. This includes Caplyta, which is used to treat depression related to bipolar disorder. Since Caplyta is only approved for use in adults, this risk may affect adults ages 18 to 24 years who take this drug.
- Risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. Antipsychotic drugs such as Caplyta may increase the risk of death in adults ages 65 years or older with dementia-related psychosis.
For more information about these boxed warnings, see the “What are Caplyta’s side effects?” section above.
Other warnings
Caplyta may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Caplyta. Factors to consider include those in the list below.
Diabetes. Caplyta may cause an increase in your blood sugar level, which may lead to diabetes. If you already have diabetes, taking Caplyta may make your condition worse. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor about the best treatment option for you. Your doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring of your blood sugar level, or they may suggest a different treatment option for you.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Caplyta or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Caplyta. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.
High triglycerides or high cholesterol. If you have high triglycerides or high cholesterol levels, taking Caplyta may increase these levels even further. Your doctor may suggest monitoring your cholesterol and triglyceride levels more frequently while you’re taking Caplyta. Or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.
Low white blood cell levels. Caplyta may decrease the levels of white blood cells in your body. If you already have low levels of white blood cells, taking Caplyta may make your condition worse. Low white blood cell levels can lead to infections that can become serious.
If you have a condition that causes low white blood cells, talk with your doctor about the best treatment option for your schizophrenia or depression related to bipolar disorder. Your doctor may monitor your white blood cell levels more frequently during treatment. Or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.
Seizures. Caplyta may increase your risk of seizures. If you already have a seizure disorder, taking Caplyta may increase your risk of seizures even more. Due to this risk, your doctor may monitor you more frequently to watch for changes in seizure activity. Or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.
Low or high blood pressure. Caplyta can affect your blood pressure. It may cause your blood pressure to become too low, which can lead to dizziness or even passing out. In addition, this medication can increase your risk of heart problems.
These risks increase if you already have high or low blood pressure before you start taking Caplyta. Your doctor may recommend that you monitor your blood pressure levels throughout Caplyta treatment. If your blood pressure becomes too high or too low, they may recommend medication to either increase or decrease your blood pressure.
Liver problems. If you have certain liver problems, Caplyta may not be safe for you to take. Before you start taking this medication, tell your doctor about any liver problems that you have. They may monitor your liver function more closely or suggest you try a different medication for your condition.
Heart problems, including stroke. Caplyta may increase your risk of certain heart problems occurring. In addition, this drug can cause certain people with dementia-related psychosis to have an increased risk of stroke. Be sure to tell your doctor about any disease you have that affects your heart or blood vessels. Your doctor will let you know if Caplyta may be a safe treatment option for you.
Difficulty regulating body temperature. This medication may make it harder for your body to regulate its temperature. You may become overheated or even dehydrated. If you have any conditions that may increase your risk of dehydration or overheating, talk with your doctor before starting Caplyta. This will help them determine whether this medication may be a safe treatment option for you.
Caplyta and alcohol
There are no known interactions between Caplyta and alcohol. But drinking alcohol while taking this medication may increase your risk of certain side effects. Examples include nausea, vomiting, and sleepiness.
In addition, consuming alcohol while taking Caplyta can affect your ability to drive a car.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much alcohol (if any) is safe for you to drink while you’re taking Caplyta.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known if Caplyta may be a safe treatment option during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Studies show that newborns who were exposed to Caplyta during the third trimester of pregnancy may have uncontrollable muscle movements or withdrawal symptoms. But there are also risks to leaving schizophrenia or bipolar depression untreated during pregnancy.
There is a pregnancy exposure registry for those who take atypical antipsychotics such as Caplyta during pregnancy. The registry collects data that can help determine what effects a drug may have on pregnant people and a fetus. To sign up for the pregnancy registry, call 866-961-2388 or go to this website.
It’s unknown if Caplyta may be safe to take while breastfeeding. At this time, it’s unclear whether the drug may pass into breast milk or what effects it may have on a child who is breastfed.
Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed before you start taking Caplyta. They can discuss the benefits and risks of taking this medication during this time.
Do not take more Caplyta than your doctor prescribes. Taking more than this can lead to serious side effects.
What to do in case you take too much Caplyta
Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Caplyta. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers, or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or, go to the nearest emergency room.
Before you start taking Caplyta, ask your doctor any questions that you may have about the medication. You may wish to discuss possible side effects and dosage. You can also talk with them about certain factors that may determine if Caplyta is a good treatment option for you. These include other medical conditions that you have or medications that you’re currently taking.
Here are some questions to help get you started:
- How should I treat side effects that I have from taking Caplyta?
- What should I do if I become pregnant while taking this medication?
- Will my other medications increase my risk of side effects from Caplyta?
- Can I take Caplyta together with my other medications to treat my condition?
If you would like to learn more about treatment options for schizophrenia, see this article.
To learn more about Caplyta, see these articles:
- All About Caplyta’s Dosage
- Side Effects of Caplyta: What You Should Know
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Austra Health’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.
Q:
If Caplyta isn’t working for me, can my dose be changed?
A:
It’s unlikely that your doctor would change your dose of Caplyta if it isn’t working. The manufacturer of Caplyta doesn’t recommend any changes to the drug’s dosage after a person starts taking it.
One study of Caplyta for treating schizophrenia found that a dose of 42 mg resulted in significantly decreased symptoms compared with a lower dose. Another found that a higher dose of the drug didn’t result in increased benefits for users.
Similarly, in studies of Caplyta for treating bipolar disorder-related depression, Caplyta 42 mg once per day showed a significant decrease in symptoms.
If you feel like Caplyta isn’t working for you, contact your doctor. They may be able to recommend adding another drug to your treatment or changing to another treatment for your condition.
The Austra Health Pharmacist Team Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
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Disclaimer: Austra Health has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.