Course Summary

Lurasidone (Latuda) is an atypical, second-generation antipsychotic that has labeled uses for treating bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. It is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents (13 to 17 years) with schizophrenia. It is also used as a monotherapy to treat adults, children and teens (10 to 17 years) with depressive episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder or bipolar depression. Lurasidone has been approved as an adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproic acid. Lurasidone’s precise mechanism of action is unknown. It is believed to rebalance dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior. Contraindication of lurasidone use includes co-administration with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as, ketoconazole, clarithromycin), as well as co-administration with strong CYP3A4 inducers (such as, St. John’s wort, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and rifampin).

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I. Introduction
• II. Pharmacology Profile
  • Category
  • Mechanism of Action
  • Labeled Uses
    • a. Bipolar Disorder
    • b. Schizophrenia
  • Dosing
  • US Boxed Warning
  • Contraindications and Cautions
  • Adverse Reactions
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• III. Clinical Pearls: Lurasidone
  • Schizophrenia
  • Inflammatory Markers and Treatment of Depression
  • Treatment for Children and Adolescents
  • Lurasidone and Cost
• IV. Case Study: Lurasidone
  • Discussion
• V. Summary

Author

Kellie Wilson, PharmD

Kellie Wilson is a Doctor of Pharmacy practicing in Anaconda, Montana, where she lives with her husband and four children. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula where she graduated in 2009 with a doctorate in pharmacy. She later worked in Boise, Idaho for a large, retail pharmacy for 2 years, and then returned home to Montana to oversee an independently owned retail and long-term care pharmacy in Anaconda. As an independent retail pharmacist she has become very involved in psychiatric pharmacy for two major behavioral health organizations that are located around all of Montana. Kellie’s passion is retail pharmacy because she enjoys the interactions with customers as well as the challenges and rewards of staying current with the continuous changes in the pharmacy field.