Course Summary

Lurasidone is a second-generation antipsychotic approved for schizophrenia and bipolar depression, working through dopamine D₂ and serotonin 5-HT₂A receptor antagonism to manage mood and psychotic symptoms. It has off-label potential in major depressive disorder with mixed features and generalized anxiety disorder, though more research is needed. Compared to other atypical antipsychotics, lurasidone has a lower risk of metabolic complications, making it preferable for patients at risk for weight gain, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. However, careful monitoring is required due to the possibility of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), akathisia, and sedation, and it must be taken with food for proper absorption and treatment efficacy.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Pharmacological Profile
• Mechanism of Action: Targeted Dopamine and Serotonin Modulation
• Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism
• Indications, Dosing, and Administration
  • Geriatric Dosing Adjustments
  • Key Considerations for Lurasidone Use
• Clinical Applications: Primary Indications and Efficacy
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar Depression
  • Off-Label Uses: Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Effects
  • Severe Adverse Effects
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• Drug-Drug Interactions with Lurasidone
  • QT-Prolonging Drugs
  • Anticholinergic Drugs
  • Grapefruit and Herbal Interactions
• Toxicity: Management and Prognosis
  • Lurasidone Overdose: Treatment and Monitoring
  • Monitoring
• Role of the Interprofessional Healthcare Team
• Clinical Pearls
  • Metabolic and Cardiovascular Monitoring
  • Risk of Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) and Movement Disorders
  • Minimal Prolactin Impact: A Comparative Advantage of Lurasidone
  • Reduced Sedation and Anticholinergic Burden with Lurasidone
• Case Study: Lurasidone Associated Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome
  • Patient Summary
  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Discussion
• Case Study: Lurasidone as a Potential Treatment for Irritability in Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Patient Summary
  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Discussion
• Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh

Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.