My Daughter Has Been Taking Ativan .5 Mg Four Times

Posted on Wed, 7 Aug 2019

Question: My daughter has been taking Ativan .5 mg Four times a day as needed and Latuda since XXXXXXX 4th. Latuda Dose increased from 20 mg per day in the am to 20 mg twice a day, then 40 mg twice a day. We were on this dose for approximately 10 days. We were not having ok days so the Doctor decreased dose back to 20 mg twice a day and additional 20 mg as needed.

No real issues with Latuda except it seemed not to last in her body very long and we have problems sleeping longer than 3 to 4 hours.
I asked our doctor to switch over to Seraquel. He approved but preferred us to stay with Latuda.

Can I discontinue the Seraquel and return to the Latuda regimen? Seraquel was prescribed 50 mg at night. We have only had Two doses and she is not in a good state. Won’t be able to reach our doctor for another week. I would like to give her Latuda tomorrow instead of the Seraquel.

Symptoms: sudden twitching; angry; confused; weird body motions

Her symptoms: Panic Disorder Anxiety Hypomania Mania Depression

These are new issues.
17 year old high schooler.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Latuda doses can be increased gradually.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for using ask a doctor service

Latuda and Seroquel both are good drugs and have great antipsychotic and mood stabiliser actions. Latuda is relatively newer drug and has not much effects on sleep. While Seroquel has great effects on sleep.

But at the dose of 50 mg the drug will not have much antipsychotic and mood stabilisation actions. To get desired effects its dose should be increased. But that would make her feel sedated. One action is to give her Latuda in dose of 20 mg twice a day and the dose can be slowly increased to 60 mg if needed. For sleep Ativan can be given. For episodic exacerbations of anxiety, Ativan on SOS basis can be given.

You can talk with her doctor for this.

Thanks and Take care

Please let me know if you have more doubts.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (12 hours later)

Thank you. Very good to know.

She has only had two doses of the Seraquel. If I start her back on Latuda, after two days off, can you predict any adverse reactions. What is the best plan to begin Latuda again?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Start with 20 mg dose.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

I am sorry for late reply.

You can start with 20 mg twice a day and after a week the dose can be increased to 60 mg. This will help in making her calm without causing much withdrawal.

Thanks

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D