Switching from Seroquel (quetiapine) to Latuda (lurasidone)... experiences?
I have rapid cycling, bipolar II, and I have been on 300mg of Seroquel and 100mg of Lamotrigine for about two years now and have been VERY stable, which is great, just a couple of tiny baby breakthrough episodes.
About a year ago, I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis (affecting my lungs, lymph nodes, skin, and most recently my joints), and my rheumatologist recommended that I go on Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) for the joint pain; however, it apparently has some very serious risks for mood disorders AND compounding cardiac risks with the Seroquel. My psychiatrist has recommended tapering off the Seroquel and starting Latuda in place of it (also suggested increasing my Lamotrigine preemptively to protect my mood stability on the Plaquenil).
I have gained weight, have higher blood sugar, and cholesterol with the Seroquel, but the mood stability, anti-anxiety, and sleep benefits have been worth the trade-off for me. It does sedate me, but only for a few hours after I take it at bedtime, so that works nicely anyway. On the rare occasions I forget to take it (maybe 4 times a year or so) I can't fall asleep for a couple of hours and then I only sleep for a couple, before I wake up and can't sleep anymore, so I am worried about going to a medication that leaves me unable to sleep enough at night.
I am loath to do a med switch when I have been so stable for so long and am trying to weigh my options - any comments or thoughts on this from folks who have made the switch from Seroquel to Latuda (when the Seroquel was working well to maintain their mood stability)? Any experience around how it affected your sleep and/or anxiety levels in addition to mood stability effects?
Thanks in advance!