This sheet is about exposure to lurasidone in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider.
What is lurasidone?
Lurasidone is medication that has been used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar depression. It belongs to a class of medications known as atypical antipsychotics. Lurasidone is sold under the brand name Latuda®.
Sometimes when people find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy.
I take lurasidone. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?
Studies have not been done in humans to see if taking lurasidone can make it harder to get pregnant.
Does taking lurasidone increase the chance of miscarriage?
Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Studies have not been done to see if taking lurasidone can increase the chance of miscarriage.
Does taking lurasidone increase the chance of birth defects?
Birth defects can happen in any pregnancy for different reasons. Out of all babies born each year, about 3 out of 100 (3%) will have a birth defect. Information on the use of lurasidone in pregnancy is limited. A study looking at 134 people who used lurasidone in pregnancy found no specific patterns of birth defects in their infants. Information from animal studies does not suggest an increased chance of birth defects.
Does taking lurasidone in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?
Studies have not been done to see if lurasidone can increase the chance for pregnancy-related problems such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth).
I need to take lurasidone throughout my entire pregnancy. Will it cause withdrawal symptoms in my baby after birth?
The use of antipsychotic medications like lurasidone during the third trimester of pregnancy can cause temporary symptoms in newborns soon after birth. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as withdrawal and can include uncontrolled muscle movements, changes in muscle tone, being too sleepy, trouble breathing, and/or trouble with feeding.
Not all babies who are exposed to antipsychotic medications during pregnancy will have these symptoms. Also, these symptoms have not been reported with use of lurasidone during pregnancy. However, it is important that your healthcare providers know you are taking lurasidone so that if symptoms occur your baby can get the care that is best for them.
Does taking lurasidone in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?
Studies have not been done to see if lurasidone can increase the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child.
Breastfeeding while taking lurasidone:
Lurasidone has not been studied for use while breastfeeding. However, very little of the medication is expected to get into breast milk. In a report of one person who was taking lurasidone while breastfeeding, no side effects were reported in the nursing child. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about using lurasidone and what treatment is best for you. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions.
If a male takes lurasidone, could it affect fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?
Studies have not been done in humans to see if lurasidone could affect male fertility (ability to get partner pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. In general, exposures that fathers or sperm donors have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/.
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OTIS/MotherToBaby encourages inclusive and person-centered language. While our name still contains a reference to mothers, we are updating our resources with more inclusive terms. Use of the term mother or maternal refers to a person who is pregnant. Use of the term father or paternal refers to a person who contributes sperm.
