Lurasidone Hydrochloride: Pharmacodynamics, Clinical Effectiveness and Adverse Effects

Description

Lurasidone hydrochloride is a benzisothiazol derivative, is a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic agent that has received regulatory approval for the treatment of schizophrenia in the US, Canada, the EU, Switzerland, and Australia, and also for bipolar depression in the US and Canada.

Pharmacodynamics

In addition to its principal antagonist activity at dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, lurasidone hydrochloride has distinctive 5-HT7 antagonistic activity, and displays partial agonism at 5-HT1A receptors, as well as modest antagonism at noradrenergic α2A and α2C receptors.It is devoid of antihistaminic and anticholinergic activities.¹

Clinical Effectiveness

Lurasidone hydrochloride is clinically beneficial in treating patients with schizophrenia and bipolar depression. Approximately 80% of the patients with schizophrenia achieve optimal response on 40 to 80 mg of lurasidone per day. Lurasidone hydrochloride is effective in treating depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients; this is very important as the depressed mood correlates with suicide in these patients. Additional clinical trials are necessary to prove the antisuicidal effects of lurasidone.Patients with bipolar depression achieved an optimal clinical response at 20 to 60 mg of lurasidone per day.

Adverse Effects

Commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5% and at least twice the rate for placebo) were: Schizophrenia: somnolence, akathisia, extrapyramidal symptoms, and nausea. Bipolar depression: akathisia, extrapyramidal symptoms, and somnolence.

1. Greenberg WM, Citrome L. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Lurasidone Hydrochloride, a Second-Generation Antipsychotic: A Systematic Review of the Published Literature. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2017;56(5):493-503.

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