A newer antipsychotic medicine

Lumateperone

A newer once-daily antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and for bipolar depression.

What is Lumateperone?

Lumateperone is a newer (second-generation) antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and depression that occurs as part of bipolar disorder. It works on brain chemical systems, including dopamine and serotonin, to help steady mood and thinking. It is taken by mouth once a day. Compared with some older antipsychotics it tends to have a more favourable effect on weight and metabolism, but it can still cause sedation and metabolic changes. Like all antipsychotics, it carries a class warning about an increased risk of death when used for behavioural problems in older people with dementia, where it is not approved.

Class: Second-generation antipsychotic · Brands: Caplyta

Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Lumateperone — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.

Written by Meds Global Health Clinical Team · Clinically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS, Founder & Clinical Director · Last reviewed · How we review
Class: Second-generation antipsychotic → Brands: Caplyta
Lumateperone (Second-generation antipsychotic) — Meds Global Health reference card with 2D molecular structure
Lumateperone — Second-generation antipsychotic. The image shows the active ingredient's 2D molecular structure.

What it is

Lumateperone is a newer antipsychotic medicine used to treat schizophrenia, a condition affecting thoughts, perceptions and behaviour, and to treat depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. It belongs to the second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics. It is taken by mouth, usually once a day. It is often noted for having a relatively favourable effect on weight and on blood sugar and fats compared with some other antipsychotics, although it can still cause drowsiness and some metabolic changes. It is prescribed and reviewed by a doctor experienced in mental-health treatment.

How it works

Antipsychotics act on chemical messengers in the brain that influence mood, thinking and perception. Lumateperone works on several systems, including dopamine and serotonin, in a way that aims to ease symptoms of schizophrenia, such as disturbed thoughts and perceptions, and to lift the low mood of bipolar depression. Because it works gradually, it is taken every day, and the benefit builds up over time rather than appearing immediately. Taking it consistently helps keep symptoms steady, and any changes should be made with the prescriber rather than by stopping suddenly.

Company & origin

Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.

A newer antipsychotic medicine used for schizophrenia and for depression in bipolar disorder.

What it treats

Conditions Lumateperone is used for

Schizophrenia & psychosisA serious mental illness where a person loses some contact with reality — treated with ant…Bipolar disorderA long-term mood condition with episodes of mania or hypomania and depression — managed wi…

Practical use

How to take Lumateperone

General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.

  • Take it by mouth once a day, as prescribed, at about the same time each day.
  • See how it affects you before driving or using machinery, as it can cause drowsiness.
  • Keep taking it regularly, as the benefit builds up over time and symptoms can return if it is stopped.
  • Do not stop it suddenly; talk to your prescriber if you want to change or stop it.
  • Tell your prescriber about all your other medicines and any heart, liver or movement problems.

Weighing it up

Advantages & disadvantages of Lumateperone

Advantages

  • Treats schizophrenia and bipolar depression, taken conveniently once a day.
  • Tends to have a relatively favourable effect on weight, blood sugar and cholesterol.
  • A newer option for people who do not get on well with some other antipsychotics.

Disadvantages

  • Commonly causes drowsiness or sedation.
  • Can still cause some metabolic changes, so weight and blood tests need monitoring.
  • Carries the antipsychotic class warning about increased risk of death in older people with dementia.

Practical use

Good to know

A helpful point is that lumateperone is taken once a day and tends to have a relatively favourable effect on weight, blood sugar and cholesterol compared with several other antipsychotics, although these still need to be checked over time. The most common everyday effect is drowsiness or sedation, so it is worth seeing how it affects you before driving or doing anything that needs full alertness. As with all antipsychotics, there is an important class warning that they increase the risk of death and stroke when used to manage behavioural problems in older people with dementia, and lumateperone is not approved for that use. It should not be stopped suddenly without advice, as symptoms can return. Tell your prescriber about other medicines and about any heart, liver or movement-related problems.

Who should not take it / use with caution

  • People who have had a serious allergic reaction to lumateperone should not take it.
  • It is not approved for behavioural problems in older people with dementia, where antipsychotics increase the risk of death and stroke.
  • It is used with care, and may need dose adjustment, in people with significant liver problems.
  • It is used with caution in pregnancy and breastfeeding, weighing the benefits and risks.

Monitoring

  • Checking weight, blood sugar and cholesterol over time, as with other antipsychotics.
  • Reviewing how well symptoms are controlled and how the medicine is tolerated.
  • Watching for drowsiness, movement effects and overall mental-health progress.

Side effects

  • Drowsiness or sedation.
  • Dry mouth, dizziness or feeling tired.
  • Some metabolic changes, such as effects on weight, blood sugar or cholesterol.
  • Less commonly, movement-related effects or, rarely, more serious reactions that need medical attention.

Key interactions

  • Medicines that strongly affect certain liver enzymes can change lumateperone levels, so give a full medicines list.
  • Alcohol and other sedating medicines can add to drowsiness.
  • Tell your prescriber about all medicines, including supplements such as St John's wort.

Available as: Capsules taken by mouth.

Answers

Lumateperone: frequently asked questions

What is lumateperone used for?

It is a newer antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and to treat depressive episodes that occur as part of bipolar disorder.

How often do I take it?

It is taken by mouth once a day, at about the same time each day, as prescribed.

Is it better for weight than other antipsychotics?

It tends to have a relatively favourable effect on weight, blood sugar and cholesterol compared with several other antipsychotics, though these still need checking over time.

Will it make me drowsy?

Drowsiness or sedation is the most common effect, so see how it affects you before driving or doing anything that needs full alertness.

Can older people with dementia take it?

It is not approved for behavioural problems in older people with dementia, because antipsychotics as a group increase the risk of death and stroke in that situation.

The wider class

About Second-generation antipsychotic

Lumateperone belongs to the second-generation antipsychotic class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.

AntipsychoticsDrugs for psychosis, bipolar disorder and other conditions — balanced against movement and metabolic side-effects. QuetiapineAn atypical antipsychotic used in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; can cause sedation, …OlanzapineAn effective atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, well known for…AripiprazoleAn atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that tends to be more wei…RisperidoneA widely used atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, available as …HaloperidolA long-established first-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, agitation and ot…LurasidoneA second-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, often chosen for its relatively …PaliperidoneA second-generation antipsychotic for schizophrenia, available as daily tablets or as a lo…SulpirideAn antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia; it can raise prolactin and cause movement ef…AmisulprideA second-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia that can calm symptoms at higher …ChlorpromazineAn older 'first-generation' antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and other conditions…FlupentixolAn antipsychotic for schizophrenia that can be taken as tablets or given as a long-acting …TrifluoperazineA first-generation antipsychotic used in schizophrenia and other psychosis, and at lower a…LevomepromazineA sedating antipsychotic used in psychosis but, in UK practice, most often in palliative c…PericyazineA first-generation (older) antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and severe agitation.…ZuclopenthixolAn older antipsychotic for schizophrenia, available as tablets and as a long-acting depot …AsenapineA second-generation antipsychotic taken as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue, used …CariprazineA second-generation antipsychotic for schizophrenia with a long-lasting effect in the body…DroperidolA butyrophenone medicine used mainly to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting, especially …BenperidolAn antipsychotic occasionally used under specialist care to control deviant antisocial sex…LoxapineAn antipsychotic medicine; its inhaled form is used in hospital settings to calm sudden ag…PericiazineAn older phenothiazine antipsychotic, also used for severe anxiety or agitation, that is m…PimozideAn antipsychotic tablet used for schizophrenia and a specific delusional condition, which …PipotiazineA long-acting antipsychotic given by injection to maintain treatment for schizophrenia.…PromazineAn older antipsychotic used mainly for short-term agitation and restlessness, especially i…FluphenazineAn older antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, often as a long-acting depot injection that…PerphenazineA first-generation antipsychotic used for conditions such as schizophrenia, and also to tr…ZiprasidoneA second-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, taken with …BrexpiprazoleA newer antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and as an add-on in depression that has not r…IloperidoneA second-generation antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, with the dose built up slow…ThiothixeneA first-generation antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, more commonly seen as a Unit…Aripiprazole lauroxilA long-acting depot injection of the antipsychotic aripiprazole, given every few weeks to …MolindoneAn older first-generation antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, mainly available in t…PimavanserinA medicine used to treat the hallucinations and delusions (psychosis) that can occur in Pa…ClozapineThe most effective medicine for schizophrenia that has not responded to other treatments —…

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Mental healthConditions and medicines for mood, anxiety, psychosis, sleep and dependence — used alongsi…

Authoritative sources

  • BNF
  • NICE CKS

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