This drug has boxed warnings about risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and increased risk of death in certain older people. These are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A
Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Caplyta has a risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In clinical trials, children and adults ages 24 years and younger who took Caplyta had an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For this reason, Caplyta is not approved for use in children.
If you take Caplyta, talk with your doctor right away if you have panic attacks or thoughts about dying or suicide. For other symptoms of suicidal thoughts, see this article.
Risk of death in older people with dementia-related psychosis. Caplyta is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis. Adults ages 65 years and older with dementia-related psychosis who take antipsychotic drugs, such as Caplyta, may have an increased risk of death.
Psychosis is a mental health condition where people lose their perception of reality.
Dementia is a group of symptoms related to a reduction or change in memory, talking skills, thinking, and behavior. Dementia is associated with progressive brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia. As these serious diseases progress over time, they can lead to death.
For more information about these boxed warnings, talk with your doctor.
Caplyta (lumateperone) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat schizophrenia and bipolar depression in adults.
Caplyta comes as a capsule that you swallow. It belongs to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics.
There is no generic version of Caplyta at this time.
Dosage summary
The following chart summarizes Caplyta’s dosage. Milligrams is abbreviated as mg. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.
| Condition being treated | Typical dosage |
| schizophrenia | 42 mg once per day |
| bipolar depression | 42 mg once per day |
For information about the dosage of Caplyta, including its strength and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Caplyta, see this article.
This article describes typical dosages for Caplyta provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Caplyta, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will prescribe the correct Caplyta dosage for you based on your condition. You should always take the Caplyta dosage that your doctor recommends.
Caplyta form
Caplyta comes as an oral capsule.
Caplyta strength
Caplyta comes in one strength: 42 milligrams (mg).
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Typically, the dosage of Caplyta is 42 mg once per day. There is no starting dose for Caplyta.
The maximum dose of Caplyta is 42 mg once per day. Since the dosage of Caplyta is the same for all uses, there is no known dose range.
Dosage for schizophrenia
The dosage of Caplyta for schizophrenia is 42 mg once per day.
Dosage for bipolar disorder
The dosage of Caplyta for depressive episodes related to bipolar disorder is 42 mg once per day. For bipolar depression, Caplyta is approved to be used alone or as an add-on therapy with lithium or valproate.
Long-term treatment
Caplyta is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Caplyta is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
You’ll likely take Caplyta once per day with or without food.
Caplyta comes as a capsule that you swallow. The manufacturer of Caplyta hasn’t provided information on whether the capsules can be crushed, chewed, or opened.
If you have questions about how to take Caplyta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble swallowing capsules, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Accessible drug labels and containersIf you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, Braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Caplyta in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss a dose of Caplyta, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next at the scheduled time. Don’t double up on doses to make up for the missed dose.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you do not take more Caplyta than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Caplyta
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Caplyta. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Caplyta for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Caplyta without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Caplyta that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Caplyta. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Caplyta. For information about other aspects of Caplyta, refer to this article.
- Details about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. For more information about the conditions Caplyta is approved to treat, see our mental health hub. You can also explore our lists of articles about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.