Caplyta interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Caplyta (lumateperone) is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat bipolar depression and schizophrenia. As with other medications, Caplyta can interact with certain other drugs. It can also interact with some supplements and foods. An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected.

For details about Caplyta’s interactions, keep reading. For additional information about Caplyta, including details about its uses, see this article.

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Caplyta due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Caplyta include:

Having had an allergic reaction to Caplyta or any of its ingredients

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Caplyta or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Caplyta. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note: Before you start treatment with Caplyta, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Caplyta.

There’s not a known interaction between Caplyta and alcohol.

However, alcohol may worsen certain side effects of Caplyta. Examples include sleepiness and digestive problems, such as nausea and vomiting.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor before taking Caplyta. They can advise you on how much alcohol, if any, is safe to consume during Caplyta treatment.

Before you start treatment with Caplyta, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Caplyta interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Caplyta and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Caplyta. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Caplyta. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

* To learn more about Caplyta’s side effects, see this article.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Caplyta.

Certain antifungal drugs

Antifungals are medications used to treat fungal infections.

Interaction result. Taking Caplyta in combination with certain antifungal drugs can increase the risk of side effects from Caplyta.

Interaction explained. An enzyme called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) breaks down Caplyta in the body. (An enzyme is a type of protein.)

Certain antifungal drugs slow down the activity of CYP3A4. As a result, taking Caplyta with these antifungals could raise the level of Caplyta in your body. Having a high level of Caplyta in your system could increase your risk of side effects from the drug. (To learn more about Caplyta’s side effects, see this article.)

Examples of antifungal drugs. Here are some antifungals that may interact with Caplyta:

• itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura)
• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• ketoconazole

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you develop a fungal infection while taking Caplyta, be sure to talk with your doctor. They can help decide whether it’s safe to take these medications together.

If they tell you it’s safe, your doctor may temporarily lower your Caplyta dosage while you’re taking the antifungal medication. Taking a lower dosage of the drug could help reduce your risk of side effects from Caplyta. For details about Caplyta’s dosage, refer to this article.

Certain antibiotic drugs

Antibiotic drugs are used to treat bacterial infections.

Interaction result. The interaction between Caplyta and an antibiotic drug depends on the specific antibiotic.

For example, taking Caplyta with rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) can make Caplyta less effective than usual. However, taking Caplyta with ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or clarithromycin could increase your risk of side effects from Caplyta.

Interaction explained. An enzyme called CYP3A4 breaks down Caplyta in your body.

The antibiotic rifampin speeds up the activity of CYP3A4. Taking Caplyta with rifampin could lower the level of Caplyta in your body. And this could make the drug less effective than usual.

Ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin, on the other hand, slow down the activity of CYP3A4. Taking Caplyta with these antibiotics could raise the level of Caplyta in your system. Having a higher level of the drug in your body could increase your risk of side effects with Caplyta. (For details about Caplyta’s side effects, refer to this article.)

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you have a bacterial infection while taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor. They can tell you whether the antibiotic needed to treat your infection can be taken in combination with Caplyta.

In some cases, your doctor may temporarily lower your dosage of Caplyta while you’re taking the antibiotic. Doing so could help reduce your risk of side effects from Caplyta. To learn more about Caplyta’s dosage, see this article.

Certain HIV drugs

HIV drugs can be used to treat or help prevent HIV.

Interaction result. Taking Caplyta with certain HIV drugs could result in different interactions. The exact interaction depends on the specific HIV drug.

For example, taking efavirenz (Sustiva) with Caplyta could make Caplyta less effective than usual. However, taking Caplyta with ritonavir (Norvir) or nelfinavir (Viracept) could increase your risk of side effects from Caplyta.

Interaction explained. CYP3A4 is an enzyme that breaks down Caplyta in your body.

Efavirenz may speed up the activity of CYP3A4. Taking Caplyta with this drug could result in a lower level of Caplyta in your body. Having a lower level of the drug could make Caplyta less effective for treating your condition.

Ritonavir and nelfinavir can slow down the activity of CYP3A4. Taking Caplyta with these HIV drugs could raise the level of Caplyta in your body. And having a higher level of the drug in your system could raise your risk of side effects from Caplyta. (To learn more about Caplyta’s side effects, refer to this article.)

Steps you or your doctor may take. Before starting Caplyta treatment, tell your doctor if you’re taking an HIV drug. They can recommend whether it’s safe for you to take these medications together.

If your doctor tells you it’s safe to take Caplyta with an HIV drug, they may lower your dosage of Caplyta. Doing so could help reduce your risk of side effects from Caplyta when these drugs are taken together. To learn more about Caplyta’s dosage, see this article.

Caplyta may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Caplyta.

Caplyta interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Caplyta, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Caplyta interactions with herbs

Caplyta may interact with an herbal supplement called St. John’s wort. Taking Caplyta with this supplement could make Caplyta less effective than usual.

Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal supplements during Caplyta treatment.

Caplyta and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Caplyta. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Caplyta.

Caplyta interactions with food

Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking Caplyta could increase your risk of side effects with the drug. (To learn more about Caplyta’s side effects, see this article.)

If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Caplyta, talk with your doctor.

Caplyta and vaccines

There are no specific reports of vaccines interacting with Caplyta. If you have questions about getting specific vaccines while taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Caplyta and lab tests

There are no specific reports of lab tests interacting with Caplyta. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines while taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

CAPLYTA AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Caplyta. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Caplyta. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Caplyta treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Caplyta. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Caplyta may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Caplyta include:

• Being age 65 years or older with dementia-related psychosis. Caplyta may increase the risk of death in adults ages 65 years and older with dementia-related psychosis. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning about this risk. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.
• Being age 24 years or younger. Caplyta may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This risk affects children and adults ages 24 years and younger. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning about this risk. This is a serious warning from the FDA. For more information, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.
• Liver problems. Before taking Caplyta, tell your doctor about any liver problems you have, such as liver failure. They may prescribe a lower dosage of Caplyta for you than usual. For details about Caplyta’s dosage, see this article.
• Seizures. Caplyta may cause seizures as a side effect. (To learn more about Caplyta’s side effects, see this article.) Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had seizures. They’ll help you decide whether it’s safe to take Caplyta.
• Low white blood cell count. Taking Caplyta can lead to low white blood cell levels. Having low levels of white blood cells can increase your risk of infection. If you already have low white blood cell levels before taking Caplyta, the drug may lower the levels further. As a result, your risk of infection may increase. Your doctor can tell you whether it’s safe to take Caplyta.
• Diabetes. Caplyta may cause changes in metabolism that could lead to high blood sugar levels. As a result, Caplyta may worsen diabetes in people with this condition. Before taking Caplyta, tell your doctor if you have diabetes. They may have you check your blood sugar levels more often than usual during Caplyta treatment.
• High cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Caplyta may cause changes in metabolism that could increase the levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in your blood. If you already have high cholesterol or triglycerides, the drug could worsen your condition. Your doctor may check your cholesterol or triglyceride levels more often than usual while you’re taking Caplyta.
• Blood pressure or heart problems. If you have a blood pressure or heart problem, tell your doctor before starting Caplyta. Examples of heart problems include having had heart failure or a heart attack in the past. Caplyta may cause orthostatic hypotension as a side effect. (To learn more about Caplyta’s side effects, see this article.) You may have an increased risk of this side effect if you have a blood pressure or heart problem. Talk with your doctor about whether Caplyta is a safe treatment option for you.
• Pregnancy. It isn’t known whether Caplyta is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. For details about Caplyta’s use during pregnancy, see this article.
• Breastfeeding. It’s recommended that you avoid breastfeeding while taking Caplyta. If you’re considering breastfeeding while taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor. To learn more about Caplyta’s use while breastfeeding, see this article.
• Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Caplyta or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Caplyta. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Caplyta. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Caplyta label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions. (If Caplyta doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy.) If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Caplyta by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Caplyta. These resources might help:

• Overview of Caplyta. For a general overview of Caplyta, you can see this article.
• Side effects. If you’re interested in the side effects of Caplyta, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Caplyta prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics. To learn about the dosage of Caplyta, see this article.
• Facts about mental health. To learn more about the conditions Caplyta is used to treat, see our mental health hub. You can also refer to 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.