Caplyta (lumateperone) is a prescription drug that treats certain mental health conditions, including schizophrenia. This drug can interact with other medications and some supplements. Examples include diltiazem (Cardizem) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro).
Caplyta comes as a capsule that you swallow. It’s used in adults to treat:
- schizophrenia
- depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, sometimes called bipolar depression
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Caplyta’s possible interactions. And for more information about Caplyta, including details about its uses, see this article.
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Caplyta. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Caplyta for you. These are known as contraindications. See below for details on Caplyta’s contraindication.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you have had an allergic reaction to Caplyta or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Caplyta. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Caplyta is not known to interact with alcohol. But drinking alcohol while taking Caplyta could make certain side effects of the drug worse. Examples include drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea. (For more information about Caplyta’s side effects, see this article.)
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much (if any) alcohol may be safe to drink while you’re taking Caplyta.
Before you start taking Caplyta, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Caplyta interacts with supplements, herbs, and vitamins, see the “Are there other interactions with Caplyta?” section below.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Caplyta. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Caplyta. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| certain HIV drugs | • efavirenz • ritonavir (Norvir) • nelfinavir (Viracept) | can make Caplyta less effective than usual, or can increase the risk of side effects from Caplyta* |
| certain heart drugs | • verapamil (Verelan, Verelan PM) • diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others) | can increase the risk of side effects from Caplyta |
| certain antibiotic drugs | • ciprofloxacin (Cipro) • clarithromycin • rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) | can make Caplyta less effective, or can increase the risk of side effects from Caplyta |
| certain antifungal drugs | • fluconazole (Diflucan) • itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura) • ketoconazole | can increase the risk of side effects from Caplyta |
| certain seizure drugs | • phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, others) | can make Caplyta less effective |
| lamotrigine (Lamictal) | — | can increase the risk of side effects from Lamictal |
| quetiapine (Seroquel) | — | can increase the risk of side effects from Seroquel |
| bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, Wellbutrin SR) | — | can increase the risk of side effects from Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR |
* To learn more about the side effects of Caplyta, see this article.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Caplyta.
Interaction with certain heart drugs
Caplyta interacts with certain heart drugs that are used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, chest pain, and irregular heart rhythm.
Examples of heart medications that interact with Caplyta include verapamil (Verelan, Verelan PM) and diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others).
What could happen
Taking Caplyta with certain heart drugs can raise your risk of side effects from Caplyta. This is because certain heart drugs may keep the body from breaking down Caplyta as it should. As a result, your risk of side effects with Caplyta may be higher. For details about the side effects of Caplyta, see this article.
What you can do
Before starting Caplyta treatment, tell your doctor if you take any heart medications. They can tell you whether the heart drug may interact with Caplyta. Your doctor will also determine whether it’s safe to take Caplyta with the specific heart drug you’re prescribed.
If you take Caplyta with certain heart drugs, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Caplyta for you. They’ll do this to reduce your risk of side effects from the drug. (For details about Caplyta’s dosage, see this article.)
Interaction with certain antibiotic drugs
Caplyta interacts with certain antibiotic drugs, which are used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
Examples of antibiotics include:
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- clarithromycin
- rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
What could happen
How Caplyta interacts with an antibiotic drug can depend on the specific antibiotic.
For example, taking Caplyta with ciprofloxacin or clarithromycin can raise your risk of side effects from Caplyta. These antibiotics may keep the body from breaking down Caplyta properly. This can lead to higher levels of Caplyta in your system, raising your risk of side effects. (For details about the side effects of Caplyta, see this article.)
On the other hand, taking Caplyta with rifampin could make Caplyta less effective. This is because rifampin may cause your body to break down Caplyta too quickly. This can lead to lower levels of Caplyta in your system, making the drug less effective.
What you can do
If you get a bacterial infection during Caplyta treatment, be sure the doctor treating the infection knows that you take Caplyta. Your doctor may avoid prescribing certain antibiotics with Caplyta. They can prescribe an antibiotic that doesn’t interact with this drug.
In some cases, your doctor may still prescribe an antibiotic that might interact with Caplyta. They may temporarily adjust your Caplyta dosage during your antibiotic treatment. They’ll do this to reduce your risk of side effects while ensuring both medications are working effectively.
Interaction with certain seizure drugs
Caplyta interacts with certain seizure drugs. These are drugs used to treat certain conditions that cause seizures, such as epilepsy.
Examples of seizure medications that may interact with Caplyta include phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) and carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, others).
What could happen
Taking Caplyta with certain seizure drugs could make Caplyta less effective. This happens because certain seizure drugs can cause your body to break down Caplyta too quickly. This can result in lower levels of Caplyta in the body, making the drug less effective.
What you can do
Before starting Caplyta treatment, tell your doctor about any seizure drugs you take. They may avoid prescribing Caplyta with certain seizure drugs. Your doctor can determine whether it’s safe to take Caplyta with the specific seizure drug you’re prescribed.
Caplyta may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Caplyta.
Does Caplyta interact with supplements?
Before you start taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Caplyta interactions with herbs
Caplyta may interact with St. John’s wort. This is an herbal supplement some people use to ease symptoms of depression and other conditions. Taking Caplyta with this supplement could make Caplyta less effective.
Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend that you avoid taking St. John’s wort with Caplyta.
Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal supplements during your Caplyta treatment.
Caplyta and vitamins
There are currently no reports of Caplyta interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during taking treatment.
Does Caplyta interact with food?
Caplyta may interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Taking Caplyta with grapefruit products could increase your risk of side effects with Caplyta. (For more information about Caplyta’s side effects, see this article.)
If you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, talk with your doctor before taking Caplyta. They can tell you whether it’s safe to consume these products while taking the drug.
If your doctor tells you it’s safe to regularly consume grapefruit with Caplyta, they’ll likely prescribe a lower dosage of Caplyta for you. They’ll do this to lower your risk of side effects from the drug. (To learn more about Caplyta’s dosage, see this article.)
Does Caplyta interact with vaccines?
There are currently no reports of Caplyta interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about receiving specific vaccines during Caplyta treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Caplyta interact with lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Caplyta interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about getting certain lab tests while taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Caplyta interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Caplyta interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Caplyta.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Caplyta. Before taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Caplyta is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Caplyta include:
Problems with body temperature regulation: It’s possible for Caplyta to cause overheating, which can be dangerous. This is because Caplyta may affect regulation of the body’s temperature. You may have a higher risk of overheating if you’re exposed to high temperatures, are dehydrated, tend to exercise strenuously, or are also taking anticholinergic medications. Talk with your doctor about any risks of overheating you might have before you start taking Caplyta.
Being younger than age 25 years: Caplyta may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and in young adults (ages 18 to 24 years). In fact, the drug has a boxed warning about this risk. To learn more, see the “Boxed warnings” section at the beginning of this article.
Being an older adult with psychosis related to dementia: Caplyta may increase the risk of death in older adults (ages 65 years and older) with psychosis related to dementia. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning about this risk. To learn more, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.
Diabetes: Before starting Caplyta treatment, tell your doctor if you have diabetes. Caplyta may cause high blood sugar. (To learn more about the side effects of Caplyta, see this article.)
If you have diabetes, Caplyta may worsen your condition. During your Caplyta treatment, your doctor may have you check your blood sugar levels more often than usual.
High triglyceride or cholesterol levels: Caplyta may cause high cholesterol or triglyceride levels. If you already have high cholesterol, you may have a higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems with Caplyta.
If you have high triglyceride or cholesterol levels, talk with your doctor before starting Caplyta treatment. Your doctor may check your levels more often than usual during Caplyta treatment.
Seizures: Caplyta may cause seizures. Your risk of this side effect may be higher if you’ve had seizures in the past. Tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures. They can determine whether Caplyta is a safe treatment option for you.
Heart or blood pressure problems: Before taking Caplyta, talk with your doctor if you have a heart or blood pressure problem. Examples include heart failure or having had a heart attack.
Caplyta may cause low blood pressure upon standing up. Your risk of this side effect may be higher if you have a heart or blood pressure problem. Your doctor can determine whether Caplyta is a safe treatment option for you.
Low level of white blood cells: Caplyta may cause a low level of white blood cells, which can increase your risk of infection. If your white blood cell count is already low, the drug may lower the levels even more. This may further raise your risk of infection.
If you have a low level of white blood cells, your doctor can determine whether it’s safe to take Caplyta.
Liver problems: Before starting Caplyta treatment, tell your doctor if you have a liver problem, such as liver failure. They may prescribe a lower dosage of Caplyta for you. (For details about Caplyta’s dosage, see this article.)
Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Caplyta is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about whether Caplyta is right for you.
If you do take Caplyta while pregnant, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects details about pregnancy issues reported with Caplyta. To learn more, call 866-961-2388 or talk with your doctor.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Caplyta while breastfeeding. Small amounts of the drug may pass into breast milk, but it isn’t known whether the drug may cause side effects in a child who’s breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Caplyta or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Caplyta. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Caplyta. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a
medication list . - What to do if you start taking a new drug during your Caplyta treatment.
It’s also important to understand Caplyta’s
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Caplyta exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
If you still have questions about Caplyta and its possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Do I need to tell you if I start taking another medication or supplement during my Caplyta treatment?
- Could I still take Caplyta even if it interacts with a health condition I have?
- Does my risk of interactions depend on my Caplyta dosage?
To learn more about Caplyta, see these articles:
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Disclaimer: Healthline 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.