This grade answers one narrow question: how strong is the public evidence and safety record behind this drug, and how clean is its money trail and court record? It is not a verdict on whether the drug is right for you.
WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. CAPLYTA is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adults in short-term studies. Closely monitor all antidepressant-treated patients for clinical worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. The safety and effectiveness of CAPLYTA have not been established in pediatric patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4) ]. WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS ; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. CAPLYTA is not app...
is indicated for: Treatment of schizophrenia in adults [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I or II disorder (bipolar depression) in adults, as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ] . Adjunctive therapy with antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults [see Clinical Studies ( 14.3 ) ]. CAPLYTA is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for: Treatment of schizophrenia in adults. ( 1 ) Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I or II disorder (bipolar depression) in adults, as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate. ( 1 ) Adjunctive therapy with antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. ( 1 )
is contraindicated in patients with history of hypersensitivity reaction to lumateperone or any components of CAPLYTA. Reactions have included pruritus, rash (e.g. allergic dermatitis, papular rash, and generalized rash), and urticaria. CAPLYTA is contraindicated in patients with history of hypersensitivity reaction to lumateperone or any components of CAPLYTA. ( 4 )
Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Increased incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (e.g., stroke and transient ischemic attack). ( 5.3 ) Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: If NMS is suspected, immediately discontinue CAPLYTA and provide intensive symptomatic treatment and monitoring. ( 5.4 ) Tardive Dyskinesia: If signs and symptoms of TD occur consider discontinuing CAPLYTA treatment. ( 5.5 ) Metabolic Changes: Monitor for hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and weight gain. ( 5.6 ) Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis : In patients with pre-existing low white blood cell count (WBC) or history of leukopenia or neutropenia, perform complete blood counts (CBC). Consider discontinuing CAPLYTA if clinically significant decline in WBC occurs in absence of other causative factors. Discontinue CAPLYTA in patients with clinically significant neutropenia or ANC < 1000/mm 3 and monitor closely until the neutropenia resolve. ( 5.7 ) Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope: Monitor heart rate and blood pressure in patients who are vulnerable to hypotension. ( 5.8 ) Seizures: Use cautiously in patients with a history of s...
The following adverse reactions are discussed in detail in other sections of the labeling: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions, Including Stroke, in Elderly Patients with Dementia-related Psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Tardive Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Metabolic Changes [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Falls [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] Body Temperature Dysregulation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Dysphagia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ] Most common adverse reactions in clinical trials (incidence ≥ 5% and greater than twice placebo) were ( 6.1 ): Schizophr...
Indications and Usage, adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder ( 1 ) 11/2025
Source: FDA SPL label for CAPLYTA (Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc), effective 20250620. Full label on DailyMed.
These are counts of reports people filed, not rates of harm. Anyone can file one, and nobody checks whether the drug was the cause. Millions of doses are taken for every report sent, so the useful part is how this drug compares with the average across all drugs.
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 170 | 363 | 980 | 621 | 1,997 | 1,614 | 1,344 |
31,051 reports blaming this drug for every million Medicare prescriptions filled, which is 11.2× the typical drug on this site. (4,944 reports in 2024–2026, against 159,224 Medicare fills in one year. This is the one number here that accounts for how many people take the drug.)
Source: the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports are voluntary and unverified. Drugs that are prescribed a lot, in the news, or in lawsuits attract more reports, so the percentages are compared with the whole database to correct for that partly, not fully.
Counts measure how much evidence exists and how transparent it is, not how big the benefit is. For that, ask your prescriber: if 100 people like me took this, how many would get better because of it, and how many would be harmed? (Doctors call these the "number needed to treat" and "number needed to harm.") It differs by condition and is the number drug ads leave out. Sources: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov.
In 2024, drug companies reported $10,760,097 in payments to US physicians and hospitals tied to this drug across 137,081 transactions (Caplyta $10,760,097).
No pending federal MDL names this drug or its brands.
Not named in any federal pharmaceutical settlement of $100M or more on record.
Sources: CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act); Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation pending docket list; DOJ settlements as tabulated on Wikipedia with links to the primary record. State-court and individual suits are not included.
1 drug in the same class grades a letter or more higher than lumateperone on this site. Worth asking whether one of them would do the same job for you.
Same ATC pharmacological class, graded ones first, best grade at the top. Being in the same class does not make them interchangeable for your condition; it makes them worth asking about.