Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUses for RexultiBefore Taking RexultiRexulti DosageSide EffectsWarnings and Interactions

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Uses for Rexulti

Before Taking Rexulti

Rexulti Dosage

Side Effects

Warnings and Interactions

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Rexulti (brexpiprazole) is an antipsychotic medication used to treat mental disorders like depression and schizophrenia. The main component of Rexulti is brexpiprazole.

It’s not completely understood how the medication works, but scientists believe that it helps balance chemical messengers like dopamine and serotonin in your brain, which in turn helps to improve some symptoms of depression and schizophrenia.

Using Atypical Antipsychotics for Treatments

Off-Label Uses

Before your doctor prescribes Rexulti, a thorough examination of your medical and family history will be conducted.

People who have a medical history of diabetes, seizures, low or high blood pressure, or a low white blood cell count require added caution or may not be administered Rexulti.

Precautions and Contraindications

If you have a history of a brexpiprazole allergy, you should not be taking Rexulti.

Signs of an allergic reaction to brexpiprazole are difficulty breathing, itching, hives, swelling of the mouth, face, or tongue.

Using Rexulti might raise your temperature and cause you to become dehydrated more quickly, especially in hotter weather.

Remember to keep hydrated at all times and avoid situations that could cause your body to overheat such as sitting too long in the sun.

The dosage your doctor will prescribe usually depends on a number of factors which include the severity of your condition, your tolerability for the drug, other medical conditions you might have, and any medications you might be taking.

Your doctor is most likely to start you off with a low dosage and steadily increase it as your treatment progresses.

MDD

Rexulti is used as an adjunctive treatment for treating MDD. This means that it is usually prescribed alongside other medications for depression.

Your doctor would typically recommend you start at 0.5 milligrams to 1 milligram once a day.

Your medical condition and its symptoms will be closely monitored during this period. If this dosage is ineffective for you, your doctor might up it to a maximum of 3 milligrams, which should be taken once a day.

Schizophrenia

For the treatment of schizophrenia the typical recommended starting dose is 1 milligram, which is taken once a day.

Your doctor will closely monitor your progress with the treatment and up your dosage if required. However, the maximum dosage that can be given is 4 milligrams, taken once a day.

How to Take and Store

It’s important to follow your doctor’s exact prescription when taking Rexulti.

Even when you start to feel better when using this medication, you shouldn’t discontinue use without first consulting with your doctor. Doing this might cause your symptoms to reoccur, sometimes even more aggressively than before.

You might take the medication with or without food. You should store this medication in a cool and dry place, at room temperature.

If you miss a dose of your medication, don’t worry, just take it as soon as you remember. If you remember when it’s time for your next dose, don’t take two doses, just skip the missed dose.

Side Effects of Rexulti

You might experience some side effects when using Rexulti. In most cases, they will be able to be managed. However, you should speak to your doctor if you are experiencing any problematic side effects.

Common

Some of the most common side effects of Rexulti include:

Severe

In rare cases, some severe side effects that may occur while using Rexulti include:

If you experience any of these symptoms you should report it to your doctor as soon as you can.

The effects of Rexulti in people under the age of 18 hasn’t been studied.

Research suggests that antipsychotic medication like Rexulti can increase the risk of death when used in people with dementia-related psychosis.Like other antipsychotics, Rexulti carries a black-box warning stating that there is an increased risk of death for elderly people with dementia-related psychosis. For this reason, this medication is not approved for use in this population.

One of the more serious side effects of this medication is an increase in blood sugar, if you are diabetic or have a family history of diabetes, you should check your blood sugar frequently when using this medication.

When using Rexulti as an adjunct to antidepressants, antidepressant medications may increase suicidal thoughts or behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. If you start having these thoughts, it’s important to talk to your doctor or someone you trust.

If a loved one just started using Rexulti, it’s important to monitor them closely for any changes in their moods and behaviors.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.988

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

988

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole (Rexulti): A new monotherapy for schizophrenia and adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder.P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Medication Guide: Rexulti (Brexpiprazole).Diefenderfer LA, Iuppa C.Brexpiprazole: A review of a new treatment option for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.Ment Health Clin. 2018;7(5):207-212.Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole(Rexulti). P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.National Alliance on Mental Illness. Brexpiprazole (Rexulti).Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018Additional ReadingRexulti® (Brexpiprazole) add on depression medication.Rexulti.com

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole (Rexulti): A new monotherapy for schizophrenia and adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder.P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Medication Guide: Rexulti (Brexpiprazole).Diefenderfer LA, Iuppa C.Brexpiprazole: A review of a new treatment option for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.Ment Health Clin. 2018;7(5):207-212.Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole(Rexulti). P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.National Alliance on Mental Illness. Brexpiprazole (Rexulti).Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018Additional ReadingRexulti® (Brexpiprazole) add on depression medication.Rexulti.com

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole (Rexulti): A new monotherapy for schizophrenia and adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder.P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Medication Guide: Rexulti (Brexpiprazole).Diefenderfer LA, Iuppa C.Brexpiprazole: A review of a new treatment option for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.Ment Health Clin. 2018;7(5):207-212.Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole(Rexulti). P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.National Alliance on Mental Illness. Brexpiprazole (Rexulti).Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018

Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole (Rexulti): A new monotherapy for schizophrenia and adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder.P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Medication Guide: Rexulti (Brexpiprazole).

Diefenderfer LA, Iuppa C.Brexpiprazole: A review of a new treatment option for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.Ment Health Clin. 2018;7(5):207-212.

Eaves S, Rey JA.Brexpiprazole(Rexulti). P T. 2016;41(7):418-422.

National Alliance on Mental Illness. Brexpiprazole (Rexulti).

Maust DT, Kim HM, Seyfried LS, et al.Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(5):438-445. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3018

Rexulti® (Brexpiprazole) add on depression medication.Rexulti.com

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