Brexpiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• April 24, 2016

"I am writing this review as I just returned from the emergency room with my sister for the second time in a week after she was prescribed Rexulti for depression. She felt fine the first two days, and about the sixth day, she was a mess. She has been off the medicine for ten days now and is still experiencing an adverse effect. She is having violent, uncontrollable shaking in her legs. She is experiencing numbness in her tongue, and her speech is very slurred, probably because it seems as though her tongue is also swollen. She was given a shot of Ativan, a steroid, and a shot of Phenergan. We were told these symptoms could last from six to eight weeks. However, the ER doctor said sometimes these symptoms are irreversible. I pray that is not the case."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2018

"I've been depressed since childhood, always pretending to be happy. SSRIs were first tried, a hundred combos along with therapy and books. Then Rexulti was recommended. I thought, oh good, another miracle prescription, another period where I would pray to the gods to not feel like a blob of nothing on a good day, and it would appear to 'work,' and then the gray and then darkness would happen when it would stop working. This didn't happen with Rexulti, I was shocked. I kept waiting for it to stop working - it didn't. The only time it stopped is when I missed an appointment and didn't have any, which was a huge mistake. I won't let this happen again. It's not going to make you into Julie Andrews, but it will allow you to have days where you don't look at everything darkly and think about suicide."

• sin...
• January 13, 2016

"I started this medication 5 days ago. I get so hot, burning hot and very sweaty. My anxiety level has increased, bringing me to the ER twice in one week. My appetite has increased. However, I am a lot happier, everything is so clear, everyone notices the difference in me. I have become confident again, the first time in 15 years... I hate to discontinue....."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2019

"Was put on Rexulti to help with the Wellbutrin I’m on and Pristiq. I wasn’t happy to be prescribed this medication after looking at the side effects. My psychiatrist said that she will run a cholesterol panel to make sure that it’s not going up. Unfortunately, after I started taking this medication, I felt floating head (if that makes sense). I was almost falling asleep at the wheel driving around 4 p.m.-7 p.m. I should not be this tired. At this time at all. It’s never happened to me before. I stopped taking it, and I’ll be asking my doctor for a different prescription. I will be doing my research."

• D2y...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2016

"Hesitating, began treatment tonight. I suffer PTSD, being able now, for the first time in decades, to come close to admitting how I have been living a marginal life at best. If you suffer trauma, war, hostage, abuse, neglect, torture, etc. and have been prescribed this medication, please send feedback. Thank you. I would be delighted to live some part of my life without reliving constant terror."

• bru...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2024

"Excellent, my doc said this would help me be happier, in fact, I am a nurse in a mental health unit. It works. I started walking, talking, laughing, and just started the gym again since last week. Combined with Remeron for nighttime and Wellbutrin in the morning. Works for me."

• and...
• March 2, 2016

"I started the starter pack and my depression med a week ago, just upped my dosage to the 1 mg. I'm taking it in conjunction with 20 mg of Celexa. I've had MDD for about 10 years and nothing has worked. My mood is elevated and I don't have the bouts of crying right now, BUT I'm tired. It has me super nauseous. I have very weird dreams. It fights my insomnia, allowing me to sleep for at least 7 hours, but during the day I'm so lethargic I don't want to move. When I try to get up and move around, I'm super dizzy. I don't know if I will continue with this medication. I don't know how long this feeling will last or if it will last indefinitely while on the medication."

• Her...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2018

"I have had daily depression since 1983. I’ve literally tried over 30 meds over the years, maybe way more. Currently, I take 250 mg of Effexor, 60 mg of Adderall, 4 mg of Lorazepam, and Ambien. It has kept me alive, but I can barely earn a living for my family (I am the sole provider for a family of 6). My motivation and drive are nonexistent. I started Rexulti 3 days ago at 0.5 mg, and I already see a difference. It’s too early to really endorse the drug, but I wanted to share my early reaction. I’ll check in again if the website allows."

• Red...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 24, 2024

"Notice that I sleep for some of the night now. I can return to sleep when awakened. I do notice less of that hopelessness that plagued my thoughts before taking it. I still suffer from depression, just not so debilitating. I have been lucky and have had none of the side effects that I had with other meds."

• Eff...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2019

"This medication helped a lot when I took it as a sample, but when my pharmacy called to tell me even with my insurance, the cost would be over $700.00 for a month’s supply, it obviously wasn’t an option for me anymore. Who can afford that?!?"

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2020

"I had panic attacks and suicidal ideation, so I was prescribed Rexulti with my antidepressants. I had a panic attack flying, which never happened before, both to and from the location. I had a panic attack after a movie. I had a panic attack at night in bed. I have never had suicidal thoughts before, luckily, but there have been four clear incidences where I've had thoughts. I've been on it for four weeks."

• Har...
• April 27, 2017

"I have been on Rexulti for a little over 2 months. I started on 0.5 mg the first week and moved up to 1.0 mg the second week. I am taking it as an add-on to my Lexapro 40 mg for MDD. My depression was almost immediately better, but by the second week, my anxiety was HORRIBLE!! I began getting sores in my mouth from the constant movement of my tongue. It's uncontrollable, as is the eye blinking. I stay tired from my body being tense 24/7. My Dr. took my dosage down to 0.5 mg and increased my Ativan, but I'm still not doing any better. I'm fixing to stop it completely. I pray that the issues with my tongue and eyes will go away once I stop taking it."

• REX...
• August 19, 2016

"Yeah, I have bad MDD with anxiety and PTSD. At first, I was on 10 mg Lexapro with 0.5 mg Clonopin. I told my doc that I wasn't feeling any better. Now I'm on 20 mg Lexapro, 1 mg Rexulti, and 0.5 mg Clonopin. I'm noticing good changes. To balance the weight and restlessness, I decided to get up early and do a quick workout, and I substituted any junk food for apples, oranges, bananas, and raw carrots for protein - roasted chicken, cottage cheese, bagels... you can add what you like. I do have some vivid dreams, restlessness, headaches, blurry vision, and numbness/tingling in my right arm. The doc says it should go away."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2022

"I was on this junk for 4.5 months and gained almost 60 lbs during that time. Before being on Rexulti, I never in my life experienced weight gain like that. It was like I was a balloon that just kept inflating bigger and bigger no matter what I did. I had to stop taking it once I hit 200 lbs because both me and my doc were afraid of how the rapid weight gain (with no signs of stopping) would affect my general health. I went on this due to major depression with suicidal ideation and self-harm, and the weight gain made all of that 100x worse. Now that it's been about 2 years off this stuff, when I try to remember my life from when I was on it, I can't. I only recall the weight gain because it was documented by my doctor and myself. I became completely withdrawn and didn't care about anything. During the time I was on this stuff, I quit my job, remained unemployed, stayed in bed all day, lost all my friends...and I didn't do anything about any of it because I was in a 24/7 haze. AVOID THIS MED."

• Gus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2023

"I was hopeless and suicidal. I said to myself that if this medication didn't work, I would end my life. Two days after taking it, I felt less hopeless, and after a full week, it saved my life. I am pretty smart, have an IQ of 143, and I have Asperger's. Rexulti saved my life; I can now do everything I want. I've started to see my friends again. Rexulti changed my life. I used to be a person who didn't even shower, but now I shower every day."

• MLC...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2024

"I've been on Rexulti for about 5 years. When I first started taking it with my antidepressant, I saw 70% improvement in depressive feelings, it was wonderful. And then I started gaining weight. While it does work, be prepared to gain weight (I gained at least 20 lbs). That being said, the pros of the medication were enough for me to stay on it, even with the weight gain. It works that good."

• Van...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2018

"The doctor said it would work fast if it’s going to work. I finally feel like my old self, before all the stress and trauma I had years ago, which I believe triggered my condition. Abilify worked before, but it’s too expensive. I never thought I’d have my concentration and memory and happiness back! But it’s here!"

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2016

"I have been diagnosed over the years, in turn, as having (1) atypical anxiety; (2) PTSD; (3) bipolar 2; (4) MDD. I have been on many drugs over the years and most recently, Zoloft (stopped due to severe insomnia); Cymbalta (stopped due to sexual side effects); Latuda (stopped due to insomnia) and most recently, Rexulti. My mood and depression have greatly improved over the course of a week being on this drug, but the insomnia it engenders is very difficult. I wake every 2 hours and have to really work, with relaxation tapes, to get back to sleep, or I occasionally take 0.5 mg Klonopin. I have an extremely demanding work life and the lack of sleep is a big issue. If it resolves, I will say I'm very satisfied with this drug."

• JMa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2021

"I had taken Rexulti for about 2 years. Now, even a year after stopping, I have uncontrollable compulsive behaviors, tardive dyskinesia, and respiratory dyskinesia. While I was taking it, it seemed to help when my antidepressant wore off each afternoon. Then my wife started to notice weird facial movements, and some aspects of my normal life were going out of control. Breathing problems followed, and it’s been a downhill slide and battle ever since. This medication should not be allowed to be prescribed, in my opinion."

• Nic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 2, 2019

"Extremely effective with no side effects other than one: I have gained thirty pounds! Really raises appetite, and weight seems harder to get off than if I wasn't on the drug. But this is the first winter I have not experienced depression since I hit puberty. I am 29. I highly recommend this drug."

• JR3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2018

"I've seen a couple of other posts saying the same thing I have experienced. Rexulti worked wonderfully for 3 months, then it just stopped working, and I'm back to my old depression/anxiety self. I was so happy those 3 months, and I thought I was 'done'-problems solved! The doctor has increased the dosage, but I don't feel anything. Like some of you, I am very disappointed that my great summer free from anxiety and depression has ended."

• dog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2018

"I am 23 years old and have struggled with PTSD, BP, and MDD for more than half my life. This has caused problems off and on with impotence and libido, amongst other things. At 16, I was diagnosed with bipolar II by a psychiatrist. I never gave meds a chance because I thought 'only crazy people take meds.' This past year, I have stuck with 400 mg Lamictal, and it has balanced me for the most part. Not too long ago, I had a fight with my S/O and had a dangerous impulse decision. My psychiatrist now put me on Rexulti 2 weeks ago, and it has already changed my daily life. I have rediscovered my confidence, and my patient partner doesn't have to be so patient when it comes to the bedroom. I give this drug a 10/10. But what works for me might not work for you. But heed this... I feel better than I did before."

• Eri...
• April 20, 2023

"Awful medication. I’m coming off of it. I’m on day 3 of not taking it, and I don’t feel any different. It really wasn’t helping me anyway. I was still sad, emotional, and depressed, and felt like my life was out of control. I could cry at the drop of a hat. To add to everything, I have gained at least 10 lbs or more quickly, which certainly doesn’t help the situation. I feel like I gained all the weight in my face and stomach. It’s absolutely awful. I read one other review where she said she felt like a “big fat blob” and super bloated. That’s where I am. This medicine definitely increases my appetite and makes me crave sweets. If you don’t care about possibly gaining 10 to 20 lbs, I say go ahead and give it a go. Not worth it to me at all. I wish I had never started this awful medication."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2022

"I am wondering if anyone else has had my very distressing experience with Rexulti. My psychiatrist had me on 400 mg of Wellbutrin, which put a floor under my depression, but did not get me into positive territory. He had me supplement Rexulti 0.5 mg on and off for several months, with no noticeable benefit. He then increased my Rexulti dosage to 1.0 mg. Within 48 hours, I had full-on Parkinsonian symptoms; inability to hold a glass with one hand or to write anything legibly. I tapered off of the Rexulti over a few days, and my psychiatrist said that the Parkinsonianism would fade in a couple of weeks. Instead, it took over six months. More distressingly, to this day, 16 months later, motion (like walking across a room), eating a big meal or, in particular, focusing on a manual task (like minor plumbing under a sink) frequently sends me into debilitating tremors and brain fog that can last for a few hours or a couple of days. Has anyone encountered this and maybe found a treatment?"

• Spa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

"I was delighted to get some samples of Rexulti from my Dr. because I was having akathisia. Well, after taking one dose, my vision became very blurry (it's taken over 24 hrs. to get to the point of being able to easily use my computer), I've felt 'stoned' for the past 24 hrs. and probably had a seizure. I have an underlying seizure disorder but only get them once every 4-6 months. So I read the drug insert and all the suggested side effects and don't want to take another dose. It did snuff out a period of akathisia, but I can barely remember the past 24 hrs. and don't feel anything at all (good or bad mood)."