Rexulti for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Sba...
• April 24, 2019

"I was given Rexulti as an adjunct, and it pulled me out of a dark hole pretty quickly (about 3 days). A dose of 1 mg worked for about 6 months, after a relapse, I went up to 2 mg, then 3 mg—anxiety off the charts. I found the dosage of 1 mg plus 0.5 mg (two prescriptions—cutting the higher dosages didn’t change the med on a molecular level) to be most effective. It was great for a long time. It was also so much better than Abilify (Abilify gave me horrible nightmares). Fast forward to 1.5 years later—I gained over 60 lbs (can’t lose anything either, even eating healthy foods—hunger unmanageable). So the weight gain is just as bad as Abilify. I am 2 weeks into tapering from 1.5 to 1 mg and have severe insomnia, body aches, joint pain, general sadness, lack of patience, and interest in usual activities. My doctor won’t do a faster tapering. I want this med out of my body ASAP. I’m done. Great short-term solution for depression, but crappy for the long term. Get the manufacturer coupon."

• lri...
• March 6, 2019

"I took Rexulti for 5 months. I gained 20 lbs even doing Weight Watchers. I stopped taking it because it was not working anyway. I hate antipsychotic drugs. I have struggled with my weight for years, and they do nothing but add to the problem. I would rather learn to deal with my depression than take any more drugs at this point in my life. I just want to know how you're supposed to feel good while gaining weight. I don't understand that concept at all. For people who need these types of medications, that's fine. But after trying this drug and struggling with my weight, I am totally finished with all antipsychotic medications, but this is just me. I would not recommend this to anyone who has weight issues whether you feel good or not."

• sch...
• February 27, 2016

"As a 'thick file' patient, after nearly thirty years of suffering through dozens of combinations of drugs for TRMDD, and this little gem has had an impact far exceeding any other treatment. One milligram Rexulti as an adjunct to 60 mg mirtazapine/200 mg bupropion has given me a chance to move forward. Reduced dependency on alprazolam, nicotine, ethanol in the first thirty days. Am hoping fervently that there's not a 'poop-out' potential with Rexulti, and am making hay while the sun shines. My psychiatrist is shaking his head, having seen likewise highly significant movement in a good number of long-time treatment-resistant patients, because 'on paper, it looks just like Abilify'. Not placebo effect in my case."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 16, 2017

"I've taken several antidepressants, and had restlessness with Abilify. Now I'm taking Wellbutrin and Rexulti (1mg) and I feel wonderful. I feel like my old self again. I'm thirty years old and haven't felt this good since I was probably 19. Really good med. No side effects so far."

• Baz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 29, 2025

"This drug is good for me. I usually have a bad mood and lack of motivation. But I finally got the right dosage for my MDD. My psychiatrist adjunct brexpiprazole (Rexulti) 2 mg and escitalopram 20 mg, adding methylphenidate 5 mg for motivation in the morning. In the night, I take 50 mg quetiapine to have better sleep. It works well to give me a good stable mood, enough for me to do daily routine activities. But the side effect is my weight is increased. I have been in this condition for 15 years. My first psychiatrist diagnosed me with schizoaffective because of my mood disorder. The second psychiatrist diagnosed me with bipolar. And the latest psychiatrist diagnosed me with MDD."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2016

"I have been on Lexapro, and that seemed to stop working. I then went on Cymbalta 120mg/day, and it helped, but I can get very angry episodes. I've been depressed for 15+ years after an abusive, sociopathic husband. Now, divorced and was a bit happy, but it didn't last. Still had anger issues and no patience for anything, especially kids. I tried Abilify with no results. I have been on Rexulti for about a week, and the elevated mood is amazing! I feel like my old self from 20 years ago. I'm laughing, making homes, smiling, singing, and having great thoughts about the future. Loss of appetite (a good thing for me), but it might just be hormonal. I have much more energy, and I'm thanking my doctor for introducing me to this elation! I hope every one of you can get the same!!"

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2019

"Changed my life. Been on Prozac and Klonopin for years for depressive and anxiety disorders, added Rexulti recently after I told my psych about how I'm not depressed, but I still feel 'flat,' very anhedonic. My sleep was also still bad despite being on trazodone. I feel pleasure again, and I laugh, and my emotions range much more high than they previously did. Sleeping great. Was terrified to take since this is an 'atypical antipsychotic,' but alas, no side effects. I gained about 7 pounds, in which I'd say is from being happy and healthy and enjoying food again. Not sure how well this works for anxiety since Prozac and Klonopin already helped my anxiety tremendously. Give this a try."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2016

"This is the miracle drug of the year. It starts working on day 4. My Pdoc says they are using it in the psychiatric ER because it works so fast. I had been suffering with MDD for 16 years. I have tried almost every single drug and every combination without results. Currently taking 0.5 mg with Paxil 30 mg. It feels almost like euphoria mixed with a shot of energy."

• Kev...
• March 9, 2016

"After trying 10 different meds from several classes over the past year for depression and anxiety, nothing was working. They'd all make me go 'crazy' or I'd have just about every possible side effect you could think of. I was close to giving up but my doc wanted me to try Rexulti. For the first time ever, I had no side effects and I was much happier. I wake up and I'm able to actually get out of bed and go on with my day with no problem! I still get depressed and anxious once in a while. But overall, this is amazing."

• win...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2016

"I have had MDD for over 50 years and have been on nearly every antidepressant and booster out there. I have a really fast metabolism. I only started on Rexulti 3 weeks ago, but I swear I started at zero and I'm now at least at 9! Great stuff!"

• Bra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2016

"30 plus years of MDD and many different drugs and combos. This is the only thing I've taken where I don't feel like I am fighting my depression on a daily, hourly, sometimes 'minutely' basis. Life is still life - with ups and downs, but I am feeling more like the person I was meant to be without MDD. Much more social, confident, proactive. More open in general to other people and relationships. I take 2mg with Cymbalta."

• LIL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2017

"Rexulti has given me back my normal life. I have been on Effexor for 5 years, and it stopped working as well, my anxiety had started to skyrocket. My psychiatrist added this 1 mg a day, and within 3 days, I could feel a difference. Within 5 days, I could fall asleep quickly again, I woke at 8:30 am after sleeping 8.5 hours instead of 12. I have accomplished more in 2 hours this am than I have in a month. I am relaxed, anxiety is almost gone, and it does not make you feel like you are speeding. The only side effect I had was some loose bowels the first 3 days, now all is fine. SOOOOO glad this works! I was afraid that I would have to get my meds changed. It feels nice to be living my life again."

• And...
• February 8, 2016

"I feel so much better after reading the other reviews. I am sensitive to meds so I can only tolerate 150 mg of Wellbutrin per day. It started to stop working on me around Christmas time. I felt blank. I have a wonderful psychiatrist who gave me Rexulti. I didn't know if it was psychosomatic at first or not, but I felt better within three days! My mood lifted. I feel level and normal and often forget to take the Xanax that I used to depend on for my several panic attacks per day. Now I'm weaning down my Xanax because that you cannot stop cold turkey. This medication is wonderful. I'm just nervous about long-term effects since it is so new."

• Rho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2019

"I have been on Rexulti for 1 month now. It is totally amazing for treatment-resistant depression, I haven't felt this good in about 20 years, but I am having massive weight gain issues. Can anyone tell me how to get the weight off, as not eating or exercise is not helping? Would appreciate some advice. Thank you."

• Nao...
• April 7, 2016

"At the beginning, Rexulti really, REALLY lifted my MDD (along with 60 mg Prozac a day). Lots more energy, smiling and laughing a lot more, back to enjoying life again, wanting to go back to my knitting and gardening and much more!! And my NP gets so many samples from the drug reps that she said she could keep me in Rexulti for free long-term! However, it 'pooped out' after just 3 weeks...so the NP upped my dose to 2 mg. But that made me really weak, tired and lethargic. So she told me to go back down to 1 mg. Neither of those doses did/is doing ANYTHING for my Depression. Please pray with me that I'll find a med that works---the next med change will be my 6th attempt after long-term use of generic Prozac by itself. Been on it 6 wks."

• Lau...
• September 30, 2016

"I was put on 2 mg Rexulti once a day after my 10 mg dose of Abilify stopped working. I noticed positive changes on the Rexulti within a week. It does make me tired, so I take it at bedtime along with 60 mg of Cymbalta. I am definitely feeling less angry, less moody, and haven't had any crying spells since starting it 3 months ago. I definitely think it is more effective than Abilify was for me. It has not affected my weight or libido at all. I would say it's working as intended, and 2 mg seems to be a good therapeutic dose."

• Wel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2016

"Treatment-resistant recurrent major depressive disorder - 300 mg Wellbutrin XL and 75 mg Wellbutrin SR (1x in AM), which had been effective (stable baseline and fully functional) for years. However, due to life circumstances, I began to feel depressed (feelings of hopelessness). After a week of adding 1/2 mg of Rexulti, the 'sense of doom' dissipated, and about another week of taking the 1 mg, I began to feel a sense that 'all is well.' Side effects: intense feelings of thirst and hunger, increased body temperature. Definitely bearable and can easily be managed by drinking water and eating healthy. Side effects minimized by week 2. I also tended to be cold all the time, which brought me to a normal temperature. I lost 3 lbs in the 1st week. Miracle combo."

• dro...
• February 1, 2017

"If you have any anxiety, do NOT take Rexulti! I had very severe panic attacks so bad that I had to go to the ER. They will not go away unless you go to the ER. One day, I had 5 attacks back to back, with my 15-year-old begging me to call an ambulance. They would not stop happening! My jaw would lock up, I felt like I couldn't breathe, and felt like I was dying. Nothing I did at home would stop them. It was a terrifying experience!!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 18, 2018

"Rexulti is the absolute best drug I have taken. Day one, I thought, 'There is no way this could be working already.' Day two, I said, 'I think this may be working.' Day three, I said, 'Oh my goodness, this is working great.' My psychiatrist says he is seeing positive results in one week for most people, if it works for them. I have been treatment-resistant for depression for 20 years. I've tried every medication, even ECT, but nothing has ever worked like Rexulti!!!"

• Lor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 9, 2019

"Began taking Rexulti in May 2016 for MDD. At that time, I weighed 160 lb. This was a miracle drug for me. I had energy, obsessive thoughts and worries went away, and I felt like a new person. Now, three years later, I weigh 220 lb and am miserable. I never changed my eating habits. Felt starved all the time. I'm stopping this medication. Now I'm at risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes. So, yes, Rexulti works, but at a serious cost."

• Rex...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 4, 2019

"I have MDD/GAD/ADD. Started Rexulti as an add-on to Zoloft. At first, it was great - I was seeing improvements to my mood within days. But it eventually kind of fizzled out. Also, it made me gain 40 lbs in the 9 months since I started taking it. I started tapering off of it, and this is where the real fun part begins. I rarely have issues stopping psych meds, and I’ve never experienced side effects as long as I’ve tapered my dose, at least not until Rexulti. It has been hell to come off of this med. I have never been so depressed in my life. It’s like I’m an empty husk. No feeling or emotion. My thinking has become remarkably slow, and my speech gives it away (it takes me forever to get through a sentence). Fortunately, this is temporary, but that doesn’t make it any less soul-crushing to experience. And it flares up even worse than before with every drop in dosage."

• Gin...
• April 10, 2016

"Struggling with treatment-resistant depression for over 17 years. Very hopeful this would work. Well, after the first five days, I had an 'EXTREME REACTION.' After the third day, I started to feel a little confused, with no appetite. But on the sixth day, on my way to work, I missed my exit on the highway. Things only got worse: stumbling, forgetfulness, etc. On my way home, I started jumping curbs on the highway and trying to drive into the other lanes of oncoming traffic. So confused, I didn't know which direction I was traveling and could not get off the highway. I put others and including myself into so much harm. Thank God I was pulled over and taken to the hospital via ambulance. Scared the holy crap out of me. Taken off this drug immediately."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 21, 2019

"I feel good while on Rexulti, but have gained so much weight. I'm going to give it a little more time to see if I can lose weight, if I don't, I'm going to stop taking them. I have never been this size."

• Doo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2017

"I would give this drug a 10 if it didn't make me gain a little weight. I have had depression my whole life and also have ADD and OCD. It seems to be helping with my depression and my OCD. I am not taking any other antidepressants, and maybe that is the key. I know it's supposed to be an add-on, but my doctor said I could take it alone. I am also taking Sam-e, which only helps a bit. I have been taking Rexulti for only about a month. It started working after only a few days, and I hope it doesn't stop working. I have taken so many other antidepressants, all with side effects, or they only worked for a while. I have even had transcranial magnetic stimulation, and it didn't work for me. :("

• CGa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 28, 2020

"Has helped me in stopping self-harming behaviors such as cutting, hitting, and starving myself. No other medication has done this for me. After 10 years of trying different medicines and on-and-off-again treatment, at 23 I am finally in a stable place."