What Is Rexulti Used For?

Rexulti contains the active ingredient brexpiprazole and belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotic agents. It helps control symptoms of certain mental health conditions through its actions in the brain.

Primary Uses

Rexulti is used to treat adults with schizophrenia and agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AAD) in patients who don’t respond to non-drug treatments. Schizophrenia symptoms include hallucinations, suspiciousness, mistaken beliefs, incoherent speech and behavior, and emotional flatness. People may also feel depressed, guilty, anxious, or tense.

How It Works

While Rexulti cannot cure schizophrenia, it helps keep symptoms under control and reduces the risk of relapse as you continue treatment. For Alzheimer’s disease, it helps control behavioral changes such as agitation and aggression that can occur with dementia.

How to Take Rexulti

Your doctor will determine the right dose for you based on your condition and other medicines you may be taking. Follow all directions given by your doctor or pharmacist carefully, as they may differ from general information.

Dosage Instructions

Take Rexulti only once a day at about the same time each day for best results. Swallow tablets whole with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food. Continue taking until your doctor tells you to stop.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you miss your dose at the usual time, take it as soon as you remember and continue normally. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Available Tablet Strengths

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Drowsiness
• Diarrhea
• Indigestion
• Weight increase
• Shaking
• Inability to stand or sit still, restless movement
• Feeling dizzy or fainting
• Impulsive behaviors or urges
• Sleep walking and related behaviors
• Strong urge to urinate or burning feeling while urinating

Impulse Control Issues

Rexulti may cause impulsive behaviors or urges, including gambling. If you have a past experience with excessive gambling or other compulsive behaviors, make sure to tell your doctor.

Important Warnings

Before taking Rexulti, it’s important to discuss your medical history and current medications with your doctor to ensure safe use.

Who Should Not Take Rexulti

Do not use Rexulti if you are allergic to brexpiprazole or any ingredients in the medicine, or if you’re allergic to similar medicines in the same class. Should not be given to children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have: dementia (especially if elderly), history of neuroleptic malignant syndrome or tardive dyskinesia, high or low blood pressure, heart problems or family history of heart/blood vessel problems, epilepsy or seizures, suicidal thoughts, swallowing problems, diabetes or high blood sugar, high cholesterol, blood clots or risk factors, past gambling or compulsive behaviors, low white blood cell counts, or sleep apnea.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Rexulti is not recommended during pregnancy. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking it. Using it in the last three months of pregnancy may cause problems in newborns. Do not breastfeed while taking Rexulti, as it’s unknown if the medicine passes into breast milk.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with Rexulti and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you’re taking.

• Medicines and herbal remedies for depression and anxiety (e.g., Saint John’s Wort, fluoxetine, paroxetine)
• Anticonvulsants for epilepsy or seizures
• Medicines for high blood pressure
• Medicines for heart rhythm disturbances
• Medicines for blood disorders (e.g., ticlopidine)
• Medicines for bacterial, fungal or viral infections (e.g., terbinafine, itraconazole)

Alcohol & Driving

Rexulti can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol, so special precautions are needed.

Alcohol

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Rexulti as it could magnify the side effects. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Rexulti affects you. It may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or tiredness. If you have these symptoms, don’t drive, operate machinery, or do anything dangerous.

Temperature Regulation

Rexulti may affect how your body reacts to temperature changes and may prevent sweating during heatwaves. Keep cool in hot weather by drinking plenty of water, wearing light clothes, staying in air-conditioned areas, taking cool baths, and avoiding exercise during hot parts of the day. Keep warm in cool weather.

Storage

Store Rexulti in the original container in a cool, dry place below 30°C, away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Don’t store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep in a safe place where children cannot reach it.

Overdose Information

If you take too much Rexulti, immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if you feel fine. You may experience heart signaling problems (QT prolongation) with symptoms like fainting, palpitations, and seizures. Close medical supervision is required until recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions