Rexulti FAQ
What is Rexulti?
How are Rexulti and Abilify the Same?
What’s the Difference between Rexulti and Abilify?
What are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
How Much Does Rexulti Cost?
Is Rexulti an Improvement Over Abilify?
What Serious Side Effects has Rexulti Been Linked to?
Are There Other Side Effects of Rexulti?
Are Rexulti Lawsuits Being Filed?
Is There a Rexulti Class Action?
What is Rexulti?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rexulti (generic: brexpiprazole) for 2 indications: the treatment of schizophrenia and as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).
How are Rexulti and Abilify the Same?
Rexulti and Abilify are both atypical antipsychotic medications made by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. Both are approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and as augmentation agents in major depression. Both are partial agonists at dopamine D2 receptors, and both activate serotonin 5HT1A receptors while blocking 5HT2A receptors.
What’s the Difference?
Abilify is off-patent (generic), which makes it much cheaper — and therefore less profitable — compared to Rexulti. The newer version is more potent than Abilify, so lower doses must be used. Rexulti is also more similar to other 2nd-generation antipsychotics compared with Abilify.
What are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disorganized thinking
- Trouble organizing your thoughts and making sense
- Little desire to be around other people
- Trouble speaking clearly
- Lack of motivation
How Much Does Rexulti Cost?
Rexulti is very expensive, since it is a new medication and there are no generics yet available. The cost for a 30-day supply of Rexulti (30 tablets) is about $1,062 without insurance, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Check online for discounts and coupons.
Is Rexulti an Improvement Over Abilify?
Otsuka claims that Rexulti has a distinct pharmacologic profile compared to Abilify. It has stronger activity at dopamine (D2) receptors as well as 5-HT2A serotonin receptors. The company says that these attributes make Rexulti an improvement on Abilify, but only time will tell whether or not this is the case.
What Serious Side Effects has Rexulti Been Linked to?
- Uncontrollable Compulsive Behaviors – Gambling, sex, shopping, eating.
- Extrapyramidal Effects – Acute dyskinesias and dystonic reactions, tardive dyskinesia, Parkinsonism, akinesia, akathisia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
- Suicidal Thoughts – Particularly in children, teenagers and young adults.
Are There Other Side Effects of Rexulti?
Yes. Rexulti may also cause the following less severe side effects in certain users:
- Weight gain
- Agitation
- Distress
- Restlessness
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Runny / stuffy nose
- Increased appetite
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Tremor
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
Are Rexulti Lawsuits Being Filed?
Since Rexulti has only been on the U.S. market a short time (FDA approved in July 2015), the first problems with the drug have only recently been reported and any lawsuits filed over alleged side effects are still in their early stages.
Is There a Rexulti Class Action?
NO. It usually takes years and many consumer complaints for class action status to be considered in defective drug litigation. At some point in the future, Rexulti lawsuits may be consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) for pretrial handling.