Rexulti’s Dosage: What to Know

Rexulti is a brand-name prescription medication that contains the active drug brexpiprazole. It belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. Rexulti is not available in a generic form.

Rexulti has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:

• major depressive disorder (MDD), commonly called depression, in combination with an antidepressant drug in adults 
• schizophrenia in adults and children ages 13 years and older

In this article, you’ll find additional information about Rexulti’s dosage and details on how to take the drug. For a comprehensive overview of Rexulti, view this article.

If you’re interested in taking Rexulti, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.

Commonly recommended dosages for Rexulti are shown below.

You should take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.They’ll recommend the dosage that’s best for your condition.

Rexulti comes as a tablet that you swallow.

Rexulti tablets are available in the following strengths:

• 0.25 milligrams (mg)
• 0.5 mg
• 1 mg
• 2 mg
• 3 mg
• 4 mg

Usually, doctors will prescribe a low dosage of Rexulti at the start of treatment. Then, they’ll adjust the dosage over time if needed. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of Rexulti that gives the desired effect.

Rexulti’s typical recommend dosages, including usual doses for depression and doses for schizophrenia, are described in the table below.

Rexulti is approved for treating schizophrenia in children ages 13 years and older. The children’s dosage for treating schizophrenia is as follows:

Doctors typically prescribe Rexulti as a long-term treatment. You’ll likely take it long term if you and your doctor feel it’s safe and effective for your condition.

Below are some common questions related to Rexulti’s dosage.

Rexulti isn’t approved to treat anxiety. However, the drug may be prescribed off-label for treating this condition. (With off-label use, a drug is prescribed to treat a condition other than what it’s approved to treat.)

If you’d like to learn more about off-label uses for Rexulti, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The typical daily dosage of Rexulti ranges from 0.5 milligrams (mg) to 4 mg. Your doctor will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

For details, including the drug’s therapeutic dose, see the “Rexulti: Dosage” and “Rexulti: Dosage considerations” sections. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more.

Rexulti isn’t approved to treat bipolar disorder, including bipolar depression. It’s possible that the drug may be prescribed off-label for treating this condition, though.

If you’d like to learn more about off-label uses for Rexulti, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor will consider several factors when prescribing the dosage for Rexulti. These factors include:

• your age
• the condition you’re taking Rexulti to treat
• the severity of your condition

Your prescribed dosage may also vary based on other medical conditions you have or medications you may take.

Your doctor may adjust your Rexulti dosage if:

• you have kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease
• you have liver problems, such as liver cirrhosis
• you have a medical condition that affects how your body breaks down certain medications*
• you take medications that interact with Rexulti, such as ketoconazole or quinidine

* Your liver uses the CYP2D6 enzyme to break Rexulti down in your body. If your CYP2D6 enzyme doesn’t work as well as usual, your body might not be able to break down Rexulti like it should. (This condition is referred to as being a “poor metabolizer” of CYP2D6.) This could lead to increased levels of Rexulti in your body, which could raise your risk of side effects from the drug. In this case, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Rexulti.

Rexulti comes as a tablet. You’ll take it by mouth.

If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to take this form of medication. Also, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about taking your medication.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you find it challenging to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies provide medication labels with large print or braille. They may also offer labels containing a scannable code that your smartphone can convert from text to speech. If your pharmacy doesn’t provide these choices, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If it’s difficult for you to open medication bottles, ask your pharmacist if they can dispense Rexulti in an easy-open container. They also may recommend ways to help make it easier to open the bottles.

If you miss a dose of Rexulti, try and take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Don’t take more than one dose of Rexulti at once.

View these medication reminder options to help avoid missing doses. You could also set an alarm or download a reminder app on your phone.

For some drugs, taking more than the recommended dosage may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose. Do not take more Rexulti than your doctor prescribes.

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much of this drug. Also, you can call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

In clinical studies, people taking Rexulti didn’t show withdrawal symptoms after stopping treatment. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.) This also suggests that Rexulti doesn’t cause physical dependence. (With dependence, your body needs the drug to function like usual.)

However, withdrawal symptoms have been reported with other atypical antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole (Abilify). (Rexulti is a type of drug called an atypical antipsychotic.)

It is still best to talk with your doctor first if you’re interested in stopping treatment with Rexulti. Your doctor can review the risks and benefits of stopping Rexulti and discuss other possible treatments for your condition.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for additional information about Rexulti’s dosage. Keep in mind that the dosages presented in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Rexulti that’s right for you and your condition. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any medications you’re taking, do not change your Rexulti dosage without a recommendation from your doctor.

In addition to discussing Rexulti with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more:

• Overview of Rexulti. For comprehensive details on Rexulti, see this article.
• Drug comparisons. To learn how Rexulti compares with Abilify, read this article.
• Information on side effects. If you’d like to know about the possible side effects of Rexulti, view this article.
• Details about Rexulti’s uses. To learn more about the conditions Rexulti is used to treat, see these articles on depression and schizophrenia.

Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.