Rexulti
It is the brand name of a drug called brexpiprazole that works by rebalancing serotonin and dopamine levels to improve mood, thinking, and behavior. It is known as an atypical antipsychotic or second-generation antipsychotic.
This medication was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2015. It is produced by Otsuka and Lundbeck, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Uses
It is typically used to treat schizophrenia, a serious mental health disorder associated with abnormalities involving self-awareness and perception, ultimately affecting language and thought. Worldwide, an estimated 21 million people have schizophrenia, according to the World Health Organization.
Depending on the type of schizophrenia, a person experiences the following symptoms:
- thought disorders;
- delusions;
- an inability to stay focused;
- hallucinations;
- problems with working memory;
- poor executive functioning;
- monotonous voice;
- disorders of movement;
- speaking infrequently;
- a diminished capacity to sustain planned activity;
- lack of pleasure in everyday life;
- immobile facial expression.
This medication can also be used as an add-on treatment by people with major depressive disorder. Depression is a condition that is characterized by an overwhelming feeling of isolation, sadness, and despair which lasts 14 days or longer at a time. This condition may occur at any age, however, it usually develops during the mid-teens, the 20s, or 30s.
Dosage
The dose is individualized and will need to be determined by a healthcare professional. However, the usual recommended dose for treating depression is 0.5 mg or 1 mg once per day. The dose may be increased at weekly intervals up to 3 mg per day.
The usual recommended dose for treating schizophrenia is 1 mg once per day on the first four days of the treatment. The dose should be increased to 2 mg per day for the next three days, then to 4 mg per day.
Do not change the dose or stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor first.
Side Effects And Precautions Of Brexpiprazole
Common side effects may include:
- weight gain;
- constipation;
- drowsiness;
- being unable to sit still;
- tremors;
- upper respiratory tract infections;
- headaches.
Rare side effects may include:
- trouble swallowing;
- severe agitation;
- intolerance to heat;
- distress;
- feelings of warmth;
- restless feeling;
- seizures (convulsions);
- a feeling like you might pass out;
- tremors;
- thoughts of hurting yourself;
- uneven heartbeats;
- uncontrolled muscle movements;
- confusion;
- increased urination;
- very stiff muscles;
- trouble breathing;
- fruity breath odor;
- skin sores;
- unexplained weight loss;
- swollen gums.
To make sure that this medication is safe for you, tell your healthcare professional if you have:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- high or low blood pressure;
- high triglycerides;
- heart disease;
- high LDL cholesterol;
- a history of seizures;
- low white blood cell counts;
- trouble swallowing;
- a personal history of diabetes;
- brain tumor;
- head injury;
- a history of stroke or heart attack.
Some people may experience an allergic reaction. Symptoms may include:
- trouble breathing or talking;
- swelling of the tongue, mouth, face, lips, or throat.
- rash;
- unusual hoarseness;
- red, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever;
- tightness in the chest or throat;
- wheezing;
- itching;
- hives.
Alcohol
Avoid alcohol intake while using this second-generation antipsychotic.
Similar Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs
Other atypical antipsychotic medications include:
- aripiprazole (Abilify);
- ziprasidone (Geodon);
- quetiapine (Seroquel);
- olanzapine (Zyprexa).
Latuda
It is the brand name of a drug called lurasidone that belongs to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It works by decreasing the effects of some chemicals in the brain.
This drug is produced by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, a research-based pharmaceutical company. It was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010.
Uses
It is used to treat episodes of depression in people with manic depression (bipolar disorder). Also, this medication is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and adolescents who are at least 13 years old.
Dosage
The usual recommended dose for the treatment of depression associated with bipolar disorder (manic depression) is 20 mg once per day. The usual recommended dose for the treatment of schizophrenia is 40 mg once per day. The dose may be increased depending on how the patients respond to the treatment.
Note – if the patient has liver or kidney impairment, the doctor may adjust the dose appropriately, until the desired effect is achieved.
Side Effects And Precautions Of Lurasidone
Common side effects may include:
- muscle rigidity;
- nausea;
- agitation;
- weight gain;
- dizziness;
- slow movements;
- restlessness;
- decreased sexual ability;
- drowsiness.
Rare side effects may include:
- seizures (convulsions);
- fast heartbeats;
- increased urination;
- fainting;
- trouble swallowing;
- blurred vision;
- extreme thirst or hunger;
- thoughts of hurting yourself;
- uncontrollable movements of the eyes, tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs;
- confusion;
- feeling like you might pass out;
- hostility;
- agitation;
- muscle discomfort;
- mouth puckering;
- very stiff (rigid) muscles;
- weight loss;
- drowsiness;
- body aches;
- dry skin;
- sores in your mouth and throat.
To make sure that this drug is actually safe for you, make sure you tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- breast cancer;
- high blood pressure;
- seizures or epilepsy;
- heart disease;
- suicidal thoughts and/or actions;
- diabetes;
- stroke;
- occasional low white blood cell counts;
- high LDL and total cholesterol;
- high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There are no human studies regarding the use of these drugs by pregnant or nursing women.
Rexulti vs Latuda – Differences
Rexulti (active ingredient – brexpiprazole) belongs to the group of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. It is typically prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia or as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder.
Latuda (active ingredient – lurasidone) is an antipsychotic drug that helps to correct chemical imbalances in the brain.
5 Remedies For Depression
#1 St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
St John’s Wort (scientifical name – Hypericum perforatum) is as effective for mild to moderate depression as tricyclic antidepressants, according to studies. Plus, it has considerably fewer side effects.
#2 Vitamin B-12
This vitamin helps the body to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that are responsible for controlling depression and mood swings.
#3 Physical Exercise
Exercising offers numerous health benefits, like – improving sleep quality, lifting mood, reducing stress, and increasing energy.
#4 Online Psychiatrists
In recent years, a growing number of psychiatrists have started to come together in online communities to discuss mental health with patients sufferers. However, scientists observed that one challenge with online interventions is sustaining sufferers’ engagement enough to improve clinical outcomes.
#5 Magnesium
This essential mineral helps in the production of a variety of enzymes in the human body. Moreover, magnesium regulates and maintains many biomechanical functions that happen in the body.
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References https://rexultihcp.com/mdd/efficacy https://www.otsuka-us.com/discover/articles-1023 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4547662/ https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2015/205422Ori