Rexulti and Insomnia: What Users Say

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2018

For Depression "Diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression in the early 90s. Nothing would get me out of bed. It was so bad that I self-medicated with meth for 23 years just so I could function. I quit meth in 2014, which put me back in bed despite Zoloft & Wellbutrin, which were chosen because most everything else I had tried had failed. About 4 weeks ago, I started Rexulti 1mg as an adjunct. This past week, there is no denying I have more energy. I've gone so long with none, yet this week I am tending to things & have a great outlook. I'm amazed to be feeling this well. I have trouble falling asleep & have a slight uneasy/restless feeling, but after so many years feeling like the living dead, I actually welcome a bit of restlessness. MHMR public health service applied to the manufacturer for me, and they approved it for free. Rexulti is truly a miracle from God. I wish every person out there the strength, blessings, and power of God to fight and win your battle."

• cle...
• November 7, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on Rexulti for a month. It was added in addition to my Zoloft 150mg and Klonopin 1mg regimen after I told my psychiatrist that I felt like I was right on the brink of breaking out of my depression, but couldn't quite get there. I started with the sample pack, which consists of a week of 0.5mg tablets and a week of 1mg tablets. After about the 4th day, I started feeling better -- more energy, less anxiety. When I upped the dose to 1mg in the second week, I felt even better. At the end of the 2 weeks, I felt 100% myself. The only side effects I've experienced are slight insomnia (waking up in the middle of the night) and increased appetite. But I've got my life back, so it's worth it. I love this drug. It saved my life."

• Not...
• January 10, 2020

For Depression "I was on this for a depressive episode / delusions. The side effects doctors won’t tell you about that happened to me: high blood sugar, high blood pressure, fast weight gain, lethargy, heart palpitations, constant panic attacks, insomnia, migraines, stomach and digestive issues, and much, much more that ruined my entire summer. BTW: it only “works” for two weeks to a month, then it stops completely, as shown by literally half of the reviews on this. Disgusting. Put in more research before shoving experimental antipsychotics into people's mouths whenever they even feel a tad bit sad."

• Joj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Two weeks in, my experience. The good: Clear focus. Appetite suppression. Increased libido. Calm demeanor. Lower anxiety. Able to get out of the house and interact with people. The bad, but has subsided: Dizzy. Nauseous. Insomnia, now I take it around 2pm vs before bed. The drug is always unavailable when the doctor refills. Expensive without insurance. Better than Wellbutrin, Lexapro, and Abilify. So far, so good."

• Sba...
• April 24, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Sco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "This is by far the most effective antidepressant I have ever taken, after 23 years of drug therapy and numerous combinations. The only side effect has been some mania, causing me to feel like my 'brain is on fire'! So I do suffer from insomnia, mostly because of the increased brain activity. But I had insomnia before taking Rexulti, so this is not a new symptom. The 'mania' is not a negative; I am extremely productive and never get sad, stuck, or depressed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Probably the best antipsychotic I have ever been. I have only responded to Abilify, and yet I still had some intense residual depressive, obsessive-compulsive, insomnia, and anxiety symptoms not allowing me to function well half the time—the side effects of Abilify were also too much. My doctor told me about Rexulti and how it is a better and cleaner version of Abilify, therefore, I agreed to try it. I have now been on it for a year, and it has helped me in ways that I am glad that I switched to it. The only issue is that it still causes weight gain and diabetes, but these are less severe than on Abilify. It is worth dealing with those side effects because now I no longer have insomnia and can function thanks to Rexulti."

• Zip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I'm taking this for bipolar 2 with major depressive disorder that has been treatment-resistant for over 5 years. Rexulti is the first drug that has ever worked for me. I have tried virtually everything previously, with things making me a zombie, worse than I was, or simply nothing at all. Rexulti has been a miracle drug for me. It does give me insomnia, so I'm going to try to switch to taking it in the morning to see if that helps. I am on a 2 mg dose."

• Sha...
• January 5, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "First couple of weeks were good, but after that, had a lot of nervous energy and a lot of waking up throughout the night. About a month in, I began having intrusive thoughts and had to be hospitalized. They took me off the Rexulti, and the intrusive thoughts went away after about two days."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have Bipolar II with major depressive and borderline disorder, and I started on .5 mg per day for two weeks. I couldn't handle it, it brought on a lot of side effects. Once my doctor reduced it to .25 mg/day, I am feeling very good. The side effects are almost gone. It has helped immensely improve my day-to-day life with depression, which was causing anxiety and other triggers for my mood disorders. I was on Lamictal and Trileptal before this. I switched entirely to Rexulti 6 weeks ago. A great part of this is that it's quick to help with depression. A bad part: tolerance is a bit tricky. Restlessness, digestive issues, and insomnia were horrible when I was on the wrong dose. Also, hunger is huge. I see why people have gained weight. I don't think it's like SSRIs, where it screws with your metabolism. It just makes you hungry. Try to get a schedule down for eating and only eat at those times normal amounts of food. This helped me avoid weight gain. Highly recommend."

• sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Can't say this med is helping after about 6 weeks. On 2 mg daily, went off my Effexor XR I was on for over 10 years. I take 200 mg Trazodone at bedtime and have for years and always slept fine. Nothing has helped the schizo or major depression in all my adult life. This Rexulti? I have not slept one night since starting it! I go to sleep, then wake up in like an hour or two and am wide awake until my alarm clock goes off in the morning. What scares me is that I am like a zombie. A very tired zombie. Ugh."

• Mo7...
• September 22, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was one of the first to try this new medication at my psychiatrist's office. I found it to have controlled my emotions. I wasn't crying for any little thing anymore. I noticed my appetite increased, I felt more lethargic, and I had sleep disturbances. I chose to discontinue use. It's been 4 days since I abruptly had to stop due to other reasons. I'm still experiencing insomnia."

• Mo7...
• September 22, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was one of the first to try this new medication at my psychiatrist's office. I found it to have controlled my emotions. I wasn't crying for any little thing anymore. I noticed my appetite increased, I felt more lethargic, and I had sleep disturbances. I chose to discontinue use. It's been 4 days since I abruptly had to stop due to other reasons. I'm still experiencing insomnia."

• eye...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "Started this medication about 4-5 weeks ago. I'm on 1 mg. It's an add-on to my Viibryd 60 mg and Bupropion SR 200 mg. This pill has really worked great for me. It's given me energy and the motivation I need to get stuff done. My family has noticed the difference. On the downside, I am restless, and it's given me a bit of insomnia. My doc told me we can solve that by taking the dose as soon as I wake up. I start that tomorrow am. It's also made me want to night binge-eat snacks more than ever. But I've learned my lesson with past medications and make sure never to have snacks available at home. So far so good. I'm making progress with my medication, psychiatrist, and psychologist. I have hope."

• Mma...
• June 26, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Rexulti has helped my bipolar mania in so many ways. From previous experience with antipsychotics, I was expecting side effects like increased appetite, excessive sleepiness, etc. I did get akathisia when I first began, but I did begin at 3 mg (a high dose). I reduced back down to 0.5 and gradually increased to 1 mg. So far (1.5 months), I have seen extreme improvement in my mood and sleep schedule. I feel more motivated and am getting more of my responsibilities done. My social anxiety is pretty much gone, as is my GAD. The only issue I have is periodically having trouble falling asleep, but this is not significant. Overall, I think Rexulti has really helped me in many ways, and I attribute the positive results in my recent life to Rexulti."

• LIF...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 4, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "I give this medication a 1000/10. Rexulti has changed my life. I have MDD and panic disorder, and I’ve gone through bad insomnia spurts. I’ve been on it for about 5.5 years now, and I cannot explain how much it has changed my life around. I have done a lot of damage to my serotonin receptors, which has not allowed any medication that is serotonin-heavy to work. I’ve gone through trial and error with over 20 medications for my depression. My mood was never stable before Rexulti, my brain would go back and forth between super happy and sad every second. Rexulti has balanced my life entirely. I have tried going off of it to realize how much it helps me throughout my day. I’m very happy with the results!"

• Tex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2024

For Depression "My doctor gave me 3 starter packs to see if this would work for me. I started with 0.5 mg, then 1 mg per day and after day 12, I felt like my old self. I haven't noticed any side effects except maybe with my sleep, but I am only in my third week. All that said, once I got the prescription, the cost is prohibitive even with my insurance picking around 70%, my co-pay is around $500 per month. I'm sorry that I started taking it as now I have to stop simply because it's unaffordable. I got a Rexulti savings card, but no one will take it because I have 'government' insurance, Medicare part D. I've also contacted Texas Prescription Assistance, and they told me I may be able to take Zyprexa, but my insurance only covers the generic Olanzapine. It sounds like a 'generic' of a 'generic'. I've made an appointment with my doctor to see if one of these 2 will be beneficial to me. And finally, Rexulti is a miracle drug - it gave me my life back, and then pulled the rug out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2024

For Schizophrenia "Very effective med. There aren't many side-effects, besides insomnia. I recommend that you definitely ask your physiatrist for low-dose Mirtazapine or Doxepin (just in case) if you decide to try Rexulti. I have used many neuroleptics and I can highly recommend Rexulti for schizophrenia. Rexulti causes less insomnia than Abilify (Aripiprazole) or Vraylar/Reagila, and it doesn't cause restlessness at all."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been diagnosed over the years, in turn, as having (1) atypical anxiety; (2) PTSD; (3) bipolar 2; (4) MDD. I have been on many drugs over the years and most recently, Zoloft (stopped due to severe insomnia); Cymbalta (stopped due to sexual side effects); Latuda (stopped due to insomnia) and most recently, Rexulti. My mood and depression have greatly improved over the course of a week being on this drug, but the insomnia it engenders is very difficult. I wake every 2 hours and have to really work, with relaxation tapes, to get back to sleep, or I occasionally take 0.5 mg Klonopin. I have an extremely demanding work life and the lack of sleep is a big issue. If it resolves, I will say I'm very satisfied with this drug."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been diagnosed over the years, in turn, as having (1) atypical anxiety; (2) PTSD; (3) bipolar 2; (4) MDD. I have been on many drugs over the years and most recently, Zoloft (stopped due to severe insomnia); Cymbalta (stopped due to sexual side effects); Latuda (stopped due to insomnia) and most recently, Rexulti. My mood and depression have greatly improved over the course of a week being on this drug, but the insomnia it engenders is very difficult. I wake every 2 hours and have to really work, with relaxation tapes, to get back to sleep, or I occasionally take 0.5 mg Klonopin. I have an extremely demanding work life and the lack of sleep is a big issue. If it resolves, I will say I'm very satisfied with this drug."

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

For Depression "I started taking this a week ago, and since then, I get very little sleep. I take Ambien and Valium at night, and it has proved ineffective so far. I'm hoping this is one of those side effects that go with time. It's hard to function when you're awake every two hours."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2022

For Depression "I was put on Rexulti as an add-on to my Depakote for bipolar type 1 disorder. I had to come off lithium abruptly because it was affecting my sleep and causing me to have suicidal thoughts. My psychiatrist put me back on Depakote (what I had been taking prior to lithium) and then added Rexulti. It has so far been a life changer. I finally feel truly myself in a way I have not felt in years. I must have had high functioning depression for years, thinking it was my 'new normal,' but on Rexulti, I do not feel so chronically fatigued and I am actually excited about life. I can also think more coherently and clearly, and it shows in my academic performance and creativity levels. Give this medication a try if it seems nothing else is working for you because this might!!!"

• Spa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on Rexulti for about 2-3 months after taking Abilify for about 10 years, which I had to quit for various reasons. Rexulti is great for my depression; I've had zero anxiety, and it's really the only drug out there that works for me at this point. I didn't give it the full 10 points for two reasons. The first reason is I get really hot when I go outside in moderate, 70-degree temperatures. I can't handle hardly any heat! Second, while 2 mg works great now, getting up to that dose is hard! I was sleep-deprived for the first month on 1/2 mg, and until I got up to my current dose, I didn't sleep very well. One other thing, this medication does better for me without Topamax! Apparently, Topamax can minimize the effects of Rexulti!"

• Fou...
• April 28, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "In the beginning, it was great. I live with TRMDD, PTSD, and ADD. I put on 25 lbs in the 6+ months on Rexulti. I was constantly uncomfortable and the heaviest of my life. I was in a 'haze' constantly, happy on the outside but miserable on the inside. Slowly built up to 3 mg, but it was never as good as those first few weeks at 0.5 mg. I have decided to quit Rexulti, and the discontinuation symptoms are horrible. Agitation, flu symptoms, anxiety... My stomach has never hurt worse in my life, and my insomnia is devilish. The bad of discontinuation overshadows the small amount of good in the beginning. I do have moments of sanity since discontinuation; air moving past my body feels good, combing my hair feels good, little things like this that let me know I'm doing what my body truly needs. I would recommend staying at the lowest dose for as long as possible... or avoiding it altogether."

• Pam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2016

For Depression "When my psychiatrist finally put me on 1 mg of Rexulti, it was a lifesaver. My latest depressive episode seemed intractable until then, but a major drawback has been sleep interruption, often as early as 3 a.m. My mind races, and it's often more fun to get up than to stay in bed. I rarely sleep beyond 6 a.m., no matter how late I go to sleep. My much-valued afternoon naps have also become infrequent too. I also take Pamelor 75 mg per day and Seroquel 75 mg per day. The doctor said that I'd have to come off the Seroquel since it's the same drug family as the Rexulti. Well, I've decided to get off the Rexulti and keep my Seroquel since the Seroquel helps me sleep and wears off by morning. Rexulti is absurdly expensive."