Rexulti and Irritability: What Users Say

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was severely depressed for several months. My doctor tried everything that I could tolerate. I am on Trintellix & Klonopin. I started on the sample pack up to 1 mg. I snapped out of the hard depression within 10 days. I felt super. I talked to my doctor in to an increase to 2 mg. I was irritable and nervous. I went back to 1 mg. and was back to my happy self. I would highly recommend Rexulti to anyone with hard-to-treat depression. This medication gets a full 10."

• SAJ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I have had the opposite experience than others on this site. I was on Abilify for about 10 years after trying every 2nd generation antipsychotic. I also have trauma PTSD. Anyway, at some point Abilify stopped working well, and I became extremely manic and aggressive. I completely stopped sleeping. Honestly, I just stayed up all night sitting in a chair being weird and catatonic with racing thoughts. When I rarely fell asleep, it would only be for a couple of hours. The doctor switched me to Rexulti because of studies showing it helps with PTSD, and within 3 days, I felt so, so much better. I was less paranoid, less agitated, no voices, no paralysis, no EPS. Way better than Abilify ever was. I also started to sleep 6-8 hours straight every night. It is like it just reset something in my brain, and I began to sleep again. I guess it either really works for you or really doesn't."

• Kel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 1, 2020

For Depression "Ok, so I've been on Rexulti for a few years now for depression. This is the best advice I can give someone thinking about taking this medication. Currently, I am on 2 mg, I take it for major depression. My doctor started me off on 1 mg. It seems like I had side effects from the drug in the beginning: dry mouth, weight gain, irritability, and fatigue. So I started taking it at night. After about 2 weeks, I then switched to morning again. Side effects went away except for me eating :(. Overall, it's a good drug if it helps. I would recommend it. DOWNSIDE: do not just stop taking the drug! You must taper down on the medication. You will have effects if you just stop taking it. For example, moody as heck. Then it takes a few days to build the medicine back up in your body for it to go away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've just started the starter pack of Rexulti. I am on day 3. It is replacing Abilify in my meds. I feel a lift in the depression, however, I am experiencing some agitation and anxiety. I'm hoping this improves. It is affecting my dreaming, they aren't nightmares, just very vivid and strange. I am hopeful for this medicine if we can just get the agitation to cease."

• Ear...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 28, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have bipolar disorder, MDD, and GAD. I tried Abilify as an add-on, and it made me so tired all the time, and I gained weight. We switched to Rexulti, and I immediately felt fabulous. I was stable and optimistic! Soon after, I noticed I was eating nonstop. It was like an addiction. I struggle with weight as it is. I take Vyvanse for ADHD, and it helps curb my appetite a little, but the Rexulti still makes me want to eat all the time. Also, I've noticed it makes me really restless and irritable. I think it actually induces hypomania in me. I end up having major outbursts of anger and rage. It's even taken a toll on my marriage. I had to stop. I feel a little depressed, but it's better than being out of control."

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was on Rexulti (Nov/Dec 2019) for 28 days. The first week I felt great, I had more energy, not staying in bed for 16 hours a day. My mood was back to being positive, more outgoing, and sarcastically funny. Then I began to feel very short-tempered and frustration that got stronger every day. My family was telling me I was acting and talking differently. I at one point sent an email to my brother saying if I ever won the lottery, I was going to hire someone to 'take care' of a few family members and that he didn't have to worry, he wasn't on my list. I would never talk like this. Another email from me to my psychiatrist earned me a surprise visit from the police to include a complimentary trip to the Crisis Center and then to a hospital for 48 hours. You have to be careful in the words you use in an attempt to be sarcastically funny - it would have been funny 20 years ago, but not in the world we live in today."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I haven't really seen much in the way of adverse effects from actual users being reported online, though I have tried to find them. My experience, as I have been taking it for about 3 months, is that it has worsened my depression, made me extremely antisocial and withdrawn, and very easily agitated. I stopped it a few days ago and have experienced a slight improvement in those symptoms already. Please use caution when taking this, as there is very little information out there about this drug, or how it is affecting actual patients. I will not be taking this drug again."

• McL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

For Depression "Absolutely horrible experience. My psychiatrist gave me a free two-week sample of 0.5 mg Rexulti pills. Since I began taking them, I have been EXTREMELY irritable, stressed, and unable to calm down. I’m throwing the rest of them in the trash, hopefully, these symptoms will go away soon."

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2020

"I started Rexulti for panic problems, and the first 2 weeks were great. Felt amazing. Like a switch went off and was in the clear. Then developed inner hostility, rage, and irritability by week 3. Triggered a hypomanic episode, and I don’t have any mood disorder. Just severe anxiety. My cholesterol doubled, my BP, which was normal, required medication, and I needed a statin. Gained 20 lbs in 1 month. Off for 3 days, and all the negative feelings are gone. I really thought this was the winner. Through it all, no anxiety. No panic. But it made me so stressed and frustrated I had to stop it."

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2020

"I started Rexulti for panic problems, and the first 2 weeks were great. Felt amazing. Like a switch went off and was in the clear. Then developed inner hostility, rage, and irritability by week 3. Triggered a hypomanic episode, and I don’t have any mood disorder. Just severe anxiety. My cholesterol doubled, my BP, which was normal, required medication, and I needed a statin. Gained 20 lbs in 1 month. Off for 3 days, and all the negative feelings are gone. I really thought this was the winner. Through it all, no anxiety. No panic. But it made me so stressed and frustrated I had to stop it."

• tkm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2018

For Depression "Took Latuda, did nothing for me, so the psych started me on Rexulti in mid-September. Took me off for a week in November because side effects were severe: shaking leg, irritable, restlessness. Been back on it almost 6 weeks, going from 0.5 mg to 2 mg, now feel a little okay but still have a lack of interest in things I enjoyed. I still have sadness, I'm functional but not really present. Read that some of these meds can take up to 6-8 weeks before I feel full effect. I'm on Pristiq 100 mg and 2 Clonazepam a day. Hopefully, will feel full effects shortly."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2025

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking it for over three months after I had a nervous breakdown and had to be taken to a mental health facility in December. My family noted an immediate change. I wake up automatically in the mornings, which is HUGE for me. I drink green tea with honey and I’m ready to get my day really started. I was taking it with Wellbutrin and I stopped WB after I finally noticed it wasn’t doing anything for me but making me more agitated. I’m now only on Rexulti, lamotrigine, and Adderall for my ADHD. By God's grace. Give it at least a couple of weeks. I’m huge into reviews, but this med is completely worth it and the change is noticeable. I did gain about four pounds, BUT I really needed it because I was getting too thin due to my depression. That’s on average the weight gain, but really that’s been it. You will notice within a week if a drug is not for you, so look out, but this worked for me!"

• 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."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2021

For Depression "Reading the reviews on this site was part of my decision-making process in starting Rexulti for a stubborn depressive episode (I have bipolar), so I wanted to come back and leave a review myself. It's been 30 days of .5. My depressive symptoms went away after five days on Rexulti. I was afraid of akathisia because I had it really bad on Latuda, but that dreaded side effect has been minimal to none, thankfully! The first two weeks on Rexulti at .5, I did experience agitation for a few hours after taking my pill each day. However, that has mostly subsided. I am very pleased with this dose. I'm not going to increase it because I think (know) I would get akathisia and mania. Now I'm on gabapentin, Rexulti, clonazepam as needed, and ketamine infusions every few months. Keep the faith, folks. We can do this!"

• Inv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started this drug about 4 weeks ago. Since I started it, I have been vomiting and having diarrhea constantly. I am also more agitated and annoyed than usual, and I have been manic several times (I'm actually taking it for bipolar II, not MDD). It doesn't work as well as Risperdal for controlling my mood, and I can't keep anything down, but my psychiatrist thinks that's my birth control, so I don't know that he'll be willing to switch me to another med. My mood swings have been a lot worse on this than on the Risperdal, which I wish I could have stayed on, but it was messing with my prolactin levels. I almost killed myself 2 days ago, and about 6 days ago, I was extremely manic and spent $400 within a couple of days. Do not recommend for BP II."

• Kba...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "Started with 0.5 and had ophthalmic migraines but laughed for the first time in a long time; went down to 0.25 and the ophthalmic migraines ceased. Now, after about three weeks, irritability level is off the charts; swollen nasal passages a/k/a nasopharyngitis, hives, urticaria a/k/a welts, alternate between constipation and diarrhea, so, so tired, a daily headache, and difficulty breathing. And very weird dreams; awakening 2-3 times a night. So, to sum it up - great at first; now side effects make me wonder about continuing to take it. (Oh, and had to file an appeal with my insurance company to cover it.)"

• Bab...
• August 23, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "On week 7, I felt totally hormonal, agitated, emotional, sensitive, and angry. My cholesterol is high, my A1C is at 6.2. Week 8, called Dr., she bumped me up to 2 mg. Will wait and see how this feels. Will update in several weeks."

• Sch...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2018

For Schizophrenia "This medicine is horrible. My hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia are increased 10 times worse than before. I have agitation, body temperature dysregulation issues, dizziness, insomnia (despite taking Temazepam), and it makes it difficult to think. I don't recommend this medication."

• Sar...
• November 27, 2018

For Schizophrenia "Chest pains, headaches galore. Not to mention, my memory has been horrible, and my legs have been very restless. Thursday (11/22/18), I was relaxing, calm. But then there was a ringing in my ears, as there had been every day 3 days prior. I began to feel like I was dying, which was me beginning to panic due to the effects I've been having. I haven't had health anxiety since I was 8 years old. I'm 18 now, but never this bad. I began to get agitated very quickly, and I couldn't stop moving. I was pacing around my house, moving my legs, rocking back and forth, and threatening my parents as I grew more agitated and felt like I was in a cage. I could not get in touch with my prescriber, so I had to go to the ER. Eventually, I got tired, and it subsided, so I did not need the sedative the hospital staff wanted to give me. Blood work, EKG, and urine test all fine. I've been on it for roughly 6-8 weeks, and it stopped working."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2025

For Major Depressive Disorder "I’m so very happy to finally say something that works! At 50, I was ready to get off all meds and say forget them. I tried Rexulti (along with my antidepressant), and that agitation I’ve walked around with has subsided. I myself have lost weight. Anxiety is better-not great, but better. Just an all-around great experience. Thank you guys so much! I have a life again."

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Well, I was getting more upset than usual, sleeping about 1 hour after taking the med 8 hrs prior, weight gain, sugar cravings, headaches, dry mouth, agitation, chest pain, restless, back pain, etc."