[Wild Coyote]

Just this week, I have noticed TV ads for Rexulti as a treatment for Bipolar Depression.

With BPII, I struggle with Bipolar Depression and the depression wins out.

My friend here, "tecomsin," had also let me know about Rexulti.

Have you used Rexulti specifically for Bipolar Depression?
If so, have you found it helpful?
Is it expensive? Does your drug coverage accept it as a covered drug?
Did you pdoc have to write an appeal for coverage?
Low dose? High dose? Pros/Cons?

Thank you for sharing any information. We are starting to hear more about Rexulti and, I suspect, more of us will have Rexulti offered to us as a part of our treatment in the near future.


WC

Yes, I'm on rexulti, and yes, it helps with my depression, but be careful with insurance. The drug is technically not "approved" for bipolar disorder. It is only "approved" for schizophrenia and MDD. Thus, some insurances (like mine) refuse to cover it. They don't want to pay for an off-label use of it.

I've been taking samples for a long time and fighting for an approval.

I'm on 2mg (target dose is 2-4mg) it helps a lot with the hallucinations and depression. I just wish my insurance would cover it.

I forgot to say... It's stupid that it's not approved yet for BP. The drug company must not have done BP clinical trials because schizophrenia and MDD obviously share a lot of symptoms with BP. It's one of those "put 2 and 2 together" situations where I think insurance companies should acknowledge that.

I'm hoping that my hallucination situation (hallucinations outside of episodes) count toward the "schizophrenia" criteria even though I'm not schizoaffective. Fwiw, though, my therapist (PsyD) thinks it could be psychotic disorder.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Yes, I'm on rexulti, and yes, it helps with my depression, but be careful with insurance. The drug is technically not "approved" for bipolar disorder. It is only "approved" for schizophrenia and MDD. Thus, some insurances (like mine) refuse to cover it. They don't want to pay for an off-label use of it.

I've been taking samples for a long time and fighting for an approval.

I'm on 2mg (target dose is 2-4mg) it helps a lot with the hallucinations and depression. I just wish my insurance would cover it.

Thanks, blue!

I am glad it is helping you!

I wonder why there are now TV ads for specifically for Rexulti and Bipolar Depression (just recently)?

Do you think it's recently been approved for the treatment of Bipolar Depression?

Can the drug company advertise it for BP Depression if it's not approved for it?

(It's interesting that it's approved for schizophrenia and MDD.)

Thanks again!


WC

No, I don't think it's recently been approved for BP. I literally just got a rexulti prescription last week, and that was denied... again.

Not sure if they can advertise it for BP or not, but Walgreens wants me to pay them like 10 million bucks for it.

Unless Walgreens doesn't know about it... but I would think they would know? No idea. Sorry. Try asking the pharmacy.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

No, I don't think it's recently been approved for BP. I literally just got a rexulti prescription last week, and that was denied... again.

Not sure if they can advertise it for BP or not, but Walgreens wants me to pay them like 10 million bucks for it.

Unless Walgreens doesn't know about it... but I would think they would know? No idea. Sorry. Try asking the pharmacy.

Last week, my pdoc said it was not (yet) approved for BP Depression.
This week, the Rexulti and BP Depression ads started on TV.
I wonder if it's approved as of this week and if you'll now have some coverage?
I hope you'll obtain some coverage.
Thanks again!

WC

[tecomsin]

Hey WC,

Dr. Google says rexulti started enrolling in Phase III trials for bipolar disorder in October 2017, and, approval, is possible but not for certain, by any means:

A. Aripiprazole (Abilify) was the first partial dopamine agonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of schizophrenia, and mania, and as an add-on treatment to antidepressants for the treatment of unipolar depression, but not bipolar depression.

B. Brexpiprazole (Rexulti) received FDA approval for the treatment of schizophrenia and as an add-on treatment to antidepressants for the treatment of unipolar depression in 2015. It is similar to aripiprazole but has weaker activity at the dopamine D2 receptor. Brexpiprazole is associated with small increases in the hormone prolactin, as opposed to the small decreases in prolactin seen with aripiprazole.

brexpiprazole : Bipolar Network News
On this page there is also news about another new drug you might want to look into too if you haven't tried it:

Cariprazine (Vraylar) is FDA-approved for schizophrenia and mania, and it also has positive placebo-controlled data in bipolar depression and as an adjunct to antidepressants in unipolar depression.

I don't know the law for sure in the US, but that would seem very sketchy to advertize on television prior to approval from the FDA.

I hope you can find a suitable new drug that won't cause or aggravate disturbing side effects. I've been on 2 mg (middle dose) rexulti for about 2 months and haven't gone psychotic but it didddly squat by itself for my depression. Just added on 150 mg of Wellbutrin. It's covered by my insurance so the cost is not prohibitive for me.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

Hey WC,

Dr. Google says rexulti started enrolling in Phase III trials for bipolar disorder in October 2017, and, approval, is possible but not for certain, by any means:

brexpiprazole : Bipolar Network News
On this page there is also news about another new drug you might want to look into too if you haven't tried it:


I don't know the law for sure in the US, but that would seem very sketchy to advertize on television prior to approval from the FDA.

I hope you can find a suitable new drug that won't cause or aggravate disturbing side effects. I've been on 2 mg (middle dose) rexulti for about 2 months and haven't gone psychotic but it didddly squat by itself for my depression. Just added on 150 mg of Wellbutrin. It's covered by my insurance so the cost is not prohibitive for me.

Thank you for this helpful information.
Thanks, too, for the link!
I hope to do more research this weekend, as my pdoc will be back in town at the end of next week.

Yes, I am finding the advertising confusing. I am sure I will find out more soon and the pieces of the puzzle will come together.

I appreciate your sharing your personal experience with Rexulti.
I am glad it does help you some. I am also glad you have drug coverage for it.

Good luck with Wellbutrin. It has been a "go to" drug for me for many years.
I hope it serves you well.

I appreciate your contributions here, very much!


WC

[wildflowerchild25]

I credit rexulti with lifting me out of the severe depression I was in in November, since I am not on any ADs and mood stabilizers usually don’t do **** for my depression. I am only on 1.5mg. As you know, I am facing an extreme amount of stress right now because of my job but so far (it has only been a week) I am not severely depressed. Even if I were I would credit stress and not rexulti not working.

It is fully covered by my insurance so I’m ok.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I credit rexulti with lifting me out of the severe depression I was in in November, since I am not on any ADs and mood stabilizers usually don’t do **** for my depression. I am only on 1.5mg. As you know, I am facing an extreme amount of stress right now because of my job but so far (it has only been a week) I am not severely depressed. Even if I were I would credit stress and not rexulti not working.

It is fully covered by my insurance so I’m ok.

Thank you so much for replying! I know you are going through a very challenging time.

I am glad to learn Rexulti has helped your depression!
I am also glad to hear some insurers are covering the med.
All good news for the BP community!

Thanks again!

WC