Mental Health Awareness Month: Many people still suffer from depressive symptoms on an antidepressant

(BPT) – This article is sponsored by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck, for which Dr. Maguire is a paid consultant.

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, a time to educate the public on various mental or behavioral health issues while reducing the stigma that many people, including those living with major depressive disorder (MDD), still experience. Research shows that an estimated 17.3 million American adults suffer from MDD. MDD, also known as depression, is a serious mental illness characterized by symptoms that last at least two weeks, can cause significant functional impairment, and can occur on and off throughout a person’s lifetime.

“People living with depression may experience a range of symptoms ranging from persistent sadness and anxiety to feelings of emptiness and hopelessness. Additionally, they may feel irritable, have difficulty concentrating or witness changes in appetite or weight,” says Dr. Gerald Maguire, a leading psychiatrist and Professor and Chair of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. “Not everyone who is depressed will experience every symptom – every patient is different – and that’s why it is important to communicate individual symptoms with a doctor to determine a treatment plan that is best for them.”

Dr. Maguire explains that depression, which is one of the most common mental illness in the United States, can affect anyone and does not have a single cause. However, there are effective treatment options that can help.

“Treatment looks different for every patient. It may include psychotherapy, medications such as antidepressants, add-on therapies or a combination of these approaches over a period of time, as decided by a patient and their health care provider,” says Dr. Maguire.

Despite taking an antidepressant – which the is the most common first-line treatment for depression – many patients still suffer from depressive symptoms. This is sometimes called “partial response.” This means that a patient may have made some progress with their current treatment regimen, but still struggles with lingering symptoms of depression.

“Nearly two-third of patients taking an antidepressant may experience a partial response. If patients are continuing to experience depressive symptoms on an antidepressant, I strongly encourage them to speak with their health care team. It’s essential that patients keep providers informed about their symptoms so that providers can make dosage adjustments, switch medications, or include add on therapies, as needed,” says Dr. Maguire.

REXULTI^® (brexpiprazole) is a prescription medicine used to treat major depressive disorder in adults. REXULTI is used with antidepressant medicines, when their healthcare provider determines that an antidepressant alone is not enough to treat their depression. For adult patients taking an antidepressant for at least two months, but aren’t seeing the progress they hoped for, adding REXULTI to their antidepressant medication may help reduce their depression symptoms – without giving up the progress they’ve already made with their current antidepressant.

REXULTI may cause serious side effects, including an increased risk of death in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis and risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Please read the IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION below.

“Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a great reminder to patients and providers alike that frequent and open communication is a vital aspect of any care plan,” says Dr. Maguire. “For patients suffering from depression, specifically those who may be taking an antidepressant and are still experiencing symptoms of depression, it is important that they know they are not alone and that adjustments to medications, which may include the addition of REXULTI, may provide improved symptom relief.”

Dr. Maguire also advises patients to engage their health care team if they have any concerns or notice any changes in their mental health.

Learn more at www.rexulti.com.

INDICATION and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for
REXULTI^® (brexpiprazole)

INDICATION:

REXULTI is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD): REXULTI is used with antidepressant medicines, when your healthcare provider determines that an antidepressant alone is not enough to treat your depression.

It is not known if REXULTI is safe and effective in people under 18 years of age.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Do not over-exercise. Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much or heavy clothing.

In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible. Drink plenty of water.

• Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.

Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how REXULTI affects you. REXULTI may make you feel drowsy.

Before taking REXULTI, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have diabetes or high blood sugar or a family history of diabetes or high blood sugar. Your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start REXULTI and during your treatment.
• have high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, or low levels of HDL cholesterol
• have or had seizures (convulsions)
• have or had low or high blood pressure
• have or had heart problems or a stroke
• have or had a low white blood cell count
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if REXULTI may harm your unborn baby. Using REXULTI in the last trimester of pregnancy may cause muscle movement problems, medicine withdrawal symptoms, or both of these in your newborn.
  • If you become pregnant while taking REXULTI, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. You can register by calling 1-866-961-2388 or visit http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if REXULTI passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take REXULTI or breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take or recently have taken, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

REXULTI and other medicines may affect each other causing possible serious side effects. REXULTI may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how REXULTI works.

Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take REXULTI with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicines while taking REXULTI without talking to your healthcare provider first.

The most common side effects of REXULTI include weight gain and an inner sense of restlessness such as feeling like you need to move.

Tell your healthcare provider if you experience abnormal muscle spasms or contractions, which may be a sign of a condition called dystonia.

These are not all the possible side effects of REXULTI. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about your health or medicines, including side effects.

You are encouraged to report side effects of REXULTI (brexpiprazole). Please contact Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1-800-438-9927 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (www.fda.gov/medwatch).

Please read U.S. FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including BOXED WARNING, and MEDICATION GUIDE, for REXULTI.