Brexpiprazole: A review of a new treatment option for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.

Article Details

Citation

Diefenderfer LA, Iuppa C

Brexpiprazole: A review of a new treatment option for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.

Ment Health Clin. 2018 Mar 23;7(5):207-212. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2017.09.207. eCollection 2017 Sep.

PubMed ID
29955525 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Brexpiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic that works as a partial agonist at serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine(1A) and dopamine D(2) receptors and an antagonist at serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine(2A). It has US Food and Drug Administration approval for monotherapy treatment of schizophrenia and adjunctive treatment to antidepressants for major depressive disorder. Two phase-3 clinical trials demonstrated efficacy and relatively fair tolerability with regard to adverse effects for each indication. Akathisia was frequently reported in the major depressive disorder trials but less so in the schizophrenia trials. Significant increases in body weight and triglycerides were seen across all studies. Brexpiprazole appears to be a viable option for treating an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia requiring hospitalization or adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder in patients who showed an inadequate response to 1 to 3 antidepressants. Further clinical trials are warranted to determine the long-term efficacy of brexpiprazole, and comparison trials would be beneficial to establish its place in therapy.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
BrexpiprazoleHistamine H1 receptorProteinHumans
Unknown
Antagonist
Details
BrexpiprazoleMuscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1ProteinHumans
Unknown
Antagonist
Details