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brexpiprazole vs quetiapine

Side-by-side comparison of brexpiprazole and quetiapine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
brexpiprazole Atypical Antipsychotic
quetiapine Atypical Antipsychotic
Type
brexpiprazole Prescription
quetiapine Prescription
Summary
brexpiprazole

Rexulti is a medication used to treat certain mental health conditions. It can help with depression, schizophrenia, and agitation related to Alzheimer's disease.

quetiapine

Quetiapine is a medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It is used to treat mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

What It Treats
brexpiprazole

Rexulti can be used with antidepressants to treat major depressive disorder in adults. It can also treat schizophrenia in adults and children 13 years and older. Additionally, Rexulti can help manage agitation in people with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Rexulti should not be used as needed for agitation related to dementia.

quetiapine

Quetiapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17 years old). It also treats manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder in adults and children (10-17 years old). For bipolar disorder, it can be used alone or with other medicines like lithium or divalproex.

How It Works
brexpiprazole

Rexulti affects the balance of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, include dopamine and serotonin. By affecting these chemicals, Rexulti can help improve mood, thinking, and behavior.

quetiapine

Quetiapine works by changing the levels of certain natural substances in the brain. These substances are called neurotransmitters. By affecting these neurotransmitters, quetiapine can help reduce symptoms of mental disorders.

Common Side Effects
brexpiprazole
  • Weight gain
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Restlessness or feeling like you need to move
quetiapine
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
  • Feeling weak
FAERS Reports
brexpiprazole
  • Weight gain 1,673
  • Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 1,277
  • Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 1,092
  • The medicine is not working 929
  • Restlessness or feeling like you need to move 854
quetiapine
  • The medicine is not working 12,343
  • Using the medicine for something it is not approved for 11,797
  • Harmful effects from different substances 9,721
  • Trouble sleeping 9,103
  • Feeling tired 8,861
Serious Warnings
brexpiprazole

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with antipsychotic drugs have an increased risk of death. Rexulti is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis unless it is related to agitation from Alzheimer's disease. Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults and children. Tell your doctor right away if you have thoughts of harming yourself.

quetiapine

Quetiapine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Quetiapine can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens, and young adults. Watch for worsening symptoms or suicidal thoughts, and tell your doctor right away.

Pregnancy
brexpiprazole

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Babies born to mothers who take Rexulti in the last 3 months of pregnancy may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems after birth. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to Rexulti during pregnancy. You can contact the registry at 1-866-961-2388.

quetiapine

If you take quetiapine during the last 3 months of pregnancy, your baby may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems after birth. There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take quetiapine during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This brexpiprazole vs quetiapine Comparison

brexpiprazole is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while quetiapine sits within the Atypical Antipsychotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, brexpiprazole has 5,825 submissions while quetiapine has 51,825. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between brexpiprazole and quetiapine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.