Asenapine

Asenapine, sold under the trade names Saphris and Sycrest among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and acute mania associated with bipolar disorder. Asenapine, sold under the trade names Saphris and Sycrest among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and acute mania associated with bipolar disorder. It was chemically derived via altering the chemical structure of the tetracyclic (atypical) antidepressant, mianserin. Asenapine has been approved by the FDA for the acute treatment of adults with schizophrenia and acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder with or without psychotic features in adults. In Australia asenapine's approved (and also listed on the PBS) indications include the following: In the European Union and the UK asenapine is only licensed for use as a treatment for acute mania in bipolar I disorder. Absorbed readily if administered sublingually, asenapine is poorly absorbed when swallowed. There is only weak evidence supporting the use of Asenapine for treating schizophrenia, making it hard to recommend. As for its efficacy in the treatment of acute mania, a recent meta-analysis showed that it produces comparatively small improvements in manic symptoms in patients with acute mania and mixed episodes than most other antipsychotic drugs (with the exception of ziprasidone) such as risperidone and olanzapine. Drop-out rates (in clinical trials) were also unusually high with asenapine. According to a post-hoc analysis of two 3-week clinical trials it may possess some antidepressant effects in patients with acute mania or mixed episodes. Adverse effect incidenceNote: The discussion below these lists provides some more context into the frequency and severity of these adverse effects. Very common (>10% incidence) adverse effects include: