Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Ozr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2016

"I started taking this at 5 mg for bipolar disorder. Firstly, the wafer I had to put under my tongue was horrendous! The taste can only be described as the taste of poison. It made my tongue numb. It made me extremely drowsy, but it was hard to sleep because I had almost a painful restlessness in my legs, so I felt I couldn't stop moving, yet I was so tired. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. This drug, an anti-psychotic, MADE me psychotic. It dramatically changed my personality from the moment I took it. I became aggressive and angry at everyone. If I'd had a higher dose, I think I could have become homicidal. This was a terrible drug for me, so I didn't last on it long at all, it was just too dangerous for me."

• Jis...
• October 6, 2016

"I am the mother of an adult son that has been taking this medicine for over 2 years. It has done wonders!!! He has remained stable on this medicine. He takes 2 10 mg doses at night with trazodone, Lamictal, Wellbutrin, and Valium. Right after taking his meds, he does get the munchies, and right after, he is asleep. He functions very well during the day, is attending college full-time, going for his bachelor's. Because he has done so well, he was determined no longer disabled and lost his health insurance. The cost of this out of pocket here in VA is $1300.00. He has applied for the assistance program, and we are hoping. His doctor did give him samples, and he is good for at least 2 months. If not, maybe I will check into a Canadian pharmacy."

• Kel...
• May 20, 2015

"I suffer from Bipolar 1 Mixed Rapid Cycling. I started taking Saphris to replace Geodon about a month and a half ago to reduce my manic episodes, and I do feel better, but I am gaining weight at an alarming rate! I have tried so many medications throughout the years for the manic episodes and am going to stick with this, as it really does help tremendously, and I haven't suffered any other side effects."

• Eri...
• March 1, 2017

"ABSOLUTELY AWFUL!!!! I was given this for depression, and it made everything so much worse! I only took it for 4 days, and days 3-4 were so bad I was concerned. Day 3, I was manic and skipped a midterm, completely unable to control my emotions in any form. Day 4, I awoke confused and disoriented. As the day progressed, I was manic, had numb hands, couldn't articulate well, had cognitive impairments, and stiff muscles. It was a LIVING NIGHTMARE. I am also an alcoholic and two years sober, so feeling anything besides normal was such a detriment to the drug. I don't care if I would have gotten over those symptoms - this drug is pure poison."

• mae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2018

"I don't currently take this prescription anymore because in the US it is expensive. When I was prescribed for panic attacks and anxiety at a low point in my life, oh my god, it helped so much. I felt so normal-not strung out and feeling doomish. I had clarity mentally and emotionally (with bouts of panic attacks from heavy personal experience, for that, I had clonazepam). I was in a good mood and living my own life on Saphris. It felt like I had a sudden choice in feeling anxious or upset, and I would mentally clear up my anxiety in seconds myself, and no more introspectiveness. The downside: I had anxiety sleeping and rapid, crazy nightmares, and waking up was a blur the first hour of waking. I remember this helped a lot, and I believe for bipolar (why I took it) it has a positive effect so much, but sleep is harsh on it, and it was expensive."

• m00...
• February 29, 2012

"I have tried almost every medicine you can think of for bipolar 2, with horrible side effects. Seroquel, Lamictal, Depakote, Lithium, Abilify, Trileptal, Topamax-just about everything, like I said-and either had hives, rash, or just could not tolerate them. My new doctor gave me Saphris, and within three days I felt better than I had in 15 months. After three weeks at 10 mg a day, once a day, I almost feel like my old self again. This is a miracle as far as I am concerned. The only side effect that I have is feeling weak, slightly winded when I walk or exercise. Don't know if anyone else feels this or not. It does bother me because I can't keep up walking or in Pilates class like I used to."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2017

"Horrifying. Gave me side effects that mimicked a stroke. Lost my ability to write or make sense of computer keyboards and phone dialpads. Drooling, stuttering, slurring, walking sideways, walking into walls. A nightmare from hell."

• Tat...
• January 4, 2012

"I started taking Saphris 10 mg at bedtime 2 months ago, and I have never taken a medicine that is so powerful but without the horrific side effects of it. My mother and I take care of 6 children, and so I have a bunch of different personalities that are around me each and every day. When I started taking this medicine, it took a great deal of heaviness I was carrying around with me off, and that is exactly what I needed. The only side effect it gave me was the bitterness as it dissolves under your tongue, but that is well worth it for me. I am on Depakote as well, I started Saphris about a month ago. I am getting off of Depakote and staying on Saphris - it is a miracle."

• Zeu...
• October 19, 2015

"Overall, okay. Makes me sleepy, and I take it 30 mins before bed to get me to sleep. I did find it put some weight on me and makes my eyes a little jumpy. That's the extent of my side effects, really. Overall, I'm happy with it, it controls my mania and inability to sleep."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2016

"I was put on 2.5 mg every night of Saphris, about 2 weeks ago. It has been utter hell for me. Not only did it make my tactile hallucinations worse, it caused more problems than before. I've had to go to the ER. I'm more agitated than before. I'm bipolar. Isn't this a bipolar med? I'm not schizophrenic. And what's worse is that even though I'm on the lowest possible dose and only taking once a day, after stopping it I'm still getting withdrawal symptoms! And not small ones. Like I said before, I had to go to the ER. I'm drinking a lot of water, but I still had an extremely low amount of electrolytes. I ended up using two full bags of fluid. This drug is not safe. It does more harm than good."

• Kai...
• June 23, 2022

"I started this drug and read it was a miracle drug, and I can back that up. It’s been a miracle for me after horrible experiences on other antipsychotics. I felt drugged on the other ones, they were so bad! I had developed terrible anxiety, and although I was crying a lot, my doctor has put me on an antidepressant, and it’s helping a lot with that. I have bipolar 1 and OCD. I was in a mixed episode prior to starting medication. I’m on 15 mg. I take it all at night. Hope you all fight for your lives, things get better."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2011

"I am a fine artist with bipolar. I have been taking Saphris for almost a month, which was added to my other medicines, lithium and Depakote. The first night (5 mg), I woke to use the restroom and felt so dizzy I thought there was no way I would be taking it again - even in the morning, I felt so tired, but it lifted around noon and I just felt calm the rest of the day. The next day was a little better and so on. After a week, my psych doctor put me on 10 mg at bedtime, but after 4 days, I still felt too tired to do much but watch T.V., so I went down to 5 mg again. Racing thoughts have leveled out, and I no longer have paranoia/suspicious feelings, and anger problems are all but gone. Best of all, I enjoy working on my art again and can concentrate more on it!"

• jus...
• January 10, 2012

"Saw improvement overnight! Then, a few days later, the side effects started. High blood pressure, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, difficulty swallowing, very agitated, nipple discharge, and my tongue seems to 'thrust' inside my mouth on its own! I have been on Saphris for 4 months, but with the side effects, my doctor is taking me off of it. It was like a miracle. I have never had such a positive effect for my bipolar and severe depression before on any other medication. I am in tears that I have to stop taking it! The side effects didn't hit all at once, but once each one started, it didn't stop. I kept 'dealing' with it until the blood pressure issue. I went from normal range to (at the highest) 171/111 with a pulse rate of 103."

• Geo...
• May 8, 2010

"Doctor warned me it tasted bad. Understatement. HORRIBLE! Numbs my mouth but is tolerable. Noticed a huge difference the next day. Mood is great, but I slept for 12 hours after first taking it. I'm sure my body will get used to it and that will stop happening. I'm supposed to take it twice a day but can't unless I want to sleep 24 hours a day. I expect to take it twice daily once my body adjusts. No other side effects except taste and sleep. Didn't have to use Lunesta for the first time in months."

• Joa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 15, 2017

"My husband takes Saphris 5 mg twice a day for bipolar depression. He was having delusions and psychosis, as well as paranoia. Since starting the Saphris, these have stopped, but there are times when he is very stoned acting, like a zombie. He isn't responsive or talkative a lot of the time. His sex drive has also become nonexistent almost, and he suffers from ED when we do have sex. It's so difficult when you have a disease like BD, and then you have to take these meds, which help some of the symptoms but bring on others that are unwanted. It's like, what do you do? My husband says being stoned is better than what he was experiencing before, though. Saphris is also pretty expensive, but they do have a card that you can use for discounts."

• swi...
• February 13, 2012

"It has been a miracle!! I have been on several medications, and nothing has helped. I have continued to bounce from depression to mania, with little sleep. I've been on this medication for five days. WOW is all I can say. I feel wonderful. I'm sleeping again. No racy thoughts, none of the symptoms that I suffer from. I just hope it lasts. The cost is a problem, but the company is working on helping me with that!!"

• smi...
• December 8, 2011

"I have been taking Saphris for about a month now. I started at 5 mg at night and now up to 10 mg. Helps me fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. The first few days I had rough mornings but none since. The taste is awful. I use the black cherry, but maybe I will try the sweet tart trick I have learned about. I also take 60 mg Celexa and 0.5 mg of Klonopin (twice a day for this one) every day. I am bipolar and have depression, and since being on Saphris, everyone has noticed a big change in my moods. Racing thoughts are a hell of a lot better too! Side effects: constipation, very gassy, bloated stomach, loss of taste, and sore and numb tongue. Hopefully, my body will adjust, but if not, I think the pros outweigh the cons."

• bpd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2018

"Saphris was the first drug I tried to treat my Bipolar II. The main reason for it was that weight gain was a big fear for me, and I was not willing to jump into any medications that were not weight-neutral. Saphris was weight neutral, but it definitely did not work for me. I took it at night, and some nights I would pass out to sleep, and others I would sit up awake in my bed, feeling like I had no control over my own body. During the day, I had an edgy/off feeling like I was coming off a recreational drug. For an hour or two, I felt at peace, but that would not last. Definitely not a good fit for me."

• Kra...
• July 31, 2011

"Like many of the comments I read, it seemed I had tried everything. This medication is absolutely perfect for me. I could have kept one of my husbands had I been taking this medication. The minor side effects don't bother me. I've been dealing with this mental health issue since I was six years old. I remember at the babysitter, I said, 'Not another nap.' I used to count the holes in the ceiling tile, immensely wanting to sleep. Now, at 60 years, I am sleeping with wonderful dreams. Also, in spite of this disability, I earned 4 advanced degrees. Thanks for this medication."

• Emm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2023

"I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but my diagnosis has changed since. I was put on Saphris after a suicide attempt two years ago, and the improvement I saw was rapid. Despite the deplorable treatment I received from nurses in the hospital, my mood quickly shifted from the worst I have felt in my life to a profound sense of stability and well-being. If I skip Saphris for a few days, there is no withdrawal, but I can feel my mood decline - and when I take Saphris, my mood is better again. It also helps me sleep quickly and deeply at night. I've never been more stable in my life, and it has no side effects for me."

• len...
• April 5, 2012

"Saphris has been a literal life changer for me. I have tried antidepressants in conjunction with mood stabilizers such as lithium and Depakote. I was combating severe depression and mania. When I first started Saphris, I was suicidal and had awful thoughts constantly. Nothing was working. I was on 1000 mg of Depakote, which was as high as I could go due to my low body weight. My psychiatrist, who was the fourth psychiatrist I had seen in six months, added Saphris to my regimen of Depakote, 30 mg of Remeron, and 10 mg of Ambien for sleep. Within just a couple of days, I felt GREAT! All the bad thoughts disappeared, I no longer want to die, and this medicine did not take away my (manic) creative energy like most other antipsychotics do! MIRACLE for me!"

• Fou...
• May 18, 2018

"I took this medication for a very short time. Started at 5 mg for a week, then moved to 10 mg. My doctor prescribed it when I was struggling with a poor sleep cycle, when I was sleeping only every other night and eating very little. The taste is awful, but tolerable if the medication would have worked otherwise. It did interrupt the critical sleep cycle. It worked for that. I was literally out in 15 minutes. However, I would wake up after 4 hours, literally famished. I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep until I ate. I wasn't groggy the next day from the med, but constantly hungry. Insatiably so. I developed a spasm in my eyelid after 6 days. At first, I dismissed it. However, it escalated to every hour. We then discontinued the medication. I have been off of it for a week, and still, the eyelid twitching has continued every hour. I would avoid this medication due to the fact that tardive dyskinesia can be permanent and a large number of patients have reported weight gain."

• nee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2019

"First night I took it, sent me into a psychedelic dream. It was like a full psychedelic trip. I went into the 4th dimension and was communicating with my past/present/future self all at once. I was everything and everyone. I was matter, energy. I was the universe. Before this drug, I never dreamt. I slept like a baby, but Saphris completely changed that. I was in full-blown insanity and on and off psychosis for days after the trip. In my mind, we are all one. So death is nothing. I am everything anyway, this shell of a body I use is not me. Waking up felt like I had just come out of a coma, I had no idea who I was, where I was, and how long had passed. One second in our time felt like millions of millions of years in my dreams. I took it for another 3 days, then stopped. To this day, the nightmares have never left. Some nights are worse than others. From just this one 'dream,' whatever was in that drug changed something in my brain forever."

• Syn...
• April 20, 2017

"I began Saphris after a 4-day stay in the hospital for depression. Received no info on warnings or interactions. At first, things seemed fine; neither good nor bad. By the next spring, I found I could stay up without feeling tired for 24 hours. By that summer, I felt like superwoman, now having the ability to easily go 3-4 nights without sleep or sleepiness. Explain this to the psychiatrist; he DOUBLED the dose of prescribed Saphris. I had 4 car accidents that year. All my fault, but totally unexplainable. I did not feel inebriated. My mood darkened, and by November, I tried to commit suicide. I spent 9 days in ICU. I can't explain why I tried suicide. Saphris side effects continued. I took myself off it, and within a year, all side effects gone."

• Ld1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2021

"I was just reading reviews, and I can’t believe some people actually said they thought ALL the hundreds of great reviews were “fake.” My family is so happy I found this medicine. I suffer from bipolar II, major depression, and anxiety. I’ve tried so many things. Rexulti did great, but I gained about 20 lbs. I’m still trying to drop all that weight, so they had me try Saphris. I automatically go to sleep about 15 minutes after I take it. Tastes bad, but it’s so worth it. I went from NEVER wanting to leave my house, bathe, wear makeup, dress, shop, spend time with kids (or family), be with my husband, so many things I used to love, even clean my house, to now getting up every day, getting dressed, and finding something to do or a place to go! It’s a miracle drug. If it lasts is the thing. I’ve only been on it a few months. Crazy story, it started to work after 1 day."