Asenapine and Depression: What Users Say

• Fin...
• September 11, 2017

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Amazing drug when combined with Lexapro (for my depressive side). To say it has changed my life, saved my marriage, and made me a better father is a sheer undersell of this medicine. I'm bipolar 2 with mixed episodes (dysphoric). I'm no longer filled with rage over nothing, irritable, or depressed. It has thus far been the magic bullet for me, after trying about 6 other combinations. It's allowing me to be present in my own life without constantly overthinking or having racing and repeating thoughts. Having a clear mind is allowing me the freedom to be the man I always knew I was. There's a lot of horror stories on here, but just remember when you find the right medication. It's worth it."

• Emi...
• April 23, 2017

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Worst medication I've ever been on. It has made me very flat, depressed, quiet, overweight, and also a case of anhedonia. I can't even talk to people anymore, just short answers and no enthusiasm. I also don't even enjoy nature anymore, and I used to LOVE the outdoors. I've been feeling like a robot ever since I went on it 6 months ago. I know I should have told my doctor sooner. Last week, I started dosing down and am praying that once I'm completely off of it, I'll be feeling better and hope to have more life in me. I'm glad to see that it works for most people. Has anyone else experienced any of these side effects?"

• Emi...
• April 23, 2017

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Worst medication I've ever been on. It has made me very flat, depressed, quiet, overweight, and also a case of anhedonia. I can't even talk to people anymore, just short answers and no enthusiasm. I also don't even enjoy nature anymore, and I used to LOVE the outdoors. I've been feeling like a robot ever since I went on it 6 months ago. I know I should have told my doctor sooner. Last week, I started dosing down and am praying that once I'm completely off of it, I'll be feeling better and hope to have more life in me. I'm glad to see that it works for most people. Has anyone else experienced any of these side effects?"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2018

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "I started on 5 mg at night for 6 nights and then went on to 10 mg and have been on this for another week. So far, no real problems. It puts me to sleep straight away, which is a godsend, and I am much calmer. The only issue is that I wake up after 4 hours of sleep and am wide-eyed, but I still don't have much motivation or energy."

• dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2016

Asenapine for Schizophrenia "I took Saphris for about 3 months for very, very mild schizoaffective disorder. I have body paranoia, delusions, constant fear, anxiety, severe depression, anorexia (unrelated), etc. This medication took all of that away. I was happy, smiling more, being more social, I was eating more again and even got back to a healthy weight (intentional gains). However, after being on it for 3 months, I found myself unable to do everyday tasks. My mental ability to do anything was gone, totally. My mental functioning got so bad I had to have an accommodation through HR at work so I didn't lose my job while I got off the meds. Overall, super helpful. But that whole brain not working was a dealbreaker. I was so sad to get off Saphris. Back to square one."

• HSo...
• May 31, 2016

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Bad drug. I wonder if all the good reviews on the internet were written by the company behind it. First, I took 5 mg x2. The morning dose made me sleepy to the point that I can't stay awake for 5 minutes. Now I take 10 mg at night. It makes me sleep for 12 hours (can't wake up) and gave me flat affect, totally impaired thinking, loss of hope in life, suicidal thoughts, problems in tongue and talking (because it's sublingual). Horrible drug, and don't believe all the good reviews you read!"

• Anonymous
• May 22, 2010

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Works great for sleep and controls mania well, but caused my depression to increase. This was after being on the medication for several months (10 mg/night). Didn't particularly like the next-day hangover either. I've recently been switched over to lithium, but it's too early to tell how it's working. I took one Saphris tablet last night per doctor's request, after being off it for some time (as a sleep aid), but felt hung over and a bit depressed most of the day."

• Anonymous
• January 2, 2012

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "I took Saphris for over a full year, along with Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Lamictal. I actually became worse since I have been on it. I would say that if you wish to only get a good night's rest, then this is for you, other than that, I would not recommend this to anyone. It did not help my anxiety, mood swings, or depression. I was switched to Seroquel XR, hopefully, this will help. But not all of us have the same side effects, so maybe Saphris will work well for others."

• bi-...
• September 12, 2011

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Was taking 5 mg Saphris at night, 5 mg in the morning. Was sleepy and slightly depressed during the day. Now taking 10 mg at night. Works better, helps with sleep, which has improved a bit. I wonder how long it takes to build up in the system. Added Vyvanse in the morning, which helps slow my mind down greatly. Seems to work better in tandem."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Sucks the joy out of your life, stops positive hallucinations and time dilations, no energy, low mood, hopelessness, makes you want to fall back into old habits and do nothing with your life, have used antipsychotics three times now."

• Sim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2015

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Was great at first, but then noticed I slowly started developing anhedonia, severe memory and higher cognitive function issues. The real nightmare was trying to discontinue this drug. It's literally worse than hell, the anxiety is extreme, you're in a constant state of intense panic, it feels like you're going to die. Then the intractable insomnia hits you. Seriously, don't take this drug or any other neuroleptics for that matter."

• Ded...
• December 3, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I am bipolar 1, schizoaffective, and have PTSD due to growing up in the Balkans in the '90s. I have been on ~15 meds to treat my problems. I take Keppra, Klonopin, and Onfi for epilepsy from a traumatic brain injury I received as a child. I have been on 120mg of Latuda and 900mg Gabapentin with decent success, but have had akathisia and some sleepless bipolar/schizoaffective episodes, and occasional overwhelming bad memories until my doctor started me on Saphris. Big improvement. I feel like myself, not lobotomized like many meds have caused, nor have I felt the extreme akathisia I get from some meds, nor the weight gain that others have caused. It hasn't caused the total emotional numbness that other meds have shown. I have a great experience with this med, though I know it is not for everyone, and I am on a mixture of Latuda, Gabapentin, and 10mg Saphris daily (and the epilepsy meds I mentioned earlier in this review), so others may need a cocktail of meds to achieve normalcy."

• Anonymous
• January 10, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine would make me very agitated physically before sleep. It also would make me angry during the day for no reason, and I'd randomly get depressed or frustrated and cry even when unprovoked. Usually, I can look past irritating side effects if the drug is helping, but it didn't at all anyway."

• Dis...
• June 23, 2011

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Have had 8-pound weight gain, agitation has increased, depression is coming back."

• sti...
• November 28, 2013

Asenapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "I took Saphris for the first time recently. First, I was sad, then couldn't sleep, then paranoid and went into psychosis. Was told it wasn't very sedating. Much prefer Seroquel!"