Asenapine and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Fou...
• May 18, 2018

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "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."

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

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2022

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "So, I’ve been doing really well on Saphris. No manic behavior and no depressive thoughts. I’ve virtually had no side effects thus far from being on it for 3 months. I’ve tried almost every antipsychotic out there, and this one has worked the best. Zyprexa worked, but caused weight gain and severe IBS flare-ups. The only thing I suggest is switching the side of your mouth you let it dissolve on. I’ve noticed some slight irritation under my tongue where it rests. A change in toothpaste and mouthwash and some antioxidant gum gel has helped tremendously. I even put it on the side of my mouth close to the base of my tongue, and that has also helped. So far, so good. I do worry about the long-term side effects from taking antipsychotics, but for now, this is my only option. Mostly concerned about TD. Will discuss other options at my next visit. Good luck, peeps!"

• oce...
• September 6, 2011

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "I am coming off Seroquel XR because of a 20-pound weight gain in 3 months. Now starting Saphris 5 mg, now on 10 mg, then going to 20 mg. I have tried all kinds of medicines to stop cycling and stop my depression. I never thought I would get out of the hole I was in until now. I have more energy, sleep great, and wake up wide awake, ready to go. Hate the taste. Do have more of an appetite, so since I'm eating, the weight should come off because before I was not eating at all. I pray this keeps working awesome."

• cdm...
• February 26, 2012

Asenapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine has really helped me. I can focus in school, get my work done in time, and it controls my temper. This medicine tastes very horrible, but regardless, it does a good job and keeps me steady. It also helps me sleep a lot better at night. But I have been gaining a couple of pounds."

• Ang...
• January 8, 2016

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "This was my second time trying Saphris. Throughout my first experience, it worked great for my severe depression, but caused me to gain 20 pounds in a very short time frame. This increase in weight wasn't acceptable, as I battle with bulimia as well. The second time around, a few years later, I had high hopes for this medication, as it had virtually wiped out my depression while on it in the past, and I was taking the precautionary measure of adding Effexor to my medication regimen to help counteract the side effect of increased hunger and weight gain. The Effexor did help with decreasing my appetite; however, the antidepressant effect was not nearly as strong for some reason. It may have even worsened my depressive symptoms."

• Anonymous
• February 4, 2011

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "Just started taking this today after a week of irritability and either wanting to sleep all day or not sleeping at all. Horrible taste, but I like the idea of a sweet tart with it. As soon as I took it, my tongue went numb and I felt very loopy as well. I fell asleep within an hour but only slept about two hours, and I feel better already. I have tried a lot of medicines myself and am hoping that this is the one. The only thing I am worried about is weight gain, but I am going to cross my fingers that with a healthy diet and hopefully some energy (I haven't felt like doing anything at all), I will be able to control it. Will definitely update in a week or two to advise on how things are going."

• Anonymous
• October 10, 2011

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "5 mg worked very well for me for a few months. The only side effects I had for a long time were bad taste/tongue numbness, extreme sedation after taking it, hard time waking up the next day, and weight gain! After about 6 months, I went up to 10 mg. Within 1 month, I felt completely 'flat' (no true feelings or joy in anything), and my anxiety got TERRIBLE! Tried to go back down to 5 mg, but then I suddenly developed akathisia and had to stop completely. I have been off it for 6 days now and feel great. I can actually wake up in the morning, my anxiety is subsiding, and the creepy feeling in my legs is completely gone. My therapist told me she noticed I was more 'engaged.' I have already lost 1 or 2 lbs of the 15 I gained. Too bad it didn't work."

• Anonymous
• December 7, 2011

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Saphris for 6 months. I have had great results from it. I take Lamotrigine with it. The only downfall is bad taste, and I have gained 40 pounds on it! I'm trying to weigh my pros and cons. Other than weight gain, great medication."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 7, 2020

Asenapine for Schizophrenia "Saphris couldn't be more perfect in getting rid of the psychosis, but it makes me so hungry for unhealthy food. It makes me put on so much weight, and it makes me go to sleep right away, which is fine. I can still get up early in the morning. Also, I have another side effect that is my tongue moves against my inner mouth, which is tardive dyskinesia. It would be the perfect medication if it wasn't for the increased hunger, weight gain, and tardive dyskinesia."

• lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2023

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "I have tried Vraylar, Abilify, Geodon, Seroquel, and Latuda before this. Each of them either just did not work or threw me into a mixed episode or gave me more impulsivity, irritability, or an allergic reaction. Saphris is working. I take 5 mg at night and 2.5 mg early afternoon. I sleep better, and it's not hard to wake up in the morning. I noticed a more even mood, less depression, less irritability, and less impulsivity. I pray it continues to work so well. It's a miracle after a week of use. No weight gain so far."

• mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2013

Asenapine "This medicine works well, helps with sleep, and keeps me out of the hospital and jail, it also helps with anger. I had to take an anti-depressant with it. It seems to make me calmer, but the downside is weight gain of 15 pounds."

• Fer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I take asenapine 2.5 mg, 2 dissolvable tablets every night. I've been taking it for almost 4 months now, and it's been a miracle drug for me. No more mood swings, I can finally think clearly. I've tried so many other medications for bipolar, and it's amazing to finally find something that actually works. My only complaint is I don't like how tired it makes me after I take it. I try to fall asleep before it kicks in because it feels weird once it does, hence why I take both tablets together at night and not separately. It also causes numbness in my mouth, but the benefits far outweigh the side effects. I have noticed some weight gain since starting it, so keep your appetite in mind. It will increase. Definitely worth a go if you're like me and have exhausted most of your other options."

• 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."

• Kar...
• July 28, 2015

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I've long suffered from insomnia. Ambien, Lunesta, and the new Belsomra were all total failures. I don't care for the weight gain risk of Seroquel, nor how it would simply replace insomnia with hypersomnia, causing me to sleep for 15 hours. That's not to mention the risk of diabetes, which I'm already at risk for due to obesity. I've tried TCAs (at max dose), antihistamines (at max dose & beyond), Remeron, Rozerem (and probably others I'm forgetting), and none helped with my sleep. Now, some might take a benzo as a sleep aid, though being a guy who took Xanax at 10 mg per day for almost a decade, it seems exceedingly unlikely that any benzo is going to make me sleep. (Yes, TEN, lest you think I forgot a decimal point). Saphris works."

• syc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have taken asenapine for about 3 weeks now. Before I took olanzapine depot injections, but I gained about 100 pounds. Too bad because it had a good effect on me. The first days on asenapine, I did not notice much. But the last two weeks, I have been more unstable than without meds. My mood swings are extreme several times a day! I become really angry and scared at the same time, and I get panic attacks from hell. It got so bad I was admitted to the acute psychiatric ward 5 days ago. I have to take large amounts of Valium to help with the panic attacks. Tomorrow my doctor comes for a meeting, and they will probably take away the asenapine. At least I hope so. I also take fluoxetine and Wellbutrin, but I don't think there are interactions."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2018

Asenapine for Bipolar Disorder "For the first time in 12 months, I feel back on track. My depression and anxiety are gone. I take it an hour before bedtime. No weight gain. Dissolves under your tongue, so you can take it anywhere."

• Dis...
• June 23, 2011

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