Asenapine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I like Saphris but have experienced the nasty side effect of weight gain. I had tried four other antipsychotics, and all of them made me put on weight without relieving me of my bipolar symptoms. I am staying on Saphris because for the first time I feel normal. No more high highs or low lows. However, the increased appetite drives me nuts. I literally obsess about food all day. I recently cut out all processed sugar to see if this helps. If anyone has any advice, I'd love to hear it."

• Lun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Have been on and off Saphris several times. For me, being on Saphris is like turning a light switch on. I go from being manic/depressed to functioning like a normal human. But... the side effects have made me quit several times - irregular heartbeat, fainting, nausea, etc. Now back on at a low dose with Lamictal and clonazepam for panic disorder. Feel pretty good. Hope it will last. Without Saphris, I am non-functional - so doing my best to manage the side effects while getting the benefits of this medication. Best of luck to all."

• AJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on Saphris for less than a month. Made me feel so bad. Like I had the flu. Also, it gave me OCD. I was obsessing over finding pennies. I had a few jars at home too. I was so consumed by this penny obsession. I took off from work so I could organize all my pennies in chronological order. . . ??? This is so bizarre to me. I stopped the Saphris not long after. I could not function at all because I was so obsessed with pennies."

• Pea...
• January 14, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I’m 59 and have been on and off meds since my 20s. 10 years ago, a new doctor I was going to had put me on Wellbutrin and Abilify. I was still crying all the time and very depressed, so he doubled my dose of Wellbutrin to 300 mg. I started imagining things and crying uncontrollably. Pristiq in the morning and Saphris at night. I had never heard of either one of those drugs, and I had tried and failed with a lot of them. I walked out of there 1 week later with a new lease on life! The Saphris may make your mouth a bit numb because it’s a disintegrating tablet you put under your tongue. I don’t get so many highs and lows, I stay level and calm. I feel more patience. I’m not seeing things that I thought I might have caught a glimpse of. I don’t cry out of frustration all the time."

• Bru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Thanks to this forum, I decided to give Saphris a try. Have previously been on Zoloft and later on Pristiq with zero effect and awful side effects. I was very hesitant to try a new medication but did some research and was so surprised to see the positive feedback. Have only been on Saphris for 10 days, but the improvement has been immediate with virtually zero side effects. Within an hour of taking 5 mg Saphris, I can feel the calming effect. Mood swings have been a lot less, and the panic reduced dramatically. If you drink alcohol, make sure you take Saphris in the morning before you have any alcohol later on in the day, otherwise, the 'hangover' is really bad. If in doubt, this could be the one! Give it a try."

• Yve...
• March 28, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Seroquel for 6 years and have had nightmares the whole time. I switched to Saphris 4 days ago, 5 mg morning and night plus 112.5 mg Effexor. I'm amazed at waking up early in the morning after 8 hours of sleep on Saphris, where I've been sleeping 12 hours a night previously on Seroquel, then still a zombie for the next 3 hours. The morning dose sedated me, so I'm changing to 10 mg at night and also adding lamotrigine this week. I haven't felt this good in many years, but I'm not elevated, I have BP 1 and live in Australia. As I'm on disability, all of my medications only cost $6.20 each as it's subsidized by the government. I feel very sad for everyone in the USA with chronic illnesses. It's just not fair."

• Ink...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Saphris for three years. I loved how calm and focused I was. But I have gained 60 lbs. I told my Dr. a million times, but she says it doesn't cause weight gain. Well, I am very depressed. I exercise, I eat very little, and I can't lose a pound. Well, now I am morbidly obese. And all the stuff I can't do because I'm so big has really got me down. I am weaning myself down and getting off Saphris, as much as I hate the side effects, I am scared to see what my life will look like without it. Oh, my daughter was on it for two months, and she gained 18 lbs. Why can't we have both sanity and without gaining 50 freaking pounds? Grrr."

• Rit...
• August 7, 2014

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been taking Saphris for about six months, and it's been a wonder of a miracle! I can finally function and accomplish daily tasks. Before, I was depressed all the time, now I have lots of energy, and I think more clearly. It's heaven-sent."

• Pat...
• October 9, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication has been a godsend. Never felt better in 24 years since diagnosis...been on everything before. Saphris is amazing. Downside is dry mouth and water retention. Upside is everything else. Thank you, Merck...you hit the target this time."

• PTS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2014

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Currently taking Effexor, lorazepam, Remeron, prazosin, propranolol, and Saphris. Despite the medication regimen, I was having a very hard time with anxiety. The panic attacks were debilitating, so my psych doc decided to try me on Saphris. He told me to take 5 mg at night and 2.5-5 mg in the morning if I needed it. The most noticeable side effects I've had are sleepiness, numb/tingly tongue, and clumsiness. The first three days, the taste of the tablet (regular 'flavor') was awful. Today, about one week since starting, it's tolerable. My anxiety has reduced significantly. My flashbacks have reduced in severity, I feel more mellow and calm. Saphris is really helping me get the most out of my therapy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I am taking Saphris 10 mg for bipolar disorder with manic episodes that turn into schizophrenia. I have been taking Saphris for 8 months. It has been the most effective medication so far for my symptoms. I take the dissolvable tablet you put under your tongue at night. After I take it, I can fall asleep within 20 minutes, which has been a godsend. During the day, I have no drowsiness and sleepiness. I have to stop taking Saphris, though, because of what it is doing to my tongue and under my tongue. Four months ago, I started getting white sores and skin peeling under my tongue where I put the Saphris. I woke up a month ago with white sores all along my tongue. It hasn't fully healed. Plus, deformation of my tongue. Very sad because now I have to go off it."

• CBu...
• January 13, 2017

For Schizophrenia "I've been on so many antipsychotics, but none have ever worked as well as Saphris. (I'm on 40 mgs. I think that's the max dose.) It tastes HORRIBLE. They are supposedly 'black cherry' flavored. Well, I don't know where the manufacturers are getting THEIR black cherries, but this stuff certainly doesn't taste like any cherries I have ever eaten! Other than the taste and the tingly tongue, I love it. It had been a miracle worker for me. I'm relieved, because I think my psychiatrist and I are running out of options!"

• Roo...
• August 24, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar with depression, mood swings, panic attacks, racing thoughts, voices, and suicidal tendencies thrown in with seizures. On top of all that, I cannot sleep. I've tried just about all the medication out there for bipolar, but after a time they stop working. Saphris 10 mg has worked miracles for me. All those symptoms are now gone with this fast-acting pill. You can stop a panic attack within a minute or two. The downside is weight gain, it is a very bad side effect. Recently, I had two packages that I had to take to the pharmacy because they just would not open. They had to break the finger tab and unlock the clip beneath it. Bad design, but otherwise very happy with this medicine."

• Rey...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "Saphris is the best. 10/10. For those of you who had a bad experience starting out, I suggest trying it out again from a low dose. The key is to get the medicine in your system until it builds up in a few weeks. When all else failed, Saphris was the one that had saved my life and improved it like it has reversed the chemical imbalances associated with my bipolar. My mind and sense of attention have been brought back from the severe depression and mixed episode. And severe agitation. When I first started Saphris with 5 mg, it too gave me severe akathisia (restlessness). Thankfully, after finding out that my other medication, mirtazapine (Remeron), reduced restlessness, I can now sleep well after taking the Saphris with the Remeron without any insomnia."

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

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."

• Ree...
• May 10, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Saphris for about 3 months now. I take 15 mg at night. I'm able to sleep now without the help of any other medicine. I get restless from time to time but subdue it with Vistaril. Sometimes I get boosts of energy, which can be good. My moods are more balanced than ever before. I can laugh things off instead of getting angry. The reason I gave Saphris a 9 is because it affects my libido. I recently started taking Wellbutrin to combat this. I hope it works!"

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I suffer from ADHD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Saphris has helped take the edge off the bipolar symptoms. I would have to leave the office, whether to walk around the building or to go to the bathroom to splash water on my face, but now I can stay at my desk the entire day most days and am good with only leaving for bathroom breaks or to go get water. I went from having PTSD nightmares 1 - 6 nights a week and waking up myself and my fiancée from moaning, growling, or yelling to having the nightmares about once a week on average or sometimes even going a week without any. I take it at bedtime, and within 10 - 15 minutes, I am really drowsy and falling asleep, which has also helped me. As a result of these last two, I am now more rested."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2016

For Schizophrenia "I've been on Saphris for 3 years now, mostly because of my voices. I have been at my healthiest, and voices are at the lowest they've been in the past 30 years of being sick! I'm thankful for this medication and wish I could've found it sooner. Thanks!"

• tou...
• August 4, 2013

For Schizophrenia "I have been on Saphris for two and a half months now. So far, it has been great. My eating is under control compared to when I was on Invega. So far, I have lost 3 kg due to diet and exercise. Hope to lose some more weight. The only side effect I will complain about is my extended sleep. I sleep for 12-15 hours a day. A bit of a worry for when I am trying to get back to work."

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Saphris seems to really calm my manic symptoms, especially the racing thoughts and restlessness. My doctor gave samples of the new Black Cherry Saphris, and the taste is 1,000 times better! It's almost pleasant tasting. And to top it all, I've only gained 3 pounds in the 6 months I've been on it."

• Noo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 18, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Saphris changed my life - but not until I went to 10 mg. I was finally 'normal' - completely taking care of myself, my house, my business affairs... I even realized I had hoarding tendencies and was able to rid my life of all the clutter. Then the wheels came off: tardive dyskinesia. I can't think of a more humiliating side effect, and it started a year before I finally got a second opinion and was diagnosed. TD worsened when I stopped taking Saphris, and unfortunately for me, all my 'old' habits are back. It was so nice to be normal for the time it lasted -- but TD is horrific, and a truly unfortunate side effect."

• Bra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "My experience on Saphris has been mixed. None of the other atypical antipsychotics has addressed my manic symptoms better. It really helps with my sleep. My moods are more stable, I'm less of a trouble/burden for my family, and I'm happier than I've been in the past. Now the problems: First, when I'm on Saphris, it lowers my sex and creative drives. I've had trouble in bed, and I've found it really difficult to generate new ideas for paintings and drawings, and the quality of my art overall has decreased. Second, Saphris appears to be impacting my long-term memory. My spouse has noticed this. I'm just not remembering my past with reliability-memories are faint and/or scrambled, and I usually get details and dates wrong."

• Rev...
• February 11, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Been bipolar for seventeen years, Saphris for two months, started out eating right after I took it, and I was very sleepy. The eating eventually subsided, but within ten days, I started having jaw muscle tension. At first, I had energy, and the racing thoughts and paranoia went away. The sublingual dosing and taste seemed to be minor in the hopes that it would help symptoms. I would take it at night only, after getting everything done for the evening because it really made me sleep deeply, within fifteen minutes, when I really didn't have a sleeping problem before taking it. It did make me more alert during the day, which almost led to panic on several occasions. It was addressing psychosis symptoms, but I continued a low level of depression."

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

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."

• Fac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 17, 2012

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine is a miracle for me. I used to be on Zyprexa, I am also on Abilify, Trileptal, and Klonopin. On Saphris, I was able to diet and exercise and lost about 28 pounds. Occasionally, I have difficulty sleeping, but this medicine is the best I have come across. A long time ago, I used to be on Lithium. I have also responded well to Navane. I almost was in the hospital until I tried Klonopin. Anyone trying this medicine, in my opinion, should be careful because it is so new. I have read the product insert, and reactions with other medicines are not well studied. Currently, I am dieting and exercising, socializing, and just about normal. I do have periods where my mood swings are present along with a little paranoia."