Saphris for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2013

"I am Bipolar Type I and was switched to Saphris from Seroquel by my psychiatrist. One dose and I began having suicidal ideation that I hadn't experienced in years. I had the presence of mind to call my psych doc immediately (it was a weekend) but she didn't call back. I am a nurse and should have known better, but I took it the next day. After the second dose, I was frightened I would act on the impulse. Luckily I have a very supportive and observant husband. I called doc again and she said to stop immediately, of course, as I should have after the first dose. I saw her on Monday and went back to Seroquel. Less severe side effects included numbness of my entire tongue and sick-feeling somnolence."

• Jenka
• October 25, 2011

"I recently got my life back. I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I have been on about every medicine for depression you can name over the last twenty years. None had any good results. A lot of them had severe bad side effects. I did not sleep well, cried all the time, was agitated, reclusive and unmotivated. Bless my PNP for trying me on Saphris! I can honestly say for the first time, in a long time, that life is good."

• BipoPed
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2018

"Took Saphris for about 2 1/2 weeks for Bipolar one mixed w/ Psychotic features. First time taking it hated black cherry taste but after that it didn't bother me anymore. First week was wonderful. High flying mania delight. Cleaned my house like crazy. Mania wasn't 'too high' though. Was in a great mood but no major shopping sprees. Week 2, I started backing down on the cleaning and happiness and started getting agitated mania. Moods were all over the place. Cried for an hour after a death in a TV show and felt like I was going to die of grief. Then it changed to anger and then depression. Moods were a little scary and rapidly changing. After that, it lessened in intensity but I was still having depression so I decided to come off and try another med. Also had bad heartburn and gained 5 lb in 2 weeks. May work for some but not me."

• Seanie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2015

"I was on Seroquel for 7 years when I had to start trialling something else due to weight gain. I was taking Saphris 3 weeks and I had a severe allergic reaction. Saphris was changing my life for the better and so I'm sad that I can't take it anymore. I had motivation, great memory & concentration, positive thoughts, ability to plan & function highly and loads of energy. I can't take the tablets anymore, but i'm going to miss how good they made me feel. Now I'm looking into Zeldox or Latuda. I definitely need an antipsychotic for my Bipolar."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2010

"Started taking this a few days ago. The comment about the bad taste~ UNDERSTATEMENT, it tastes NASTY, but seems to be working well. I am currently on Seroquel 200 mg, temazepam 45mg, and Xanax as needed. I am dropping down on the Seroquel until I'm completely off. Horrible weight gainer, but does help. Since starting this, I have not taken ANY Xanax and I have energy during the day and it seems to curb my hunger."

• Bradw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2014

"I was prescribed Saphris for bipolar disorder. The morning after my first bedtime dose I had a number of side effects. I experienced confusion, dizziness, hallucinations and acute short term memory loss. As a result of the confusion and acute short term memory loss, I unintentionally overdosed on my morning medications resulting in extreme doses of medications. The most concerning was a 900mg dose of Wellbutrin (bupropion) which in doses of 300mg or more can cause seizures."

• Bipolar...
• 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 IM 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 a 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."

• MYA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2013

"I have had some success in using Saphris, however, the side effects are somewhat mixed. I don't like feeling groggy or fussy the morning after taking the medicines. I also don't like having short term memory loss. I like the stabilizing mental moods and the reduced depression and manic episodes. The medicine numbs my tongue and makes me hungry all the time, so am I hoping after time this stops. I have been taking this medication since the May, 20mg."

• Aerh
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 12, 2016

"Helpful BUT it tastes TERRIBLE I absolutely hate the taste I would rather receive it through an injection than how I have to take it but my psychiatrist told me that it is okay to swallow it with a drink instead of the manufacturer directions also it is kind of like false advertising because it says that it tastes like black cherry but it does NOT at all when I was 5 I accidentally ate a small amount of poop and from what I remember it tastes almost exactly the same."

• Kelcie
• 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 helps tremendously and I haven't suffered any other side effects."

• m00ng...
• 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 10mgs 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."

• Anony...
• 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."

• Anonymous
• November 19, 2011

"I have been taking Saphris for the last week and I have to say that I am impressed. Before this I tried Abilify and that was a nightmare. I was sick for three days off one 2mg dose. My whole life I have had huge amounts of anxiety and racing thoughts. I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder not bipolar disorder until two weeks ago. Saphris has destroyed my anxiety, my racing thoughts, my negative attitude and my aggravation at everything and everyone in sight. My family notices a difference like night and day. The only side effect I've had is a touch of Restless Leg Syndrome and for the first few days sleepiness but that went away. I use a heating pad on my leg to stop the RLS and otherwise side effect free."

• Anonymous
• May 22, 2010

"Works great for sleep and controls mania well, but caused my depression to increase. This was after being on the medication for several months (10mg/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."

• Zeusa
• October 19, 2015

"Overall ok, makes me sleepy and I take it 30 mins b4 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."

• Anonymous
• April 23, 2012

"I was prescribed this for Bipolar I. I am also taking Lexapro. Taking this sublingually is a pain, mainly because it tastes horrible. I am also convinced that this medicine caused the severe panic attacks I was having, which seemed dose-dependent (I was on both 5 and 10 mg of Saphris). Upon first taking the medicine, I would get severe restless legs that would last for about 3 hours. The medicine makes me very drowsy, but it was hard to sleep with severely restless legs. This side effect went away after about a week."

• Tater...
• 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."

• JoanJet
• 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 non existent 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."

• 40...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2016

"Love it! This medication can have a tough adjustment period. But I took 1tsp of Benadryl with it at night and that helped me adjust. As long as you don't have symptoms of allergic reaction then my advice is hang in there. Saphris is by far the best medicine! I now take 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night with zero side effects. This med has made all my anxiety and paranoia associated with mania dissappear! I have been using free samples so far but the cost will be worth my health and sanity!"

• 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 a edgy/off feeling like I was coming of a recreational drug. For an hour or two I felt at peace, but that would not last. Definitely not a good fit for me."

• Synta...
• 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 or bad. By the next spring, I found I could stay up without feeling tired for 24 hrs. 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 yr, all side effects gone"

• Kissa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2013

"I will give this a 2, simply because of the ease of use. The tabs dissolve under your tongue so you can take them anywhere. You cannot eat or drink for 10-15 min afterwards, which is really not a big deal. I am bipolar I with occasional mixed episodes and was prescribed this medicine (5 mg 2x daily) in the middle of a mixed episode while in the hospital. It propelled me into full-blown mania. As with all medicines and this disease, its very personal. This medicine might be more appropriate for someone less prone to mania than myself. I am on Topamax 150 mg (50 mg 3x daily) and Seroquel 100 mg nightly, now. I am not cured by a long shot, but I am certainly a lot better now, a month later, than I was on the Saphris."

• Bbrenda
• May 24, 2015

"Within two days dose I had edema in my calves knees and ankles 3 days it just got worse. Also the Saphris headache that would not go away. Did not continue with fourth dose. Great wonders if you have zero side effects"

• Sky0bye
• September 3, 2017

"I have bipolar 1 with psychotic features, I got off of risperdal that I was only on for a couple of weeks and immediately started saphris. I'm an artist, and when I'm manic I create a lot. Within an hour in my first night of taking Saphris, I began to see colors very brightly , euphoria, "hey dad I feel REALLY good." Then I drew up 12 doodles in under 30 minutes. That night I could not sleep well and began to hear laughing in my room. I was verrrrry manic. When I woke up the next day I worked out at the gym for 3 hours and then went to the park to walk a lap. When I looked in the sky I was seeing UFOs and wondering if they were communicating with me. (hallucinations) That night I was having more auditory hallucinations before bed."

• Kidd
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 26, 2020

"My son has been on saphris 2.5 mg for 2 years now and its a miracle drug for his behavior outbursts and suicidal thoughts.. I kid you not, he was in intuition after intuition. Kicked out of school at 8 . It took about a week and I swear this was a life changer"