Asenapine and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar 1, general and social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. I've been on pretty much everything over the last 14 years. Seroquel worked well for over a year, but the weight gain was awful. Regular exercise and healthy eating. Lithium and Lamictal replaced the Seroquel and seemed efficient, couldn't handle the nausea anymore after 2 years. 5 weeks ago, I decided I wanted to try Saphris. My psychiatrist agreed and decided to start low and slow as I tend to have allergies or increased anxiety with most medications. I started on 2.5mg for a week. I literally felt better the next morning. I had increased energy and felt happy for the first time in over 10 years. I'm up to 5mg in the evening and 2.5mg in the morning. My anxiety decreased, and I'm down to 1.5mg of Klonopin daily from 3mg. This is a miracle for me!"

• Sco...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Saphris after experiencing some episodes of violent anger as a result of mixed episodes of my bipolar disorder. There was an almost immediate lessening of symptoms, making me feel calmer right away. I have experienced almost no side effects from the medicine other than occasional sleepiness, but nothing debilitating. I had little or no weight gain, which made me very happy. It also has a lower incidence of causing cholesterol and blood sugar issues than many other AAPs. I find Saphris very helpful for both the immediate treatment of a breakthrough mixed/manic episode as well as for daily maintenance."

• Nev...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 4, 2019

For Schizophrenia "After being non-responsive to all antipsychotics, I was given Saphris at 27. My life was very hard up until this point. Saphris has given me a life free of all mental illness. I have absolutely nothing wrong with me now. I run my own business and was previously on a disability pension and couldn’t work. Eight years on and I have never been sick. Only downside is I get restless for a few hours at night when I take it and get sugar cravings and can’t sleep until I eat sugar, also this affects my weight. I’m quite hungry on Saphris and gain weight very easily, which bothers me, but it’s given me a normal life, so I have to deal with it."

• Ano...
• February 9, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Saphris is the best bipolar medication I have taken. I sleep the best I ever had on Saphris and do not experience manic outbursts. Other bipolar medications made me gain weight. On other medications, I have gained 30 lbs in a short time frame. On Saphris, I haven't gained any weight and weigh a few pounds less than I did before I started to take Saphris."

• Deb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I have Bipolar I with some psychotic episodes in the past. I used to be on Abilify, but I had weight gain and shaking of my hands. Saphris has been wonderful for me. I used to take Ambien because I couldn't sleep, but with Saphris I fall asleep within 10-15 minutes. I only take 5mg at night. I don't take it in the morning because of how sleepy it makes me. I've also tried 10mg at night and that worked well too. As for the flavor, I have to have the black cherry. I couldn't stand the original, mint, I think it was. I feel great and would definitely recommend it."

• Tod...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I believe I have found the answer I have been looking for! Been on it about two months. I sleep through the night with a lot less interruption, and I fall asleep more quickly. My thought pattern is far less anxious and muddled; I am able to concentrate. My mood is far less out of whack, and I am generally happy. The only downside for me is it gives me the munchies, and I have diabetes, so I have gained some weight a bit rapidly. However, with a lot of effort, I have eliminated foods out of my diet that are carbs. I am starting to level out, and I have a lot of hope for the future with this medicine. It is expensive, but I have good insurance."

• mca...
• August 11, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "Saphris has helped me more than any other medication (which were many, many over 12 years). I was blown away by the benefit and bewildered that it took so long for someone to prescribe it. I still don't have the strength and energy that I need, but I am functioning at 80% to 90%. Before, it was barely hanging on with suicidal periods. Savella was another good medication for me, but not quite this good. The racing thoughts, paranoia, and insomnia are gone. I usually fall asleep within 15 minutes of lying down. Although I am having some nights of waking up after 3 hours. Just getting to sleep earlier and getting the required sleep I need has made a tremendous difference in how I function and cope. My side effect has been arthritis and weight gain."

• Kit...
• October 14, 2016

For Schizophrenia "I have been on this medicine for only 2 weeks, and I already know that it's the best thing that could happen for me. I wanted to post so others know that the benefits of Saphris are real in my case. Perhaps people's side effects are from other medicines/withdrawal from other medicines? I was on olanzapine, but I continued to have unclear thinking, and my weight gain over a year was astronomical. I live in Australia, and it's a subsidized medicine here, it is truly the lucky country, and I'm so very grateful. This medicine is changing my life."

• Emi...
• April 23, 2017

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?"

• Any...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on various antidepressants since I was 18, with some relief at times. I've been very functional all along but never happy. I've used other illicit substances to self-medicate. I saw a psychiatrist when I finally got sick and tired of spinning my wheels. She diagnosed me with bipolar 2 and put me on Saphris. For the first month, I felt AMAZING. I was getting things done at home, at work, and even nurturing a social life again. The med still works weekly for my mood, but I've gained 20 lbs in just 2 months. This is really starting to get me down. The med had changed my life, but I'm not sure how much longer I can deal with the weight gain. If it weren't for the weight, I would've given it a 10."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 17, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I am currently taking 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet (but started out on a 1/2 tablet) of Saphris at night. I am also on Lexapro, 10 mg for depression and anxiety. The combo works great. I have horrible insomnia/waking in the night on just Lexapro (or other SSRIs I've tried), but with Saphris I sleep great and wake up refreshed! Only downside is that I've put on 10-15 pounds in the last 6 months, but not sure if it is due to Lexapro or Saphris or both. I eat very healthy (just too much) and exercise regularly... but find myself always feeling hungry. Oh well... at least I'm happy!"

• Lif...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I started out with 20 mg of Saphris but stayed groggy. Went down to 10 mg and have been on it for 6 months. I also take a sleep aid at night and now I sleep 6-7 hrs compared to 3-4. No running thoughts in my head. The longest time I have ever stayed out of the hospital in 12 years. I feel wonderful, when I start getting anxious, I take a 5 mg with my Xanax, and I am good to go. Downside: Gained 50 lbs, and cholesterol is through the roof, even though I do not eat red meat. Always have the munchies, though. Had to start on a statin medicine. Blood sugar is higher than usual but within range. Keeping an eye on this too. But this is the only medicine that has worked for me without being a zombie or continued mixed episodes."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• May 1, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with a mood disorder about 5 months ago. I tried Abilify and gained 10 pounds in a week and tried Lamictal, but I kept getting the rash on my face, so finally my doctor put me on Saphris. It made a world of difference. It's been 2 months now, and I'm no longer on any antidepressants, and I have been without any depressed episodes since a week after I started it. I had to start taking 20 mg at night because it made me so tired in the morning. I'm still on Klonopin because I have really bad restlessness still, but I'm slowly phasing that out with lifestyle changes. The bad taste gets better with time, and the side effects are greatly outweighed by the benefits. I have and would recommend it!"

• Neg...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 10, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug ruined my life. I started taking it when I was 9 years old until I was 17. I gained 30 pounds. It made me so tired to the point I couldn’t wake up in the morning. I would miss school and sleep till 2 PM. My parents tried to wake me, and I would start throwing up every day if I woke up before 12 in the afternoon or pass out. It was nearly impossible to wake up. Keep in mind-I went to bed at 8 PM daily. I missed out on a lot of my life and failed high school because I couldn’t wake up, which made me unable to go to college. I would wake up drenched in sweat. I would get extreme stomach problems. I got nightmares so bad I woke up screaming. It made me socially awkward, and I slurred my words on it and started to forget how to speak. I had to go to a speech therapist. My parents forced me to take it. I secretly stopped taking both at 17, although I feel it has changed my brain permanently, not for the better, and long-term health issues. My life became better as soon as I got off it and happier."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "Saphris has slowed my thoughts down a lot! I have the black cherry flavor. I do feel suicidal, but I felt that way before the meds. The only problem I have is the weight gain. I've been on Saphris for almost 2 months and have gained 20 lbs. I find it hard to shed the weight."

• jcl...
• February 2, 2011

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine is fantastic. I have been on almost all the medicines available for my disorder, and I was previously on Fanapt, which caused me to gain 15 pounds, and I think I might have gained a little with Saphris as it made me really hungry about half an hour after I took it for the first two weeks. But now that has tapered off, and I find myself having to remind myself to eat. The only thing I don't like about it is the taste, but I take it with a sweet tart (candy) on my tongue as it is dissolving under my tongue, and it's not too bad. I get a good night's sleep on it as well, and I don't feel the 'hangover' effect that most psychiatric medications can give you. I'm up and ready to go!"

• Chi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 17, 2018

For Schizophrenia "After my whole life suffering with schizophrenia and being nonresponsive to antipsychotic drugs, Saphris (10 mg) put me into complete remission to the point that I no longer had ANY mental illness in any shape or form. And every year that passed, I become stronger and more alive than ever! But unfortunately, I get intense sugar cravings through the night after I take it that I can’t control, and I have to get out of bed and eat. This had resulted in unwanted weight gain, and I have a history of an eating disorder, so it’s important not to be overweight. The weight gain bothers me so much that I’m now trialing Rexulti to see if that can help with hunger."

• Jam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 30, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I'm a 50-year-old man. I have been on Saphris for 5 years for schizophrenia after many years of Risperdal. The Saphris quiets the voices pretty well, and they come back quickly if I'm late with a dose. I still feel a little anxious, but the med really helps. I sleep heavily at night with lots of strange dreams and usually take a nap during the day, but I haven't had any weight gain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I responded well to this medicine, but I gained 50 pounds and was tortured by unending hunger. Eventually, I had to get off of it, and that wasn't easy. It took about a month to get over the withdrawal symptoms."

• Kel...
• May 20, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Zeu...
• October 19, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "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."