Asenapine: Pharmacological Aspects and Role in Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are serious psychiatric disorders with substantial health risks. Asenapine is a new second-generation antipsychotic, available as a sublingual tablet, approved in Europe for the treatment of moderate-to-severe manic episodes in adults, and in US for manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in adults and adolescents. In this review, we searched the available literature to appreciate the role of asenapine in the management of psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorders and schizophrenia and describe its mechanism of action, efficacy and tolerability. Asenapine has demonstrated efficacy in the management of bipolar disorders and schizophrenia, while a possible role in the management of borderline personality disorder and agitation needs further research. Asenapine has favourable side effects profile and combining with other pharmacological treatment in post-traumatic stress disorder has shown promising results. Asenapine fulfils important requirements of efficacy and tolerability as an anti-psychotic. These findings should support psychiatrists and pharmacists in the care of their patients while on asenapine.