asenapine vs clozapine
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of asenapine and clozapine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Asenapine (Saphris) is an antipsychotic medicine. It is used to treat bipolar I disorder in adults and children ages 10-17.
Versacloz is a medicine used to treat severe schizophrenia when other medicines have not worked. It can also help lower the risk of suicidal behavior in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Asenapine is used to treat bipolar I disorder. In children ages 10 to 17, it can treat manic or mixed episodes on its own. In adults, it can be used with lithium or valproate to treat these episodes.
Versacloz is used to treat schizophrenia in people who haven't responded well to other antipsychotic medicines. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can cause hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Versacloz can also help lower the risk of repeated suicidal behavior in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are at high risk.
Asenapine affects certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. By changing the balance of these chemicals, asenapine can help reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Versacloz works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, are involved in mood, behavior, and thinking. By changing the levels of these chemicals, Versacloz can help reduce symptoms of schizophrenia and lower the risk of suicidal behavior.
- • Sleepiness
- • Numbness in the mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Changes in taste
- • Nausea
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Shaking
- • Fast heart rate
- Drug Interaction 78
- Toxicity To Various Agents 64
- Completed Suicide 61
- Myocarditis 53
- Sedation 39
- Neutropenia 18,655
- Hospitalisation 12,101
- Death 11,398
- Schizophrenia 4,547
- White Blood Cell Count Increased 4,444
Asenapine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Asenapine is not approved to treat this condition.
Versacloz can cause several serious side effects: * **Severe Neutropenia:** This means a dangerously low white blood cell count, which increases your risk of infection. You will need regular blood tests to check your white blood cell count. * **Orthostatic Hypotension, Bradycardia, and Syncope:** This means low blood pressure when standing up, slow heart rate, and fainting. These are most likely when you first start taking Versacloz or when the dose is increased. * **Seizures:** Versacloz can increase your risk of seizures, especially at higher doses. * **Myocarditis, Pericarditis, and Cardiomyopathy:** These are serious heart problems that can be fatal. Tell your doctor right away if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or other heart-related symptoms. * **Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis:** Elderly patients with dementia who take antipsychotic medicines like Versacloz have an increased risk of death.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Babies born to mothers who use antipsychotics in the last 3 months of pregnancy may have withdrawal symptoms after birth. There is a pregnancy registry, call 1-866-961-2388.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Babies born to mothers who take Versacloz in the third trimester may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems after birth. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take atypical antipsychotics like Versacloz.
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How to Read This asenapine vs clozapine Comparison
asenapine is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while clozapine sits within the Atypical Antipsychotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, asenapine has 295 submissions while clozapine has 51,145. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for asenapine or clozapine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.