asenapine vs paroxetine
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Side-by-side comparison of asenapine and paroxetine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
( 5.7 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) • Paroxetine (CYP2D6 substrate and inhibitor): Reduce paroxetine by half when used in combination with asenapine. CYP2D6 substrates and inhibitors (e.g., paroxetine) Asenapine may enhance the inhibitory effects of paroxetine on its own metabolism. Concomitant use of paroxetine with asenapine increased the paroxetine exposure by 2-fold as compared to use paroxetine alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Saphris
Paxil
Asenapine (Saphris) is an antipsychotic medicine. It is used to treat bipolar I disorder in adults and children ages 10-17.
Paroxetine (Paxil) is a medicine that can help treat depression and anxiety disorders. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
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.
Paroxetine is used to treat several conditions in adults. These include major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (PD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It helps to improve mood and reduce anxiety and panic feelings.
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.
Paroxetine works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a natural substance that helps regulate mood. By increasing serotonin levels, paroxetine can help improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- • Sleepiness
- • Numbness in the mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Changes in taste
- • Nausea
- • Abnormal ejaculation
- • Weakness or fatigue
- • Constipation
- • Decreased appetite
- • Diarrhea
- Drug Interaction 78
- Toxicity To Various Agents 64
- Completed Suicide 61
- Myocarditis 53
- Sedation 39
- Drug Interaction 1,825
- Fatigue 1,821
- Nausea 1,738
- Toxicity To Various Agents 1,579
- Anxiety 1,476
Asenapine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Asenapine is not approved to treat this condition.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Paroxetine is not approved for use in children.
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.
Paroxetine may cause harm to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking paroxetine later in pregnancy may cause problems for the newborn.
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How to Read This asenapine vs paroxetine Comparison
asenapine is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while paroxetine sits within the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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 paroxetine has 8,439. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to asenapine slows down the process your body uses to get rid of paroxetine, which can double the amount of paroxetine in your blood.. 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 paroxetine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.