asenapine vs quetiapine
Side-by-side comparison of asenapine and quetiapine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Saphris
Seroquel
Asenapine (Saphris) is an antipsychotic medicine. It is used to treat bipolar I disorder in adults and children ages 10-17.
Quetiapine is a medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It is used to treat mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar 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.
Quetiapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17 years old). It also treats manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder in adults and children (10-17 years old). For bipolar disorder, it can be used alone or with other medicines like lithium or divalproex.
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.
Quetiapine works by changing the levels of certain natural substances in the brain. These substances are called neurotransmitters. By affecting these neurotransmitters, quetiapine can help reduce symptoms of mental disorders.
- • Sleepiness
- • Numbness in the mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Changes in taste
- • Nausea
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Dry mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- • Feeling weak
- The medicine is not working 110
- Interaction with another medicine 78
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 70
- Poisoning from different substances 64
- Death by suicide 61
- The medicine is not working 12,343
- Using the medicine for something it is not approved for 11,797
- Harmful effects from different substances 9,721
- Trouble sleeping 9,103
- Feeling tired 8,861
Asenapine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Asenapine is not approved to treat this condition.
Quetiapine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Quetiapine can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens, and young adults. Watch for worsening symptoms or suicidal thoughts, and tell your doctor right away.
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.
If you take quetiapine during the last 3 months of pregnancy, your baby may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems after birth. There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take quetiapine during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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How to Read This asenapine vs quetiapine Comparison
asenapine is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while quetiapine 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 383 submissions while quetiapine has 51,825. 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 substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between asenapine and quetiapine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.