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asenapine Side Effects

Also known as: Saphris

Analysis of 863 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2010 to 2025.

Total Reports

863

Death-Related

125

14.5% of reports

Hospitalizations

316

36.6% of reports

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Most Reported Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE
110
DRUG INTERACTION
78
OFF LABEL USE
70
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS
64
COMPLETED SUICIDE
61
MYOCARDITIS
53
SEDATION
39
DEPRESSION
36
SUICIDAL IDEATION
32
WEIGHT INCREASED
32
SOMNOLENCE
31
PRODUCT SUBSTITUTION ISSUE
30
ANXIETY
29
INSOMNIA
28
CONDITION AGGRAVATED
26
DYSTONIA
26
HYPOTENSION
26
HALLUCINATION, AUDITORY
24
MANIA
24
AKATHISIA
23

Who Reports Side Effects

Gender Distribution

Female 408 (53%)
Male 361 (47%)
Unknown 7

Age Distribution

0-17 34 (5%)
18-44 295 (45%)
45-64 236 (36%)
65-74 55 (8%)
75+ 33 (5%)

Reporting Trend by Year

2010 2025

Reactions in Death Reports

Top reactions reported in 125 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.

Reaction Reports
COMPLETED SUICIDE 61
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS 46
DEATH 17
CARDIAC ARREST 12
ASPIRATION 8
DEPRESSED LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS 8
EMBOLIC STROKE 8
RESPIRATION ABNORMAL 8
SEIZURE 8
PULMONARY OEDEMA 7
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST 6
HYPONATRAEMIA 6
INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE 6
PULMONARY CONGESTION 6
ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE 5
ASPHYXIA 5
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT 5
POLYDIPSIA 5
UNRESPONSIVE TO STIMULI 5
OVERDOSE 4

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

Top reactions in 316 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.

Reaction Reports
DRUG INTERACTION 46
DRUG INEFFECTIVE 37
OFF LABEL USE 28
MYOCARDITIS 27
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS 25
DEPRESSION 22
SEDATION 20
SOMNOLENCE 19
HYPOTENSION 18
SEROTONIN SYNDROME 18
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 17
SUICIDAL IDEATION 17
DEPRESSED MOOD 16
VOMITING 16
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL DISORDER 15
HALLUCINATION, AUDITORY 15
WEIGHT DECREASED 15
DECREASED APPETITE 14
NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME 14
PSYCHOTIC DISORDER 14

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What the FAERS Data Reveals About asenapine Side Effects

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 863 voluntary reports linked to asenapine and its brand equivalents (Saphris), spanning 2010 through 2025. Of those, 125 (14.5%) listed death as an outcome and 316 (36.6%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.

Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 53% were female and 47% male; age distribution skews toward 18-44, with 295 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 110 submissions, followed by drug interaction and off label use.

FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.