Asenapina: una review sistematica sulle principali tematiche della pratica clinica

Asenapine: a systematic review on the main topics of clinical practice

A. Conca

Direttore del Servizio Psichiatrico del Comprensorio Sanitario di Bolzano; Presidente Sezione Regionale Trentino-Alto Adige della Società Italiana di Psichiatria; Coordinatore del Servizio Provinciale di Psichiatria e Psicoterapia dell’Età Evolutiva

FULL TEXT (PDF DOCUMENT)

Summary

Objectives

To review the major findings of clinical research on the pharmacokinetics, therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of asenapine as a treatment for manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia.

Methods

Relevant clinical studies and review articles on asenapine were found using the text- and keyword-search term asenapine alone and in combination with bipolar disorder, manic episode, mixed episode and schizophrenia.

Results

Manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia are a medical emergency that requires prompt pharmacological intervention to relieve patient distress and to prevent harm to self or others. Current guidelines for the management of manic and mixed episodes in bipolar I disorder recommend intervention with antipsychotic agents. Asenapine demonstrated efficacy in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder (manic and mixed episodes), and resulted associated with a low risk for extrapyramidal symptoms, adverse cardiac effects, hyperprolactinemia and adverse metabolic effects.

Conclusions

Asenapine is an effective treatment for manic and mixed episodes in patients with bipolar I disorder or schizophrenia and is characterized by a relatively favorable tolerability profile.