Use of asenapine in clinical practice for the management of bipolar mania

TY - JOUR

T1 - Use of asenapine in clinical practice for the management of bipolar mania

AU - Young, Allan H

AU - Altamura, Alfredo Carlo

AU - González-Pinto, Ana M

AU - Millet, Bruno

AU - Wiedemann, Klaus

PY - 2013/4/1

Y1 - 2013/4/1

N2 - Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness associated with high levels of somatic morbidity, comorbidity and mortality. Treatment guidelines for bipolar mania generally recommend initiating first-line therapy with a second-generation antipsychotic or mood stabiliser, either alone or in combination. Asenapine is a second-generation antipsychotic with a unique receptor binding profile, licensed for the treatment of manic episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder. 'Real-world' data are needed to complement evidence from clinical trials, in order to provide clinicians with pragmatic information regarding the likely risks and benefits of using a new agent in clinical practice. Evidence from real-world case reports demonstrates that - as in clinical trials - asenapine is effective in treating mania and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, whether used as monotherapy or in combination with a mood stabiliser. It has a rapid onset of antimanic effect and an early improvement is associated with treatment outcome. Asenapine also shows promise in controlling depressive symptoms and clinically challenging mixed states. Asenapine has a favourable tolerability profile, compared with other first-line agents, having a minimal impact on weight and metabolic parameters. Asenapine should be considered a first-line treatment option for adults with bipolar I disorder.

AB - Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness associated with high levels of somatic morbidity, comorbidity and mortality. Treatment guidelines for bipolar mania generally recommend initiating first-line therapy with a second-generation antipsychotic or mood stabiliser, either alone or in combination. Asenapine is a second-generation antipsychotic with a unique receptor binding profile, licensed for the treatment of manic episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder. 'Real-world' data are needed to complement evidence from clinical trials, in order to provide clinicians with pragmatic information regarding the likely risks and benefits of using a new agent in clinical practice. Evidence from real-world case reports demonstrates that - as in clinical trials - asenapine is effective in treating mania and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, whether used as monotherapy or in combination with a mood stabiliser. It has a rapid onset of antimanic effect and an early improvement is associated with treatment outcome. Asenapine also shows promise in controlling depressive symptoms and clinically challenging mixed states. Asenapine has a favourable tolerability profile, compared with other first-line agents, having a minimal impact on weight and metabolic parameters. Asenapine should be considered a first-line treatment option for adults with bipolar I disorder.

KW - Adult

KW - Antipsychotic Agents

KW - Bipolar Disorder

KW - Heterocyclic Compounds with 4 or More Rings

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

KW - Treatment Outcome

U2 - 10.1177/1359786813482534

DO - 10.1177/1359786813482534

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 23535350

VL - 27

SP - 3

EP - 13

JO - J PSYCHOPHARMACOL

JF - J PSYCHOPHARMACOL

SN - 0269-8811

IS - 4 Suppl

ER -