Use in elderly people:

Studies have shown that older adults who take antipsychotics (medications for mental illness) like asenapine have a higher risk of dying while receiving treatment. Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory, thinking clearly, communication, and daily activities as well as possibly causing changes in mood and personality. Additionally, older people with dementia may be more likely to get a stroke or ministroke while receiving treatment.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not authorised asenapine transdermal patches for the management of behavioural issues in dementia-affected older individuals. If you, a member of your family, or someone you care for has dementia and is using asenapine transdermal patches, talk to the doctor who recommended it. Visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs for further details.

Discuss the potential risks of using asenapine transdermal patches with your doctor.

Schizophrenia symptoms are treated with asenapine transdermal patches (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Asenapine belongs to the group of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. It functions by altering the way that a few organic brain chemicals behave.

Asenapine for transdermal use is available as a skin-applying patch. Typically, it is administered once daily. Apply the asenapine patch every day at roughly the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the asenapine skin patch instructions precisely. Apply it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less frequently.

Asenapine will likely be prescribed to you at a modest starting dose by your doctor, who will then likely gradually increase it up to once a week.

Asenapine used transdermally might help you manage your symptoms but won’t make your problem go away. Even if you feel better, keep applying asenapine patches to your skin. Stop using asenapine patches only after consulting your doctor.

Asenapine will likely be prescribed to you at a modest starting dose by your doctor, who will then likely gradually increase it up to once a week.

Apply the patch to substantially hair-free, clean, dry, undamaged skin (upper back, upper arm, abdomen [stomach area], or hip). Select a location where clothing that is too tight won’t rub the patch. Applying the patch to skin that is open, cut, inflamed, red, or suffering from a rash, burn, or any skin condition is not advised. To prevent skin irritation, pick a different location every day. Prior to installing a new patch, make sure you uninstall the existing one.

Apply a new patch to a different region if your skin becomes inflamed or burns after you apply an asenapine patch.

Asenapine patches need to be worn continuously after application until you’re ready to take them off and apply new ones. Try pressing the patch back into place with your fingertips if it becomes loose before it needs to be replaced. Apply a new patch to a different region if the patch can’t be pressed back on or falls off. However, you must uninstall the new patch at the same time you uninstall the old one.

Avoid direct heat sources including heating pads, electric blankets, hair dryers, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, and heated water beds when wearing an asenapine patch.

Follow these steps to apply the patch:

1. Pick the location where the patch will be applied. Clean and dry the area before applying the patch. Make sure there are no powders, oils, or lotions on the skin.
2. Choose a patch from a sealed pouch, then use scissors to open the pouch. Don’t cut the patch, please.
3. The protective liner should be facing you as you hold the patch after removing it from the pouch.
4. One side of the patch should have the first piece of liner removed. Avoid letting your fingers touch the sticky side. The patch should still have a second liner strip attached to it.
5. With the adhesive side down, firmly press the patch onto your skin.
6. The remainder of the sticky side of the patch should be firmly pressed against your skin after removing the second strip of protective liner. Make sure the patch is level against the skin and has no creases or bumps, and that the edges are securely fastened to the skin.
7. After handling the patch, wash your hands with soap and water.
8. Use your fingers to slowly and gently take the patch off after 24 hours of wearing it. The patch should be carefully disposed of out of the reach of children and animals by folding it in half with the sticky sides together.
9. Steps 1 through 8 must be followed immediately to apply a fresh patch to a different location.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before using transdermal asenapine,

• If you have an allergy to asenapine, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in asenapine transdermal patches, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are now taking or intend to take. Any of the following should be mentioned: alpha blockers as terazosin, prazosin, and doxazosin (Cardura); angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, quinapril, ramipril, and trandolapril are examples of inhibitors; fosinopril, perindopril, aceon, accupril, quinaretic; enalapril, enalapril, and enalapril are examples, ARBs include azilsartan (Edarbi, in Edarbyclor), candesartan (Atacand, in Atacand HCT), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro, in Avalide), losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), olmesartan (Benicar, in Azor, in Benicar HCT, in Tribenzor), telmisartan; Beta blockers such atenolol (Tenormin, in Tenoretic), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, in Dutoprol), nadolol (Corgard, in Corzide), and propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran); certain antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (not available in the U.S.), antihistamines, some drugs for irregular heartbeat like amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace, Sorine), diuretics (‘water pills’), fluvoxamine (Luvox), drugs for glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease, motion sickness, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s disease, ulcers, or urinary issues; gatifloxacin; drugs for mental illness include paroxetine, ziprasidone, and thioridazine (Thorazine), as well as (Paxil, Pexeva). Your doctor might need to adjust your medication doses or keep a close eye out for any negative side effects. Asenapine transdermal patches may interact with a variety of different drugs, so be careful to inform your doctor of all the drugs you are taking, even those that are not on this list.
• In case you have liver problems, let your doctor know. Your physician could advise against using asenapine transdermal patches.
• If you or anyone in your family has diabetes or has ever had it, let your doctor know; if you experience frequent vomiting or diarrhoea or suspect you may be dehydrated; if you have ever misused prescription pharmaceuticals or illicit substances; and if you currently or in the past have considered hurting or killing yourself; a protracted QT interval (a uncommon heart condition that could result in an erratic heartbeat, dizziness, or sudden death); a stroke or TIA (ministroke), seizures, osteoporosis, breast cancer, low blood pressure, heart failure, a slow or irregular heartbeat, a low level of potassium or magnesium in your blood, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol levels), trouble staying balanced, any condition that makes it difficult for you to swallow, or heart disease. Additionally, a low level of white blood cells in your blood or a decrease in white blood cells caused by a medication you have taken.
• If you are pregnant, particularly if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, if you plan to get pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while using transdermal asenapine. If used throughout the final months of pregnancy, transdermal asenapine may result in issues in neonates after birth.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are using transdermal asenapine if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that asenapine may cause you to feel sleepy. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.
• As you use transdermal asenapine, consult your doctor about whether drinking alcohol is safe. Asenapine side effects can be exacerbated by alcohol.
• You should be aware that if you stand up suddenly from lying down, transdermal asenapine may make you feel faint, woozy, or dizzy. When you initially begin using asenapine transdermal patches, this is more typical. Get out of bed gradually and rest your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up to help prevent this issue.
• You should be aware that asenapine might make it more difficult for your body to cool off when it becomes extremely hot. You should limit your physical activity while taking transdermal asenapine, spend as much time indoors as you can, dress comfortably in warm weather, avoid the sun, and drink lots of water.
• You should be aware that even if you do not currently have diabetes, you could develop hyperglycemia (an increase in blood sugar) while taking this medication. Transdermal asenapine or other comparable drugs may raise the risk of developing diabetes if you have schizophrenia, which increases your risk compared to persons without the condition. If you experience any of the following side effects while taking transdermal asenapine: severe thirst, frequent urination, intense hunger, blurred vision, or weakness, call your doctor right away. Because high blood sugar might result in the deadly disease known as ketoacidosis, it is crucial that you contact your doctor as soon as you experience any of these symptoms. If ketoacidosis is not treated at an early stage, it could turn fatal. Ketoacidosis symptoms include dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, a fruity odour to the breath, and a loss of consciousness.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

As soon as you remember, apply the forgotten patch. Nevertheless, you should still apply the patch at the scheduled time. Skip the missing patch if the next one is almost due, and carry on with your regular dosing regimen. Applying extra patches won’t make up for a forgotten dose.

Transdermal asenapine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• At the site of application, there may be dryness, redness, stinging, peeling, swelling, irritation, hardness, pain, or discomfort
• Mouth ache
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Higher appetite
• Headache
• Gaining weight
• Loss of sensation in the mouth or lips
• Feeling lightheaded, unstable, or having difficulties balancing
• Excessive fatigue
• Not enough energy
• Vacillation or a persistent want to move about
• Experiencing joint, arm, or leg pain

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms or those in the SPECIAL PRECAUTION section:

• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Face, throat, tongue, lips, or eye swelling
• Hoarseness
• Wheezing
• Fever
• Muscle discomfort or stiffness
• Tightness or spasm of the neck muscles
• Confusion
• Rapid or erratic heartbeat
• Sweating
• Arms, legs, face, mouth, tongue, jaw, lips, or cheeks moving erratically
• Falling
• Seizures
• Chills, a cough, a sore throat, and other symptoms of illness

Other adverse effects from asenapine patches are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom). By opening each bag and folding each patch in half with the adhesive sides together, you can discard any patches that are outdated or no longer required. Put the folded patch back in its original pouch before safely disposing of it away from children and animals.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Call your local poison control centre at 1-800-222-1222 if someone swallows, chews, or suckers on asenapine patches. Dial 911 to reach the nearest emergency services if the sufferer has collapsed or has stopped breathing.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Confusion
• Agitation

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. While you are on this medicine, you should have regular weight checks.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.