Course Summary

Expiration Date: 05/29/2028

Asenapine is a second-generation antipsychotic approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents, and for acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar I disorder. It is distinct for its non-oral formulations, including a sublingual tablet and transdermal patch, offering alternatives for patients with swallowing difficulties or adherence challenges. Asenapine exhibits high-affinity antagonism at dopamine D₂ and serotonin 5-HT₂A receptors, with minimal anticholinergic and metabolic effects. While not prioritized as a first-line agent in major guidelines, it is recognized as a second-line option for patients with extrapyramidal symptom risk or metabolic vulnerability.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Guideline Comparisons: Place of Asenapine in Therapy
    • APA Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia (2020)
    • VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Schizophrenia and First-Episode Psychosis (2023)
    • British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) Guidelines (2020)
    • Canadian Schizophrenia Guidelines (2017)
    • NICE Guideline: Psychosis and Schizophrenia in Adults (2014)
  • Overall Place in Therapy of Asenapine in Schizophrenia
    • Efficacy and Clinical Utility
    • Tolerability Advantages
    • Ideal Patient Populations
    • Limitations
  • Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh

Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.