Drug interactions
Asenapine + Lithium
Severity: Moderate
Asenapine and Lithium: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Asenapine can prolong the QT interval, and lithium may add to this effect, especially at high concentrations or with electrolyte disturbances. The risk of torsades de pointes is greater in patients with cardiac disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Asenapine and Lithium can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Asenapine belongs to Central Nervous System; Lithium belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive effects on cardiac repolarization leading to QT prolongation.
What to do
Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor it, and correct potassium and magnesium abnormalities. Monitor serum lithium levels and avoid adding other QT-prolonging drugs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Asenapine and Lithium, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Lithium
- Lithium + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Lithium + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Lithium Major
- Acemetacin + Lithium Major
- Amisulpride + Lithium Major
- Amlodipine-benazepril + Lithium Major
Other interactions of Asenapine
- Asenapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Asenapine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Asenapine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Asenapine Major
- Alfentanil + Asenapine Major
- Alfuzosin + Asenapine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Asenapine with Lithium?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Asenapine and Lithium can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Asenapine can prolong the QT interval, and lithium may add to this effect, especially at high concentrations or with electrolyte disturbances. The risk of torsades de pointes is greater in patients with cardiac disease.
How serious is the interaction between Asenapine and Lithium?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor it, and correct potassium and magnesium abnormalities. Monitor serum lithium levels and avoid adding other QT-prolonging drugs.
What other medicines interact with Lithium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Lithium with, for example, Thioridazine, Vandetanib, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Lithium page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
