Drug & supplement interaction

Bitter Orange + Asenapine

Asenapine brand names: Saphris, Secuado.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Bitter Orange has a moderate interaction with Asenapine. Theoretically, bitter orange might have an additive effect when combined with drugs that prolong the QT interval, potentially increasing the risk of ventricular arrhythmias.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Bitter Orange and Asenapine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

QT INTERVAL-PROLONGING DRUGS

Why this applies to Asenapine

Asenapine falls under QT INTERVAL-PROLONGING DRUGS — the group Bitter Orange interacts with.

Theoretically, bitter orange might have an additive effect when combined with drugs that prolong the QT interval, potentially increasing the risk of ventricular arrhythmias.
One case report suggests that taking bitter orange in combination with other stimulants such as caffeine might prolong the QT interval in some patients.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist: asenapine (Saphris, Secuado) can slightly affect your heart's electrical timing, something doctors call QT prolongation. Bitter orange contains synephrine, a stimulant that may nudge your heart rate and blood pressure up. Stacking the two could, in theory, add together and make your heartbeat rhythm more irregular.

Now, I want to keep this in perspective. This concern rests on very thin evidence, mostly a single case report involving bitter orange plus caffeine, so it's more theoretical than proven. Still, because asenapine already touches the QT interval, I'd skip the bitter orange to be safe. If you ever feel a racing heart, dizziness, or fainting, get help right away, and please run any stimulant supplement past your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Nasir JM, Durning SJ, Ferguson M, et al. Exercise-induced syncope associated with QT prolongation and ephedra-free Xenadrine. Mayo Clin Proc 2004;79:1059-62.. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Bitter Orange Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bitter Orange has 10 major, 875 moderate, 71 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Asenapine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 10 Moderate 875 Minor 71 No known interaction 1,874 (incl. Asenapine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bitter Orange

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Bitter Orange. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Asenapine

This page covers Bitter Orange only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Asenapine page lists 122 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 9 major · 78 moderate · 35 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Asenapine page

“The heart rhythm risk is the one to understand first. Asenapine (Saphris, Secuado), an antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can affect the QT interval, the electrical reset between heartbeats, and 13 ingredients on this list can prolong it too, including everyday grapefruit.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Asenapine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Bitter Orange as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,000 real supplement products containing Bitter Orange, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bitter Orange. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Asenapine too, on top of Bitter Orange — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Bitter Orange and Asenapine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Bitter Orange
Top 25%

#170 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Asenapine
Steady interest

#2,051 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Bitter Orange

What is Bitter Orange?

Bitter Orange
  • Weight loss
  • Athletic performance and energy
  • Digestive upset
  • Appetite control
  • Aromatherapy for stress (neroli oil)

Bitter orange is a citrus fruit whose extracts contain synephrine, a mild stimulant often added to weight-loss and energy supplements. Evidence that it works for weight loss or performance is limited, and because it can raise heart rate and blood pressure, people with heart problems, high blood pressure, or who are pregnant should avoid it. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you take other stimulants.

Read the full Bitter Orange monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Asenapine

What Is Asenapine Used For?

Brand names: Saphris, Secuado

Asenapine treats schizophrenia in adults and bipolar I disorder (manic or mixed episodes) in adults and in children ages 10 to 17. It can be used alone or alongside lithium or valproate in adults with bipolar I disorder.

The sublingual tablet forms (Saphris and the generic asenapine sublingual tablet) are approved for both schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. Secuado, the skin patch, is approved only for schizophrenia in adults.

See full Asenapine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bitter Orange

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bitter Orange — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

10Major
875Moderate
71Minor
1,873No known interaction
10 Major 875 Moderate 71 Minor 1,873 No interaction
Major

10 interactions

Moderate

875 interactions

Showing 60 of 875 moderate interactions — see all 875 on the Bitter Orange page.

Minor

71 interactions

Showing 60 of 71 minor interactions — see all 71 on the Bitter Orange page.

No interaction 1,873 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Bitter Orange against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,873 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bitter Orange list.

See the full Bitter Orange interactions page
See every supplement checked against Asenapine, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Bitter Orange monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Asenapine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Asenapine, ranked by severity Asenapine drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bitter Orange and Asenapine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bitter Orange with Asenapine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Bitter Orange and Asenapine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Asenapine and Bitter Orange?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.