Click on the first letter in the Drug name:

paliperidone

Generic Name: paliperidone (pal ee PER i done)
Brand Names: Invega

What is paliperidone?

Paliperidone is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.

Paliperidone is used to treat schizophrenia.

Paliperidone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about paliperidone?

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by paliperidone.

There may be other drugs that can affect paliperidone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking paliperidone?

Before taking paliperidone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease;

• a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome;

• heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems;

• a history of heart attack or stroke;

• an electrolyte imbalance, such as low potassium or magnesium levels in your blood;

• a history of breast cancer;

• seizures or epilepsy;

• diabetes (paliperidone may raise your blood sugar);

• a stomach or intestinal disorder;

• a history of suicidal thoughts;

• Parkinson"s disease; or

• trouble swallowing.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use paliperidone, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

How should I take paliperidone?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Paliperidone can be taken with or without food.

It is important to take paliperidone regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Paliperidone may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Talk to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are taking paliperidone.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Symptoms of a paliperidone overdose may include drowsiness, fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, and restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.

What should I avoid while taking paliperidone?

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by paliperidone.

Paliperidone side effects

• fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;

• tremor (uncontrolled shaking);

• trouble swallowing; or

• feeling light-headed, fainting.

Continue taking paliperidone and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• breast swelling or discharge;

• changes in menstrual periods;

• mild restlessness, drowsiness, or tremor;

• blurred vision;

• dizziness or headache;

• weight gain;

• nausea, dry mouth, upset stomach; or

• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect paliperidone?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• arsenic trioxide (Trisenox);

• bepridil (Vascor),

• chloroquine (Arelan);

• clozapine (Clozaril);

• droperidol (Inapsine);

• fluoxetine (Prozac) or paroxetine (Paxil);

• halofantrine (Halfan);

• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin, Ery-Tab), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), or sparfloxacin (Zagam);

• heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), ibutilide (Corvert), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), or sotalol (Betapace);

• medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril);

• narcotic medication such as levomethadyl (Orlaam) or methadone (Dolophine, Methadose);

• seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or

• medicines to treat Parkinson"s Disease such as levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa, Sinemet, Atamet, others), bromocriptine (Parlodel, others), pergolide (Permax), pramipexole (Mirapex), or ropinirole (Requip).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use paliperidone, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect paliperidone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about paliperidone written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Paliperidone is available with a prescription under the brand name Invega. Other brand or generic forms may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Invega 3 mg--white extended-release tablet

• Invega 6 mg--beige extended-release tablet

• Invega 9 mg--pink extended-release tablet

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum"s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum"s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.