Paliperidone (pal-ee-PER-i-done)

Treats schizophrenia (a mental disorder).

Brand Name(s):

Invega

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Long Acting Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• You may take this medicine with or without food.
• Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it. Swallow the tablet with a liquid, such as water or juice.
• While taking the extended-release form of this medicine, part of the tablet may pass into your stools. This is normal and is nothing to worry about.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using medicines for heart rhythm problems such as quinidine, procainamide (Procanbid®), amiodarone (Cordarone®), or sotalol (Betapace®). Tell your doctor if you are also using blood pressure medicine or a diuretic ("water pill"), such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, Aldactazide®, Aldactone®, Lasix®, or Maxzide®.
• Tell your doctor if you are using levodopa (such as Dopar®, Larodopa®), any medicine for mental illness (such as chlorpromazine, thioridazine, Thorazine®, Mellaril®), or certain antibiotic medicines (such as gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, Tequin®, Avelox®).
• Tell your doctor if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy. These include sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain relievers, and sedatives.
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, or breast cancer. Make sure your doctor knows if you have Parkinson's disease, any trouble with swallowing, or a history of blocked bowels or stomach and intestine problems. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had thoughts of hurting yourself.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you or a family member has a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) that was caused by a medicine used for mental disorders.
• This medicine may cause an increase in your blood sugar. If you have diabetes, you may need to check your blood sugar more often. If you are using medicine for diabetes, your doctor may need to change your dose.
• This medicine is not approved to treat behavior disorders in older people who have dementia. Using this medicine to treat this problem could increase the risk of death. This risk has not been shown for the approved uses of this medicine.
• Some side effects are more likely to happen in elderly people who have memory problems or other reduced mental skills. Make sure the doctor knows if the person who will be using this medicine has Alzheimer's disease or similar problems (often called "dementia").
• This medicine may cause tardive dyskinesia, which is a movement disorder. If you have muscle spasms, twitching in your face or body, or uncontrolled tongue or jaw movements, stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away. Talk to your doctor about the risk of this side effect.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. You may also feel lightheaded or dizzy when you get up quickly from a sitting or lying position. If this happens, you should get up slowly.
• This medicine might reduce how much you sweat. Your body could get too hot if you do not sweat enough. If your body gets too hot, you might feel dizzy, weak, tired, or confused. You might vomit or have an upset stomach. Do not get too hot while you are exercising. Avoid places that are very hot. Call your doctor if you are too hot and cannot cool down.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting.
• Fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat.
• Fever, confusion, sweating, or muscle stiffness.
• In males: Painful or prolonged erection of the penis.
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Problems with balance or walking.
• Tremors.
• Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Anxiety or restlessness.
• Drooling.
• Headache.
• Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness.
• Stomach pain or upset stomach.
• Unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Weight gain.