- Used to treat schizophrenia
- Also used in the treatment of bipolar mania
- Used in the treatment of Asperger syndrome and autism
Invega is the brand name of the generic drug Paliperidone developed by Jannsen Pharmaceutica. Invega is available as extended release tablets in strengths of 1.5 mg, 3 mg, 6 mg and 9 mg. The 1.5 mg tablet comes in an orange-brown color, the 3 mg one is white, the 6 mg is beige and the 9 mg is pink. It is also available as a long acting injectible.
Indications
Invega is prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia and it is also used to treat bipolar disorder and in certain cases, autism and Asperger syndrome.
Action
Invega uses the technology of osmotic drug release and while the exact way it works is not known as yet, it provides a therapeutic effect by acting as an antagonist to certain pathways. In the brain, it acts on certain neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin which are the substances responsible for a person’s moods. When these are regulated and in balance, the person feels better as his mood levels are raised. When their excessive activity is stalled, it prevents conditions that give rise to schizophrenia and helps to control it.
Side Effects
While many patients have got a lot of relief from using this drug, one must be aware that in certain cases, there will be some side effects. These could be very slight or very serious and the main thing to keep in mind is to inform the doctor about any of them because a mild effect might just progress to become serious. Some of the side effects that you could experience are stiffness of the muscles, tremors, sexual ability changes, sudden and involuntary jerking and restlessness. There could be rapid heartbeat which could mean a serious problem when the person has cardiac complications. Some serious ones could be tardive dyskinesia, diabetes, seizures, blocking of the intestine, fainting, increase in breast size for both sexes, an increased production of milk and complications with the menstrual cycle.
Caution
Care should be taken to follow the doctor’s advice on how much and when to take this drug. The doctor must be told about the whole medical history, including allergies, medication for any existing condition, any vitamins or supplements that are being taken regularly, any drug or alcohol problem and any genetic history.
Contraindications
This drug should preferably be avoided by pregnant women and nursing mothers. The drug effect could pass to the fetus or to the nursing baby through the milk. Heart patients should be very cautious as it could increase the heart rate considerably. Older people should also be careful and it should not be prescribed for someone with dementia problems as it could lead to fatalities. People who are prone to seizures too could face complications when they take this drug. There could be an increased sensitivity to heat with Paliperidone leading to a dehydrated condition and care should be taken about this. This drug must be taken with liquids and you should swallow it whole. Driving or working with heavy machinery should be avoided as it makes the patient drowsy.