Invega Trinza (Paliperidone Palmitate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Invega Trinza Used For?
Invega Trinza is an antipsychotic medication that helps improve symptoms of certain mental health conditions by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain.
Primary Uses
Invega Trinza is used to treat adults (18 years and older) with schizophrenia, a mental illness that affects thinking, feelings, and behavior. It can also help prevent schizophrenia symptoms from returning.
How It Works
Invega Trinza helps correct a chemical imbalance in the brain associated with schizophrenia. Common symptoms it helps with include seeing, hearing, or sensing things that aren’t there (hallucinations), false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary (delusions), not trusting others and feeling suspicious (paranoia), and avoiding family and friends.
Good to know: It may take some time before your symptoms start to improve. Invega Trinza is one part of your overall treatment plan, so keeping all appointments is important for monitoring your progress.
How to Take Invega Trinza
Invega Trinza is given as an injection by your doctor or healthcare professional in a medical office or clinic. You cannot give this injection to yourself.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will decide the right strength for you. Treatment should not start until you have tolerated Invega Sustenna for at least 4 months. After your first dose, Invega Trinza is given once every 3 months. The injection goes into the muscle of your upper arm or buttocks. For patients with mild kidney problems, the maximum recommended dose is 350 mg.
What If You Miss a Dose?
It’s very important to keep all your appointments and get your medicine on time. If you are going to miss or have missed your dose at the usual time, contact your doctor as soon as you can. Your doctor will decide what you should do next.
Important: Do not miss any injections, even if you feel better. Invega Trinza helps control your condition but will not cure it, so you need regular injections.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Headache
- Trembling, muscle weakness, unsteadiness
- Drowsiness, tiredness, difficulty concentrating
- Pain at injection site
- Irritability or agitation
- Anxiety or depression
- Muscle or joint stiffness or pain
- Restlessness, repetitive movements
- Weight gain or loss
- Cold or flu-like symptoms
- Dry mouth, drooling
- Constipation, diarrhea, vomiting
- Menstrual irregularities
- Sexual problems
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Serious allergic reactions (rash, difficulty breathing, swelling)
- Heart or blood pressure problems (dizziness, fast/slow heart rate)
- High blood sugar or diabetes symptoms (excessive thirst, frequent urination)
- Severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis)
- Mini-strokes (sudden weakness, numbness, slurred speech)
- Tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of tongue, mouth, face, arms, legs)
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (high fever, muscle stiffness, sweating, confusion)
Important Warnings
There are several important warnings and conditions to discuss with your doctor before starting Invega Trinza.
Who Should Not Take Invega Trinza
Do not use Invega Trinza if you are allergic to paliperidone (like Invega) or risperidone (like Risperdal), or any of the ingredients. Signs of allergy may include skin rash, itching, shortness of breath, and/or swollen face or tongue.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: heart problems, irregular heart rhythm, high or low blood pressure, history of heart attack or stroke, dizziness when standing up, epilepsy or seizures, suicidal thoughts, lung problems, swallowing problems, kidney or liver problems, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes or risk factors for diabetes, blood vessel diseases, blood clots or family history of blood clots, low white blood cell count, or planned eye surgery.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Newborn babies of mothers taking Invega Trinza in their last trimester may have difficulty feeding or breathing, shaking, muscle stiffness, weakness, sleepiness, or agitation. Do not breastfeed while using Invega Trinza as it passes into breast milk.
Elderly Patients With Dementia: Older people with dementia may be at increased risk of stroke or death when taking Invega Trinza.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Invega Trinza and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- Sleeping tablets, tranquillizers, painkillers, or allergy medicines (antihistamines)
- Medicines for epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease
- Medicines for depression, panic disorder, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Medicines for irregular heart rhythms or heart failure
- Blood pressure medicines including water tablets (diuretics)
- Other medicines for mental illnesses or psychotic conditions
- Central nervous system stimulants (like methylphenidate)
- Medicines for nausea, vomiting, indigestion, or stomach problems
- Some malaria medicines
Alcohol & Driving
Invega Trinza can affect your ability to drive safely and can increase the effects of alcohol.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while using Invega Trinza. The medication can increase the effects of alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Make sure you know how you react to Invega Trinza before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy. The medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or light-headedness. If you feel light-headed, dizzy, or faint, be careful when getting up from sitting or lying down – getting up slowly may help.
Temperature Regulation
Tell your doctor if you have unusual, excessive sweating or diarrhea, dehydration, or problems with your body temperature regulation.
Storage
Invega Trinza will be stored by your doctor or pharmacist, so you’re unlikely to store this medicine at home. If you do need to store it, keep it in a cool, dry place protected from light where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not use it beyond the expiry date printed on the pack.
Overdose Information
Since Invega Trinza is given under medical supervision, overdose is very unlikely. However, if you think you have received too much, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may take some time before your symptoms of schizophrenia start to improve. Your doctor will monitor your progress during regular appointments.
After your first dose, Invega Trinza is recommended to be given once every 3 months. However, your doctor may adjust the timing based on how your body responds.
No, you should avoid drinking alcohol while using Invega Trinza as it can increase the effects of alcohol.
It’s very important to keep all appointments. If you miss or will miss your dose, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will decide what to do next.
No, do not miss injections or stop treatment suddenly, even if you feel better. Invega Trinza helps control your condition but doesn’t cure it, so you need regular injections.
Yes, there is a possibility of weight gain when taking Invega Trinza. Your doctor may monitor your body weight or recommend strategies to help with weight management.
Remind any doctor, dentist, or pharmacist you visit that you are using Invega Trinza. If you’re planning eye surgery, make sure to tell your eye doctor as you may need to temporarily stop the medication.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.