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Invega Sustenna Side Effects

Generic name: paliperidone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 9, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Invega Sustenna Side Effects associated with paliperidone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Invega Sustenna.

Applies to paliperidone: oral tablet extended release.

Other dosage forms:

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet, extended release)

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death.

Paliperidone is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Serious side effects of Invega Sustenna

Along with its needed effects, paliperidone (the active ingredient contained in Invega Sustenna) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking paliperidone:

More common side effects

  • difficulty with speaking
  • drooling
  • fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  • increase in body movements
  • loss of balance control
  • muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
  • shuffling walk
  • stiffness of the limbs
  • twisting movements of the body
  • uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back

Less common side effects

  • chest pain
  • cold sweats
  • confusion
  • cough
  • difficulty with swallowing
  • dizziness
  • excessive muscle tone
  • fainting
  • inability to move the eyes
  • increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
  • increased blood pressure
  • mask-like face
  • muscle tension or tightness
  • pain in the arms or legs
  • slow heartbeat
  • slowed movements
  • slurred speech
  • sticking out of the tongue when not meaning to
  • tic-like (jerky) movements of the head, face, mouth, and neck
  • trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands
  • tremors
  • trouble with breathing, speaking, or swallowing
  • uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
  • unusual facial expressions
  • unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

  • black, tarry stools
  • blood in the urine
  • bloody nose
  • decrease in the frequency of urination
  • decrease in urine volume
  • decreased awareness or responsiveness
  • difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
  • heavier menstrual periods
  • large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
  • lip smacking or puckering
  • loss of bladder control
  • mimicry of speech or movements
  • peculiar postures or movements, mannerisms, or grimacing
  • painful or prolonged erection of the penis
  • painful urination
  • pinpoint red spots on the skin
  • puffing of cheeks
  • rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue
  • severe constipation
  • severe sleepiness
  • severe vomiting
  • skin rash
  • stomach pain
  • uncontrolled chewing movements
  • uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs

Other side effects of Invega Sustenna

Some side effects of paliperidone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

  • absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
  • difficulty having a bowel movement
  • fear or nervousness
  • headache
  • inability to sit still
  • nausea
  • need to keep moving
  • sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
  • stopping of menstrual bleeding
  • vomiting
  • weight gain

Less common side effects

  • back pain
  • belching
  • blurred vision
  • changes in appetite
  • dry mouth
  • fever
  • heartburn
  • indigestion
  • lack or loss of strength
  • muscle aches
  • sore throat
  • stomach discomfort or upset
  • stuffy or runny nose
  • swelling or soreness of the breasts in both females and males
  • swollen tongue
  • unexpected or excess milk flow from breasts
  • upper stomach pain

Incidence not known

  • sleepwalking

For healthcare professionals

Applies to paliperidone: intramuscular suspension extended release, oral tablet extended release.

General adverse events

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS: The most commonly reported side effects included sedation, extrapyramidal disorder, akathisia, and hyperkinesia.

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION: The most commonly reported side effects included akathisia, parkinsonism, insomnia, and headache.

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION: The most commonly reported side effects included increased weight, insomnia, and use of anticholinergic medications (for extrapyramidal symptoms).[Ref]

Nervous system

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Extrapyramidal symptoms included oculogyric crisis, muscle rigidity, musculoskeletal stiffness, nuchal rigidity, torticollis, trismus, bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, dyskinesia, dystonia, extrapyramidal disorder, hypertonia, hypokinesia, involuntary muscle contractions, parkinsonism gait, parkinsonism, tremor, and restlessness. Somnolence includes the terms somnolence, sedation, and hypersomnia.

Based on pooled data from 6-week fixed dose studies, the following nervous system adverse events appear to be dose-related: akathisia, dystonia, extrapyramidal disorder, hypertonia, and parkinsonism. The increased incidence occurred primarily at the 12 mg dose, although in some cases, also the 9 mg dose.[Ref]

Metabolic

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%)K Diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia, polydipsia, thirst

Psychiatric

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Cardiovascular

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

In a QT study evaluating the effect of immediate-release oral paliperidone 8 mg (n=50), a mean placebo-subtracted increase from baseline on day 8 at 1.5 hours postdose was 12.3 milliseconds (ms). The mean steady-state peak plasma concentration achieved with immediate-release paliperidone was determined to be more than twice the exposure expected with the recommended 12 mg dose. None of the subjects had a QTc interval exceeding 60 ms. According to the phase 3 safety database which included double-blind and open-label extension studies (n=2054), 2 patients experienced QTc interval prolongation greater than 500 ms.

In placebo controlled trials with oral paliperidone, orthostatic hypotension increased with increasing doses, primarily at the 12 mg per day dose.[Ref]

Other

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Gastrointestinal

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Local

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Common (1% to 10%):

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Redness and swelling were observed in 2% or less of patients receiving the 3-month IM extended-release suspension. Residual injection pain peaked 1 or 6 hours after injection and trended downward 3 days after the injection. Deltoid injections were numerically more painful than gluteal injections.[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Respiratory

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Genitourinary

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Galactorrhea, amenorrhea, and impotence have been reported in patients receiving prolactin-elevating compounds.[Ref]

Dermatologic

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Hepatic

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Immunologic

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Ocular

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Endocrine

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Paliperidone (the active ingredient contained in Invega Sustenna) has a prolactin-elevating effect similar to that seen with risperidone. Risperidone is associated with higher levels of prolactin elevation than other antipsychotic drugs.

Hyperprolactinemia may suppress hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), resulting in reduced pituitary gonadotropin secretion and in turn inhibit reproductive function by impairing gonadal steroidogenesis. Gynecomastia has been reported in patients receiving prolactin-elevating compounds.[Ref]

Hematologic

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

Hypersensitivity

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

There have been postmarketing reports of anaphylactic reaction in patients receiving long-acting injection who had previously tolerated oral risperidone or oral paliperidone (the active ingredient contained in Invega Sustenna) [Ref]

Renal

EXTENDED RELEASE TABLETS:

1-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

3-MONTH EXTENDED-RELEASE INJECTABLE SUSPENSION:

References

1. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."

2. (2007) "Product Information. Invega (paliperidone)." Janssen Pharmaceuticals

3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."

4. (2014) "Product Information. Invega Sustenna (paliperidone)." Janssen Pharmaceuticals

5. (2015) "Product Information. Invega Trinza (paliperidone)." Janssen Pharmaceuticals

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Invega Sustenna side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.