Treat schizophrenia
with 1 dose
every 6 months
with INVEGA HAFYERATM,
the longest-acting injection available
AboutINVEGA HAFYERATM
INVEGA HAFYERATM (paliperidone palmitate) is the longest-acting injection available and the only schizophrenia medication that can help continuously control your symptoms with just 2 doses a year after being adequately treated with INVEGA SUSTENNA® (paliperidone palmitate) for at least 4 months or INVEGA TRINZA® (paliperidone palmitate) for one 3-month cycle. INVEGA HAFYERATM has the same medication for schizophrenia as INVEGA SUSTENNA® (paliperidone palmitate) and INVEGA TRINZA® (paliperidone palmitate) but is given once every 6 months.
In making the transition to INVEGA HAFYERATM, you can feel confident that the schizophrenia medication you need is being gradually released into your system every day for 6 months to help control symptoms. And long-acting injections (LAIs) like INVEGA HAFYERATM can help delay another episode so you can focus more on what’s important to you: your hobbies, your goals, and your future.
According to the 2020 American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline, many patients may prefer the convenience of an infrequent injection rather than having to remember to take oral medication.
As with any medication, there are side effects to consider. But it’s important to be informed of all the treatment options available that could be a good fit for your life.
How to start treatment with INVEGA HAFYERATM
INVEGA HAFYERATM is different from both INVEGA SUSTENNA® and INVEGA TRINZA® in that it's an injection given twice a year, every 6 months. Your healthcare professional will start treatment for your schizophrenia with INVEGA SUSTENNA®, the once-monthly version of the active medication in INVEGA HAFYERATM.
Then, you can transition to INVEGA TRINZA® after being adequately treated for at least 4 months, or you can transition to INVEGA HAFYERATM after being adequately treated with INVEGA SUSTENNA® for at least 4 months with the last 2 doses being 156 mg or 234 mg.
If you and your healthcare professional decide that you should transition to INVEGA TRINZA® before starting on INVEGA HAFYERATM, you will need to be adequately treated with INVEGA TRINZA® for one 3-month cycle (one dose of 546 mg or 819 mg). There are steps that your Treatment Team will take to help you transition.
- Your healthcare professional will need to test for tolerability using the active medication. Then you will receive 2 weekly starting doses of INVEGA SUSTENNA®. If you are currently taking INVEGA SUSTENNA®, this test and these starting doses are not necessary
How is INVEGA HAFYERATM administered?
It's important to be patient, because starting any new medication can be challenging. Work with your healthcare professional to find the right dose of INVEGA HAFYERATM that will help control schizophrenia symptoms with the fewest side effects. It’s very important that you go to all of your injection appointments. If you miss an injection, talk to your Treatment Team as soon as possible. If you are experiencing symptoms or side effects, be sure to let your healthcare professional know. You and your Treatment Team members can also discuss options to help remember your injection appointments, or if you might be able to receive your injection at a place near you other than your healthcare provider’s office.
INVEGA HAFYERATM has proven to be effective in delaying another episode.
A long-term, global clinical study was conducted to show whether INVEGA HAFYERATM was as effective as (non-inferior to) INVEGA TRINZA® (paliperidone palmitate) in symptom control with similar safety and side effects.
- The results
In this study, 92.5% of patients treated with INVEGA HAFYERATM and 95% of patients treated with INVEGA TRINZA® did not experience an episode at 12 months
- What is considered an episode in the study?
For purposes of the study, an episode is defined as 1 or more of the following:
- Hospitalization for schizophrenia symptoms (involuntary or voluntary)
- A significant increase in schizophrenia symptoms, as determined by a physician’s rating scale
- Clinically significant, deliberate self-injury or violent behavior resulting in suicide, injury, or significant damage
- Suicidal or homicidal ideation and aggressive behavior
What to discuss with your doctor before starting INVEGA HAFYERATM
It’s important that your Treatment Team knows everything about your medical history so that they can help find the best medication for you.
Before starting INVEGA HAFYERATM, you should talk to your healthcare professional, especially if you:
- Think you might be allergic to paliperidone, paliperidone palmitate, risperidone, or any of the ingredients in INVEGA HAFYERATM. See the Full Prescribing Information for a complete list of ingredients
- Have had Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
- Have or have had heart problems, including a heart attack, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm, or long QT syndrome
- Have or have had low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood
- Have or have had uncontrolled movements of your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw (tardive dyskinesia)
- Have or have had kidney or liver problems
- Have diabetes or have a family history of diabetes
- Have had a low white blood cell count
- Have had problems with dizziness or fainting or are being treated for high blood pressure
- Have or have had seizures or epilepsy
- Have any other medical conditions
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Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if INVEGA HAFYERATM will harm your unborn baby
- If you become pregnant while taking INVEGA HAFYERATM, talk to your healthcare professional about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. You also can register by calling 1-866-961-2388
- Infants born to women who are treated with INVEGA HAFYERATM may experience symptoms such as tremors, irritability, excessive sleepiness, eye twitching, muscle spasms, decreased appetite, difficulty breathing, or abnormal movement of arms and legs. Let your healthcare professional know if these symptoms occur
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. INVEGA HAFYERATM can pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare professional about the best way to feed your baby if you receive INVEGA HAFYERATM
You should also tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. It can be helpful to keep a list of your medicines to show to your healthcare professional or pharmacist whenever you get a new medication.
Patients (particularly the elderly) taking antipsychotics with certain health conditions or those on long-term therapy should be evaluated by their healthcare professional for the potential risk of falls.
Know about side effects
Like any other medication, side effects can occur in some people. The most common side effects of INVEGA HAFYERATM are:
- upper respiratory tract infections (12%)
- injection site reactions (11%)
- weight gain (9%)
- headache (7%)
- movement disorders including feeling restlessness or difficulty sitting still, slow movements, tremors, stiffness, and shuffling walk (7%)
Please see Important Safety Information below for additional information.
Janssen Carepath
Information you may need to help you get started and stay on track
Janssen CarePath is here to help answer your questions about treatment with INVEGA HAFYERATM. Once you and your doctor have decided that INVEGA HAFYERATM is right for you, we will help you find resources you may need to get started and stay on track. We will give you information on your insurance coverage, potential out-of-pocket costs, and treatment support, and identify options that may help make your treatment more affordable.
