Instructions for Use

For detailed information about how to administer INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^®, you can follow the instructions below,
or click here to download a printable PDF.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Shake the syringe vigorously for a minimum of 10 seconds to ensure a homogeneous suspension.
Select the appropriate needle.
For DELTOID injection, if the patient weighs <200 lb (<90 kg), use the 1-inch 23 gauge needle (needle with blue colored hub); if the patient weighs ≥200 lb (≥90 kg), use the 1½-inch 22 gauge needle (needle with gray colored hub).
For GLUTEAL injection, use the 1½-inch 22 gauge needle (needle with gray colored hub).
While holding the syringe upright, remove the rubber tip cap with an easy clockwise twisting motion.
Peel the safety needle pouch halfway open. Grasp the needle sheath using the plastic peel pouch. Attach the safety needle to the luer connection of the syringe with an easy clockwise twisting motion.
Pull the needle sheath away from the needle with a straight pull. Do not twist the sheath as the needle may be loosened
from the syringe.
Bring the syringe with the attached needle in an upright position to de-aerate. De-aerate the syringe by moving the plunger rod carefully forward.
Inject the entire contents intramuscularly into the selected deltoid or gluteal muscle of the patient.
Do not administer intravascularly or subcutaneously.
After the injection is complete, use either thumb or finger of one hand (8a, 8b) or a flat surface (8c) to activate the
needle protection system. The needle protection system is fully activated when a “click” is heard. Discard the syringe with
needle appropriately.

Safety & Tolerability

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® (paliperidone palmitate)

WARNING: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of 17 placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in the drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times
the risk of death in placebo-treated patients. Over the course of a typical 10-week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in the placebo group. Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. The extent to which the findings of increased mortality in observational studies may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to some characteristic(s) of the patients is not clear. INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Contraindications: Paliperidone is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to either paliperidone, risperidone, or to any components of the formulation.
Cerebrovascular Adverse Events (CAEs): CAEs (e.g., stroke, transient ischemia attacks), including fatalities, were reported in placebo-controlled trials in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis taking oral risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine. The incidence of CAEs was significantly higher than with placebo. INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): NMS, a potentially fatal symptom complex, has been reported with the use of antipsychotic medications, including paliperidone. Clinical manifestations include muscle rigidity, fever, altered mental status, and evidence of autonomic instability (see full Prescribing Information). Management should include immediate discontinuation of antipsychotic drugs and other drugs not essential to concurrent therapy, intensive symptomatic treatment and close medical monitoring, and treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems.
QT Prolongation: Paliperidone causes a modest increase in the corrected QT (QTc) interval. Avoid the use of drugs that also increase QT interval and in patients with risk factors for prolonged QT interval. Paliperidone should also be avoided in patients with congenital long QT syndrome and in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias. Certain circumstances may increase the risk of the occurrence of torsade de pointes and/or sudden death in association with the use of drugs that prolong the QTc interval.
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD): TD is a syndrome of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements that may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic medications. The risk of developing TD and the likelihood that dyskinetic movements will become irreversible are believed to increase with duration of treatment and total cumulative dose, but can develop after relatively brief treatment at low doses. Elderly women patients appeared to be at increased risk for TD, although it is impossible to predict which patients will develop the syndrome. Prescribing should be consistent with the need to minimize the risk of TD (see full Prescribing Information). Discontinue drug if clinically appropriate. The syndrome may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn.
Hyperglycemia and Diabetes: Hyperglycemia, some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma or death has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics (APS), including INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^®. Patients starting treatment with APS who have or are at risk for diabetes mellitus should undergo fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of and during treatment. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemia should also undergo fasting blood glucose testing. All patients treated with atypical antipsychotics should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemia. Some patients require continuation of anti-diabetic treatment despite discontinuation of the suspect drug.
Weight Gain: Weight gain has been observed with INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® and other atypical antipsychotic medications. Monitor weight gain.
Hyperprolactinemia: As with other drugs that antagonize dopamine D₂ receptors INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® elevates prolactin levels and the elevation persists during chronic administration. Paliperidone has a prolactin-elevating effect similar to risperidone, which is associated with higher levels of prolactin elevation than other antipsychotic agents.
Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope: INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® may induce orthostatic hypotension in some patients due to its alpha-blocking activity. INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease or conditions that would predispose patients to hypotension (e.g., dehydration, hypovolemia, treatment with antihypertensive medications). Monitoring should be considered in patients for whom this may be of concern.
Leukopenia, Neutropenia and Agranulocytosis have been reported with antipsychotics, including paliperidone. Patients with a history of clinically significant low white blood cell count (WBC) or drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia should have frequent complete blood cell counts during the first few months of therapy. At the first sign of a clinically significant decline in WBC, and in the absence of other causative factors, discontinuation of INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® should be considered. Patients with clinically significant neutropenia should be carefully monitored for fever or other symptoms or signs of infection and treated promptly if such symptoms or signs occur. Patients with severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1000/mm³) should discontinue INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® and have their WBC followed until recovery.
Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: Somnolence, sedation, and dizziness were reported as adverse reactions in subjects treated with INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^®.
INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients should be cautioned about performing activities that require mental alertness such as operating hazardous machinery, including motor vehicles, until they are reasonably certain that INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® does not adversely affect them.
Seizures: INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^® should be used cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that potentially lower seizure threshold. Conditions that lower seizure threshold may be more prevalent in patients 65 years or older.
Suicide: The possibility of suicide attempt is inherent in schizophrenia. Close supervision of high-risk patients should accompany drug therapy.
Administration: For intramuscular injection only. Care should be taken to avoid inadvertent injection into a blood vessel.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions for INVEGA^® SUSTENNA^®: The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials in patients with schizophrenia (≥5% and twice placebo) were injection site reactions, somnolence/sedation, dizziness, akathisia and extrapyramidal disorder.

Please see the full Prescribing Information.

© Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.
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This site is published by Janssen^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is solely responsible for its contents. This information is intended for the use of our healthcare professionals in the United States only. Janssen^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recognizes that the Internet is a global communications medium; however, laws, regulatory requirements, and medical practices for pharmaceutical products vary from country to country. The Prescribing Information included here may not be appropriate for use outside the United States.

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This page was last modified on:

08/17/2010 at 15:26

EDT

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