How to administer an INVEGA TRINZA^® injection

Speaker 1:

This video will guide you through the appropriate steps to ensure proper administration of INVEGA TRINZA^® three-month paliperidone palmitate. Preparing INVEGA TRINZA^® for injection is not the same as preparing INVEGA SUSTENNA^® one-month paliperidone palmitate, so please watch this video carefully.

Speaker 2:

INDICATION. INVEGA TRINZA^® (paliperidone palmitate), a three-month injection is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in patients after they have been adequately treated with INVEGA SUSTENNA^® one-month paliperidone palmitate for at least four months.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for INVEGA TRINZA^® (paliperidone palmitate).

Warning: increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with anti-psychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. ININVEGA TRINZA^® not approved for use in patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Speaker 1:

INVEGA TRINZA^® should be administered by a healthcare professional as a single injection. Do not divide dose into multiple injections. INVEGA TRINZA^® is intended for intramuscular use only. Inject slowly, deep into the muscle taking care to avoid injection into a blood vessel. Read complete instructions prior to use.

INVEGA TRINZA^® has components and steps for preparation that are unique. Let's start by going through all the contents of the dose pack. Each dose pack of INVEGA TRINZA^® should include a prefilled syringe and two thin wall safety needles. Thin wall safety needles are designed to be used with INVEGA TRINZA^®. Therefore, it is important to only use the needles provided in the INVEGA TRINZA^® kit. First, select the proper needle based on the injection area and the weight of your patient. If administering a deltoid injection and your patient weighs less than 200 pounds or 90 kilograms, choose the 22-gauge one-inch needle with the pink hub.

If your patient weighs 200 pounds or more, or 90 kilograms or more, choose the 22-gauge one-and-a-half-inch needle with the yellow hub. For all gluteal injections, however, no needle choice is necessary. Only use the 22-gauge one-and-a-half-inch needle with the yellow hub, regardless of patient weight. We've now reached one of the most important steps in preparing INVEGA TRINZA^®. Please note: INVEGA TRINZA^® requires longer and more vigorous shaking than INVEGA SUSTENNA^® because it is a more concentrated suspension. INVEGA TRINZA^® must be shaken vigorously, with the syringe tip pointing up, for at least 15 seconds. Proper suspension prior to injection is absolutely essential to successful delivery, so keep your eye on the timer and follow this technique to make sure you're shaking INVEGA TRINZA^® the right way.

With the syringe tip pointing up, shake vigorously with a loose wrist for at least 15 seconds to ensure a homogeneous suspension. This will also help ensure that the medication is administered smoothly. 3, 2, 1, done. Now, check the liquid in the viewing window of the syringe. The suspension should appear uniform and milky white. It is also normal to see small air bubbles. Now that you've properly shaken the suspension, you have five minutes to inject it. Proceed to the next step immediately after shaking. Quick note: If more than five minutes pass before injection shake vigorously again for at least 15 seconds with a syringe tip pointing up to re-suspend the medication.

Now you're ready to prepare for administering the injection. Open the needle pouch by peeling the cover back halfway and place it on a clean surface. Then, holding the syringe upright, twist and pull the rubber cap to remove it. Fold back the needle cover and plastic tray. Firmly grasp the needle sheath through the pouch as shown. With your other hand, hold the syringe by the Luer connection and attach it to the safety needle with a gentle clockwise twisting motion. Be sure you do not remove the pouch until the syringe and needle are securely attached. Pull the needle sheath away from the needle in a straight motion. Do not twist the sheath, as this may loosen the needle from the syringe.

Hold the syringe upright and tap gently to make any air bubbles rise to the top. Remove air by pressing the plunger rod upward carefully until a drop of the liquid comes out of the needle tip. You've prepared the dose. Now you're ready to inject. Slowly inject the entire contents of the syringe intramuscularly deep into the selected deltoid or gluteal muscle. Do not administer by any other route. After the injection is complete use your thumb or a flat surface to secure the needle in the safety device. The needle is secure when a click sound is heard. Dispose of the syringe and unused needle, if not already done earlier, in an approved sharps container. Remind your patient that he or she will be back in three months for the next injection.

Speaker 2:

Indication. INVEGA TRINZA^® (paliperidone palmitate), a three-month injection, is an atypical anti-psychotic indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in patients after they have been adequately treated with INVEGA SUSTENNA^® (1-month paliperidone palmitate) for at least four months.

Important safety information for INVEGA TRINZA^® (paliperidone palmitate).

Warning: Increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with anti-psychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. INVEGA TRINZA^® is not approved for use in patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Contraindications. INVEGA TRINZA^® is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to either paliperidone, risperidone, or to any excipients of the INVEGA TRINZA^® formulation.

Cerebrovascular adverse reactions. Cerebrovascular adverse reactions (for example, stroke, transient ischemic 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 cerebrovascular adverse reactions was significantly higher than with placebo. INVEGA TRINZA^® 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 in association with anti-psychotic drugs, including paliperidone. Clinical manifestations of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status including delirium and autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevated creatine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure. If NMS is suspected, immediately discontinue INVEGA TRINZA^® and provide symptomatic treatment and monitoring.

QT prolongation. Paliperidone causes a modest increase in the corrected QT (QTc) interval. Avoid the use of drugs that also increase QTc interval and in patients with risk factors for prolonged QTc 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 torsades de pointes and or sudden death in association with the use of drugs that prolong the QTc interval.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD). TD, a syndrome consisting of potentially irreversible, involuntary dyskinetic movements, may develop in patients treated with anti-psychotic drugs. Although the prevalence of the syndrome appears to be highest among the elderly, especially elderly women, it is impossible to predict which patients will develop the syndrome. Whether anti-psychotic drug products differ in their potential to cause tardive dyskinesia is unknown. The risk of developing TD and the likelihood that it will become irreversible appear to increase with the duration of treatment and the cumulative dose. The syndrome can develop after relatively brief treatment periods, even at low doses. It may also occur after discontinuation. TD may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is discontinued. Antipsychotic treatment itself, however, may suppress or partially suppress the signs and symptoms of the syndrome, possibly masking the underlying process. The effect that symptomatic suppression has upon the long-term course of the syndrome is unknown.

If signs and symptoms of TD appear in a patient on INVEGA TRINZA^®, drug discontinuation should be considered. However, some patients may require treatment with INVEGA TRINZA^® despite the presence of the syndrome. In patients who do require chronic treatment, use the lowest dose and the shortest duration of treatment, producing a satisfactory clinical response. Periodically reassess the need for continued treatment.

Metabolic changes. Atypical antipsychotic drugs have been associated with metabolic changes that may increase cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risk. These metabolic changes include hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and body weight gain. While all of the drugs in the class have been shown to produce some metabolic changes, each drug has its own specific risk profile.

Hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia, and diabetes mellitus, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma, or death, have been reported in patients treated with all atypical anti-psychotics (APS). 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 during treatment 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.

Dyslipidemia. Undesirable alterations have been observed in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics.

Weight gain. Weight gain has been observed with atypical antipsychotic use. Clinical monitoring of weight is recommended.

Orthostatic hypotension and syncope. INVEGA TRINZA^® may induce orthostatic hypotension in some patients due to its alpha blocking activity. INVEGA TRINZA^® should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or conditions that would predispose patients to hypotension (for example, dehydration, hypovolemia, treatment with antihypertensive medications). Monitoring should be considered in patients for whom this may be of concern.

Falls. Somnolence, postural hypotension, motor and sensory instability have been reported with the use of antipsychotics, including INVEGA TRINZA^®, which may lead to falls and consequently fractures or other fall-related injuries. For patients, particularly the elderly with diseases, conditions, or medications that could exacerbate these effects, assess the risk of falls when initiating antipsychotic treatment and recurrently for patients on long-term antipsychotic therapy.

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 TRINZA^® 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 less than 1000 mm3) should discontinue INVEGA TRINZA^® and have their WBC followed until recovery.

Hyperprolactinemia. As with other drugs that antagonized dopamine D2 receptors, INVEGA TRINZA^® 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 anti-psychotic agents.

Potential for cognitive and motor impairment. Somnolence, sedation and dizziness were reported as adverse reactions in subjects treated with INVEGA TRINZA^®. INVEGA TRINZA^® 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 TRINZA^® does not adversely affect them.

Seizures. INVEGA TRINZA^® 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.

Administration. For intramuscular injection only by a healthcare professional. Care should be taken to avoid inadvertent injection into a blood vessel.

Drug interactions. Strong CYP3A4/P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inducers. It may be necessary to increase the dose of INVEGA TRINZA^® when a strong inducer of both CYP3A4 and P-gp (for example, carbamazepine, rifampin, St. John's wort) is co-administered. If administering a strong inducer is necessary, consider managing the patient using paliperidone extended-release tablets.

Pregnancy, nursing. INVEGA TRINZA^® may cause extrapyramidal and or withdrawal symptoms in neonates with third trimester exposure. Advise patients to notify their healthcare professional if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during treatment with INVEGA TRINZA^®. Patients should be advised that there is a pregnancy registry that monitors outcomes in women exposed to INVEGA TRINZA^® during pregnancy. INVEGA TRINZA^® can pass into human breast milk. The benefits of breastfeeding should be considered, along with the mother's clinical need for INVEGA TRINZA^® and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from INVEGA TRINZA^® or the mother's underlying condition.

Commonly observed adverse reactions for INVEGA TRINZA^®. The most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 5% and occurring at least twice as often as placebo) were injection site reaction, weight increased, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, akathisia and parkinsonism.

Please read the accompanying full prescribing information, including boxed warning, for INVEGA TRINZA^®.