What it means
An atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Long-acting injections, given monthly to every 6 months depending on the product, help people who find daily pills hard to keep up with. Side effects include restlessness, movement problems, raised prolactin, weight gain and higher blood glucose and lipids. It raises the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis.
For the nurse
The tablets are swallowed whole, never crushed. Give long-acting injections IM at the site and interval ordered, and keep track of the due date. Check weight, glucose and lipids, and watch for stiffness or restlessness.
At a glance
| Drug class | antipsychotic (second generation, atypical) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Invega (extended-release tablet); Invega Sustenna, Invega Trinza, Invega Hafyera, Erzofri (long-acting injections) |
| Also written | Invega, Invega Sustenna, Invega Hafyera |
Related terms
hallucination
Hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling or tasting something that is not really there.
lurasidone
A second-generation antipsychotic drug taken by mouth for schizophrenia and bipolar depression.