{Editing Note: When a company calls a psych drug 'new' - they mean the same but with a slight difference. In this case the drug is the same: see FDA info sheet below "...Elderly patients with dementia who are treated with atypical antipsychotics, such as Invega...", but its 'new' because its prolonged release.
There's nothing 'new' about Invega's potentially deadly risks, but that doesn't deter front groups such as SANE and the spokespersons of those front groups - in this case SANE's Marjorie Wallace (who married an aristocratic psychiatrist) from their enthusiasm and active promotion of the drug. Front groups are VERY EFFECTIVE in purporting to act in the interest of patients while promoting drugs with potentially deadly risks FOR those patients. Wallace of SANE was last year involved in a 'schizophrenia awareness' campaign called 1 in 100 sponsored by Janssen-Cilag. It was an extremely successful marketing tactic - Janssen-Cilag have just had their antipsychotic approved in the UK.
[NEW SCHIZOPHRENIA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
27 July 2006 SANE's chief executive, Marjorie Wallace, and head of strategy, Margaret Edwards attended the launch of a new 1 in 100 educational initiative at the House of Commons on 11 July. 1 in 100 aims to promote choice through knowledge, by providing comprehensive information to people experiencing schizophrenia, their families and friends. Entitled, ‘The Picture’s Looking Brighter’, the new campaign sponsored by Janssen-Cilag UK also looks to support a more positive view on schizophrenia...] }
BACK TO THE FAMILIAR SIDE EFFECTS OF ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS - this particular information sheet is for INVEDA, deadly effects brought to you by Janssen-Cilag:
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/paliperidonePIS.htm
Patient Information Sheet
Paliperidone (marketed as Invega)
PDF Print Version 
This is a summary of the most important information about Invega. For details, talk to your healthcare professional.
What Is Invega?
Invega Extended- Release Tablets are used to treat schizophrenia. Invega is an atypical antipsychotic medicine.
Who Should Not Use Invega?
You should not take Invega if you are allergic to paliperidone, risperidone or to any of the ingredients in Invega.
What Are The Risks?
The following are the major potential risks and side effects of Invega therapy. However, this list is not complete.
- Increased chance of death and strokes in elderly patients with dementia. Elderly patients with dementia who are treated with atypical antipsychotics, such as Invega, have a higher chance for death than patients who do not take these medicines. Invega is not approved to treat dementia.
- QT prolongation (a serious heart problem). Talk to your healthcare professional if you have or had any heart problems.
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening nervous system problem. NMS can cause a high fever, stiff muscles, sweating, a fast or irregular heart beat, change in blood pressure, and confusion. NMS can affect your kidneys. NMS is a medical emergency. Get medical help right away if you have these symptoms.
- Tardive dyskinesia (TD), a movement problem. Uncontrollable, slow or jerky facial or body movements that may not go away. Call your healthcare professional right away if you get muscle movements that cannot be stopped.
- High blood sugar and diabetes. These side effects may even lead to death in some patients. Patients with diabetes or those who have a higher chance for diabetes should have their blood sugar checked often.
- Dizziness and fainting, caused by a drop in blood pressure may happen with Invega, especially when you first start taking this medicine or when the dose is increased. Get up slowly when sitting or lying down.
- Impaired judgment, thinking, or motor skills. You should be careful when driving or using machines until you know how Invega affects you.
- Overheating and dehydration. Invega may make you more sensitive to heat. You may have trouble cooling off, or be more likely to become dehydrated. Be careful when exercising or doing activities in the heat.
- Other serious side effects may include: seizures, trouble swallowing, suicide, an erection that does not go away, and fever and bruising (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura).
- Some common side effects with Invega include: restlessness, involuntary movements, tremors and muscle stiffness, fast heart beat, headache, sleepiness, anxiety, dizziness, upset stomach and nausea.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?
Before you start taking Invega, tell your healthcare professional if you:
- have or had heart problems
- have or have had seizures
- have or had diabetes or increased blood sugar
- have or had liver disease
- have or had problems with your esophagus, stomach or small or large intestine
- drink alcohol
- are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
Invega has not been studied in children under 18 years of age.
Can Other Medicines Or Food Affect Invega?
Invega and certain other medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Invega may affect how your other medicines work. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare professional.
Especially tell your healthcare professional if you take:
- blood pressure medicines
- levodopa and medicines called dopamine agonists
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Invega.
How Should I Take Invega?
- Take Invega once a day in the morning.
- Swallow Invega tablets whole with water or other liquid. Do not chew, divide, or crush Invega tablets.
- Invega can be taken with or without food.
- The tablet shell will pass though your body and you may see it in your stool.
Link to Invega's Approved Labeling
Back to Top 
Back to Drug Index
PDF requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Date Approved: December 19, 2006
Date created: March 30, 2007"
There are many people who don't know they have 'mild' cardiac or liver problems, elevated blood sugar levels, etc as the symptoms can be 'silent' until they hit or are aggravated more obviously. How are those patients to tell their 'Health Professional' they have a disorder? Why are doctors not instructed to do thorough tests BEFORE prescribing drugs like these - they are the only ones who CAN test, the patient can't.
PLUS one of the signs of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (as it is also with the very similar Serotonin Syndrome from SSRI/SNRIs) is "CONFUSION", as the drug regulators well know, alongside high fever (which can cause delirium) etc. People that PHYSICALLY ILL don't necessarily understand whats happening, and so the odds of them 'getting medical help right away' are not certain by any means - so who will help those who live on their own as its often someone ELSE who sees how ill the patient is?
THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH THE REGULATORS AND THE PRESCRIBERS
THE DRUGS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE MARKET IN THE FIRST PLACE!