Trevicta 263 mg is a long-acting antipsychotic medication containing paliperidone palmitate. It comes as an extended-release suspension for intramuscular injection in a pre-filled syringe. It is used as a maintenance treatment for adult patients with schizophrenia whose condition has been previously stabilized on monthly paliperidone injections. Given once every 3 months, it helps maintain symptom stability, reduce the risk of relapse, and improve treatment adherence.
What is Trevicta used for?
-
Maintenance treatment for schizophrenia in adults.
-
Helps maintain stability and reduces the likelihood of symptom relapse.
-
Provides extended therapeutic coverage with a single dose given every 3 months.
-
Improves treatment compliance in patients who find it difficult to adhere to daily or monthly regimens.
-
Used only after stabilization on monthly paliperidone injection treatment for a duration determined by the physician.
Note: Trevicta is not used to initiate schizophrenia treatment; it is strictly intended as maintenance therapy after ensuring patient tolerability and response to monthly paliperidone palmitate treatment.
What are the doses of Trevicta?
-
Must be administered by a qualified doctor or healthcare professional; it is not intended for self-injection.
-
Administered intramuscularly into the deltoid (shoulder) or gluteal (buttock) muscle.
-
Dosed once every 3 months; the physician determines the appropriate dose based on the previous monthly paliperidone palmitate dose.
-
Shake the syringe vigorously for at least 15 seconds with the tip pointing upward, then inject within 5 minutes of shaking to ensure a homogeneous suspension.
-
Alternate injection sites (left vs. right side) with each dose to minimize local site irritation.
-
If a dose is missed, contact your doctor immediately to reschedule, as the protocol for resuming treatment depends on the duration of the delay.
What are the side effects of Trivecta?
Trevicta may cause side effects. Some of the most common include:
-
Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
-
Weight gain
-
Headache
-
Drowsiness or insomnia
-
Dizziness
-
Anxiety or irritability
-
Extrapyramidal symptoms (e.g., tremors, muscle stiffness, slowness of movement)
-
Elevated prolactin levels
-
Increased blood sugar or lipid levels in some patients
Rare but serious side effects requiring urgent medical attention may also occur, such as:
-
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
-
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
-
Severe allergic reactions
Precautions and Warnings
-
Must be used strictly under medical supervision.
-
Contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to paliperidone, risperidone, or any component of the formulation.
-
Use with caution in patients with heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, or hypotension.
-
May increase the risk of falls due to dizziness or orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure upon standing).
-
Blood glucose monitoring is recommended for diabetic patients or those at risk of developing diabetes.
-
May cause drowsiness or dizziness; avoid driving or operating machinery until individual response to the treatment is established.
-
Not recommended for dementia-related psychosis in elderly patients due to an increased risk of mortality and stroke.
-
Use with caution in cases of Parkinson's disease, history of NMS, tardive dyskinesia, low white blood cell count, prolactin-dependent tumors, epilepsy, renal or hepatic impairment, priapism, or body temperature dysregulation.
-
Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding only if the expected benefits outweigh the potential risks, as determined by a physician.
Drug Interactions
Trevicta may interact with certain medications, including:
-
Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants (e.g., sedatives, hypnotics, alcohol), which may increase drowsiness.
-
Medications that prolong the QT interval on an ECG.
-
Antihypertensive drugs, as it may potentiate their blood-pressure-lowering effects.
-
Dopamine agonists (e.g., levodopa), as they may mutually antagonize each other’s effects.
Always inform your doctor or pharmacist of all medications, supplements, and herbal products you are taking before starting treatment.
Storage
-
Store at room temperature.
-
Keep in the original packaging until ready for use.
-
Requires no special storage conditions.
-
Keep out of reach of children.
-
Do not use after the expiration date stated on the package.
Ingredients
Active Ingredient:
-
Paliperidone palmitate, equivalent to 263 mg of paliperidone per pre-filled syringe.
Inactive Ingredients:
-
Polysorbate 20
-
Polyethylene glycol 4000
-
Citric acid monohydrate
-
Monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate
-
Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)
-
Water for injection
