Invega Trinza, made simple.
Invega Trinza is a long-acting medicine for schizophrenia. It is the same medicine as Invega Sustenna, but it is given just once every 3 months. That means four injections a year instead of twelve. This guide explains how it works and what to expect. A Mississippi pharmacist wrote it for you, with care.
This guide is here to teach you. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Always do what your doctor tells you, and ask a pharmacist before you change how you take any medicine.
Print this guide for your fridgeWhat Invega Trinza is and why your doctor gave it to you
Invega Trinza is a medicine for schizophrenia in adults. Its other name is paliperidone palmitate.
It is the same medicine as Invega Sustenna, just made to last longer. Where Invega Sustenna is a monthly injection, Invega Trinza is given once every 3 months.
There is one rule about starting it that matters. You cannot begin treatment on Invega Trinza directly. You first need to be doing well on Invega Sustenna, the monthly version, for at least 4 months. Being moved to Invega Trinza usually means your treatment has been stable, which is good news.
The simple version: Invega Trinza is the every 3 month version of a medicine you are already stable on. Four injections a year, steady treatment, and far fewer clinic visits to plan around.
How Invega Trinza works
Invega Trinza works exactly the same way as Invega Sustenna, because it is the same medicine. It helps bring brain chemicals, especially dopamine, back toward balance, which settles the signals that cause symptoms of schizophrenia.
The difference is only in how long it lasts. Invega Trinza is made so the medicine releases slowly over a full 3 months from a single injection.
That steady, long release is the whole point. Fewer injections, the same steady protection.
Your dose, and how the injections work
Invega Trinza is given by your care team, not by you at home. Your doctor decides your dose, based on the dose of Invega Sustenna you were already doing well on. This page will not tell you what dose you should be on.
There is no separate starter injection for Invega Trinza. Your first Invega Trinza injection simply takes the place of what would have been your next monthly Invega Sustenna injection.
After that, it is one injection every 3 months. The injection goes into the shoulder or the buttock muscle.
Your every 3 month appointment, and missed appointments
Because Invega Trinza is given on a schedule by your care team, the most important habit is to keep your every 3 month injection appointments. Put the next one on your calendar before you leave the clinic.
If you have to miss an appointment, what to do depends on how much time has passed, and this matters more with Invega Trinza than with the monthly version.
If you miss a dose:
- If you cannot make an injection appointment, call your clinic right away.
- If only a little time has passed, your team can usually give the injection soon and continue the schedule.
- If a longer gap has passed, you may need to restart on the monthly Invega Sustenna first before going back to Invega Trinza. Your care team will guide this. Do not assume you can just get the next 3 month shot.
- The sooner your clinic knows, the simpler the fix. Fairview can help if cost or a ride is the obstacle.
Side effects, what is normal and what is not
Common, and usually manageable.
- Soreness or a firm spot where the injection was given.
- Feeling drowsy or sleepy.
- Some weight gain.
- Restlessness, or a feeling that you need to keep moving. Tell your care team if this happens.
Call your doctor if you notice:
- Signs of higher blood sugar, like being very thirsty, urinating a lot, or being very hungry.
- Notable weight gain.
- Feeling dizzy or faint, especially when you stand up.
- New movements you cannot control, such as of the face, tongue, or hands.
Go to the emergency room right away if:
- You have a high fever, very stiff muscles, sweating, and confusion all together.
- You have a fast or irregular heartbeat, or you faint.
- You have a fever with a sore throat and mouth sores.
What to be careful with
Because Invega Trinza is the same medicine as Invega Sustenna, the cautions are the same. A few kinds of medicine need a careful look alongside it: other medicines that affect heart rhythm, certain seizure medicines, some blood pressure medicines, and the herbal supplement St. John's Wort.
The simple rule: tell every doctor and every pharmacist that you get Invega Trinza injections, and before you start any new medicine or supplement, mention it. Every single time.
Alcohol can add to drowsiness and unsteadiness, so ask your care team what is sensible for you.
At Fairview, we keep your medicine list and check new prescriptions against it, so an interaction does not slip through.
What it costs
The cost is different for every person, because every insurance plan is different.
Here is the honest way to find your price. If you pay cash, call Fairview and we will give you a price for your situation. If you have private insurance, there may be a coupon or a savings program from the maker of the drug that helps lower your cost, and we will check if one is available for you. The best step is to let a pharmacist look at your plan. We do this for every patient.
Do not let cost make you skip doses. Call us first. There is almost always something we can do.
There is also a generic version of many medicines. The generic is the same medicine. Ask your pharmacist if a generic is a good fit for you.
What should be checked
Invega Trinza works best alongside some regular checks, the same ones used for Invega Sustenna.
Your doctor should check, now and then:
- Your weight, your blood sugar, and your cholesterol.
- How well your kidneys are working.
- Your blood pressure, including whether you feel dizzy standing up.
- Any new movements you cannot control.
Your pharmacist can help by:
- Keeping your full medicine list and checking new prescriptions against it.
- Answering questions about side effects between appointments.
- Helping with cost and assistance programs.
- Keeping your information private, always.
At Fairview, we keep an eye on our Invega Trinza patients between appointments. Your care is handled discreetly and with respect.
Special situations
Not for older adults with dementia.
There is an FDA warning that all medicines in this group, including Invega Trinza, raise the risk of death when used in older adults who have dementia. Invega Trinza is approved for schizophrenia, not for dementia. If a loved one with dementia has been prescribed it, ask the prescriber about this directly, so the decision is made with full information.
Keeping your every 3 month appointment.
With only four injections a year, each appointment carries more weight. Mark your next date as soon as you finish one, and set a reminder ahead of time. If a date is hard to make, call your clinic or Fairview early so it can be sorted out.
If you want to go back to monthly injections.
Some people switch back to the monthly Invega Sustenna, and that is fine. Your doctor plans the timing and the dose for that change. It is a simple switch, but it is one your care team arranges, not something to do on your own.
If you have kidney problems.
How well your kidneys work affects this medicine. If your kidney function is significantly reduced, Invega Trinza may not be recommended, and your doctor will choose another option. Make sure your prescriber knows about any kidney condition.
Pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, tell your doctor. Babies exposed to antipsychotic medicines late in pregnancy can have muscle stiffness or withdrawal signs after birth. Treatment is planned carefully with your doctor.
Cost should never be the reason you stop.
There is a manufacturer savings program, and an assistance program for people with limited income that can provide the medicine at no cost. If cost is a worry, call Fairview before you miss an appointment.
How Fairview helps Invega Trinza patients
When Fairview is part of your Invega Trinza care, here is what you get. This is normal care for us, and it is always private.
When you start:
- We check all your other medicines and supplements against Invega Trinza.
- We explain how the every 3 month schedule works.
- We talk through cost and help you find any program you qualify for.
Along the way:
- We answer questions about side effects between appointments.
- We check any new prescription against your medicine list.
- We help you keep your appointments on track.
On our own, without being asked:
- If we see a medicine that does not mix well, we call your doctor.
- We check your cost regularly to keep it as low as possible.
- We keep your care discreet and respectful, always.
Questions people ask about Invega Trinza
It is the same medicine, just made to last longer. Invega Sustenna is given monthly. Invega Trinza is given once every 3 months, so four injections a year instead of twelve.
Related guides
Have a question about your Invega Trinza? Ask a pharmacist you can trust.
Moving to an every 3 month injection usually means your treatment has been steady, and that is worth recognizing. Fairview is here to help you and your family keep it that way, privately and without judgment.