What should clinicians know about Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate LAI)?

Invega Sustenna (“Sustenna” or paliperidone palmitate) is a long-acting injectable (LAI) formulation of paliperidone. It was the first available second-generation antipsychotic LAI to provides coverage for 4 weeks. It is FDA-indicated to treat adults with diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Establishing Tolerability

• Prior to initiating Invega Sustenna, establish tolerability with oral paliperidone or risperidone.

Dosing

• Once every 4 week intramuscular injection only, which must be administered by a healthcare provider.
• The recommended maintenance dose for treatment of schizophrenia is 117 mg.
• Available as prefilled syringes of the following doses:
  • 39 (injection volume of 0.25 ml)-78 mg (injection volume of 0.5 ml) corresponds to a daily oral dose of paliperidone 3 mg
  • 78 mg (injection volume of 0.5 ml) corresponds to a daily oral dose of paliperidone 3 mg
  • 117 mg (injection volume of 0.75 ml) corresponds to a daily oral dose of paliperidone 6 mg
  • 156 mg (injection volume of 1 ml) corresponds to a daily oral dose of paliperidone 9 mg
  • 234 mg (injection volume of 1.5 ml) corresponds to a daily oral dose of paliperidone 12 mg

    Dose Conversion of Oral Paliperidone to Paliperidone Palmitate LAI
    PO Dose	LAI/IM Dose
    Initiate LAI doses	Loading doses – 234 mg day 1, followed by 156 mg day 8, followed by maintenance dose 5 weeks after first injection
    3 mg paliperidone	39-78 mg Invega Sustenna every 4 weeks
    3 mg paliperidone	78 mg Invega Sustenna every 4 weeks
    6 mg paliperidone	117 mg Invega Sustenna every 4 weeks
    9 mg paliperidone	156 mg Invega Sustenna every 4 weeks
    12 mg paliperidone	234 mg Invega Sustenna every 4 weeks
    Recommended available dose formulations include 39 mg, 78 mg, 117 mg, 156 mg, and 234 mg pre-filled syringes. Dose reduction may be necessary for CYP450 interactions of side effect intolerance. References: 1. Stahl, S. M. (2017). The prescriber’s guide: Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology (6th ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press. 2. American Psychiatric Association. (2020). The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia. American Psychiatric Association Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890424841 3. INVEGA SUSTENNA USPI, Section 2.1 Administration Instructions; Section 2.2: Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder; Section 2.6: Switching from Other Antipsychotics; Section 17: How Supplied/Storage and Handling

• The following loading dose strategy is recommended after tolerability has been established with oral risperidone or paliperidone (for patients naïve to Invega Sustenna):
  • On day 1 administer Invega Sustenna 234 mg in the deltoid.
  • One week later administer Invega Sustenna 156 mg in the deltoid per medication label, while using clinical judgment. (Published data suggests Invega Sustenna 234 mg for both initiation doses and maintenance is safe.)
  • Seven days is recommended for the second loading dose, but a window of 4-10 days is acceptable.
  • The first maintenance dose should be administered 5 weeks following the first (of 2) loading doses.
    • Maintenance dose should be selected to correspond with appropriate oral dose equivalent (as detailed above).
  • The deltoid is specifically recommended for faster distribution during the initiation phase.
  • No oral supplementation is necessary.
  • The loading dose strategy should NOT be used for patients switching from one LAI to another, i.e., Aristada to Invega Sustenna. Detailed protocols for switching between LAIs have not been established, but it is recommended that there is overlap of 1-3 weeks when switching to oral paliperidone. Therefore, prescribers should stop the previous LAI and initiate the new LAI at targeted maintenance dose when possible.
• See this tip on how to manage missed doses of Invega Sustenna.

Practical issues (including administration)

• Store Invega Sustenna at room temperature.
• Shake the pre-filled syringe vigorously for 10 seconds. Administer the injection within 5 minutes of shaking.
• Monthly doses can be flexibly administered one week before or after the scheduled dose to avoid missed doses.
• Choose between the deltoid or gluteal muscle (for maintenance doses) based on the patient preference and body habitus. Both loading doses should be administered in the deltoid muscle.
  • Rotate injection sites to avoid muscle hypertrophy, abscesses, and tissue damage by repeated, frequent injections at the same site.
  • For deltoid injections:
    • For patients weighing less than 90 kg, the 1-inch, 23 gauge needle is recommended.
    • For patients weighing 90 kg or more, the 1 ½-inch, 22 gauge needle is recommended.
  • For gluteal injections:
    • The recommended needle size for administration of Invega Sustenna into the gluteal muscle is the 1½-inch, 22 gauge needle regardless of patient weight.

FDA medication label

• Information on this topic is found in the FDA medication label. Here is the most recent label, at time of writing.
• Medication labels can be found by searching Drugs@FDA at the FDA website. Labels are also available using the Drugs@FDA app for Apple or Android devices. Labels change over time, and the current label should always be consulted.