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Living with Schizophrenia
Many of the words used to describe schizophrenia as an illness—"severe" and "chronic" to name two—sound pretty scary. Little wonder, then, that the idea of living a full and productive life with schizophrenia seems difficult to many people.
Yet the simple fact is that schizophrenia is a treatable illness. With medication, psychosocial counseling, a strong support system and a healthy lifestyle, many people with schizophrenia manage to work, study, and have fulfilling social lives.
Schizophrenia Medication
While schizophrenia cannot be cured, its symptoms can be treated with antipsychotic medications.
Treatment works. In a recent survey, the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) asked consumers of mental health services to rate the severity of their symptoms before and after treatment. With a score of 10 equaling the most severe symptoms, the average consumer said the severity of symptoms before treatment was 8.5, while the severity after treatment was 3.6.
It’s important to note, however, that while treatment can help reduce and control many of the symptoms of schizophrenia, some people will continue to experience symptoms throughout their lives.
Psychosocial counseling
Psychosocial counseling usually focuses on social functioning and can be very helpful. It involves regularly scheduled meetings between the person with schizophrenia and a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric social worker or nurse.
A key element of psychosocial counseling is the teaching of coping and problem-solving skills (for example, how to handle stress in everyday life).
Support systems
The support of family and friends is essential to the well-being of most people, those with schizophrenia definitely included!
Many people with schizophrenia find stability and comfort within their own family circles. Others are alienated from family and friends, often as a direct result of their illness. For all of these people, the emotional support of others with the illness can be especially helpful.
Schizophrenia peer support groups, led by trained peer educators, provide an opportunity for people with schizophrenia to connect with one another, share experiences, and develop new friendships.
Simply stated, a relapse is a return of schizophrenia symptoms.
People with schizophrenia can sometimes experience a relapse even if they have been taking their medication as prescribed. The main reason people relapse, however, is failure to take their medicines as directed, or at all. Other reasons include mental stress, and the use of street drugs or alcohol.
Bottom line? To help avoid relapse, stay on track with your treatment, find support you can count on during life’s inevitable blows, and don’t neglect your body while you’re taking care of your mind! That means getting enough sleep, avoiding street drugs and alcohol, eating right and staying active.
INVEGA® (paliperidone) extended-release tablets are used for the treatment of schizophrenia.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR INVEGA
Elderly Patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. INVEGA (paliperidone) is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare and potentially fatal side effect reported with INVEGA and similar medicines. Call your doctor immediately if the person being treated develops symptoms such as high fever; stiff muscles; shaking; confusion; sweating; changes in pulse, heart rate, or blood pressure; or muscle pain and weakness. Treatment should be stopped if the person being treated has NMS.
One risk of INVEGA is that it may change your heart rhythm. This effect is potentially serious, and you should talk to your doctor about any current or past heart problems. Some medications interact with INVEGA. Please inform your healthcare professional of any medications or supplements that you are taking.
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a serious, sometimes permanent side effect reported with INVEGA and similar medications. TD includes uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, and other parts of the body. The risk of developing TD and the chance that it will become permanent is thought to increase with the length of therapy and the overall dose taken by the patient. This condition can develop after a brief period of therapy at low doses, although this is much less common. There is no known treatment for TD, but it may go away partially or completely if therapy is stopped.
High blood sugar and diabetes have been reported with INVEGA and similar medications. If the person being treated has diabetes or risk factors such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes, blood sugar testing should be performed at the beginning and throughout treatment with INVEGA. Complications of diabetes can be serious and even life threatening. If signs of high blood sugar or diabetes develop, such as being thirsty all the time, going to the bathroom a lot, or feeling weak or hungry, contact your doctor.
INVEGA and similar medications can raise the blood levels of a hormone known as prolactin, causing a condition known as hyperprolactinemia. Blood levels of prolactin remain elevated with continued use. Some side effects seen with these medications include the absence of a menstrual period; breasts producing milk; the development of breasts by males; and the inability to achieve an erection. The connection between prolactin levels and side effects is unknown.
People with narrowing or blockage of the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach or small or large intestine) should talk to their healthcare professional before taking INVEGA.
Some people taking INVEGA may feel faint or lightheaded when they stand up or sit up too quickly. By standing up or sitting up slowly and following your healthcare professional's dosing instructions, this side effect may be reduced or it may go away over time.
INVEGA may affect your driving ability; therefore, do not drive or operate machinery before talking to your healthcare professional. Avoid alcohol while on INVEGA.
INVEGA should be used cautiously in people with a seizure disorder, who have had seizures in the past, or who have conditions that increase their risk for seizures.
Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) are usually persistent movement disorders or muscle disturbances, such as restlessness, tremors, and muscle stiffness. If you observe any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare professional.
Inform your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant while taking INVEGA. Caution should be exercised when INVEGA is administered to a nursing woman.
INVEGA may affect alertness and motor skills; use caution until the effect of INVEGA is known.
INVEGA may make you more sensitive to heat. You may have trouble cooling off, or be more likely to become dehydrated, so take care when exercising or when doing things that make you warm.
INVEGA should be swallowed whole. Tablets should not be chewed, divided, or crushed. Do not be worried if you see something that looks like a tablet in your stool. This is what is left of the tablet after all the medicine has been released.
The most common side effects that occurred with INVEGA were restlessness and extrapyramidal disorder (for example, involuntary movements, tremors and muscle stiffness).
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Please see the Important Product Information for INVEGA.
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This page was last modified on: Feb 04 2008 at 14:59:44 EST