Invega® (
paliperidone) is a prescription medication licensed for the treatment of
schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. As with any medicine, side effects are possible with this product. In a number of people taking Invega, weight gain was reported as a side effect.
In clinical studies, up to 9 percent of people using Invega reported weight gain (of at least 7 percent of body weight). While a small amount of weight gain is typical during treatment with this medication, some people can gain very large amounts of weight while taking Invega. This weight gain is thought to increase the risk of
diabetes (see Invega and Diabetes) or other health problems.
If you are taking Invega and weight gain becomes a problem, talk with your healthcare provider. He or she can give you suggestions for dealing with any gain in weight. If the weight gain continues, he or she may recommend adjusting the
Invega dosage or switching to a different schizophrenia medication.
(Click Invega and Weight Gain for more information about weight change with Invega, and for some general tips on dealing with minor, unexplained weight gain.)
