Abilify vs. Invega

Abilify (aripiprazole) and Invega (paliperidone) are antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia.

Common side effects of Abilify include:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• weakness
• lightheadedness
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach upset
• tiredness
• excess saliva or drooling
• choking or trouble swallowing
• blurred vision
• headache
• anxiety
• weight gain
• drowsiness
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• constipation

Common side effects of Invega include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• lightheadedness,
• abdominal/stomach pain,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• weight gain,
• cough,
• dry mouth,
• breast swelling or discharge,
• changes in menstrual periods,
• restlessness,
• shaking (tremor),
• blurred vision,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Invega including:

• difficulty swallowing,
• muscle spasms,
• mental/mood changes, or
• signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat),
• high fever,
• sweating,
• confusion,
• fast or uneven heartbeats,
• feeling like you might pass out,
• tremors (uncontrolled shaking),
• trouble swallowing,
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body,
• sudden and severe headache, or problems with vision, speech, or balance,
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, or
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips.

Abilify is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Abilify belongs to a class of medicines known as SNRIs (or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors).

Abilify is also used to treat or manage:

• Schizophrenia
• manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder
• major depressive disorder (MDD) when ABILIFY is used with antidepressant medicines
• irritability associated with autistic disorder
• Tourette's disorder

Abilify Injection is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania

It is not known if Abilify is safe or effective in children:

• under 13 years of age with schizophrenia
• under 10 years of age with bipolar I disorder
• under 6 years of age with irritability associated with autistic disorder
• under 6 years of age with Tourette's disorder

Invega (paliperidone) extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents (12-17 years of age)

Do not take Abilify if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in Abilify. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Abilify.

If you are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, as there is a potential for interactions.

Do not drink alcohol while taking Invega.

Take Abilify exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change the dose or stop taking Abilify yourself.

• Abilify can be taken with or without food.
• Abilify tablets should be swallowed whole.
• If you miss a dose of Abilify, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Abilify at the same time.
• If you have been prescribed Abilify Discmelt, take it as follows:
• Do not open the blister until ready to take the Discmelt tablet.
• To remove one Discmelt tablet, open the package and peel back the foil on the blister to expose the tablet.
• Do not push the tablet through the foil because this could damage the tablet.
• Immediately upon opening the blister, using dry hands, remove the tablet and place the entire bilify Discmelt Orally Disintegrating Tablet on the tongue.
• Tablet disintegration occurs rapidly in saliva. It is recommended that bilify Discmelt be taken without liquid. However, if needed, it can be taken with liquid.
• Do not attempt to split the Discmelt tablet.

If you take too much Discmelt, call your healthcare provider or poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Invega should be taken with water. Tablets should not be chewed, divided, or crushed.