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Your care team

When you are living with schizophrenia, it can help to have support from the people around you. Having a care team can help you manage schizophrenia and the way you choose to treat it. They may take you to doctor’s appointments, help you with your medication, or check on you from time to time. Your care team—especially medical professionals—aren’t judging you. They want you to get the best care possible.

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medical professionals

family

friends

case manager

social worker

therapist

Everyone’s care team is different

Yours can include medical professionals, family members, friends, case managers, social workers, therapists, and anyone who cares about you.

Sharing with your care team

Your care team wants to help you find the treatment that’s right for you. That’s why it’s important to let them know how you’re feeling.

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KEEP A JOURNAL

It may be hard to remember everything that happens between appointments. A daily journal is a good way to keep track of anything you may want to discuss with your care team.

Real-world resource

Journy: Life Goals & Self-Care app helps you maintain a daily journal.

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TAKE NOTES WITH AN APP

You can use a note-taking app on your phone. Share your notes at your next appointment. That way, your healthcare provider can have a better idea of how your treatment is going.

Real-world resource

The Moodfit app is designed to help monitor moods, track symptoms, and set self-care goals.

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ASK FOR HELP

Be open with your care team about how you’re doing. Sharing your experience with others, hearing others’ experiences, and having open conversations can be helpful.

Real-world resource

Peer support groups from the Schizophrenia Alliance are self-help groups that offer fellowship, positive support, and companionship to help achieve good mental health.

Routines and reminders

Along with choosing medication, it’s also helpful to create a routine for yourself. This can help you stay on track with your medicine and make progress with your treatment. A reminder app on your cell phone or a wall calendar (keep it somewhere you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom or kitchen) are great ways to keep track of your treatment schedule.

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Schedule your next appointment

Schedule your next injection before you leave. If someone else schedules it for you, be sure to learn the date, time, and place. That way, you have plenty of time to fit the appointment into your routine. Plus, you won’t have to worry about accidentally missing it.

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Transportation

Planning in advance can help you stick to your dosing schedule.

  • Will you or a family member drive there, or will you take public transportation?
  • If you’re driving yourself, do you know how and where you’ll park?
  • If you’re using public transportation, do you know the schedules and routes?
  • You could also consider a rideshare app
    (Uber | Lyft )

Whatever you choose, have a plan in place for the day of your injection.

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SAVE ON UZEDY

FIND OUT MORE
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about UZEDY?

UZEDY can cause serious side effects, including an increased risk of death in elderly people who are confused, have memory loss, and have lost touch with reality (dementia-related psychosis). UZEDY is not approved for use in patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Do not receive UZEDY if you are allergic to risperidone, paliperidone, or any of its components.

UZEDY may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Stroke in elderly people (cerebrovascular problems) that can lead to death.
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). NMS is a rare but very serious problem that can lead to death. Seek medical attention right away if you have any of these symptoms: high fever, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, sweating, irregular heartbeat, fast heart rate, or changes in your blood pressure.
  • Uncontrolled facial or body movements (tardive dyskinesia) that may not go away, even if you stop receiving UZEDY. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop receiving UZEDY.
  • Problems with your metabolism that may include high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), diabetes mellitus, changes in the fat levels in your blood (dyslipidemia), and weight gain. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes (e.g., obesity, family history of diabetes), your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start and during treatment with UZEDY. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of high blood sugar including: feeling very thirsty, hungry, sick to your stomach, weak or tired, or confused; needing to urinate more than usual; or your breath smells fruity.
  • High levels of prolactin in your blood. UZEDY may cause a rise in the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin that may cause side effects including missed menstrual periods, decreased fertility in women, leakage of milk from the breasts, development of breasts in men, or problems with erection.
  • Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). You may feel lightheaded or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position.
  • Falls. Antipsychotic medicines like UZEDY may cause drowsiness or dizziness when you are standing, which could increase your risk for falls and related injuries.
  • Low white blood cell count.
  • Problems thinking clearly and moving your body. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how UZEDY affects you.
  • Seizures (convulsions).
  • Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.
  • Prolonged or painful erection lasting more than 4 hours. Call your healthcare provider or go to your nearest emergency room right away if you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours.
  • Problems with control of your body temperature (too high or too low). Avoid getting overheated or dehydrated.

The most common side effects of risperidone included slow movements, stiffness, shaking, restlessness, abnormal muscle contractions or movements, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, increased saliva, constipation, dry mouth, increased appetite, weight gain, tiredness, rash, and common cold symptoms. Injection site reactions including a lump or itching were reported with UZEDY. These are not all the possible side effects of UZEDY. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Do not drink alcohol during treatment with UZEDY.

Before receiving UZEDY, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have had Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.
  • have or have had uncontrolled movements of your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw (tardive dyskinesia).
  • have diabetes or have a family history of diabetes.
  • have had dizziness or fainting or are being treated for high blood pressure.
  • have had a low white blood cell count.
  • have or have had seizures or epilepsy.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment with UZEDY. It is not known if UZEDY will harm your unborn baby. Use of UZEDY during the third trimester of pregnancy may cause side effects in the newborn infant, including agitation, abnormal muscle tone, tremor, drowsiness, difficulty feeding, and difficulty breathing. Seek medical attention if you notice these signs. If you become pregnant during treatment with UZEDY, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics, or call 1-866-961-2388 or visit http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. If you are receiving UZEDY and are breastfeeding, monitor your infant for sleepiness, inadequate weight gain, jitteriness, tremors, and abnormal muscle movements. Seek medical care if you notice these signs.
  • have or have had kidney or liver problems.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take or plan to take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. UZEDY and other medicines may affect each other.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

APPROVED USE

UZEDY (risperidone) extended-release injectable suspension is a prescription medicine used to treat schizophrenia in adults.

For more information about UZEDY, see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING, or talk to your healthcare provider.

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