Elderly people with dementia-related psychosis (a severe mental health problem) taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, including SAPHRIS, are at an increased risk for death compared with those taking placebo (sugar tablet). SAPHRIS is not approved for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis (see Boxed Warning). Continued below

Living with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that does not go away. But there is good news. The symptoms of schizophrenia can be managed. People with the illness can feel better. You can find ways to live your life with schizophrenia. Medicine, counseling, and support may help make a difference.


Medicine is one important part of treatment for schizophrenia.

  • Medicine does not cure schizophrenia
  • Medicine can help manage certain symptoms of schizophrenia
  • Medicines may work differently for different people. Work closely with your healthcare provider to find the right medicine for you
  • You need to take your medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes and for as long as your healthcare provider advises

Counseling can help people with schizophrenia to:

  • Take a more active role in managing their illness
  • Stick with their treatment and learn more about staying on treatment
  • Learn how to deal with problems at work, at school, or with other people
  • Have a plan for getting help
  • Improve communication skills
  • Manage daily routines

Support can make a difference to people with schizophrenia.

People with schizophrenia may find it helpful to go to:
  • Family education programs, which allow family members to learn about schizophrenia and ways they can help
  • Self-help groups, which provide a place for people with schizophrenia to meet to help and support one another. Find organizations that have support groups
When talking with
your healthcare provider
You may want to ask:
  • Do I need medicine to help manage symptoms of schizophrenia?
  • What medicine do you think is right for me?
  • Can you help me find a counselor and support group?
Print a list of questions to ask your healthcare provider.
 
For family and friends
Knowing what you can do

Going to appointments

It may help to go to healthcare provider appointments with your family member or friend. You can ask questions and hear information directly. That can be reassuring to your family member or friend.

You may want to attend family education programs or support groups. There are a number of support organizations to help you.


SAPHRIS is a type of medicine called an atypical antipsychotic. It is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Important Safety Information

Tardive dyskinesia (TD): Tell your healthcare provider if you experience uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other parts of the body. These could be signs of a serious and sometimes permanent side effect (TD). The risk for developing TD and the chance that it will become permanent is thought to increase the longer a person takes the medicine and the more medicine a person takes over time. TD can develop after a person has been taking the medicine for a short time 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 the person stops taking the medicine.

High blood sugar: If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes, such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes, your blood sugar should be tested at the beginning of and throughout treatment with SAPHRIS. Complications of diabetes can be serious and even life threatening. Tell your healthcare provider if you have blood sugar problems or signs of diabetes, such as being thirsty all the time, going to the bathroom a lot, or feeling weak or hungry.

Weight gain: Some patients may gain weight while taking SAPHRIS. Your healthcare provider should check your weight regularly.

Other important information to remember:

  • Get up slowly after sitting or lying down to avoid getting dizzy, especially at the start of treatment, or when your dose is increased. Light-headedness or faintness caused by a sudden change in heart rate and blood pressure when rising quickly from a sitting position has been reported with SAPHRIS
  • Do NOT drive or use dangerous machines until you know how SAPHRIS affects you, because SAPHRIS and medicines like it can affect your judgment, thinking, and motor skills
  • Be careful when exercising or when doing things likely to cause dehydration or make you warm, because SAPHRIS may make you more sensitive to heat. You may have trouble cooling off
  • Do NOT drink alcohol
  • Breastfeeding is NOT recommended
  • The most common side effects that occurred with SAPHRIS were sleepiness, dizziness, uncontrolled movements of the body and face, muscle stiffness, weight gain, numbing of the mouth, and restlessness

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

Please click here for Prescribing Information, including the Boxed Warning about increased risk of death in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis (a severe mental health problem), and discuss it with your healthcare provider.

This site is intended only for residents of the United States, its territories, and Puerto Rico.

SAPHRIS is a registered trademark of N.V. Organon, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.

Copyright © 2013 MSD Oss B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
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