What is the side effects for paliperidone?

What is paliperidone?

Paliperidone is an antipsychotic medicine that is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teenagers who are at least 12 years old.Paliperidone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Side Effects

Drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, drooling, stomach/abdominal pain, weight gain, or tiredness may occur. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.

Dizziness and lightheadedness can increase the risk of falling. Get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms, shaking (tremor), mental/mood changes (such as restlessness), interrupted breathing during sleep.

Pharmacology

Paliperidone, 9-hydroxyrisperidone, is an atypical antipsychotic, a serotonin (5HT2A) dopamine (D2) antagonist and the active metabolite of the high-potency risperidone. It has also 5HT7 antagonism that might confer some antidepressant actions. It is advantageous given the osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system technique facilitating once-daily dosing, rapid steady-state, and hence better compliance. Moreover, lack of cytochrome CYP-450 enzyme interactions, more alpha-2 affinity, alleged less propensity for extrapyramidal syndromes, and availability of long-acting injection formulation all render paliperidone a very appealing treatment option in psychoses and in hepatic patients too.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

A product that may interact with this drug is: metoclopramide.

Many drugs besides paliperidone may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, chlorpromazine, moxifloxacin, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, thioridazine, among others.

Conclusion

Paliperidone has some dynamic and kinetic superiority to the parent drug risperidone. Sound evidence base supports its use in early-onset schizophrenia, juvenile bipolar, and ASD. A modicum of evidence supports its use in TS and as adjuventia in ADHD.