Uses of Paliperidone

Paliperidone is used to treat schizophrenia and also used to treat schizoaffective disorder (combination of schizophrenia and mood disorder symptoms) in adults.

Therapeutic Category

Paliperidone: Antipsychotics

How Paliperidone works

Paliperidone acts in the brain by blocking the receptors for the chemicals called dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (also called serotonin), which are involved in schizophrenia. By blocking these receptors, Paliperidone helps to normalize the activity of the brain and reduce symptoms and stop your symptoms from coming back.

Common side effects of Paliperidone

• difficulty falling or staying asleep
• parkinsonism (slow or impaired movement, sensation of stiffness or tightness of the muscles (jerky movements) and sometimes even a sensation of movement "freezing up" and then restarting
• restlessness
• feeling sleepy or less alert
• headache
• infection of the chest (bronchitis), common cold symptoms, sinus infection, urinary tract infection, flu-like symptoms
• weight gain or loss, change in appetite
• elated mood (mania), irritability, depression, anxiety
• dystonia (slow or sustained involuntary contraction of muscles, often involves muscles of the face, including abnormal movements of the eyes, mouth, tongue, or jaw)
• dizziness or drowsiness
• blurry vision
• dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements and can include repetitive, spastic, or writhing movements or twitching)
• tremor (shaking)
• slow heart rate, rapid heart rate
• sore throat, cough, stuffy nose
• abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth, toothache
• bone or muscle ache, back pain, joint pain
• loss of menstrual periods
• fever, weakness, fatigue (tiredness)

When to consult your doctor

Consult your doctor:

• in case of accidental overdosage
• if you experience symptoms of blood clots in the veins, especially in the legs such as swelling, pain and redness in the leg, which may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty breathing
• if you experience signs of a stroke such as dementia and a sudden change in your mental state or sudden weakness or numbness of your face, arms, or legs, especially on one side or slurred speech, even for a short period of time
• if you experience fever, muscle stiffness, sweating or a lowered level of consciousness (a disorder called Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome)
• if you experience prolonged or painful erection (priapism)
• if you experience tardive dyskinesia (involuntary rhythmic movements of the tongue, mouth, and face)
• if you experience symptoms of a severe allergic reaction characterized by fever, swollen mouth, face, lip or tongue, throat, shortness of breath, itching, skin rash and sometimes drop in blood pressure (amounting to an anaphylactic reaction)

Health Tips for Paliperidone

• Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking Paliperidone as it may interfere with the effectiveness of the medication and increase the risk of side effects
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and managing stress can support your overall well-being during treatment
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, especially if you experience dry mouth as a side effect
• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking Paliperidone as it may interact with effectiveness of the medication