What is paliperidone?
Paliperidone is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.
Paliperidone is used to treat schizophrenia.
Paliperidone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about paliperidone?
Paliperidone is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Paliperidone may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
While you are taking paliperidone, you may be more sensitive to temperature extremes such as very hot or cold conditions. Avoid getting too cold, or becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking paliperidone.
Paliperidone may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Before using paliperidone, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by paliperidone.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of paliperidone.
Stop taking paliperidone and call your doctor at once if you have very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, restless muscle movements in your face or neck, tremor (uncontrolled shaking), trouble swallowing, or feeling like you might pass out.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking paliperidone?
Paliperidone is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Paliperidone may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to paliperidone or a similar drug called risperidone (Risperdal).
To make sure you can safely take paliperidone, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
a history of low white blood cell (WBC) counts;
a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome;
heart disease, heart rhythm problems, or a history of heart attack or stroke;
high or low blood pressure;
an electrolyte imbalance, such as low potassium or magnesium levels in your blood;
a history of breast cancer;
seizures or epilepsy;
kidney or liver disease;
diabetes (paliperidone may raise your blood sugar);
high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);
a stomach or intestinal disorder;
a history of suicidal thoughts;
Parkinson's disease; or
trouble swallowing.
FDA pregnancy category C. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
Taking antipsychotic medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn, such as withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, feeding problems, fussiness, tremors, and limp or stiff muscles. However, you may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems if you stop taking your medicine during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking paliperidone, do not stop taking it without your doctor's advice.
Paliperidone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while taking paliperidone.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.