Clinical information
Common uses
- schizophrenia (adults and adolescents 12+)
- schizoaffective disorder
Common side effects
- movement problems (extrapyramidal symptoms)
- fast heartbeat
- restlessness (akathisia)
- sleepiness
- weight gain
Cautions
- boxed warning: raised death risk in elderly dementia patients — not approved
- can cause heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation)
- weight gain, high blood sugar and cholesterol changes possible
- risks of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and tardive dyskinesia
Interactions
- other sedating, centrally-acting drugs and alcohol — caution
- blood-pressure-lowering medicines — additive effect
- carbamazepine — paliperidone dose may need increasing
- divalproex sodium — raises paliperidone levels
Pregnancy: third-trimester use can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns
Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: DailyMed, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, paliperidone label, setid bbbaa057-f587-4eb9-a0d2-463dbcd57661 (accessed 2026-08-16)