Flexible-dose oral paliperidone ER in non-acute schizophrenia previously unsuccessfully treated with oral risperidone

Aims: Assessment of oral paliperidone ER therapy. Methods: A subgroup analysis of patients with schizophrenia switched from unsuccessful oral risperidone therapy in a 6-month, open-label, multicenter study investigating flexibly dosed paliperidone ER. Results: 694 patients were analyzed (59.2% male; mean age: 40.0 years). Mean change in PANSS total score from baseline to end point was -14.4 ± 20.2 in patients switching due to lack of efficacy (n = 359). Mean change in PANSS total score for patients switching for other reasons (n = 319) was: -7.6 ± 17.0 (lack of tolerability, n = 175), -19.6 ± 20.3 (lack of compliance, n = 76), and -12.0 ± 16.8 (other, n = 68). Conclusion: In patients with schizophrenia previously unsuccessfully treated with oral risperidone, paliperidone ER was well tolerated and associated with a meaningful treatment response.