Paliperidone extended-release: a review of efficacy and tolerability in schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar mania

Importance of the field: Paliperidone extended-release (ER), a once-daily, oral, atypical antipsychotic, has been available in the USA and the EU for the treatment of schizophrenia for more than 2 years and was recently (July 2009) approved in the USA for treatment of schizoaffective disorder. Additional data on its efficacy and safety, including that for additional indications, is emerging. Areas covered in this review: This review provides a background on the compound and summarizes recent data available on treatment of schizophrenia, including comparative data with other antipsychotics, and efficacy and safety data from clinical trials in schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. What the reader will gain: The reader will gain knowledge of the compound and the existing clinical data so far for paliperidone ER. Take home message: Paliperidone ER is effective for the treatment of schizophrenia and is at present the only antipsychotic approved in the USA for treatment of schizoaffective disorder. Its efficacy and tolerability profile in treating patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder indicates that paliperidone ER offers an important treatment option among atypical antipsychotic therapy for these patients.