Are you also using Paliperidone? You must know these things (Paliperidone Extended-Release)

Sometimes doctors prescribe special medications to help us manage some of the complex conditions that arise in our minds. Paliperidone is one such important medication that is given for mental health conditions. If you or someone in your family has been prescribed this medication by a doctor, it is very important to be fully informed about it. Because only when we know about a medication properly and use it, we can get the maximum results from it.

What kind of medicine is Paliperidone?

Simply put, Paliperidone is a medication used to treat mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder . These are called antipsychotic medications.

This medicine works by balancing the activity of two neurotransmitter chemicals in our brain called dopamine and serotonin . Think about it, these chemicals help to control our mood, behavior, and thoughts properly. When there is an imbalance in these, various mental problems arise. So this medicine restores that balance.

Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication

Before giving you paliperidone, your doctor will want to know your complete health history. Therefore, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

• If you have dementia ( a memory loss condition that especially affects the elderly).
• If you have diabetes .
• If you have difficulty swallowing something.
• If you have muscle control problems or Parkinson's disease.
• If you have a history of heart disease , high cholesterol, or irregular heartbeat.
• If you have had a previous stroke .
• If you have kidney or liver disease .
• If you have low blood counts, which means you have low white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets.
• If you have low blood pressure .
• If you have had seizures before.
• If you have had an allergic reaction to the medications Paliperidone, Risperidone, or any other medicine or food.
• If you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant .
• If you are a mother who is breastfeeding .

Providing this information to your doctor will enable him or her to treat you more safely.

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How exactly do I use this medicine?

• Take the dose prescribed by the doctor at the right time.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
• Very important: Never chew, crush, or break these tablets. They are designed to release the medicine slowly into the body (Extended-Release). If you break or crush them, this process is lost and you may suddenly take a higher dose.
• You can take this medicine with or without food.
• Do not stop taking the medicine suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so may cause your symptoms to worsen or other problems to occur. If you do stop, do so by gradually reducing the dose under your doctor's supervision.
• What if I take too much medicine?

If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose, do not panic immediately and call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

• What if I forget to take my medicine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a forgotten dose.

Things to consider when taking medication

• Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy or dizzy. Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Changing positions: Do not suddenly stand up from a sitting position or sit down from a standing position. Doing so can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure (postural hypotension) and dizziness. Be especially careful if you are elderly.
• Body temperature: This medicine may affect the way your body controls its temperature. This means that your body may not be able to tolerate extreme heat or extreme cold. Therefore, avoid exercising in hot weather, staying in the sun for long periods of time, and wear warm clothes in cold weather.
• Blood sugar levels: This medicine may increase blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar levels regularly. Ask your doctor if you need to make changes to your diet or diabetes medication, if necessary.
• The outer coating of the pill comes out with your stool: The outer coating of some of these types of pills does not dissolve. Therefore, you may see the entire tablet coming out with your stool.This is normal, don't worry about it. The medicine has been absorbed into the body.

Possible side effects of Paliperidone

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects. However, not everyone gets them. Below are the possible side effects and their severity.