Background: Risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) is increasingly being switched to paliperidone palmitate (PP) because of several benefits. However, this switching is not always successful.
Methods: We examined patient profiles following discontinuation of PP after switching from RLAI. We collected the electronic records of 24 patients with schizophrenia who had switched from RLAI to PP treatment at our hospital between November 2013 and March 2014. Twelve patients continued PP injection for over 1 year (PP-continuers), the other 12 patients discontinued within 1 year (PP-discontinuers), and both groups were followed up until December 31, 2014.
Results: PP-discontinuers had significantly shorter RLAI-administration period (mean 73.1 ± 59.0 weeks versus 148.5 ± 75.0 weeks), and lower chlorpromazine (CP) equivalent mean doses (mean 553.5 ± 251.0 mg versus 1002.5 ± 529.3 mg) compared with PP-continuers. The CP equivalent mean dose of PP-discontinuers had increased at the time of discontinuation and their social status became significantly worse. Six PP-discontinuers (50%) re-switched to RLAI, and their social status was not significantly worse at the end of the observation period.
Conclusions: On switching from RLAI to PP, we need to consider that some patients have had a shorter RLAI-administration period and may require lower amounts of antipsychotics.
Keywords: antipsychotics; discontinuation; long-acting injectable; paliperidone palmitate; risperidone; successful switching.