title: Prolactin Levels After Switching to Paliperidone Palmitate in Patients with Schizophrenia.
abstract: Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the tolerability and efficacy of paliperidone palmitate and its effect on the levels of prolactin in patients with schizophrenia.Method:A prospective study was carried out in 22 Japanese middle-aged patients with schizophrenia who were switched from paliperidone-extended release or risperidone long-acting injectable to paliperidone palmitate for a minimum of 12 months. Psychotic symptoms using the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, extrapyramidal symptoms using 9-item Drug-induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale, and plasma prolactin levels using fasting blood samples were assessed at Baseline, and one, three, six, and 12 months.Results:There were significant reductions in prolactin levels at one, three, and six months relative to baseline in the male subjects switched from risperidone long-acting injectable, while prolactin levels in male subjects switched from paliperidone-extended release and the female subjects switched from risperidone long-acting injectable or paliperidone-extended release were largely unchanged. No time-sequential changes were observed in total scores of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Drug-induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale, irrespective of previous antipsychotics treatment.Conclusion:Switching from paliperidone-extended release or risperidone long-acting injectable to paliperidone palmitate did not result in any observed time-sequential changes in psychotic symptoms in study subjects, and prolactin levels decreased in male subjects switched from risperidone long-acting injectable. As measurement of paliperidone concentrations is limited in routine practice, a fluctuation range of prolactin levels may be a useful marker for confirmation of safety maintenance treatment with long-acting injectables in clinical settings.
authors: Dr. Nakamura is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; Dr. Nagamine is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Shinseikai-Ishii Memorial Hospital, Iwakuni, Japan; Dr. Sato is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; and PhC. Besho is with the Department of Pharmacy, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Nakamura
authors: Dr. Nakamura is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; Dr. Nagamine is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Shinseikai-Ishii Memorial Hospital, Iwakuni, Japan; Dr. Sato is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; and PhC. Besho is with the Department of Pharmacy, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Takahiko
authors: T
authors: Nagamine
authors: Dr. Nakamura is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; Dr. Nagamine is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Shinseikai-Ishii Memorial Hospital, Iwakuni, Japan; Dr. Sato is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; and PhC. Besho is with the Department of Pharmacy, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Goro
authors: G
authors: Sato
authors: Dr. Nakamura is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; Dr. Nagamine is with the Department of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Shinseikai-Ishii Memorial Hospital, Iwakuni, Japan; Dr. Sato is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan; and PhC. Besho is with the Department of Pharmacy, Kosekai-Kusatsu Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Kazue
authors: K
authors: Besho
keywords: Paliperidone palmitate; paliperidone-ER; prolactin; risperidone long-acting injectable; switching