[Non-fatal paliperidone overdose: a case report]

Area of Science:

• Psychopharmacology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Paliperidone is a newer atypical antipsychotic medication used for schizophrenia treatment.
• It functions as a serotonin and dopamine antagonist.
• The drug is generally considered safe and well-tolerated in therapeutic doses.

Observation:

• A 37-year-old female with a history of schizophrenia intentionally overdosed on paliperidone (756 mg).
• The overdose was reportedly in response to auditory command hallucinations.
• The patient was hospitalized shortly after the event.

Findings:

• Despite the significant overdose, the patient experienced no major adverse clinical events.
• No adverse laboratory parameters were detected.
• The patient did not suffer any long-lasting negative health consequences.

Implications:

• The inherent characteristics of paliperidone may limit the risks associated with overdose.
• This case suggests a potentially favorable safety profile for paliperidone even in supratherapeutic amounts.
• Further investigation into the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of paliperidone in overdose scenarios is warranted.