2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Initial Dose Recommended Dose Maximum Dose Schizophrenia - adults ( 2.1 ) 6 mg/day 3 to 12 mg/day 12 mg/day Schizophrenia - adolescents ( 2.1 ) Weight < 51 kg 3 mg/day 3 to 6 mg/day 6 mg/day Weight ≥ 51 kg 3 mg/day 3 to 12 mg/day 12 mg/day Schizoaffective disorder - adults ( 2.2 ) 6 mg/day 3 to 12 mg/day 12 mg/day Tablet should be swallowed whole and should not be chewed, divided, or crushed. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Schizophrenia Adults The recommended dose of paliperidone extended-release tablets for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults is 6 mg administered once daily. Initial dose titration is not required. Although it has not been systematically established that doses above 6 mg have additional benefit, there was a general trend for greater effects with higher doses. This must be weighed against the dose-related increase in adverse reactions. Thus, some patients may benefit from higher doses, up to 12 mg/day, and for some patients, a lower dose of 3 mg/day may be sufficient. Dose increases above 6 mg/day should be made only after clinical reassessment and generally should occur at intervals of more than 5 days. When dose increases are indicated, increments of 3 mg/day are recommended. The maximum recommended dose is 12 mg/day. In a longer-term study, paliperidone has been shown to be effective in delaying time to relapse in patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on paliperidone for 6 weeks [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] . Paliperidone extended-release tablets should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for maintaining clinical stability and the physician should periodically reevaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug in individual patients. Adolescents (12 to 17 years of age) The recommended starting dose of paliperidone extended-release tablets for the treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age is 3 mg administered once daily. Initial dose titration is not required. Dose increases, if considered necessary, should be made only after clinical reassessment and should occur at increments of 3 mg/day at intervals of more than 5 days. Prescribers should be mindful that, in the adolescent schizophrenia study, there was no clear enhancement to efficacy at the higher doses, i.e., 6 mg for subjects weighing less than 51 kg and 12 mg for subjects weighing 51 kg or greater, while adverse events were dose-related. 2.2 Schizoaffective Disorder The recommended dose of paliperidone extended-release tablets for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder in adults is 6 mg administered once daily. Initial dose titration is not required. Some patients may benefit from lower or higher doses within the recommended dose range of 3 to 12 mg once daily. A general trend for greater effects was seen with higher doses. This trend must be weighed against dose-related increase in adverse reactions. Dosage adjustment, if indicated, should occur only after clinical reassessment. Dose increases, if indicated, generally should occur at intervals of more than 4 days. When dose increases are indicated, increments of 3 mg/day are recommended. The maximum recommended dose is 12 mg/day. 2.3 Administration Instructions Paliperidone extended-release tablets can be taken with or without food. Paliperidone extended-release tablets must be swallowed whole with the aid of liquids. Tablets should not be chewed, divided, or crushed. The medication is contained within a nonabsorbable shell designed to release the drug at a controlled rate. The tablet shell, along with insoluble core components, is eliminated from the body; patients should not be concerned if they occasionally notice in their stool something that looks like a tablet. 2.4 Use with Risperidone Concomitant use of paliperidone with risperidone has not been studied. Since paliperidone is the major active metabolite of risperidone, consideration should be given to the additive paliperidone exposure if risperidone is coadministered with paliperidone. 2.5 Dosage in Special Populations Renal Impairment Dosing must be individualized according to the patient’s renal function status. For patients with mild renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min to ˂ 80 mL/min), the recommended initial dose of paliperidone extended-release tablets is 3 mg once daily. The dose may then be increased to a maximum of 6 mg once daily based on clinical response and tolerability. For patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≥ 10 mL/min to ˂ 50 mL/min), the recommended initial dose of paliperidone extended-release tablets is 1.5 mg once daily, which may be increased to a maximum of 3 mg once daily after clinical reassessment. As paliperidone extended-release tablets have not been studied in patients with creatinine clearance below 10 mL/min, use is not recommended in such patients [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Hepatic Impairment For patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment, (Child-Pugh Classification A and B), no dose adjustment is recommended [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Paliperidone extended-release tablets have not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Elderly Because elderly patients may have diminished renal function, dose adjustments may be required according to their renal function status. In general, recommended dosing for elderly patients with normal renal function is the same as for younger adult patients with normal renal function. For patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance 10 mL/min to ˂ 50 mL/min), the maximum recommended dose of paliperidone extended-release tablets are 3 mg once daily [see Renal Impairment above] .