Your doctor can best discuss the duration of treatment you need based on your symptoms and illness. Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication.
Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions. Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein.
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Symptoms of schizophrenia include: Hallucinations — imagined voices or images that seem real Delusions — beliefs that are not true e. Risperidone is also FDA approved for the following indications: Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes of bipolar disorder Maintenance long-term treatment of bipolar disorder Irritability associated with autistic disorders This medication sheet will focus primarily on schizophrenia.
Missing doses of risperidone may increase your risk for a relapse in your symptoms. Caution is advised with breastfeeding since risperidone does pass into breast milk. Symptoms of your condition that bother you the most If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself Medications you have taken in the past for your condition, whether they were effective or caused any adverse effects If you ever had muscle stiffness, shaking, tardive dyskinesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, or weight gain caused by a medication If you experience side effects from your medications, discuss them with your provider.
Some side effects may pass with time, but others may require changes in the medication. Any psychiatric or medical problems you have, such as heart rhythm problems, long QT syndrome, heart attacks, diabetes, high cholesterol, or seizures If you have a family history of diabetes or heart disease All other medications you are currently taking including over the counter products, herbal and nutritional supplements and any medication allergies you have Other non-medication treatment you are receiving, such as talk therapy or substance abuse treatment.
Your provider can explain how these different treatments work with the medication. If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding If you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs How Should I Take Risperidone? Risperidone tablets and solution are usually taken 1 or 2 times per day with or without food.
A specific treatment to reverse the effects of risperidone does not exist. Now it is more widely used to treat aggression and irritability in both dementia patients, often in inpatient facilities, and in children. Many kids on the autism spectrum take Risperdal to reduce behavior problems like aggression or self-injury, and the FDA has approved it for that use. When kids act out dangerously or are at risk of getting kicked out of school or removed from the home, they may be given Risperdal or another SGA to calm them down.
For kids who do not have an autism diagnosis, these prescriptions are off-label — that is, they are not an FDA-approved use for the drug. But a substantial body of evidence suggests they are effective in reducing persistent behavioral problems. Risperdal is controversial because side effects that include substantial weight gain and metabolic, neurological and hormonal changes that can be harmful.
Some experts are concerned that children are being treated with the drug in lieu of other treatment — including behavioral treatment — that could be effective without the risk of these side effects. Risperdal has been in the news over the last several years because of thousands of lawsuits from families who say they were not informed about side effects that might adversely affect their kids, and the kids were not taken off the medication when problems developed.
Many of the suits are on behalf of boys who, in a rare side effect, developed breasts because of an increase in a hormone called prolactin. This behavior often presents in early adolescence, says Dr.
Nash notes. Or the child might already have been sent to the emergency room after an outburst at school. Most experts, including Dr. Nash, stress the importance of thoroughly investigating the causes of aggressive behavior as part of the evaluation for medication. Behavior problems can have many different sources , including undiagnosed anxiety , ADHD , learning disorders , trauma and medical problems.
Treating those problems may allieviate the behavior issues in a more effective and lasting way than giving the child antipsychotic medication. Depending on the level of risk, Dr. Nash says she might recommend a first trial of behavioral therapy, or medication together with behavioral therapy.
In a more stable situation, Dr. Nash also favors first trying more targeted medications with fewer side effects. If these attempts are not effective, Dr. Nash may try an SGA. Abilify aripiprazole , which is also approved for irritability in kids on the spectrum and commonly used for aggression, is usually her first choice, because it has fewer side effects, than Risperdal, including lower weight gain and endocrine disruption.
But medication treatment should always be in combination with behavioral therapy, she stresses, which could include parent training. The medical community agrees. A survey of treatment recommendations from top experts emphasizes that medication should not replace behavioral therapy. In Dr. The most common side effect of Risperdal is weight gain , which can occur quickly.
In one study , average weight gain after In a study of children treated with Risperdal for 2. Larger doses were associated with significantly greater increases in weight. These are more common in overweight or obese children. Of the SGAs, the risk of metabolic side effects is greatest with Zyprexa olanzapine , followed by Clozaril clozapine. Seroquel quetiapine and Risperdal fall into the middle. Risperidone may cause children to gain more weight than expected and for boys and male teenagers to have an increase in the size of their breasts.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of giving this medication to your child. Risperidone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom.
Always store the orally disintegrating tablets in their sealed package, and use them immediately after opening the package. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to risperidone. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.
You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Risperidone pronounced as ris per' i done. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used?
Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow?
What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
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