Risperdal
Risperdal helps treat mental health conditions like schizophrenia and mania, and can also help manage aggression in some patients.
How to Use
Dosage
For adults, the usual starting dose is 2 mg per day. For children, the dose varies by weight, typically starting from 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg once a day. Your doctor will tell you the right dose.
Method
Swallow the tablet whole with water. You can break it in half along the line if it helps you swallow.
For most adults, the maximum daily dose is usually between 4 mg and 6 mg. Your doctor will tell you your specific maximum dose.
Possible Side Effects
- •Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
- •Shaking, slow movements, or stiff muscles (parkinsonism)
- •Feeling tired or drowsy
- •Headache
- •Weight gain
- •Changes in hormone levels that can cause breast swelling or sexual problems
- •Dizziness
- •Stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea
- •Swelling in your hands, feet, or other parts of the body
- •Falls
- •Sudden changes in mental state, or sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs (signs of a stroke)
- •Uncontrolled twitching or jerking movements of the face, tongue, or other body parts
- •Blood clots, especially in the legs, causing swelling, pain, and redness. These can travel to the lungs, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing.
- •High fever, stiff muscles, sweating, or reduced consciousness (Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome)
- •Prolonged or painful erection
- •Severe skin rash with blisters and peeling skin
Important Warnings
- Do not take if you are allergic to risperidone or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Elderly patients with dementia have a higher risk of stroke; do not use Risperdal if your dementia is caused by a stroke.
- Seek immediate medical help if you get a high fever, very stiff muscles, sweating, or confusion (signs of a serious condition called Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome).
- If you are a man and have a prolonged or painful erection, contact your doctor immediately as this needs urgent medical attention.
- Get urgent medical help if you have a severe allergic reaction, which can cause fever, swelling of your face, mouth, lips or tongue, trouble breathing, rash, or low blood pressure.
Show 2 more warnings
- Blood clots can form with this medicine. Get immediate medical help if you notice swelling, pain, or redness in your leg, or chest pain and trouble breathing (signs of a blood clot).
- This medicine can make you dizzy or tired and affect your vision. Do not drive or use machines until you know how it affects you and have talked to your doctor.
Use in Elderly Patients
Avoid use in older adults. For treatment of psychosis only. Use only in special cases and for a limited time in the management of severe behavioural symptoms of cognitive impairment. Reduce the dose already in mild renal impairment. Increases the risk of cardiovascular events, QT prolongation and orthostatic hypotension. Increases risk for falls and extrapyramidal symptoms. (updated 15.1.2024)