Risperidone (By mouth)
ris-PER-i-done
Treats schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability caused by autistic disorder.
Drug classes
Antipsychotic (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Risperidone is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or irritability associated with autistic disorder. This medicine should not be used to treat behavioral problems in older adults who have dementia.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, risperidone is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Tourette syndrome (inherited nerve, motor, and vocal disorder).
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Liquid, Tablet, Dissolving Tablet
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. You may mix your dose with water, coffee, low-fat milk, or orange juice. Do not mix it with cola or tea.
Make sure your hands are dry before you handle the disintegrating tablet. Peel back the foil from the blister pack, then remove the tablet. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Place the tablet in your mouth. After it has melted, swallow or take a drink of water.
Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not freeze the oral liquid.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some foods and medicines can affect how risperidone works. Tell your doctor if you are using carbamazepine, clozapine, fluoxetine, furosemide, levodopa, paroxetine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, quinidine, rifampin, or blood pressure medicines.
Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to risperidone.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, a low white blood cell count, Parkinson disease, trouble swallowing, or a history of breast cancer or seizures. Tell your doctor if you have heart failure, low blood pressure, or a history of a heart attack or stroke.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Increased risk of stroke Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) Tardive dyskinesia (could be permanent, and may include involuntary facial muscle movement) High blood sugar levels or high cholesterol levels Increased levels of a hormone called prolactin Low blood pressureThis medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
This medicine may change how your body regulates temperature. Avoid activities that could cause you to become very cold, hot, or dehydrated.
This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.
Risperdal® M-Tab® contains aspartame (phenylalanine). If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), talk to your doctor before using this medicine.
Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
Fever, sweating, confusion, or muscle stiffness
Increased hunger or thirst, change in how much or how often you urinate
Jerky muscle movements you cannot control (often in your face, tongue, or jaw)
Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking
Painful, prolonged erection of the penis
Seizures or tremors
Swelling of the breasts, breast soreness, nipple discharge (in both women and men)
Trouble swallowing
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, or upset stomach
Drooling
Drowsiness or trouble sleeping
Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, body aches
Weight gain
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Risperdal, Risperdal M-Tab, Risperidone M-Tab
There may be other brand names for this medicine.