Risperdal FAQs

What is Risperdal?

Risperdal (risperidone) is an anti-psychotic drug. It is used to treat patients with major psychosis. It is relatively new and appears to have a somewhat better side effect profile than its predecessors. However, some side effects are similar to preceding drugs including: tardive dyskinesia (an irreversible smacking of the lips), malignant neuroleptic syndrome (rising temperatures in susceptible patients), orthostatic hypotension, seizures, somnolence, constipation, nausea, rash and tachycardia.

What is Risperdal used to treat?

Risperdal is most often used to treat delusional psychosis such as schizophrenia, but has also been used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and psychotic depression.

How is Risperdal different from other antipsychotic medications?

Conventional antipsychotics such as Haldol, Stelazine, and Prolixin have treated positive symptoms in many patients for several years. However, these drugs do not positively affect the negative symptoms, and they often cause uncomfortable or intolerable side effects. Risperdal is as effective as the conventional medications in treating positive symptoms. Risperdal also offers the advantages of helping treat negative symptoms and causing fewer extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) such as restlessness, muscle rigidity, and tremor when taken at the manufacturer’s recommended dose of 6 mg per day or less.

How quickly does Risperdal relieve symptoms of schizophrenia?

Improvement of symptoms may be noticed in some patients relatively quickly. Some adjustments may be necessary to reach the optimal dose for each patient. It is normally advisable to give the medication a trial period of at least four to six weeks at the optimal dose before evaluating its effectiveness, although experience with Clozaril suggests that improvements may take months to fully emerge. When first released, the recommended dose for Risperdal was 6 mg/day. It is now known that lower doses (3 or 4 mg/day) are often effective with lower risk for side effects.

What are some of the side effects of Risperdal?

Some common side effects of Risperdal include nausea, dizziness, anxiety, low blood pressure, insomnia, muscle pain and stiffness, sedation, weight gain, tremors, sexual dysfunction, and sometimes lactation in both genders.

What are some of the health risks associated with Risperdal?

Risperdal has the potential to cause tardive dyskinesia (TD), extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), strokes, and even death.

What should I do if I experience negative effects from Risperdal?

If you experience painful or negative side effects from Risperdal, it is essential that you immediately seek medical attention. The second step towards recovery is to discuss your case with an experienced Risperdal attorney.