Why is Risperdal prescribed?

Risperdal is prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder that can cause delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations. It is also used for the short-term treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder. Risperdal is thought to work by muting the impact of dopamine and serotonin, two of the brain's key chemical messengers.

What are risperidone tablets or orally disintegrating tablets?

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

• sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone.
  
  
• sedating antihistamines, eg chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine
  
  
• benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam
  
  
• strong opioid painkillers, eg morphine, codeine, dihydrocodeine
  
  
• tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline
  
  
• alcohol
  
  

• atomoxetine.
  
  
• cisapride
  
  
• intravenous erythromycin or pentamidine
  
  
• antipsychotics, eg thioridazine, chlorpromazine, sertindole, haloperidol
  
  
• antimalarials, eg halofantrine, chloroquine, quinine
  
  
• the anthistamines astemizole (no longer available in the UK) or terfenadine
  
  
• antidepressants, eg amitriptyline, imipramine, maprotiline
  
  
• antiarrhythmics, eg amiodarone, procainamide, disopyramide, sotalol
  
  

How should I take risperidone?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Risperidone can be taken with or without food.

To take risperidone orally disintegrating tablets (Risperdal (Risperidone) M-Tabs):

• Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid after the tablet is completely dissolved.
• Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.
• Using dry hands, remove the tablet and place it in your mouth. It will begin to dissolve right away.
• Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package and peel back the foil from the tablet blister. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet.

It is important to take risperidone regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Measure the liquid form of risperidone with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Special warnings about Risperdal (Risperidone)

You should use Risperdal cautiously if you have kidney, liver, or heart disease, seizures, breast cancer, thyroid disorders, or any other diseases that affect the metabolism (conversion of food into energy and tissue). Use caution, suffer from fluid loss or dehydration, if you've had a stroke or mini-strokes, too, or expect to be exposed to extremes of temperature.

Be aware that Risperdal may mask signs and symptoms of drug overdose and of conditions such as brain tumor, intestinal obstruction, and Reye's syndrome (a dangerous neurological condition that may follow viral infections, usually occurring in children). Risperdal (Risperidone) can also cause difficulty when swallowing, which in turn can cause a type of pneumonia.

Risperdal may cause Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), high fever, increased sweating, fast heartbeat or irregular pulse, a condition marked by muscle stiffness or rigidity, and high or low blood pressure. Unchecked, this condition can prove fatal. Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. Risperdal (Risperidone) therapy should be discontinued.

Certain antipsychotic drugs, including Risperdal (Risperidone), are associated with an increased risk of developing high blood sugar, which on rare occasions has led to coma or death. See your doctor right away if you develop signs of high blood sugar, increased urination, unusual thirst, including dry mouth, and tiredness. If you have diabetes or have a high risk of developing it, see your doctor regularly for blood sugar testing.