Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Risperdal M-Tab
  2. RisperiDONE M-Tab

Canadian Brand Name

  1. RisperDAL
  2. Act risperiDONE
  3. AG-risperiDONE
  4. APO-risperiDONE
  5. DOM-risperiDONE
  6. IPG-risperiDONE
  7. JAMP-risperiDONE
  8. MAR-risperiDONE
  9. MINT-Risperidon
  10. PRO-risperiDONE
  11. RAN-risperiDONE
  12. RisperDAL
  13. RIVA-risperiDONE

Descriptions


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.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet
  • Tablet, Disintegrating
  • Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of risperidone in children younger than 13 years of age with schizophrenia, in children younger than 10 years of age with bipolar disorder, or in children younger than 5 years of age with autistic disorder. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of risperidone have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatric-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of risperidone in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving risperidone.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Bepridil
  • Bromopride
  • Cisapride
  • Dronedarone
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Levomethadyl
  • Mesoridazine
  • Metoclopramide
  • Pimozide
  • Piperaquine
  • Saquinavir
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Terfenadine
  • Thioridazine
  • Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abiraterone Acetate
  • Acecainide
  • Adagrasib
  • Ajmaline
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Anagrelide
  • Apalutamide
  • Apomorphine
  • Apomorphine Hydrochloride
  • Aprindine
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Asenapine
  • Astemizole
  • Atazanavir
  • Azimilide
  • Azithromycin
  • Bretylium
  • Bromocriptine Mesylate
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Buserelin
  • Carbamazepine
  • Celecoxib
  • Ceritinib
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clofazimine
  • Clothiapine
  • Clozapine
  • Crizotinib
  • Dabrafenib
  • Darunavir
  • Dasatinib
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Desipramine
  • Deslorelin
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dexmethylphenidate
  • Dibenzepin
  • Disopyramide
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Doxepin
  • Droperidol
  • Duloxetine
  • Efavirenz
  • Encainide
  • Encorafenib
  • Enflurane
  • Entrectinib
  • Enzalutamide
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Etrasimod
  • Fedratinib
  • Fenoldopam Mesylate
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Fluconazole
  • Fluoxetine
  • Formoterol
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fostemsavir
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gepirone
  • Ginkgo Biloba
  • Glasdegib
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Histrelin
  • Hydroquinidine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibutilide
  • Imipramine
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lefamulin
  • Lenvatinib
  • Leuprolide
  • Levofloxacin
  • Linezolid
  • Lithium
  • Lofexidine
  • Lorcainide
  • Lumacaftor
  • Macimorelin
  • Mefloquine
  • Methadone
  • Methylphenidate
  • Metronidazole
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mitotane
  • Mobocertinib
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nafarelin
  • Nilotinib
  • Nortriptyline
  • Octreotide
  • Olanzapine
  • Ondansetron
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Ozanimod
  • Pacritinib
  • Panobinostat
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Pentamidine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin
  • Pimavanserin
  • Pitolisant
  • Ponesimod
  • Posaconazole
  • Pramipexole Dihydrochloride
  • Primidone
  • Probucol
  • Procainamide
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Propafenone
  • Protriptyline
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Quizartinib
  • Relugolix
  • Ribociclib
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Ropinirole Hydrochloride
  • Rotigotine
  • Selpercatinib
  • Sematilide
  • Serdexmethylphenidate
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Simvastatin
  • Siponimod
  • Solifenacin
  • Sotalol
  • Spiramycin
  • St John's Wort
  • Sulfamethoxazole
  • Sulpiride
  • Sultopride
  • Sunitinib
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tedisamil
  • Telithromycin
  • Terbinafine
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Trazodone
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trimethoprim
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Vilanterol
  • Vinflunine
  • Voclosporin
  • Zotepine
  • Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Cimetidine
  • Lamotrigine
  • Levorphanol
  • Midodrine
  • Ranitidine
  • Ritonavir
  • Valproic Acid

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Allergic reaction to paliperidone (Invega®), history of—Should not be used in patients with this condition.
  • Alzheimer disease or
  • Dehydration or
  • Heart attack, recent or history of or
  • Heart or blood vessel disease or
  • Heart failure, history of or
  • Heart rhythm problem, or a history of or
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
  • Hypovolemia (low amount of blood) or
  • Stroke, history of or
  • Trouble with swallowing—May cause side effects to become worse.
  • Blood or bone marrow problems or
  • Breast cancer, prolactin-dependent or
  • Diabetes or
  • Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or
  • Hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin in the blood) or
  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), history of or
  • Parkinson disease or
  • Priapism (painful or prolonged erection of the penis) or
  • Seizures, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease, moderate to severe or
  • Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)—The oral disintegrating tablets may contain aspartame, which can make this condition worse.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

When using the oral liquid:

  • Measure the dose with the measuring device provided with the container.
  • Take the medicine directly from the measuring device or mix the liquid with a beverage (eg, water, coffee, orange juice, or low-fat milk). Do not mix the liquid with cola or tea. Drink all of the mixture.
  • Rinse the empty measuring device with water. Place it back in its storage case. Put the plastic cap back on the bottle of medicine.

When using the orally disintegrating tablet:

  • Do not open the package until you are ready to take the medicine. To remove one tablet, separate one of the 4 tablets by tearing it apart on the perforations.
  • Bend the corner as shown on the package. Peel back the foil. Do not push the tablet through the foil because that could damage the tablet.
  • With dry hands, take the tablet out of the package. Place it immediately on your tongue. Do not store the tablet once it is removed from the package.
  • The tablet will disintegrate in seconds after it is placed on the tongue.
  • You may swallow the tablet with or without liquid. Do not split or chew the tablet.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage forms (solution, tablets, or orally disintegrating tablets):
    • For bipolar disorder:
      • Adults—At first, 2 to 3 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 6 mg per day.
      • Older adults—At first, 0.5 mg 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 6 mg per day.
      • Children 10 to 17 years of age—At first, 0.5 mg once a day, in the morning or evening. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 6 mg per day.
      • Children younger than 10 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For irritability associated with autistic disorder:
      • Children 5 to 16 years of age weighing 20 kilograms (kg) or greater—At first, 0.5 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      • Children 5 to 16 years weighing less than 20 kg—At first, 0.25 mg per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      • Children younger than 5 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For schizophrenia:
      • Adults—At first, 2 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 16 mg per day.
      • Older adults—At first, 0.5 mg 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      • Children 13 to 17 years of age—At first, 0.5 mg once a day, in the morning or evening. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 6 mg per day.
      • Children younger than 13 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions (seizures), difficulty with breathing, a fast heartbeat, a high fever, high or low blood pressure, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, unusually pale skin, or tiredness. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

This medicine may cause tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder). Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: lip smacking or puckering, puffing of the cheeks, rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue, uncontrolled chewing movements, or uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs.

This medicine may increase the amount of sugar in your blood. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have increased thirst or increased urination. If you have diabetes, you may notice a change in the results of your urine or blood sugar tests. If you have any questions, check with your doctor.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If the problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Risperidone can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

This medicine may cause drowsiness, trouble with thinking, or trouble with controlling body movements, which may lead to falls, fractures or other injuries. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

This medicine may make it more difficult for your body to cool itself down. Use care not to become overheated during exercise or hot weather since overheating may result in heat stroke. Also, use extra care not to become too cold while you are taking risperidone. If you become too cold, you may feel drowsy, confused, or clumsy.

This medicine may increase your or your child's weight. Your doctor may need to check your or your child's weight on a regular basis while using this medicine.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely. This is to prevent side effects and to keep your condition from becoming worse.

Check with your doctor before using this medicine with alcohol or other medicines that affect the central nervous system (CNS). The use of alcohol or other medicines that affect the CNS with risperidone may worsen the side effects of this medicine, such as dizziness, poor concentration, drowsiness, unusual dreams, and trouble with sleeping. Some examples of medicines that affect the CNS are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, medicine for depression, medicine for anxiety, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics.

This medicine may increase prolactin blood levels if used for a long time. Check with your doctor if you have breast swelling or soreness, unusual breast milk production, absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods, stopping of menstrual bleeding, loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance, decreased interest in sexual intercourse, or an inability to have or keep an erection.

If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine. Some women using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Aggressive behavior
  2. agitation
  3. anxiety
  4. changes in vision, including blurred vision
  5. difficulty concentrating
  6. difficulty speaking or swallowing
  7. inability to move the eyes
  8. increase in amount of urine
  9. loss of balance control
  10. mask-like face
  11. memory problems
  12. muscle spasms of the face, neck, and back
  13. problems with urination
  14. restlessness or need to keep moving (severe)
  15. shuffling walk
  16. skin rash or itching
  17. stiffness or weakness of the arms or legs
  18. tic-like or twitching movements
  19. trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands
  20. trouble sleeping
  21. twisting body movements

Less common

  1. Back pain
  2. chest pain
  3. speech or vision problems
  4. sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs

Rare

  1. Confusion
  2. dizziness
  3. drowsiness
  4. extreme thirst
  5. fast, shallow breathing
  6. fast, weak heartbeat
  7. headache
  8. increased thirst
  9. lip smacking or puckering
  10. loss of appetite
  11. muscle cramps
  12. pale, clammy skin
  13. poor coordination
  14. prolonged, painful, inappropriate erection of the penis
  15. puffing of the cheeks
  16. rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue
  17. shivering
  18. talking, feeling, and acting with excitement and activity that cannot be controlled
  19. uncontrolled chewing movements
  20. uncontrolled twisting movements of neck, trunk, arms, or legs
  21. unusual bleeding or bruising
  22. unusual facial expressions or body positions

Incidence not known

  1. Actions that are out of control
  2. bleeding gums
  3. bloating
  4. blood in the urine or stools
  5. bluish lips or skin
  6. change in mental status
  7. chills
  8. clay-colored stools
  9. clumsiness
  10. cold sweats
  11. constipation
  12. cool, pale skin
  13. cough
  14. dark or bloody urine
  15. decrease in the frequency of urination
  16. decrease in urine volume
  17. decreased awareness or responsiveness
  18. depression
  19. difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
  20. dry mouth
  21. fainting
  22. fast or irregular heartbeat
  23. fever
  24. flushed, dry skin
  25. fruit-like breath odor
  26. hives
  27. hostility
  28. increased hunger
  29. increased urination
  30. indigestion
  31. irregular heartbeat, recurrent
  32. irritability
  33. large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
  34. loss of consciousness
  35. low body temperature muscle ache, twitching, or weakness
  36. nausea
  37. nervousness
  38. nightmares
  39. painful urination
  40. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
  41. pinpoint red spots on the skin
  42. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  43. rapid weight gain
  44. seizures
  45. severe constipation
  46. severe sleepiness
  47. shakiness
  48. slurred speech
  49. stomach pain
  50. swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
  51. tightness in the chest
  52. troubled breathing
  53. unexplained weight loss
  54. unpleasant breath odor
  55. unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
  56. vomiting
  57. vomiting of blood
  58. weak or feeble pulse
  59. yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Diarrhea
  2. heartburn
  3. increased dream activity
  4. increased length of sleep
  5. sore throat
  6. stuffy or runny nose

Less common

  1. Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
  2. body aches or pain
  3. breast swelling or soreness
  4. dandruff
  5. darkening of skin color
  6. decreased interest in sexual intercourse
  7. dry skin
  8. ear congestion
  9. inability to have or keep an erection
  10. increase in body movements
  11. increased watering of the mouth
  12. joint pain
  13. loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
  14. loss of voice
  15. oily skin
  16. pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
  17. sneezing
  18. stopping of menstrual bleeding
  19. toothache
  20. unusual breast milk production
  21. weight loss

Incidence not known

  1. Acne
  2. change in taste
  3. enlargement of the penis or testes
  4. growth of pubic hair
  5. loss of taste
  6. rapid increase in height
  7. sleepwalking
  8. thinning or loss of hair

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/risperidone-oral-route/before-using/drg-20067189