Risperidone

This information from Lexicomp^® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

Perseris; RisperDAL; RisperDAL Consta; Rykindo; Uzedy

Brand Names: Canada

AG-Risperidone; APO-Risperidone; JAMP-Risperidone; JOI-Risperidone; Mar-Risperidone; MINT-Risperidon; MYLAN-Risperidone ODT [DSC]; Perseris [DSC]; PMS-Risperidone; PRO-Risperidone; RisperDAL Consta; RisperDAL [DSC]; RIVA-Risperidone; SANDOZ Risperidone; TARO-Risperidone; TEVA-Risperidone

What is this drug used for?

• It is used to treat schizophrenia.
• It is used to treat bipolar disorder.
• It is used to treat irritation that happens with autistic disorder.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take this drug?

• If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.

This drug may interact with other drugs or health problems.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take this drug?

All products:

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this drug affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• It may take several weeks to see the full effects.
• High blood sugar or diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain have happened with drugs like this one. These may raise the chance of heart and brain blood vessel disease.
• Check your blood sugar as you have been told by your doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug.
• Talk with your doctor before you use marijuana, other forms of cannabis, or prescription or OTC drugs that may slow your actions.
• Be careful in hot weather or while being active. Drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
• Dizziness, sleepiness, and feeling less stable may happen with this drug. These may lead to falling, which can cause broken bones or other health problems.
• If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), talk with your doctor. Some products have phenylalanine.
• Older adults with dementia taking drugs like this one have had a higher number of strokes. Sometimes these have been deadly. This drug is not approved to treat mental problems caused by dementia.
• If you are 65 or older, use this drug with care. You could have more side effects.
• This drug may affect being able to get pregnant. This effect goes back to normal when the drug is stopped. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.
• Taking this drug in the third trimester of pregnancy may lead to side effects or withdrawal in the newborn.

Injection (subcutaneous):

• A lump may happen where the shot was given. The lump may last for several weeks and get smaller over time. Do not rub or massage the area. Be careful of placing belts, waistbands, cuffs, sleeves, or any tight clothing over the area where the shot was given.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, unusual thirst or hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Severe dizziness or passing out.
• Change in how you act.
• Mood changes.
• Shakiness, trouble moving around, or stiffness.
• Not able to pass urine or change in how much urine is passed.
• Trouble swallowing or speaking.
• Not able to focus.
• Seizures.
• Change in eyesight.
• Shortness of breath.
• Drooling.
• Feeling hot or cold.
• Enlarged breasts, nipple discharge, not able to get or keep an erection, or menstrual changes.
• Sex problems like lowered interest in sex or ejaculation problems.
• Call your doctor right away if you have a painful erection (hard penis) or an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours. This may happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it may lead to lasting sex problems and you may not be able to have sex.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may happen. Call your doctor right away if you have any fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, dizziness, very bad headache, confusion, change in thinking, fast heartbeat, heartbeat that does not feel normal, or are sweating a lot.
• Low white blood cell counts have happened with drugs like this one. This may lead to a higher chance of infection. Rarely, infections have been deadly. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a low white blood cell count. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat.
• Some people may get a severe muscle problem called tardive dyskinesia. This problem may lessen or go away after stopping this drug, but it may not go away. The risk is greater with diabetes and in older adults, especially older females. The risk is greater with longer use or higher doses, but it may also occur after short-term use with low doses. Call your doctor right away if you have trouble controlling body movements or problems with your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw like tongue sticking out, puffing cheeks, mouth puckering, or chewing.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

All products:

• Weight gain.
• Restlessness.
• Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak.
• Anxiety.
• Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, or throwing up.
• Heartburn.
• Dry mouth.
• Appetite changes.
• Signs of a common cold.
• Headache.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Back, muscle, arm, or leg pain.

Injection:

• Irritation where the shot is given.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

How is this drug best taken?

Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

All oral products:

• Take with or without food.
• Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

Liquid:

• Be sure you know how to prepare the dose. If you have any questions, read the package insert or talk with the doctor or pharmacist.
• Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with this drug.
• Liquid may be taken without mixing or may be mixed with water, coffee, low-fat milk, or orange juice. Do not mix with cola or tea.
• Clean the measuring device as you have been told. If you have questions about cleaning the measuring device, read the package insert or talk with the doctor or pharmacist.

Oral-disintegrating tablet:

• Do not take this drug out of the blister pack until you are ready to take it. Take this drug right away after opening the blister pack. Do not store the removed drug for future use.
• Do not push the tablet out of the foil when opening. Use dry hands to take it from the foil. Place on your tongue and let it dissolve. Water is not needed. Do not swallow it whole. Do not chew, break, or crush it.

Injection:

• Some products need to be given into the fatty part of the skin. Some products need to be given into a muscle. Talk with the doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure how to use this drug.
• If this drug is given into the fatty part of the skin, you may see a bump under the skin where this drug is given. This bump will get smaller over several weeks. Do not rub or press on this bump. Be sure belts or waistbands do not rub or press on this bump.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

All oral products:

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Injection:

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

All oral products:

• Store at room temperature protected from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.

Liquid:

• Do not freeze.

Injection:

• If you need to store this drug at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

All products:

• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

General drug facts

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else’s drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2024-05-13

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