Risperidone is an antipsychotic medication that works by interfering with the communication among nerves in the brain. The nerves communicate with one another by producing and releasing chemicals known as ‘Neurotransmitters’. The neurotransmitters attach to receptors on other nearby nerves and the attachment of the neurotransmitter causes changes in the cells that have the receptor on them.

Moreover, Risperidone blocks several of the receptors on nerves including dopamine type 2, serotonin type 2 and alpha 2 adrenergic receptors and this blocks communication among nerves. Risperidone is a relatively new antipsychotic medication that probably has fewer side effects than many of the older medications. Generic Risperidone is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. This medicine should not be used to treat behavioral problems in older adult patients who have dementia.

However, before taking Risperidone i.e. Risperdal medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Risperdal medication. However, Risperdal may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Risperdal i.e. Risperidone medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Take the Risperdal i.e. Risperidone medication usually is begun as two small doses each day or take it as directed by your doctor. The doses often are increased every few days or each week until the optimal dose is found.

Patients who are elderly or have kidney disease may need lower doses since the kidneys which are partially responsible for removing Risperidone from the blood and remove Risperidone more slowly and this can lead to toxic levels of Risperidone in the blood. Similarly patients with liver disease may need lower doses since the liver also is partially responsible for removing Risperidone.


If you wish to use the medication for your children, please contact your pediatrician for the dosage.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The most commonly noted side effects associated with Risperidone are extra pyramidal effects, sudden often jerky involuntary motions of the head, neck, arms, body or eyes, dizziness, hyperactivity, tiredness and nausea. Risperidone may cause a condition known as ‘Orthostatic Hypotension’ during the early phase of treatment in the first week or two. Patients who develop orthostatic hypotension have a drop in their blood pressure when they rise from a lying position and may feel dizzy.

Although there is no clear link between Risperidone and diabetes, patients should be tested during treatment for elevated blood-sugars. Additionally persons with risk factors for diabetes including obesity or a family history of diabetes should have their fasting levels of blood sugar tested before starting treatment and periodically throughout treatment to detect the onset of diabetes. Any patient developing symptoms that suggest diabetes during treatment should be tested for diabetes.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

However, the Risperdal i.e. Risperidone may interfere with elimination by the kidneys of Clozapine Clozaril, a different type of antipsychotic medication causing increased levels of Clozapine in the blood. This could increase the risk of side effects with Clozapine.

Moreover, Risperdal i.e. Risperidone may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Risperdal medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are taking Risperdal medication.

When you begin taking this medicine: Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible. Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Also, wear sunglasses. Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor i.e. SPF of at least 15. You may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if you have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional. Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth. If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

The generic Risperdal i.e. Risperidone medication is used for the treatment of psychotic disorders for example schizophrenia. It also is used in combination with lithium or valproate for the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Risperdal i.e. Risperidone medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Risperdal i.e. Risperidone medication.

Generic Risperdal i.e. Risperidone tablets should be stored in between 59-86°F and between 15-30°C in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Risperdal tablets in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Risperdal i.e. Risperidone:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, gout attacks, urinary problems, inability to make urine or Anuria, severe loss of body fluids dehydration through excessive sweating, vomiting or diarrhea, mineral/electrolyte problems e.g. imbalance of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, diabetes, gout, lupus, high levels of fats in the blood, high cholesterol or triglycerides, asthma, any allergies especially to sulfa drugs or ACE inhibitors such as captopril lisinopril or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or smoke.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Risperdal medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc. However, do not use the OTC medications, which may include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products, and certain herbs or supplements.

4. Do not use the Risperdal i.e. Risperidone medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Risperdal medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Risperdal medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course. And also wear disease medical alert identification for high blood pressure.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course. This medicine may cause blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert or able to see clearly.

10. This medicine may add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants medicine that makes you drowsy or less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine prescription pain medicine or narcotics barbiturates medicine for seizures muscle relaxants or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

11. This medicine may make it more difficult for your body to keep a constant temperature. Use extra care not to become overheated during exercise or hot weather while you are taking this medicine, since overheating may result in heatstroke.

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

13. Doctor should check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few months of treatment with this medicine. This will allow the dosage to be changed if necessary to meet your needs.

14. Risperidone may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or severe sunburn.

15. Hot baths or saunas may make you feel dizzy or faint while you are taking this medicine. 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.

16. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Risperdal.