Risperidone side effects and benefits

Generic Name: Risperdal

Uses of Risperidone:

RISPERIDONE (Risperdal®, Risperdal® M-tabT) helps to treat schizophrenia. Risperidone ( Risperdal ) is used to treat aggression, false perceptions, Tourette's syndrome,or behavioral problems in persons with mental retardation.

Risperidone can help you to keep in touch with reality and reduce your mental problems. Occasionally risperidone is used to treat other mood disturbances. Generic risperidone tablets or orally-disintegrating tablets are not yet available.

How to Take Risperidone

Take this medicine as directed. It can be taken with or without food. Do not stop taking this medicine abruptly without consulting with your doctor.

Side Effects of Risperidone:

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Insomnia,
agitation,
extrapyramidal disorder,
anxiety,
headache,
rhinitis,
weight gain (mean 2-3 kg) during long-term therapy.
hypotension,
syncope,
cardiac arrhythmias,
first degree AV-block,
seizure,
gynecomastia,
galactorrhea,
amenorrhea,
menorrhagia,
ejaculatory and erectile dysfunction.

Warnings and precautions for Risperidone

Before taking Risperidone,

tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention amiodarone (Cordarone); antidepressants; buproprion (Wellbutrin); carbamazepine (Tegretol); celecoxib (Celebrex); chlorpromazine (Thorazine); cimetidine (Tagamet); cisapride (Propulsid); clomipramine (Anafranil); clozapine (Clozaril); disopyramide (Norpace); dofetilide (Tikosyn); doxorubicin (Adriamycin); ergot alkaloids such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), cabergoline (Dostinex), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Cafergot, Ercaf, others), methylergonovine (Methergine), and methysergide (Sansert); erythromycin (E.E.S, E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); levodopa (Dopar, Sinemet) medications for anxiety, high blood pressure, or seizures; metoclopromide (Reglan); methadone (Dolophine); moxifloxacin (Avelox); other medications for mental illness; paroxetine (Paxil); pimozide (Orap); phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); phenytoin (Dilantin); procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl); quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex); ranitidine (Zantac); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); ritonavir (Norvir); ropinarole (Requip); sedatives; sertraline (Zoloft); sleeping pills; sotalol (Betapace); sparfloxacin (Zagam); terbinafine (Lamisil); thioridazine (Mellaril); tranquilizers; and valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene).Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
It is not known if risperidone is secreted in breast milk.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking risperidone, call your doctor. Do not breastfeed while taking risperidone.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking risperidone.
you should know that this drug may make you drowsy and may affect your judgement and thinking. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.

What to do if you take Overdose of Risperidone?

Seek medical attention immediately. For non emergencies, contact your local or regional poison control center.

What to do if you take Missed Dose of Risperidone?

Take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

How to Store Risperidone:

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.