Risperdal is an antipsychotic medication. It is used to treat schizophrenia in individuals who are at least 13 years old. It can be used to treat bipolar disorder symptoms in individuals who are at least 10 years old. Risperdal can also be used to treat symptoms of irritability in autistic children 5-16 years old.

Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and ready any information provided along with your medication.

• Take Risperdal with or without food
• Only open Risperdal tablets from the package when you're ready to use them
• Allow tablet to dissolve in your mouth and swallow several times as it does so
• Measure liquid medication carefully; use dosing device included
• Do not mix liquid Risperdal with cola or tea
• Symptoms may take a few weeks to improve; consult your doctor if they do not improve
• Store at room temperature, away from moisture, light, and heat
• Do not freeze.
• If you miss a dose, make up for the miss dose as soon as possible, but if it's almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose

General precautions:

• For older adults with dementia-related conditions, Risperdal may increase their risk of death
• Risperdal should not be given to children without doctor's advice
• Use caution when driving or doing any activity that requires alertness
• If you're pregnant, become pregnant, or plan to be pregnant, tell your doctor as soon as possible
• Breastfeeding on Risperdal can cause the baby to be drowsy, tremor, or have involuntary muscle movements; notify your doctor if you notice this
• Do not stop taking this medication unless you've confirmed it's okay with your doctor
• It's important to get a refill before you run out of Risperdal completely
• Avoid getting up too quickly; dizziness may occur
• Avoid drinking alcohol - it may cause serious side effects
• Avoid getting too cold or too hot, and drink plenty of fluids

Before starting this medication, inform your doctor if you have experienced the following:

• Dementia and dementia-related disorders
• Hypertension (high blood pressure), heart rhythm disorders, heart disease, stroke, heart attack
• Diabetes, or if you are at risk for diabetes such as being obese or coming from a family with a diabetic history
• Low white blood cell count
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Seizures
• Breast cancer
• Low bone mineral density
• Swallowing issues
• Parkinson's disease
• Dehydration
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Are pregnant or plan to be pregnant; antipsychotic medication taken during the last 3 months of pregnancy can harm the baby

Do not use this medication if you are:

• Allergic to it

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• An overdose
• Symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, breathing difficulty, swollen face/lips/tongue/throat
• Fever, stiffness in muscles, confusion, sweating, rapid/uneven pulse, restless muscles in face/neck, tremors, swallowing problems, lightheadedness, fainting

Contact your doctor right away if you encounter the following:

• Involuntary facial muscle movements, such as: chewing, smacking lips, frowning, tongue movement, blinking)
• Swollen/tender breasts (for both mena nd women), nipple discharge
• Impotence, low libidi, missed periods
• Symptoms of a serious nervous system reaction, symptoms include: stiff muscles, high fever, delirium, sweating, rapid/uneven heart rate, tremors, dizziness
• Low white blood cells, symptoms include: sudden weakness, malaise, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, swollen/red gums, difficulty swallowing, skin sores, cold/flu symptoms, cough, breathing difficulty
• Low levels of platelets; symptoms include: easy bruising, unusual bleeding (especially from nose/mouth/vagina/rectum), purple/red spots under skin
• Symptoms of high blodo sugar, such as: excessive thirst and urination, dry mouth, fruity smell on breath
• An erection that lasts for 4 hours or more, or is painful

Interactions (inform your doctor if you also take these):

• Drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing
• Opioids, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medication used to treat anxiety and seizures
• Blood pressure medications
• Carbamazepine
• Clozapine
• Fluoxetine, paroxetine
• Levodopa

Always inform your doctor of all known medications, condtions, and allergies before starting a drug, including: vitamins, herbs, supplements, over-the-counter meds

Common side effects include:

• You may experience heightened sensitivity to temperature extremes, or become more easily overheated and dehydrated; drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine
• Headache
• Dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness
• Tremors, twitching, involuntary muscle movements
• Agitation, anxiety, restlessness
• Low mood
• Dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach
• Weight gain
• Cold symptoms

Seek immediate medical attention if:

(see Cautions)

Contact your doctor immediately if:

(see Cautions)

Please note that the information on this page is general and does not describe every possible effect. Discuss with your doctor about the relevance of this page to your personal circumstance.