Get Informed: Risperdal
Active Ingredient(s)
Risperidone
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the irritability associated with autism. Its mechanism of action is unknown.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-21 1:42 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Risperdal
- Risperidone
- Risperdal Consta
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- N/A
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to an increased risk of death in elderly patient with dementia-related psychosis.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 29 Dec 1993
- Est US Patients*
- 770,700
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Risperdal or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Risperdal Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Risperdal used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 4,500 patients that use Risperdal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Depression | 34% | 
|
| Bipolar Disorder | 32% |
|
| Psychosis | 29% |
|
| Attention Deficit Disorder | 12% | 
|
| Anxiety | 12% | 
|
| Insomnia | 7% |
|
| Other | 7% |
|
How well does Risperdal work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 4,500 users taking Risperdal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 78%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Risperdal outweigh the bad things.
- 12%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Risperdal.
Common Side Effects of Risperdal
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 4,500 users taking Risperdal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
47% of patients experience side-effects on Risperdal
12% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Risperdal
Most Common Side Effects...
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Weight Gain
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Drowsiness
-
Dry Mouth
-
Dryness
-
Tremor
-
Sweating
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Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Sexual Problems
-
Mood/Behavior Problems
-
Muscle Pain/Stiffness
-
Fatigue
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Addiction, Dizziness
Global Patient Feedback for Risperdal (Risperidone) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have a question about risperidon i take 3mg at night and what it is doing is slowing my cognition skills, my thinking is slowing and my memory is spotty, i am afraid that it will get to a point were the medicine will turn me into a vegetable what i am trying to say is the is there a chance the i might get chemically lobotomized?
16 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-01 14:52:38
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
You should discuss your side effects with your doctor especially if they continue or worsen. You may be able to reduce the severity of your symptoms by a dosage reduction and/or splitting the dose into 2 daily doses and/or discussing the other available treatments to control your condition(s). Most side effects will lessen over time or by discontinuing the drug. You should always consult with your doctor before making any changes. Your doctor has your complete medical history and can best help you manage these side effects and your condition that you are treating.
Posted: 2009-11-03 11:34:15
Question/Comment:
I Have a Question? I have a 9 year old son he has ADHD and Bi Polar he is taking Focalin Xr 20 mg in the morning .He was on Risperdal .25mg in the morning and @ bedtime this was working but the Dr did blood work and found out his liver profile was to high so we had to stop the risperdal has anyone else had liver problem while taking Risperdal ? My son dr said that the Risperdal was causing his liver problems
31 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-28 22:30:42
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Elevated liver enzymes, which can be indicative of liver damage or problems, is an adverse effect of Risperdal.
Posted: 2009-08-04 01:43:41
Answer/Reply:
My son who is now 10 use to take Risperdal and it caused him to have muscle spasms in his face and neck so if it can cause those it could cause problems else where.. My sons Dr now has him on 10mg Focalin and 10mg Lexapro you might want to ask him about that instead it does pretty good on my son so wouldn't hurt for you to ask about it for your son... Hope that helps ya alittle... :-)
38 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-18 17:11:45
Answer/Reply:
I've been on Risperal 100 mg for about 5 yrs with no change in liver function.
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-18 20:10:14
Answer/Reply:
My son is 9 years old. He is on Risperdal 0.5mg, 3 times daily. He has not had any real reactions to this medication. it does seem to help him with his ADHD but I am looking for any natural remedies if anyone has any suggestions. Any help that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
42 female
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 17:33:42
Question/Comment:
i take .25 mg in the am... .5 mg in the afternoon... and 1 mg at night. i have been taking this dosage of risperdal for 7 or 8 months and i have gained 40 lbs very quickly. i had asked my Dr if this was a side affect and he said he didn't think so...is the weight gain going to stop ?
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-06 14:54:56
Answer/Reply:
My daughter has taken Risperdal for a year and has gained 80 lbs. The nurse told me that one of the side effects is you never feel full and crave carbs.
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-18 15:58:13
Answer/Reply:
My daughter has also experience tremendous weight gain on Risperdal and lives for food! She is on a very low dosage and her doctor keeps trying to switch her to other meds, but we are not at all comfortable with their side effects. We have started giving her a half of can of Slim Fast in the morning and the rest in the afternoon. It seems to help curtail the amount of food she eats.
We do control what she eats and how much. When she does eat, she devours it so fast, she nearly chokes. We are also at a loss on what to do!
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-24 00:00:45
Answer/Reply:
my son has been on risperadone since may. It really helped the mood swings, but the weight gain has been tremendous and He eats so fast he nearly chokes too. We have been having him chew each bite 15-30 times depending on what it is. This seems to help and having him drink a glass of water or something with the meal seems to help too. It seems to make him seem full a little better. He still complains that he is still hungry, but seems more able to deal with it.
Even with the weight gain, it is still worth it to have him on risperadone him able to cope with his day. Very nice not to have to go to school and pick him up during the day because he couldn't handle it, and went off the wall.
39 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-14 15:09:41
Answer/Reply:
I havent noticed a weight gain yet, taking only .25 at night with other sleep meds. Stopped my tricyclic antidepressant and lost weight. Changed my hypertension ACE inhibitor to calcium channel blocker, lost weight. I started taking this (Resp) when, at my old age, I wanted beautiful teeth and got a full set of braces. I was forced to address my underlying...and now extreme anxiety. The respiradone saved me a trip to the emergency room for an anxiety attack....I wanted the braces OFFF...( cant imagine ER having lights and equipment to remove bonding...but, who thinks normal during an anxiety attack)
This medication doesnt have the groggy feeling of Seroquel... 1.75mg is a significant dose for 8 months...dont quit this cold turkey, discuss with whom ever prescribes it.
54 year old Male
Posted: 2009-05-21 01:09:44
Answer/Reply:
Possible side effects of Riseridone (Risperdal) are:
Most common: sleepiness, sleeplessness, agitation, anxiety, uncontrolled movements, headache, and nasal stuffiness and irritation.
Less common: dizziness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, abdominal pain, weight gain, absence of menstrual periods, increased sleep duration, coughing, upper respirtory infection, sinus infection, sore throat, breathing difficulties, rapid heartbeat, joint or back pain, chest pain, fever, abnormal vision, rash, dry skin, and dandruff.
Other side effects can occur in almost any part of the body. Contact doctor if you experience any side effects not listed above.
36 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-26 10:04:13
Answer/Reply:
i have been taking risperdal for a while.my doctor told me i can gain weight from it. and i did. u wont gain weight 4 ever i am not gaining anymore.ask ur doctor if u can take it as needed like my doc has me doing
28 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-30 17:17:16
Answer/Reply:
My son has taken Risperdone for 7 years (1 mg per day in the evening) and has gained a significant amount of weight and often has low blood sugar. It is in the fine print that this medication can do this. At first, our son was extremely underweight, then after starting this med he quickly started growing again and is now a little overweight. I'll take that over him not growing or his brain not developing any day! My understanding is that all of these types of meds have this side effect. It can be awful for an adult because the cravings never go away, but it can be a life-saver for a child who can't slow down long enough to eat or sleep. Be sure to tell your doctor. Often, the side-effects are something you just have to live with, because the meds make life WORTH living again! Hang in there...
35 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-31 20:01:00
Answer/Reply:
My daughter has been on Risperdal for several years and her doctor has always warned us of the potential for weight gain. In fact if she were to gain too much weight she would have to have her dose reduced. Fortunately, she has not had weight gain.
36 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-02 21:47:38
Answer/Reply:
My son was taking Risperdal and gained almost 50 pounds in a year . Risperdal is knowing to cause weight gain .
31 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-28 22:10:13
Question/Comment:
I take 1mg of Risperidone and 15mg of Temazepam together at night before bedtime and it knocks me out and I wake up feeling fine in the mornings. I do get my 8 hours sleep because otherwise I don't get enough sleep because of insomnia.
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-17 10:13:04
Question/Comment:
i tool .5mg risperdol woke up didn't know where i was, been living there five years. come good after about 20 seconds
55 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-16 23:58:31
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37
Patient Comments about
Risperdal