Risperidone (Risperdal) | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness (2023)

Risperidone is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic. Risperidone rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.

Symptoms of schizophrenia include:

This medication sheet will focus primarily on schizophrenia. You can find more information about bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorders here.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your health care provider for more information.

Schizophrenia requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking risperidone, even when you feel better.

With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medication.

Missing doses of risperidone may increase your risk for a relapse in your symptoms.

Do not stop taking risperidone or change your dose without talking with your health care provider first.

For risperidone to work properly, the tablet form should be taken every day as ordered by your health care provider. One of the long-acting injectable forms, known as Risperdal Consta®, should be received every 2 weeks as ordered by your health care provider. The other long-acting injectable form, known as Perseris®, should be received every month. Both long-acting injections are the same medication as in the tablet form.

If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications. People living with schizophrenia or certain other mental illness who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. This is a complex decision since untreated schizophrenia or other mental illness has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers.

Antipsychotic use during the third trimester of pregnancy has a risk for abnormal muscle movements (extrapyramidal symptoms [EPS]) and/or withdrawal symptoms in newborns following delivery. Symptoms in the newborn may include agitation, feeding disorder, hypertonia, hypotonia, respiratory distress, somnolence, and tremor; these effects may be self-limiting or require hospitalization.

It is advised not to breastfeed when taking risperidone since risperidone does pass into breast milk.

Risperidone may help control your symptoms but will not cure your condition.

It may take two to three months before you feel the full effect of risperidone.

Risperidone tablets and solution are usually taken 1 or 2 times per day with or without food.

Typically, patients begin at a low dose of medication and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks.

The oral dose usually ranges from 1 mg to 6 mg. The dose of the injection usually ranges from 12.5 mg to 50 mg. Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you.

Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication.

Risperidone orally disintegrating tablets must remain in their original packaging. Open the package with clean dry hands before each dose. Do not try to put tablets in a pillbox if you take the orally disintegrating tablets.
Risperidone orally disintegrating tablets will dissolve in your mouth within seconds and can be swallowed with or without liquid.

Risperidone liquid should be measured with a dosing spoon or oral syringe, which you can get from your pharmacy.

Risperdal Consta® (risperidone long-acting injection) should be received every 2 weeks. It should be administered by your health care professional through an injection into your upper arm or buttocks area. The medication effects last for approximately 2 weeks. If you are new to taking Risperdal Consta® (risperidone long-acting injection), your health care provider may want you to take the tablet form or risperidone daily for up to 3 weeks.

Perseris®(risperidone long-acting injection) should be received every month. It should be administered by your health care professional through an injection under the skin of your abdominal area. After establishing tolerability with oral risperidone, you may be switched to Perseris® (risperidone long-acting injection). Supplemental oral risperidone is not recommended after receiving your first Perseris® (risperidone long-acting injection) dose. After receiving the injection, you may have a lump for several weeks that will decrease in size over time. It is important that you not rub or massage the injection site and to be aware of the placement of any belts or clothing waistbands.

It is important to take your medication everyday as directed by your health care provider. Do not miss or skip a dose.

If you miss a dose of risperidone, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your health care provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed. If you miss a dose of Risperdal Consta® or Perseris® (risperidone long-acting injections), see your health care provider to receive your dose as soon as possible.

This is not a complete list. Talk with your health care provider for more information.

Common side effects

Sedation, drowsiness, extrapyramidal symptoms, insomnia, fatigue, headache, anxiety, dizziness, drooling, restlessness, increased prolactin, weight gain, Increased appetite, vomiting, constipation, upper abdominal pain, nausea, urinary incontinence, tremor, cold symptoms, cough, runny nose, fever

Risperdal Consta® (risperidone long-acting injection): injection site pain

Perseris® (risperidone long-acting injection): injection site pain, redness, and a lump that may be present for several weeks

Risperidone may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems. Long term (months or years) elevated prolactin levels can lead to osteoporosis, or increased risk of bone fractures.

Some people may develop muscle related side effects while taking risperidone. The technical terms for these are “extrapyramidal symptoms” (EPS) and “tardive dyskinesia” (TD). Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness. TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements.

SGAs have been linked with higher risk of death, strokes, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) in elderly people with behavior problems due to dementia.

All antipsychotics have been associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death due to an arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). To minimize this risk, antipsychotic medications should be used in the smallest effective dose when the benefits outweigh the risks. Your doctor may order an EKG to monitor for irregular heartbeat.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare, life threatening adverse effect of antipsychotics which occurs in <1% of patients. Symptoms include confusion, fever, extreme muscle stiffness, and sweating. If any of these symptoms occur, contact your health care provider immediately.

All antipsychotics can cause sedation, dizziness, or orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying down). These side effects may lead to falls which could cause bone fractures or other injuries. This risk is higher for people with conditions or other medications that could worsen these effects. If falls or any of these symptoms occur, contact your health care provider.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect that develops with prolonged use of antipsychotics. Medications such as risperidone have been shown to have a lower risk of TD compared to older antipsychotics, such as Haldol® (haloperidol). If you develop symptoms of TD, such as grimacing, sucking, and smacking of lips, or other movements that you cannot control, contact your health care provider immediately. All patients taking either first- or second-generation antipsychotics should have an Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) completed regularly by their health care provider to monitor for TD.

Second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) increase the risk of diabetes, weight gain, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides. (See “Serious Side Effects” section for monitoring recommendations).

Tell your health care provider about all medications that you take, have recently taken or plan to take including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, herbal products, and nutritional supplements. This medication may affect the way other medications work, and other medications may affect how this medication works.

Risperidone may block the effects of agents used to treat Parkinson’s disease such as levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet®), bromocriptine, pramipexole (Mirapex®), ropinirole (Requip®), and others.

Risperidone may lower your blood pressure. Medications used to lower blood pressure may increase this effect and increase your risk of falling. Propranolol (Inderal®) is an example of this type of medication.

The following medications may increase the levels and effects of risperidone: divalproex sodium (Depakote®), fluoxetine (Prozac®), paroxetine (Paxil®), and verapamil (Calan®).

The following medications may decrease the levels and effects of risperidone: carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Equetro®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), phenobarbital, or rifampin (Rifadin®).

It is very important to tell your doctor how you feel things are going during the first few weeks after you start taking risperidone. It will probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your symptoms to decide if risperidone is the right medication for you. If you take Risperdal Consta® (risperidone long-acting injection), it will take about three weeks before risperidone is fully absorbed and at an adequate level to begin treating your symptoms. After starting Risperdal Consta® (risperidone long-acting injection) for the first time, or re-starting it after a time of no medication, it is important to continue taking risperidone tablets for at least three weeks. If you take Perseris® (risperidone long-acting injection), it is not recommended to take oral risperidone after the first injection.

Antipsychotic treatment is generally needed lifelong for persons with schizophrenia. Your doctor can best discuss the duration of treatment you need based on your symptoms and illness.