Risperidone, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antipsychotic

Generic and brand names: risperidone, oral; Risperdal; Risperdal M-Tab

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is also used to treat irritability in children with autism. It may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• Alzheimer's disease or dementia
• breast cancer
• diabetes
• heart disease or irregular heartbeat
• kidney or liver disease
• myasthenia gravis
• Parkinson's disease
• phenylketonuria (PKU). The disintegrating tablet contains phenylalanine.
• problems swallowing
• problems with blood pressure
• seizures

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes, usually twice a day. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage depending on your response. If you do not understand how or when to take this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

This medicine comes as regular tablets, dissolving tablets, or as an oral solution. You may take this medicine with or without food. Carefully measure the oral solution with the special tube (pipette) that comes with your medicine. You can mix the oral solution with water, coffee, orange juice, or low-fat milk. Do not mix it with cola or tea.

If you are taking the orally disintegrating tablets, do not remove from the blister pack until you need to take the medicine. Do not push the tablet through the foil because it could break the tablet. Do not crush or break the tablet. These tablets dissolve very quickly. Peel back the foil to get the tablet out. With dry hands, place a tablet on your tongue and let the tablet dissolve in your mouth.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but skip that dose if it is within 2 hours of the time for the next dose. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: drowsiness, fast heartbeat, lightheadedness, fainting, restless movements in your eyes, tongue, or neck.

What should I watch out for?

Adults over the age of 65 may be more sensitive to the action of this medicine. Older adults with dementia are at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your provider about this.

Using this medicine may cause muscle spasms, twitching in the face and body, and uncontrolled tongue or jaw movement. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may affect your ability to be alert and think clearly. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

When you first start taking this medicine, you may get dizzy or lightheaded or feel faint when you get up quickly from sitting or lying down. Try getting up slowly. If this reaction continues, contact your healthcare provider.

Rarely, this medicine may cause a painful erection of the penis that will not return to normal. If this occurs, contact your healthcare provider or get medical care right away. It can lead to permanent erectile dysfunction if not treated.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

While taking this medicine, be careful when you exercise, especially when it is hot. This medicine affects your body's ability to cool down, and you may get too hot. If you get too hot, you might vomit, feel dizzy, have a fast heartbeat, get very stiff muscles, or be confused. Contact your provider right away if you have these symptoms.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

This medicine may increase the risk of developing diabetes, especially if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. If you have diabetes, this medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Seizures; thoughts of suicide; involuntary movements (facial or body twitching that you cannot control); lightheadedness when you stand or sit up; irregular or pounding heartbeat; high fever and muscle stiffness; chest pain; extreme weakness; muscle or joint pain; dark urine; light colored bowel movements; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Other: Increased sensitivity to heat, trouble sleeping, agitation, anxiety, tremors, headache, dizziness, constipation, nausea, runny nose, vomiting, abdominal pain, skin sensitivity to sunlight, sleepiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, trouble urinating, nightmares, weight gain, breast enlargement, change in menstrual periods.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• alpha blockers such as prazosin (Minipress) and doxazosin (Cardura)
• antianxiety medicines such as clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), buspirone (BuSpar), and oxazepam
• antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), trazodone (Desyrel), and desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)
• anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor) and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital, and valproic acid (Depakote)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), pindolol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem), and nicardipine (Cardene)
• antipsychotic medicines such as clozapine (Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), and chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic)
• heartburn medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), sotalol (Betapace), flecainide (Tambocor), disopyramide (Norpace), quinidine, and isradipine (DynaCirc)
• levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet)
• malaria medicines such as chloroquine (Aralen) and mefloquine (Lariam)
• muscle relaxants such as tizanidine (Zanaflex), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and baclofen (Lioresal)
• natural remedies such as kava, gotu kola, valerian, and St. John's wort
• pain medicines such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), tramadol (Ultram), and morphine
• quinine
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• sedatives such as chloral hydrate (Aquachlor), phenobarbital, zolpidem (Ambien), and zaleplon (Sonata)
• SSRI antidepressants such as sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil), venlafaxine (Effexor), and fluvoxamine (Luvox)

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.