Talk:Risperidone

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[edit] How it'll probably make you feel and why?

Risperidone is a very strong dopamine blocker (antagonist) that is to say it inhibits functioning of dopamine receptors. It reaches peak plasma levels quickly regardless of wheter it is administered as a liquid or pills. The strong dopamine-blocking reaction is known to make some people feel nauseous if you do anything that normally triggers the dopamine reward, such as eat a good meal or have sex. Risperidone is metabolised fairly quickly so this potential for nauseation subsides usually in two to three hours.

  • This will not happen in every case, and if these side effects do occur in an individual they can just as easily be produced by any other anti-psychotic as they are all dopamine blockers! I am quite familiar with this medication as I take it, the only undesireable side effects it has ever produced for me are muscle stiffness/pain and weight gain. Both of which can easily be handled (stiffness by reducing the dose and weight gain by watching the things one eats more carefully). -- RTC 08:11 Apr 10, 2003 (UTC)
  • Dopamine blockers are generally ANTI-nausea drugs. They are specifically used that way, for example prochlorperazine, droperidol in small doses. I suppose some people might be made nauseous by risperidone, but then some people might get a headache if they take aspirin. As for the sexual side-effects, these are more common: lowered libido and inability to have an orgasm. -spgrk, 20 June 06.
  • If you want to include this comment someplace, put it in the article on antipsychotics, not here. -- RTC 23:11 Apr 14, 2003 (UTC)
    • I concur to this. Most the side effects I experienced with Risperidone passed after the first to days of taking it. I am however interested (and cannot find anything) in the side effects that occur when going off the drug. I have decided to go off the medication and these withdrawl symptoms are of my curiousity. I however cannot find anything on the subject.
      • Ive tried Risperdal for a week and had to quit because of side effects. Withdrawel symptomes of Antipsychotics arent well known because almost all of the time, they switch to a different drug. Although Autistic people against neuroleptics has some withdrawel information. --Moop stick 22:58, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

But this _is_ specific to Risperidone, since it has such a fast attack and it's such a strong dopamine blocker. Sure if you start with 0,5mg and after a week go to 1mg and after a week go to 2mg, which is the clinical dosage in these parts of the world at least, your neural nets will get adjusted as you go along.

If you think dopamine blockers are essential for your well being you should consult your phycician about getting on Olanzapine (expensive but works really nicely for most ppl) or if you're feeling suicidal or otherwise totally chaotic then Clozapine might work well. Also might want to consider googleing for "DHA fatty acids and scitthhzophreniernia or whatever the whitecoats diagnosed you with this time" There is propably something on this combo in the Lancet archive, but I'm too busy to dig it up now. Fatty fishes contain a good dosage of DHA. Happy healing. Tzuhou 10:45 Apr 15, 2003 (UTC)

I have Bipolar disorder and take Depakote and Risperdal. I am hyper-sensitive to most antipsychotics and actually had to reduce my dosage of Risperdal from 1mg to 1/3mg (I went completely stiff and had severe pain at the slightest movement at 1mg. Even 1/2mg causes stiffness and pain after a couple days). When they tried Stelazine once I had bad akathisia at all dosages they tried. One 2mg tablet of Trilaphon was all I could tolerate. The Risperdal works very well, and I like the side effect of more dreaming that I get from it.
I made a few wording changes and a spelling correction. I'll leave it the way it is for now... -- RTC 23:32 Apr 15, 2003 (UTC)

Thanks for the edits, it's much better now. I'm totally schitzo. I've been through DSM-IV-TR (though ICD is the authority in this part of the world) playing white and black coat at the same time and I have to say that I've found numerous combinations to diagnose myself schitzo without even lying as playing white ;) but hey, that's life. Last time I was in the loonie bin they put me on valproic acid too, but I didn't like it much. It made me really apathic. Perphenazine is fun: you never know what is it this time, if you know what I mean ;) I used to play chess with this old guy that went to the ward once a month to get a 1mg injection of perphenazine. It's an amazing pharmaceutical *grin*. I take 16mg nowerdays and it actually works :) --Tzuhou 00:06 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)

I'm not completely satisfied with the article, but it no longer says the things that bothered me most. I'll let others nitpick it more if they want to.
Fortunately for me, the valproic acid was the first mood stabilizer they tried on me, and it started working within the first week (I take 1500mg of it). Anything over 2mg of perphenazine however gave me akathisia almost as bad as the Stelazine did, but it worked OK for the about 5 years that I took it... however it seems to have given me a bit of Tardive dyskinesia (which showed up in the first few weeks after switching from it to Risperdal)
Hope things work out... -- RTC 00:22 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)
Yup. Valproic acid is good for cutting off the worst (or best, depends on how you look at it) mania.
Well, it was a severe Manic psychosis and needed to be cut off quick! -- RTC 01:57 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)

BTW, I looked up Olanzapine and it is a dopamine blocker (as well as a blocker of several other neurotransmitters). -- RTC 00:37 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)

Sure, but it's much more mellow. Levels in plasma stay pretty constant due to slow biological absorbation (even as velotab, which is amazing, because it dissolves in a second when you put it in your mouth) and slow exit. I think it blocks serotonin too, though I'm not sure.
Right, serotonin and several others. -- RTC 01:57 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)
I just remembered that Olanzapine has this fairly unique property that the parts of human brain that are most dopamine ruled are really good at compensating for the blocking reaction of the drug. This is researched info.
Do know of some good online pharmacology catalog that's freely accessible? akathisia? what's that?
Akathisia usually manifests as a total inability to sit still. The person is always pacing. If forced to stay still usually the person gets very nervous and anxious. I sure did. One guy I know got it so bad once that he smashed a hole in the wall with his head before they realized what was happening and gave him a large dose of Benaydrl as an antidote. -- RTC 01:57 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)
Maybe you should write an article on Akathisia?
OK, done. -- RTC 03:02 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)
I once talked with this girl who is a dementia nurse and she told me that no elderly patients ever get risperidone, which is good to hear. <POV>Subjectively I think that the drug a form of neurochemical violence.</POV>
They have to be careful with any antipsychotic and the elderly. -- RTC 03:02 Apr 16, 2003 (UTC)

I work with children with autism and some of them are prescribed risperidone. One particular child has STOPPED taking risperidone for around 3 months now. While on the drug he was happy and cheerful talked to staff alot and was very active. 3 months after stopping he has problems initiating movements and gets stuck in the middle of actions like getting dressed or stepping on to the pavement. Could this be a side effect of the risperidone or a side effect of its cessation? He is also far more fixated on certain songs or topics of conversation with respect to when he was on the drug. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.98.0.10 (talk) 11:28, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

what was the dosage? How long did the child take it for? I don't know the answer to your question but my 8 year old son just started taking Risperdol today (.25mg). He does not seem autistic to me but he has been having trouble at school. Sometimes he gets agressive and hits out at the teacher or other students. We want to take it for the minimum amount of time and get him off ASAP. Right now we are watching to see how it affects him and if it helps. I appreciate any comments or input on other people's experience with Risperdol and children!

Thanks,

Gregorio-Smith (talk) 18:56, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Generic?

Does anyone have access to information as to why there's no generic form of Risperdal sold? The stuff costs almost $500/mo for 4mg/day over 30 days.

There are no Risperdal generics available yet. As the patent for Risperidone is still in place. You could try getting the pills from your psych's office every month, since Risperdal does have sample boxes that last a month. Or you could get Risperdal available by injection, which lasts a long time. --Moop stick 21:23, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Akathisia

I have noted that akathisia is missing from the list of side effects. I remember having serious akathisia problems in the beginning when taking Risperdal. It is apparently missing from list of adverse effects, as well as with sertraline ... -- 83.131.58.192 06:53, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

"Extrapyramidal side effects" is included, which includes symptomes such as akathisia. --Moop stick 21:48, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

Maybe this should be written in a manner that makes it more obvious to the average person.

[edit] Possible POV

I have OCD and Asperger's, so I may be reading to much into this, but in referring to the Risperdal Conste, mentioning that it is vital given the large number of people with schizophrenia who are unwilling or unable to take their medicine, one may be applying the value judgement that schizophrenics and people with mental illnesses must take drugs. I certainly don't want schizophrenics to be hurt as a result of their schizophrenia, but injecting drugs that f*ck with a person's brain is a fairly serious action. I am not trying to editorialize, but there are plenty opposed to forced medication. More than likely I am reading a message that isn't there, and given the fact that I take Risperdal I do harbor some resentment towards it and many drugs in general, but I eagerly await your response. Thank you.

Iain Marcuson Imarcuso at Wikibooks.


  • I'm somewhat puzzled, if the FDA says Risperidone is not approvable for autisim, why is it prescribed? I also think there is something wrong-sounding about the Consta statement. You can rewrite it if you want or propose a new version here. It would be good to have a source for any statement that Consta is "vital" for some reason for any class of patients. Thatcher131
    • Actually people with schizophrenia will forget to take their meds. According to the Risperdal Consta instructions, doctors must give patients Risperdal is tablet form to see if they can tolerate it. Then if they can, they can get the injection, but must continue to take Risperdal in tablet form until the injection starts working. Once it works, they'll be symptome free. Many people are willing to take their meds, but there are many things that can get in their way to prevent them to. Risperidone is a very strong tranqulizer. It's mainly used to treat behavior problems in autistic children because it is considerably very powerful in controlling behavior problems compared to other antipsychotics.

--Moop stick 01:33, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

      • How often are the injections given, and who gives them to the patient? Thatcher131 01:40, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
        • Every two weeks, and the patients psychiatrist gives them the injection. --Moop stick 17:29, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Correlation with Tumors

What's wrong with the link to the Duke university webpage? I mean, the scientific citation is best, but I think it's also helpful to have a link to a more non-technical summary.

Further, what's wrong with clearly saying in the "side effects" section "Risperdal is correlated with pituitary tumors." You kind of buried that detail in another section, whereas I think that's a pretty big deal.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Fsk (talk • contribs) 03:12, 4 June 2006.

I've updated the tumor stuff, with DukeMedNews as a Reference, not an External link. Colin°Talk 11:01, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Trust me, I've had some prolactin troubles with Risperdal. It's not life threatening, and not signifigant enough to be put under as a safety risk. It's also been addressed in the "side effects" area. I also like this WebMD article better [1] . But I'll leave the issue up to someone else. --Moop stick 03:32, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Paliperidone

You've really confused me now, Moop Stick. Why did you take off those two links just now? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Fsk (talk • contribs) 03:52, 4 June 2006.

The ones about Paliperidone? Because, Paliperidone isnt really related to Risperidone. Theyre just owned by the same company. Talk about Paliperidone shouldnt belong on this article. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Moop stick (talk • contribs) 04:51, 4 June 2006.

How did you know that Paliperidone isn't really related to Risperidone? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Fsk (talk • contribs) 05:08, 4 June 2006.

Paliperidone is the major active metabolite of risperidone, it is only differentiated from risperidone by the addition of one hydroxy group. Colin°Talk 11:01, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Preferably the tumor information should link to the actual scientific article.

Szarfman A, Tonning JM, Levine JG, Doraiswamy PM. Atypical antipsychotics and pituitary tumors: a pharmacovigilance study. Pharmacotherapy. 2006 Jun;26(6):748-58 PMID 16716128.
Newspaper articles, whether written by science reporters or university press officies, frequently misstate the results of scientific studies. I've been following the changes here but haven't jumped in because I haven't had a chance to read the actual article (maybe Monday). I'd like to see what it really says and not what the Duke public relations office says it says.

Also regarding paliperidone, it is simply a slightly more active form of risperidone and should probably be kept here, not as its own article, since Risperdal and the other brand names don't have separate articles. If, for example, paliperidone turns out to have significantly fewer side-effects, it might later deserve a separate article, but for now its not even on the market. Thatcher131 12:15, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Er, it does link to that paper. Paliperidone is a different drug, albeit very slightly. Colin°Talk 20:19, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stopping Risperidone

Can anyone tell me how long Risperidone stays in your system after you stop taking it?

The answer to your question is found in the box at the top of the page where it says "half life." Half the drug is out of your system within three to twenty hours. Half of the remaining drug will clear during the next three to twenty hours, and so forth. The usual rule of thumb is that ten times that means you're clear of a drug. WhatamIdoing 17:46, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Just wanted to add that you also have to taper off the dosing of the medication. The doctors warn that if you suddenly stop taking it, it can have very unwelcoming side effects much like those of drug rehab patients. 16:03, 22 April 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.113.101.242 (talk)

[edit] On 70.54.52.226's edits

His some of his edits might be useful, but he put it too prominently to the level that it would not be NPOV IMO. I would change the way he represented this; opinions are welcome. --Samuel Curtis-- TALK 16:46, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

  • He's a through anti-psychiatrist and I have throughly toned down his edits. I still keep FDA's warning about hyperglycemia, though.--Samuel Curtis-- TALK 17:07, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] My advice to anti-psychiatrists

If you want to argue on your cause, please go on doing that on Schizophrenia. Any unproved statements in this article should be promptly removed per WP:VANDAL and to be reported to the admin as such.

Why should anti-psychiatrical arguments be taken to Schizophrenia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.143.68.173 (talk) 21:36, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

I agree mental disorders may be a cultural phenomenon and mental medications is a part of it, but this, any other mental medication articles, are not appropriate to discuss the merits of psychiatry. --Samuel Curtis-- TALK 17:30, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Please upload all the images to the Commons

I'm planning to improve the Russian version of the article, and images would help. (0: Best regards, CopperKettle 10:48, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

Here's the structural formula. Image:Risperdal tablets.jpg is already in Commons, but I'm afraid the logo is fair use, and so can't be on Commons. The copyright of Image:Risperidone-icon.jpg also seems "hinky". It was uploaded to the public domain, and the website it was taken from doesn't say anything about copyrights, but the image is originally from Stahl's Essential Psychophamacology. Fvasconcellos 14:45, 17 March 2007 (UTC)
Thanx, Fvasconcellos! CopperKettle 12:50, 20 March 2007 (UTC)
No problem :) Fvasconcellos 15:30, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Someone pleas change the reference link

The reference link to the FDA warning letter should be: http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/archive/g4628d.htm —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Robertri (talk • contribs) 15:03, 2 May 2007 (UTC).

Done. Thank you for pointing that out. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 16:16, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Rispen (generic brand) sold in the US?

The article states, that Rispen is a brand name od risperidon preparation sold in the USA. I know Rispen only as a generic version of risperidone manufactured and distributed by the czech/slovak pharmaceutical company Zentiva. Is it really sold under this trade name in the US..? Most of the google hits for "Rispen+US" seems to take generously this information from this article.--Spiperon 21:26, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

The FDA website makes no mention of Rispen. Tentative approval has been given to several formulations of risperidone, from several manufacturers, but none are marketed yet. It's probably just poor wording in the article—I'll clarify. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 22:08, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New resource: Risperdal permitted for treatment of schizophrenia in children

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070822/ap_on_he_me/psychotic_drug I think this should be added. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 89.205.7.56 (talk) 18:15, August 22, 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Some side effects are related to amount taken?

The psychiatrist who prescribes my Risperdal told me that many of the unpopular side effects of the drug, such as weight gain, only occur in doses of 4mg/day or more. I don't know the specifics, but I think that someone who has insight into this should change to article to reflect this. Bite the Wax Tadpole 21:28, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Long-term effects after risperidone cessation

In my experience, there are none, apart from the permanent losses of experience and the way that impacts on your life. And a short-ish period of three weeks to a month after cessation for the mental faculties to return. From at least one testimony I have found on a bulletin board, the return of faculties may vary from person to person... but the fact that in my case they came back seems to show that the drug is not responsible for any prolonged or permanent loss of the faculties. Since I think I only found one example of permanent loss perhaps it is not worth reporting. On the one hand it would seem appropriate for an article like this to cite a study on long-term effects - perhaps someone could research? On the other hand my experience says it all really, probably more clearly and usefully than any convoluted study. Anyone reading up on their medication will be crucially interested in this information. When I was on this med I was searching desperately on the web and found very little. I hope someone with more nouse will post what I have written on the main page. Personally I am inhibited by the scientific character of this page, but I appreciate there may be legal issues. Actually that was my main reason for not posting this. I imagine the big pharma breathing down the neck of wikipedia for example in including my comment about the "mental faculties returning", implying as it does (and truthfully) that mental faculties are blocked by the medication. That fact does not seem to enter the official literature/ leaflet that comes with the drug. Anyone with half an eye on these words should be alert by now to the fact that I am drawing attention to a very real and important instance of public misinformation, which so far Wikipedia has shown no sign of addressing. I am talking about the loss of creativity, memory loss, loss of reasoning ability, verbal ability, and other higher thought processes. I do remember looking for this sort of information in the past and it is very hard to come by, you only find it scattered across various bulletin boards. Of course different people report different incidences of loss of each of the faculties I mentioned. But side-effects profiles are just as imprecise, and it is these primary effects which are most important of all. They should all be mentioned as potential effects of the drug. Whether or not this information can be included on legal grounds I do not know, but someone should certainly post the info I provided about the long-term effects of risperidone. The news is good, it should hardly be controversial. It just needs rephrasing re: mental faculties returning. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.69.65.238 (talk) 19:54, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Generic Availablity

While generic risperidone is not expeted at US pharmacies until after June 2008, legitimate Canadian pharmacies have generic risperidone available now, and do ship to the US. One should be careful not to use an email spam to find such a pharmacy. A prescription that would cost $800 at a US pharmacy may be available for $100 from Canada. Manufacturers of the generic include known companies such as Sandoz. A written prescription from your psychiatrist is required. The Canadian pharmacy may require that the prescription be mailed to them, however, in some cases a FAX is acceptable.69.110.0.187 (talk) 06:01, 18 February 2008 (UTC)


[edit] brave new world

"It also helps the physician ensure compliance" -- scary —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.188.187.164 (talk) 01:13, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] 5-HT (serotonin) antagonism

Risperidone, does not block dopamine receptors as stated in the article. It blocks a class of 5-HT (serotonin) recpetors which are linked to weight gain (5-HT2C), its antipsychotic action (5-HT2A) and relief of some of the extrapyramidal side effects experienced with the Typical neuroleptics. The latter action, in fact, leads to an increased release of Dopamine from Mesocortical neurones. Striate —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.103.15.54 (talk) 19:36, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Sexual side effects

I believe that the reduction/elimination of sexual libido should be added to the side effects section. I'm not aware if there is a more formal term for this. Having used risperdal, the user feels a loss and reduction of sexual interest. This is a common and substantial side effect, I don't know why it isn't mentioned? Jcook5 (talk) 13:20, 30 May 2008 (UTC)