Schizophrenia, autistic disorders, OCD… Risperidone is the generic drug of Risperdal®, a second generation antipsychotic. It is prescribed in the context of personality and behavioral disorders.
Definition: what is risperidone?
Risperidone is a antipsychotic second generation. It comes in the form of a drinkable solution dosed at 1mg/ml. This drug is most often prescribed by a psychiatrist.
What are the indications for risperidone?
“Risperidone is indicated in the treatment of schizophreniasevere behavioral disorders of the child in case of mental retardation or syndrome autistic, manic episodes in case of bipolar disorders, personality disorders borderlineobsessive compulsive disorder (TOC) and aggressiveness in the disease ofAlzheimer. It can also be used as part of a post-traumatic stress. It’s a drug that helps calm seizures.s”, says Françoise Couic Marinier.
Trade name: which medicines contain risperidone?
“Risperidone is the generic term for drug Risperdal. It is the only drug that contains it“, informs the pharmacist.
What are the side effects of risperidone?
Like all medicines, risperidone can cause side effects. The most common (may affect 1 in 10 people) are:
- Difficulties falling asleep or stay asleep
- Parkinsonism : this condition may include slow or impaired movements, a feeling of stiffness or muscle cramping (making your movements jerky), and sometimes even a feeling of motion”frozen” and then restart. Other signs of Parkinsonism include a shuffling and slow walking, tremor at rest, increased saliva and/or drooling, and loss of facial expression
- Feeling sleepy or less alert
- Headache.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- Pneumonia, chest infection (bronchitis), cold symptoms, sinusitis, urinary tract infectionear infection, flu syndrome
- Increased levels of a hormone called “prolactin” found through a blood test (which may or may not cause symptoms).
► Symptoms of a high rate of prolactin appear infrequently and in men may include breast swelling, difficulty getting or keeping an erection, decreased sex drive or other sexual problems. In women, they may include breast discomfort, milk leaking from the breasts, missed periods, or other problems with your period or fertility issues
- Weight gain, increased or decreased appetite
- Sleep disorder, irritability, depression, anxietyagitation
- Dystonia : It is a condition involving a slow or sustained involuntary contraction of muscles. Although any part of the body can be affected (and can lead to abnormal posture), dystonia often involves facial muscles, including abnormal movements of the eyes, mouth, tongue, or jaw
- Sensation vertiginous
- Dyskinesia : This is a condition involving involuntary muscle movements, and may include repetitive, spastic or twisting movements, or twitching
- Tremor (shaking)
- Blurred visioneye infection or “pink eye”
- Heartbeat fast, high blood pressure, shortness of breath
- Sore throatcough, nose bleeds, stuffy nose
- Abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, dry mouth, toothache
- Eruption skin, redness of the skin
- Spasms muscles, bone or muscle pain, back pain, joint pain
- Urinary incontinence (involuntary emission of urine)
- Swelling body, arms or legs, fever, chest pain, weakness, tiredness (exhaustion), pain
- Chute.
What are the contraindications of risperidone?
Risperidone is contraindicated in people with allergies to risperidone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine. Precautions should be taken in case of associated health concerns, such as heart problems, Parkinson diseasedementia, diabetes or epilepsy. “Some medications are contraindicated because they can decrease the effect of risperidone: rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin and phrenobarbital. On the other hand, other medicines can increase the effect of risperidone, in particular quinidine, certain antidepressants, beta-blockers, phenothiazines, cimetidine, ketoconazole, certain medicines used in the treatment of HIV, certain medicines used against high blood pressure“, specifies our interlocutor.
Can you drink alcohol while taking risperidone?
“The consumption of alcohol while taking risperidone is not contraindicated but strongly discouraged”notes the specialist.
Thanks to Françoise Couic Marinier, doctor of pharmacy and aromatherapist, author of the book “The living Earth guide to essential oils”, published by Terre Vivante.