Risperdal

Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication intended for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It works by restoring the balance of chemicals in your brain. It’s very important that you discuss with your health care provider any health conditions you have, such as high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease, seizures, a history of suicidal thoughts, trouble swallowing, liver disease, kidney disease, a history of breast cancer, a history of heart attack or stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. Some of these health conditions can actually require a dose adjustment – your doctor will recommend taking Risperdal at lower or sometimes higher doses to make sure it’s both safe and efficient. You will also need to report any medications you are taking at the moment. While some drugs you are using have been reported to add to the drowsiness Risperdal can cause (narcotic pain medicines, medicine for seizures, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, depression or anxiety meds, and cold or allergy medicines), others are likely to interfere with this drug in some other way. If you are also using narcotic pain medicines, muscle relaxers, cold or allergy medicines, sleeping pills, depression or anxiety meds, or medicines for seizures at the moment of asking your health care provider for a prescription – report this fact before stating to take Risperdal to avoid interactions. A dose adjustment may be enough for you to combine these medications safely. Both mild and more serious side effects are possible, and you must understand the difference between them to be sure which ones are supposed to be reported and which ones are most likely to go away on their own. Please make sure you report any of the following serious side effects that are theoretically possible: feeling light-headed, flu symptoms, body aches, chills, trouble swallowing, fever, fainting, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremor, and stiff muscles. At the same time, you do not need to tell your doctor about such mild side effects as constipation, mild restlessness, dry mouth, nausea, headache, decreased sex drive, sleepiness, weight gain, drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision, as they are more likely to disappear without any need of medical attention required. In some rare cases mild side effects can change in intensity and get more severe – that’s when you can call your doctor and talk about possible changes that need to be made to you treatment for you to benefit most.