Risperdal for Bipolar (Risperidone)

by Sarah from Bipolar-Lives
(FL, US)

US BRAND NAME: Risperdal

GENERIC NAME: Risperidone

TYPE: Atypical antipsychotic

USE: Risperdal is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, mania or bipolar disorder.

COMMENTS: If you are having a bad bout of mania, taking risperidone may calm down your symptoms of mania.

EVIDENCE: Rated by Consumer Reports Health and the British Medical Journal as likely to help more than hurt in the treatment of bipolar mania. A study on risperidone for the treatment of anxiety symptoms in people with bipolar disorder found it no better than a placebo.

SIDE EFFECTS: Include but not limited to: Weight gain (sometimes dramatic), sedation, depression, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, muscle stiffness, muscle pain, tremors, increased salivation, constipation, and stuffy nose.

CAUTIONS: NOT be used to treat behavioral problems in older adult patients who have dementia. Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Signs of tardive dyskinesia include fine, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs. This drug is also known to increase prolactin to a greater extent than other atypical antipsychotics. Although lactation is possible in both sexes using other antipsychotic drugs, risperidone is the biggest offender.