Risperdal

Generic name: Risperidone

Risperidone tablets or orally-disintegrating tablets

What are risperidone tablets or orally disintegrating tablets?

RISPERIDONE (Risperdal®, Risperdal® M-tab.) helps to treat schizophrenia. Risperidone can help you to keep in touch with reality and reduce your mental problems. Occasionally risperidone is used to treat other mood disturbances. Generic risperidone tablets or orally-disintegrating tablets are not yet available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• frequently drink alcohol-containing beverages
• blood disorder or disease
• dementia
• diabetes
• difficulty swallowing
• heart disease
• history of brain tumor or head injury
• history of breast cancer
• irregular heartbeat
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• low blood pressure
• Parkinson's disease
• phenylketonuria
• previous heart attack
• seizures
• an unusual or allergic reaction to risperidone, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take risperidone tablets or orally disintegrating tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. If risperidone upsets your stomach you can take it with food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

Risperdal® tablets: Take regular risperidone tablets by mouth. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water.

Risperdal® M-tab. disintegrating tablets: These tablets are made to dissolve in the mouth without having to take them with water. After removing the tablet from the package, place the tablet in the mouth on the tongue and allow it to dissolve, then swallow. Do not chew the tablet. While you may take these tablets with water, it is not necessary to do so.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with risperidone?

• alcohol
• arsenic trioxide
• astemizole
• bromocriptine
• cabergoline
• carbamazepine
• clarithromycin
• cimetidine
• cisapride
• droperidol
• erythromycin
• halofantrine
• imatinib, STI-571
• levodopa and other medications for Parkinson's disease
• levomethadyl
• medicines for high blood pressure
• medicines for irregular heartbeats
• medicines for sleep or sedation
• medicines for treating seizures (convulsions)
• other medicines for mental anxiety, depression or psychotic disturbances
• pentamidine
• prescription pain medications
• probucol
• rifampin
• ritonavir
• some medicines for infertility
• some medicines for the hormonal treatment of cancer
• some quinolone antibiotics for treating infections (gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, sparfloxacin
• terfenadine

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking risperidone?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• aching muscles and joints
• changes in vision
• confusion
• fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
• fainting spells
• increased thirst or hunger
• increased need to pass urine
• inner restlessness, unable to keep still
• loss of balance, difficulty walking or falls
• stiffness, spasms, trembling

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation
• decreased sexual ability
• difficulty sleeping
• drowsiness or dizziness
• headache
• increase or decrease in saliva
• increased sensitivity to the sun
• menstrual irregularity
• nausea, vomiting
• stomach pain
• stuffy or runny nose, cough
• unusual tiredness
• weight gain

What should I watch for while taking risperidone?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. It may be several weeks before you see the full effects of risperidone. Do not suddenly stop taking risperidone. You may need to gradually reduce the dose. Only stop taking risperidone on your prescriber's advice.

If you notice an increased hunger or thirst, different from your normal hunger or thirst, or if you find that you must frequently use the restroom (excessive urination), you should contact your health care provider as soon as possible. You may need to have your blood sugar monitored.

You may get dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how risperidone affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol can increase dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid alcoholic drinks. You can get a hangover effect the morning after a bedtime dose.

Do not treat yourself for colds, diarrhea or allergies. Ask your prescriber or health care professional for advice, some nonprescription medicines may increase possible side effects.

Risperidone may make you more sensitive to sun or ultraviolet light. Keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing outdoors and use a sunscreen (at least SPF 15). Do not use sun lamps, or sun tanning beds or booths. To protect your eyes wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.

If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking risperidone.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 to 25 degrees C (59 and 77 degrees F). Protect the tablets from exposure to bright light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.