RISPERDAL

	RISPERDAL Description / Definitions Addiction / Dependence Side Effects Withdrawal Symptoms Treatment

DESCRIPTION / DEFINITIONS: Risperdal® (risperidone) is a atypical antipsychotic.  Risperdal is a drug prescribed for the acute and maintenance treatment of Schizophrenia and the short-term treatment of bipolar disease.

ADDICTION / DEPENDENCE: Half life and metabolism, Black Box Warning.

SIDE EFFECTS: Stroke, transient ischemic attack, fatalities, worsening of their depression, suicidal ideation and behavior  (see list below).

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: Dizziness, hyperkinesias, somnolence, nausea (see list below).

TREATMENT: Medical detoxification.

DESCRIPTION / DEFINITIONS

Risperdal (risperidone) is prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia.  According to its label, “The mechanism of action of RISPERDAL® (risperidone), as with other drugs used to treat schizophrenia, is unknown. However, it has been proposed that the drug's therapeutic activity in schizophrenia is mediated through a combination of dopamine Type 2 (D2) and serotonin Type 2 (5HT2) receptor antagonism.”

ADDICTION / DEPENDENCE

HALF LIFE AND METABOLISM

BLACK BOX WARNING

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided that some drugs pose very serious risks and have required these drugs have what is called a black box warning. Risperdal has a black box warning. Here is the warning.

SIDE EFFECTS

The following information is taken from the Risperdal label:

abdominal pain abnormal accommodation abnormal lacrimation abnormal vision accommodation disturbances acne aggravated psoriasis aggressive reaction agitation akathisia allergic reaction alopecia amenorrhea anaphylactic reaction anemia angina pectoris angioedema anorexia antidiuretic hormone disorder anxiety aphasia apnea arthralgia arthritis arthrosis ascites aspiration asthenia asthma atrial fibrillation AV block back pain bitter taste blepharitis bronchospasm bullous eruption bursitis cachexia cerebrovascular disorder chest pain cholecystitis cholelithiasis cholestatic hepatitis cholinergic syndrome choreoathetosis coma concentration impaired confusion constipation coughing creatine phosphokinase increase cystitis decreased hearing decreased serum iron decreased sweating dehydration dermatitis lichenoid diabetes mellitus diabetes mellitus aggravated diabetic ketoacidosis diarrhea diplopia discolored feces diverticulitis dizziness dry skin dry vagina dysarthria dysmenorrhea dyspepsia dysphagia dyspnea dystonia dysuria edema ejaculation failure ejaculatory dysfunction enlarged abdomen epistaxis EPS incidence

erectile dysfunction eructation esophagitis eye pain fatalities fatigue fecal incontinence female breast pain female perineal pain fever flatulence flushing furunculosis gastritis gastroenteritis gastroesophageal reflux genital pruritus GI hemorrhage gingivitis granulocytopenia leukocytosis gynecomastia headache hematemesis hematuria hemorrhage hemorrhoids hepatic failure hepatitis hepatocellular damage hyperacusis hyperglycemia hyperkeratosis hyperphosphatemia hyperprolactinemia hyperreflexia hypertension hypertrichosis hypertriglyceridemia hyperuricemia hyperventilation hypoaesthesia hypochromic anemia hypoesthesia hypoglycemia hypokalemia hyponatremia hypoproteinemia hypotension hypotonia including cerebrovascular accident increased appetite increased duration of sleep increased fatigability increased pigmentation increased SGOT increased SGPT increased sputum influenza-like symptoms injury insomnia intermenstrual bleeding intestinal obstruction jaundice lassitude leg cramps leucopenia leukorrhea lymphadenopathy malaise male breast pain mania manic reaction mastitis melena menorrhagia migraine mouth dry myalgia myocardial infarction myocarditis

nausea neuroleptic malignant syndrome (nms) nonpuerperal lactation normocytic anemia orgastic dysfunction orthostatic dizziness pain pallor palpitations pancreatitis paraesthesia parkinsonism parkinson's disease aggravated pelger-huet anomaly pharyngitis photophobia photopsia photosensitivity increased pituitary adenomas pneumonia polydipsia polyuria precocious puberty premature atrial contractions priapism pruritus pulmonary embolism purpura QT prolongation rash reduced salivation renal insufficiency rhinitis rigors saliva increased sarcoidosis seborrhea seizures sinusitis skeletal pain skin exfoliation skin ulceration sleepiness somnolence ST depression stomatitis stridor stroke stupor superficial phlebitis sweating syncope synostosis tachycardia tardive dyskinesia thirst thrombocytopenia thrombophlebitis tinnitus tongue discoloration tongue edema tongue paralysis tooth disorder toothache torticollis transient ischemic attack T-wave inversions urinary incontinence urinary retention urticaria vaginal hemorrhage ventricular extrasystoles ventricular tachycardia verruca vertigo vomiting weight decrease weight gain xerophthalmia

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Risperdal can be a very difficult drug to stop taking.

agitation anorexia anxiety diarrhea dizziness emesis (vomiting)

extrapyramidal symptoms hyperkinesias insomnia itching muscle pain

nausea restlessness rhinorrhoea (runny nose) somnolence sweating

TREATMENT

Withdrawal from Risperdal should only be done under the care of a health practitioner. The safest way is to withdraw at an inpatient medical detox facility. At an inpatient medical detox facility with a protocol that includes hydration, vitamins and supplements, most patients can safely stop taking Risperdal in about seven days. Patients can withdraw from Risperdal on an outpatient basis but it will normally take at least four weeks.