Risperdal Side Effects
Common side effects associated with the use of Risperdal include abdominal pain, the absence of menstrual period, anxiety, breast milk production, constipation, coughing, development of breasts in males, difficulty regulating body temperature, diminished sexual desire, dizziness, dry mouth, ejaculatory dysfunction, elevated blood sugar levels, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, fever, increased appetite, increased dream activity, increased salivation, indigestion, lightheadedness, muscle stiffness, nausea, rash, restlessness, rhinitis, seizures, sleepwalking, tremors, upper respiratory tract infection, urinary incontinence, vision abnormalities, vomiting, or weight gain.
More serious side effects connected to Risperdal include stroke (particularly in elderly patients who have been diagnosed with a dementia-related psychosis) and the development of diabetes.
Risperdal is also associated with a number of serious and potentially fatal side effects. Some of these include extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS), hyperprolactinemia (an elevation in the hormone prolactin), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), and tardive Dyskinesia (TD). Symptoms of EPS include muscle disturbances or stiffness, restlessness, tremors, and uncontrolled and persistent movement. Symptoms of NMS include blood pressure changes, heart rate changes, confusion, high fever, muscle pain, shaking, stiff muscles, sweating, and weakness. TD is characterized by facial tics and uncontrollable movements of the tongue, face, or other parts of the body.
Things to Know, Precautions, Things to Ask Your Physician:
Risperdal is not to be used to treat psychotic conditions related to dementia, as heart failure, pneumonia, or sudden death could occur.
A doctor must decide if Risperdal is right for patients under 13 years of age.
Risperdal may cause high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), so talk to your doctor if you experience any symptoms such as increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are diabetic be sure to check your blood sugar levels often.
Drink plenty of fluids while on Risperdal, especially when exercising or in hot conditions, as the medication may cause dehydration.
Risperdal disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine.
The medication can be taken with or without food.
Risperdal must be taken regularly in order to be effective, and it may take several weeks before symptoms improve when first starting treatment.
If you are taking the liquid form of Risperdal, do not mix with cola or tea. Do not freeze the liquid medication.
What to Avoid When Taking the Drug:
Risperdal may make you more sensitive to temperature extremes, so avoid getting too cold, become overheated, or being dehydrated.
Until you know how the medication will affect your body, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery, as Risperdal may affect your reaction time and alertness.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Risperdal, as some serious side effects could occur.
Other Interactions that May Affect the Drug:
Do not take Risperdal if you have an allergy to risperidone.
Before using Risperdal, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, a history of heart attack or stroke, a history of breast cancer, trouble swallowing, Parkinson’s disease, suicidal thoughts, seizures, or diabetes.
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