summary

Here is information from RISPERDAL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION which may be helpful to address your question:

What are the possible side effects of RISPERDAL?

• RISPERDAL can cause serious side effects, including¹:
  • Increased risk of death in elderly people who are confused, have memory loss, and have lost touch with reality (dementia-related psychosis). RISPERDAL is not for treating dementia-related psychosis.
• Other possible side effects include¹:
  • Stroke in elderly people (cerebrovascular problems) that can lead to death.
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare but very serious problem that can happen in people who receive RISPERDAL. NMS can cause death and must be treated in a hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you become severely ill and have any of these symptoms:
    • high fever
    • shaking
    • muscle stiffness, pain, or weakness
    • confusion
    • sweating
    • changes in your pulse, heartbeat, or blood pressure
  • Uncontrolled movements (tardive dyskinesia) of your face, tongue, and other parts of the body.
  • Metabolic changes. Metabolic changes may include high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), diabetes mellitus and changes in the fat levels in your blood (dyslipidemia), and weight gain.
  • High level of prolactin in your blood (hyperprolactinemia). RISPERDAL may cause a rise in the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) that may cause side effects including missed menstrual periods, leakage of milk from the breasts, development of breasts in men, or problems with erection.
  • Seizures.
  • Low blood pressure, dizziness, or fainting.
  • Potential risk of falls. Patients (particularly the elderly) taking antipsychotics with certain health conditions or those on long-term therapy should be evaluated by their healthcare professional for the potential risk of falls.
  • Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) are usually persistent movement disorders or muscle disturbances, such as restlessness, tremors, and muscle stiffness. If you observe any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare professional.
  • Changes in your blood cell counts.
  • Prolonged or painful erection lasting more than 4 hours. Call your healthcare provider or go to your nearest emergency room right away if you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours.
  • Problems with control of your body temperature especially when you exercise a lot or spend time doing things that make you warm. It is important for you to drink water to avoid dehydration.
  • Difficulty swallowing can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.
  • Problems thinking clearly and performing coordinated movements such as driving.

Most Common Side Effects

• The most common side effects observed in clinical trials with RISPERDAL were sleepiness, slow movements (including tremor [shaking], stiffness and a shuffling walk), feeling of inner restlessness or needing to be constantly moving, twisting movements that you cannot control, dizziness, anxiety, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, upper abdomen pain, stomach discomfort, indigestion, diarrhea, increased saliva, constipation, dry mouth, increased appetite, increased weight, fatigue, rash, nasal congestion, upper respiratory tract infection, infection of the nose and throat, and pain in the throat and upper windpipe.¹

Do not discontinue your medication without first speaking to your doctor or healthcare professional.

additional information

This information is provided ONLY in response to your request and is not intended as medical advice, to promote the use of our product, or suggest using it in any manner other than as described in the PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. All decisions regarding your medical treatment should be made with your healthcare professional(s). Please contact your healthcare professional(s) to discuss the information in this response.

Please refer to the attached full PRESCRIBING INFORMATION for RISPERDAL.¹