People's Pharmacy

Risperdal

Generic Name:risperidone

Revised:4/1/2000

Table of Contents

Side Effects and Interactions

Some people starting on Risperdal may find that they feel dizzy or faint if they stand up suddenly. They should take care to avoid falling when they first get up.

Risperdal may cause anxiety, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, nausea, indigestion, runny nose, rash, rapid heart beat and uncontrollable muscle movements,

Other adverse reactions to be alert for include sleeping longer and dreaming more, visual problems, sensitivity to sunlight leading to sunburn, fatigue, weight gain, diarrhea, constipation, sexual difficulties, difficult urination, heavy menstrual periods, dry vagina and reduced salivation.

Report any symptoms to your physician promptly.

Risperdal may interact with other medications, but most of the potential interactions have not yet been carefully studied.

Alcohol should be avoided by patients taking this drug.

Blood pressure medicines may increase the trouble with feeling faint upon standing up (orthostatic hypotension).

Risperdal may counteract the benefits of the Parkinson's disease drug levodopa.

The antiseizure drug Tegretol may speed removal of Risperdal from the body, possibly reducing its concentration below the desired level.

The antischizophrenic medicine Clozaril can reduce the body's ability to eliminate Risperdal and may lead to increased blood levels.

Many medications processed by the same liver enzyme as Risperdal have a potential for interaction, but the medicine is still so new that there are few if any reports as of this writing.

Check with your doctor and pharmacist to make sure Risperdal is safe in combination with any other drugs you take.