Simple and Practical Mental Health

The BEST resource for mental health clinicians

  • REVIEWS
  • MENUS
  • RESOURCES
    • Side effect handouts
    • Patient handouts: Main page
    • How to find treatment resources
    • Rating scales and questionnaires for mental health clinicians
    • BEST books
    • BEST apps/ websites
  • NEWS
  • QUESTIONS?
  • DAILY EMAILS
  • FAQ
  • LOG IN
  • JOIN

Risperidone (Risperdal®): Basic Information

Risperidone (US brand name Risperdal® and generic) is a second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication.


FDA-approved indications

1. Treatment of schizophrenia

2. As monotherapy or adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate, for the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder

3. Treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder


Mechanism of Action/ Pharmacodynamics

Most importantly, risperidone is an antagonist at dopamine D2 and serotonin type 2 (5-HT2) receptors.

The binding affinities of risperidone for receptors of interest are as follows: 

High affinity 

– Serotonin 5-HT2

– Dopamine D2

– Alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenergic

– H1 histaminergic 

Low to moderate affinity

– Serotonin 5-HT1C

– Serotonin 5-HT1D

– Serotonin 5-HT1A 

Weak affinity 

– Dopamine D1

No affinity

– Cholinergic muscarinic

– Beta-1/ beta-2 adrenergic 


Pharmacokinetics


Contraindications


Warnings and Precautions


Potential side effects

Please see THIS PAGE for a handout listing both the common and less common side effects of this medication along with the percentages of patients who report them.


Dosage

Recommended daily dosage:

Schizophrenia (adults)
Initial dose: 2 mg
Target dose: 4–8 mg
Effective dose range: 4–16 mg

Schizophrenia (adolescents)
Initial dose: 0.5 mg
Target dose: 3 mg
Effective dose range: 1–6 mg

Bipolar mania (adults)
Initial dose: 2–3 mg
Target dose: 1­–6 mg
Effective dose range: 1­–6 mg

Bipolar mania (children and adolescents)
Initial dose: 0.5 mg
Target dose: 1­–2.5 mg
Effective dose range: 1­–6 mg

Irritability associated with autistic disorder (weight <20 kg)
Initial dose: 0.25 mg
Target dose: 0.5 mg
Effective dose range: 0.5–3 mg

Irritability associated with autistic disorder (weight ≥20 kg)
Initial dose: 0.5 mg
Target dose: 1 mg
Effective dose range: 0.5–3 mg


Dosage forms and strengths

Tablets (Risperdal® and generic): 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg

Oral solution (Risperdal® and generic): 1 mg/mL

Orally disintegrating tablets (Risperdal M-tab® and generic): 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg


Please refer to Prescribing Information (see link below) for a complete discussion of dosage, administration, warnings and precautions, contraindications, etc.


Related Pages

Risperidone long-acting injection (Risperdal Consta®)

News: July 6, 2016. Make sure you are discussing increased risk of gynecomastia with risperidone (Free)

Second-Generation Antipsychotics: Dose Equivalents

What should I be doing to monitor patients who are on an antipsychotic? 

Second-generation (“Atypical”) antipsychotics


References

Risperidone Prescribing Information


Copyright © 2016 to 2023, Simple and Practical Medical Education, LLC.  All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.

Disclaimer: The content on this website is provided as general education for medical professionals. It is not intended or recommended for patients or other laypersons or as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients must always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare professionals should always check this website for the most recently updated information.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Comments

  1. Mumbi Kairu says

    March 9, 2022 at 3:31 pm

    Can you please discuss how to interpret risperidone levels? Serum risperidone, total (risperidone plus 9-OH-risperidone). Thank you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply:Cancel reply

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright 2016 to 2025: Simple and Practical Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved.