From the Guidelines
Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic medication.
Key Characteristics
- It is used to treat various psychiatric disorders, including irritability, aggression, and behavioral disturbances associated with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other conditions 1.
- The medication has been shown to improve symptoms of irritability and aggression, as well as other problem behaviors, in youth with ID/IDD and ASD 1.
- Common side effects of risperidone include somnolence, headache, weight gain, and asymptomatic increases in prolactin 1.
Clinical Use
- Risperidone is typically considered after assessments of whether potential contributors to irritability and aggression could be addressed by nonpharmacological means 1.
- The medication can be used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) interventions, to target specific symptoms and behaviors 1.
- Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of risperidone in improving symptoms of irritability and aggression in youth with ID/IDD and ASD, with significant improvements seen in measures such as the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
RISPERIDONE contains risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic belonging to the chemical class of benzisoxazole derivatives. The chemical designation is 3-[2-[4-(6-fluoro-1,2-benzisoxazol-3-yl)-1-piperidinyl]ethyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one.
Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic belonging to the chemical class of benzisoxazole derivatives 2.
- It has a chemical designation of 3-[2-[4-(6-fluoro-1,2-benzisoxazol-3-yl)-1-piperidinyl]ethyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one.
- Its molecular formula is C23H27FN4O2 and its molecular weight is 410.49.
From the Research
Definition and Mechanism of Risperidone
- Risperidone is a benzisoxazole derivative with antipsychotic activity, chemically unrelated to other currently available antipsychotic agents 3.
- It is a potent antagonist of serotonin 5-HT2 and dopamine D2 receptors in the brain 3, 4.
- Risperidone has been shown to be a safe and effective atypical antipsychotic agent, initially approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, and now used to treat other conditions, including bipolar disorder, dementia, and behavior problems in a range of age groups 5.
Clinical Uses of Risperidone
- Risperidone is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, demonstrating superior efficacy against the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and a decreased occurrence of extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) compared to conventional antipsychotics 4.
- It is also used to treat depressive, anxiety, and behavioral disorders, with varying levels of evidence supporting its use in these conditions 5.
- Risperidone has been reported to be of value in patients with schizodepressive disorders 3.
Side Effects and Dosage of Risperidone
- The side effects associated with traditional antipsychotic treatment are generally minimal in patients who take risperidone, but it can cause increased prolactin levels and extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) in a dose-related manner 6, 4.
- The optimal dose of risperidone is still a topic of debate, with studies suggesting that a standard-lower dose range (4-<6 mg/day) may be optimal for clinical response and adverse effects 7.
- High doses (>==10 mg/day) did not confer any advantage over other dose ranges and caused more adverse effects, especially for movement disorders 7.