Common questions about risperidone

Risperidone belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics.

It does not cure your condition, but it can help the symptoms.

Risperidone works by affecting chemical messengers in your brain (neurotransmitters) like dopamine.

If you have too much dopamine it can make you see things that are not there (hallucinations) or think things that are not true (delusions). Dopamine is also involved in muscle movements, so too much of it can also affect your muscles.

Risperidone also works on other neurotransmitters such as serotonin. These are believed to control mood.

Taking risperidone will not change your personality and it is not addictive.

Risperidone does not work straight away. It can take several days or even months for some symptoms to get better.

It may take a few weeks to get to the right dose for you.

You may find risperidone makes you:

• feel calmer and less upset
• able to concentrate better and think more clearly
• able to get things done and stay focussed
• more aware of what may and may not be real
• stop hearing voices
• remember things more easily

Many people take risperidone for a long time.

One long-term side effect can be putting on weight as taking risperidone can make you feel more hungry than usual.

Risperidone treats your condition, but it will not cure it. It helps to keep your symptoms under control.

If you're worried about long-term side effects then talk to your doctor.

Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking risperidone.

If you need to stop taking risperidone your doctor will help you reduce your dose so that you come off the medicine gradually.

If you and your doctor agree that you can stop taking risperidone suddenly then your symptoms may come back. You may also get withdrawal symptoms such as feeling or being sick, sweating and difficulty sleeping.

Talk to your doctor or your specialist if you have any problems when you reduce your dose or stop taking risperidone.

There are lots of other antipsychotic medicines that work in a similar way to risperidone but have different side effects.

If you have side effects that bother you then your doctor may be able to recommend another medicine that will suit you better.

Clozapine is an antipsychotic medicine that may work when other antipsychotics have not worked for you.

Risperidone can make you feel more hungry than usual, so you may put on weight.

Try to eat a healthy balanced diet without increasing your portion sizes.

Do not snack on foods that contain a lot of calories, such as crisps, cakes, biscuits and sweets. If you feel hungry between meals, eat fruit and vegetables and low-calorie foods.

If you start to have problems with your weight while taking risperidone, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Risperidone will not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception.

However, if you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you're being sick (vomiting) or have severe watery diarrhoea, or any diarrhoea that lasts for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check on the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

Risperidone can make you feel sleepy. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery until you feel better.

Some people cannot concentrate properly while they are taking risperidone. When you first start taking risperidone, it's a good idea to stop driving and cycling for the first few days until you know how it makes you feel.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking risperidone.

GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

It's best not to drink alcohol for the first few days of treatment until you see how the medicine affects you.

If you drink alcohol while taking risperidone it may make you feel sleepy and unsteady on your feet.

Drinking alcohol every day or in large amounts can make your symptoms worse. It also makes it harder for risperidone to work properly.

Apart from limiting alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking risperidone.

Making simple lifestyle changes can help the way you feel as well as your symptoms.

• Try to get plenty of sleep – getting regular exercise and avoiding caffeine can help.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs – they can make your symptoms worse and make it difficult for your medicine to work.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet – eating healthy, nutritious food and avoiding foods that are high in sugar can help your mood and energy.