How and when to take risperidone

It's important to take risperidone as your doctor tells you.

Dosage and strength

Standard tablets come in strengths of 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, 4mg and 6mg.

Tablets that melt in your mouth (orodispersible) come in strengths of 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg, 3mg and 4mg.

Risperidone liquid contains 1mg per 1ml.

Your dose of risperidone will depend on what you're taking it for. Your doctor may change your dose depending on how well it's working for you.

If you have problems with your kidneys or liver your doctor may ask you to take a lower dose and increase your dose very slowly.

Schizophrenia

If you're 65 years old or under, you'll usually start on a low dose of 2mg. Your doctor may increase this to 4mg a day on the 2nd day. Most people feel better with daily doses of 4mg to 6mg.

You can take it as a single dose each day or you could take half your dose in the morning and half in the evening.

If you're over 65 years old, you'll usually start on a low dose of 0.5mg, taken twice a day. Your doctor may increase your dose to 1mg or 2mg, taken twice a day.

Mania

If you're 65 years old or under, you'll usually start on a low dose of 2mg once a day. Your doctor may change your dose depending on how well risperidone works for you. Most people feel better with doses of 1mg to 6mg, taken once a day.

If you're over 65 years old, you'll usually start on a low dose of 0.5mg, taken twice a day. Your doctor may change your dose slowly to 1mg or 2mg, taken twice a day. This depends on how well risperidone works for you.

Aggressive behaviour with Alzheimer's

You'll usually start on a low dose of 0.25mg, taken twice a day. Your doctor may increase your dose slowly to see how well risperidone works for you.

Most people feel better with 0.5mg, taken twice a day. Some people may need 1mg twice a day.

You may only be given risperidone for a few weeks.

Aggressive behaviour in children

If the medicine is for a child aged 5 to 17 years old, the dose will depend on their weight. It will usually start low and may be increased by a small amount every other day.

Your doctor will tell you how to increase the dose, depending on how well risperidone is working. Your child may only take it for a few weeks.

How to take risperidone

Follow the instructions in the leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Standard tablets

Swallow your risperidone tablet with a drink of water.

If you need to take half a tablet for your dose or if you have difficulty swallowing the whole tablet, use the score line on the tablet to break it in half.

You can take risperidone tablets with or without food.

Tablets that dissolve in your mouth (orodispersible)

Make sure your hands are dry. Only remove a tablet from the pack when you're ready to take it and put it on your tongue, straight away.

The tablet will begin dissolving within seconds. You can have a drink of water afterwards if you like.

Liquid

Your medicine will come with a syringe, dropper (pipette) or measuring cup to help you to measure out the right dose. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen spoon as it will not measure the right amount.

You can take risperidone liquid with or without food.

Injections

If you need to have a risperidone injection, you'll usually have it every 2 or 4 weeks at your GP surgery (or from your mental health team).

After you've had an injection, the medicine works for a few weeks. The dose will depend on how well risperidone works for you.

How long to take it for

How long you take risperidone for depends on why you're taking it.

• For schizophrenia, you may need to take risperidone for a long time.
• For mania due to bipolar disorder, you may need to take it for a few weeks or months.
• For aggressive or agitated behaviour, you may only need it for a short time.

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 forget to take it

If you miss a dose and usually take risperidone:

• once a day – take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it's less than 12 hours before the next dose is due. In this case leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time
• twice a day – take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it's less than 8 hours before the next dose is due. In this case leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time

Do not take 2 doses of risperidone at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you miss 2 or more doses, contact your doctor. They'll tell you what you need to do about taking your risperidone.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

If you take too much

Taking too much risperidone can cause serious side effects such as:

• feeling sleepy or tired
• unusual body movements
• problems standing and walking
• feeling dizzy
• a fast heartbeat
• a seizure or fit