Consumer medicine information

RISPERNIA

Risperidone

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Rispernia

Active ingredient

Risperidone

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using RISPERNIA.

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some of the common questions about RISPERNIA. It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have any concerns about using RISPERNIA, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information.

Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.

What RISPERNIA is used for

RISPERNIA is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and other types of related psychoses. These are disorders related to thought, feeling and/or action. RISPERNIA may be taken for both sudden (acute) and long-lasting (chronic) schizophrenia.

RISPERNIA is also used to treat behavioural problems in patients with a decline in mental ability (dementia). These problems include:

  • Aggression through words or action;
  • Severe suspiciousness;
  • Agitation; or
  • Wandering.

RISPERNIA can be used to treat conduct and other disruptive behaviors such as aggression, impulsiveness and self-injury in children (over 5 years old), adolescents and adults who are intellectually disabled.

RISPERNIA helps to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain associated with these conditions.

RISPERNIA has been approved for the uses mentioned above. However, your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another use.

If you want more information, ask your doctor.

RISPERNIA is not addictive.

Before you use RISPERNIA

When you must not use it

Do not use RISPERNIA:

  • If you know you are allergic to any of its ingredients (signs of allergy include skin rash, itching, shortness of breath, and/or swollen face - see the last section of this leaflet for a list of ingredients).
  • If the packaging is torn or shows signs of being tampered with.
  • If the tablets do not look right.
  • To treat any other complaints unless your doctor says it is safe to do so.

Before you start to use it

RISPERNIA should be used with caution in some patients:

  1. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:
    - heart or blood vessel diseases, including low blood pressure;
    - dehydration;
    - kidney or liver problems;
    - Parkinson's disease;
    - Dementia or Lewy body dementia;
    - epilepsy;
    - breast cancer;
    - disease of the pituitary gland;
    - disease of the blood vessels of the brain, including stroke;
    - Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (a serious reaction to neuroleptics); or
    - tardive dyskinesia (a reaction to some medicines with uncontrollable twitching or jerking movements of the arms and legs).
  2. Tell your doctor if:
    - You are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. Your doctor will advise you whether or not you should take RISPERNIA.
    - You are breast-feeding. RISPERNIA is excreted in breast milk. It is recommended that you do not breast-feed while taking RISPERNIA.
    Your doctor will advise you whether or not you should take RISPERNIA.
  3. Other medicines and alcohol:
    Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking:
    - Sleeping tablets, tranquillisers, pain killers, antihistamines;
    - Medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease or a tremor;
    - Medicines to treat epilepsy;
    - Medicines to treat depression, panic or anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder;
    - Medicines for your heart or blood pressure;
    - Medicines to treat pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder;
    - Medicines to relieve severe nausea and vomiting;
    - Other medicines to treat mental illness or psychotic conditions; or
    - Diuretics - medicines to treat high blood pressure and fluid build up (eg. frusemide).
    In studies in elderly patients with dementia where risperidone was compared with the dummy pill (placebo), the death rate was 3.1% with the dummy pill and slightly higher at 4% with risperidone. Taking risperidone with frusemide, a medicine which is used to treat high blood pressure or to treat swelling of parts of the body caused by the build-up of too much fluid, contributed to this difference, so this combination may be harmful.
    Tell your doctor if you are taking any forms of frusemide.
    RISPERNIA can increase the effect of alcohol and other medicines which slow your reactions. You should not drink alcohol while taking RISPERNIA.
  4. Elderly people
    Elderly people should take less RISPERNIA than is prescribed for other adults (see How to take it).

Taking it for the first time

At the start of treatment you may have a fall in blood pressure making you feel dizzy on standing up, or your heart may beat faster. These should go away after a few days. Tell your doctor if they continue or worry you.

Using RISPERNIA

How to take it

RISPERNIA may be taken as a single dose, once a day or it may be taken in divided doses twice a day (in the morning and in the evening). The tablets should be swallowed with a glass of water. You may take RISPERNIA either with or between meals.

It is very important that you take the correct amount of RISPERNIA, but this will vary from person to person. Your doctor will adjust the number and strength of the tablets until the desired effect is obtained.

Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and do not change or stop the required dosage without consulting your doctor first.

For Schizophrenia and Related Psychoses
The usual starting dose of RISPERNIA is 1 mg twice a day. This will be gradually increased by your doctor to suit your needs. From then on, the dose can be taken once a day or twice a day according to your doctor's instructions. For long-term treatment, your doctor will determine the dose most suitable for you.

Important note: never take more tablets than your doctor tells you to take. The effects of high doses are not yet known. Please double check with your doctor if your doctor prescribes more than 5 milligrams twice a day.

RISPERNIA cannot be recommended for use in children with schizophrenia under 15 years at the present time as there is little experience with the product in this group.

For Elderly Patients with Schizophrenia or Related Psychoses
For older patients a starting dose of 0.5 mg (half a 1 mg tablet) twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) is usual. The dose may be increased by 0.5 mg twice daily to 1 to 2 mg twice a day (in the morning and in the evening).

Patients with Impaired Kidney and Liver Function
If you have kidney or liver disease, a starting dose of 0.5 mg (half a 1 mg tablet) twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) is usual. The dose may be increased by 0.5 mg twice daily to 1 to 2 mg twice a day (in the morning and in the evening).

For Behavioural Problems in People with Dementia
The usual starting dose is 0.25 mg twice daily. This may be gradually increased by your doctor to suit your needs.

From then on, the dose can be taken once a day or twice a day according to your doctor's instructions. For long-term treatment, 1 mg daily is the usual dose but your doctor will determine the dose most suitable for you.

For Disruptive Behaviour Disorders in Adults and Children
For people who weigh 50 kg or more, the usual starting dose is 0.5 mg (half a 1 mg tablet) once a day. The dose may be increased by 0.5 mg once every two days, to the usual dose of 0.5 to 1.5 mg once a day.

For people who weigh less than 50 kg, the usual starting dose is 0.25 mg once a day. The dose may be increased by 0.25 mg once every two days, to the usual dose of 0.25 to 0.75 mg once a day.

Your doctor will advise you on how much RISPERNIA you need.

RISPERNIA cannot be recommended for use in children with disruptive behaviour disorders under 5 years at the present time, as there is little experience with the product in this group.

If you forget to take RISPERNIA

If you forget to take RISPERNIA, take the missed dose as soon as you remember instead of your next dose. Then go back to taking it as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you missed.

If you forget to take RISPERNIA for 5 days or more, tell your doctor before starting your medicine again.

If you have problems remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (Overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or pharmacist or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone Australia 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much RISPERNIA. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

Signs of overdose may include drowsiness, sleepiness, excessive trembling, excessive muscle stiffness, increased heart rate, very low blood pressure causing fainting or unconsciousness.

While you are using RISPERNIA

Things you must do

  • Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully, and seek your doctor's advice before changing or stopping treatment. Your doctor will be happy to discuss any questions you may have with your treatment.
  • Try to eat a moderate diet. RISPERNIA can cause weight gain.
  • Pre-menopausal women should tell their doctor if they do not have a period for more than six months while taking RISPERNIA.

Things to be careful of

  • Do not drink alcohol. RISPERNIA can increase the effects of alcohol.
  • Ask your doctor before taking any other medicines. RISPERNIA can increase the effects of medicines which slow your reactions. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking other medicines. These include herbal treatments and those bought in a pharmacy or supermarket.
  • Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how RISPERNIA affects you. RISPERNIA may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people, especially after the first dose. Make sure you know how you react to RISPERNIA before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy.
  • Avoid excessive eating as there is a possibility of weight gain when taking RISPERNIA.

Side Effects

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. RISPERNIA is generally well-tolerated and side effects are often hard to distinguish from the disease symptoms. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using RISPERNIA.

Below is a list of possible side effects you could get while taking RISPERNIA:

  • sleeplessness;
  • agitation;
  • anxiety;
  • headache;
  • trembling;
  • excessive saliva;
  • muscle stiffness;
  • restlessness in the legs;
  • fall in blood pressure, particularly on standing. This will be apparent to you as light-headedness or dizziness that passes after a few seconds or after sitting down again; or
  • fast heart rate.

Although these effects are generally not harmful, contact your doctor if they bother you too much.

The following may occur less often:

  • drowsiness, tiredness, difficult in concentrating, somnolence, usually mild and short lasting may occur more often in children than in adults;
  • blurred vision;
  • dizziness;
  • indigestion, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation;
  • sexual function disturbances;
  • some loss of bladder control;
  • blocked nose;
  • weight gain; or
  • excessive thirst.

During a long treatment, twitching of the tongue, face, mouth and jaws can occur.

Should this happen contact your doctor:

  • In the early stages of treatment, in some people, blood pressure may decrease slightly and the heart beat increase resulting in dizziness. This usually goes away after a few days. (See Taking it for the first time).
  • After taking RISPERNIA for a long time, some women may experience breast enlargement or get a discharge from the breasts. They may also experience irregular or heavy periods or absence of their periods. In men, breasts may enlarge slightly.

The following may occur rarely:

  • Oversensitivity (allergy). (See when you must not use it).
  • In extremely rare cases, significant changes in body temperature may occur. This rise or fall in temperature is caused by a combination of several factors such as extreme cold or heat. Call your doctor if this happens.
  • In elderly patients with dementia, sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arms or legs, especially on one side, instances of slurred speech and stroke have been seen. If any of these should occur, even if for a short period of time, seek medical attention right away.
  • In very rare cases, high blood sugar has been reported. The symptoms of high blood sugar may be the need to urinate more often or feeling thirsty all the time. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

IMPORTANT: If you experience high fever, stiff muscles, fast breathing, abnormal sweating or decreased mental alertness, contact your doctor immediately. Your body may not be reacting properly to the medicine.

Do not hesitate to report any other side effects to your doctor or pharmacist.

After using RISPERNIA

Storage

Keep RISPERNIA tablets in a dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store RISPERNIA tablets or any medicines in the bathroom or near a sink. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep the tablets where young children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Do not use RISPERNIA beyond the date (month and year) printed on the pack after the letters "EXP", even if it has been stored properly. Medicines cannot be stored indefinitely.

Do not use RISPERNIA if the appearance of the tablets has changed.

Disposal

Once you have finished using RISPERNIA, ask your pharmacist what to do with any unused medicine.

Product Description

What it looks like

You can identify RISPERNIA tablets by their colour and shape. This is important because there are several strengths of RISPERNIA, each containing a different amount of risperidone:

  • 0.5 mg red, round tablets marked “R” on one side and scored on the other.
  • 1 mg white, oblong scored tablets marked “R” “1” on the scored side.
  • 2 mg orange, oblong scored tablets marked “R” “2” on the scored side.
  • 3 mg yellow, oblong scored tablets marked “R” “3” on the scored side.
  • 4 mg green, oblong scored tablets marked “R” “4” on the scored side.
  • 6 mg yellow, oblong scored tablets marked “R” “6” on the scored side.

Ingredients

Active ingredient:

  • Risperidone

Excipients:

  • Lactose;
  • Microcrystalline cellulose;
  • Maize starch;
  • Colloidal anhydrous silica;
  • Magnesium stearate;
  • Hypromellose;
  • Titanium dioxide;
  • Macrogol 400;
  • Iron oxide red - 0.5 mg, 2 mg;
  • Quinoline yellow - 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg;
  • Indigotin - 4 mg.

RISPERNIA tablets are available in blister and bottle packs of 60 tablets.

Distributor

Eris Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Ltd
6 Eastern Road
South Melbourne Vic 3205
www.eris-pharma.com.au

Australian Registration Numbers:

  • Blister packs:
    0.5 mg AUST R 127916
    1 mg AUST R 127919
    2 mg AUST R 127921
    3 mg AUST R 127923
    4 mg AUST R 127925
    6 mg AUST R 127927
  • Bottle packs:
    0.5 mg AUST R 127918
    1 mg AUST R 127920
    2 mg AUST R 127922
    3 mg AUST R 127924
    4 mg AUST R 127926
    6 mg AUST R 127930

This leaflet was prepared in August 2013.

Published by MIMS January 2015

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Rispernia

Active ingredient

Risperidone

Schedule

S4

 

Name of the medicine

Risperidone.

Excipients.

Tablet core.

Lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, anhydrous colloidal silica and magnesium stearate.

Tablet coating.

Hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 400. Also, iron oxide red (0.5 mg, 2 mg), quinoline yellow (2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg), indigo carmine (4 mg).

Description

Chemical name: 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. Molecular formula: C23H27FN4O2. MW: 410.49. CAS: 106266-06-2. Risperidone is a novel antipsychotic belonging to a new class of antipsychotic agents, the benzisoxazole derivatives. It is a white or almost white powder, practically insoluble in water, freely soluble in methylene chloride, sparingly soluble in alcohol. It dissolves in dilute acid solutions.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics.

Risperidone is a selective monoaminergic antagonist with a high affinity for serotoninergic 5-HT2 and dopaminergic D2-receptors. Risperidone binds also to alpha1-adrenergic receptors, and with lower affinity, to H1-histaminergic and alpha2-adrenergic receptors. Risperidone has no affinity for cholinergic receptors. The antipsychotic activity of risperidone is considered to be attributable to both risperidone and its active metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone.
Central dopamine D2-receptor antagonism is considered to be the mechanism of action by which conventional neuroleptics improve the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but also induce extrapyramidal symptoms and release of prolactin.
Although risperidone antagonises dopamine D2-receptors and causes release of prolactin, it is less potent than classical neuroleptics for depression of motor activity and for induction of catalepsy in animals.
Balanced central serotonin and dopamine antagonism may reduce extrapyramidal side effect liability and extend the therapeutic activity to the negative and affective symptoms of schizophrenia.
Due to the alpha-blocking activity of risperidone, orthostatic hypotension can occur, especially during the initial dose titration period. This alpha blocking activity may also induce nasal mucosal swelling, which is probably related to the observed incidence of rhinitis associated with the use of risperidone.
Antagonism of serotoninergic and histaminergic receptors may induce body weight gain.
In controlled clinical trials, risperidone was found to improve positive symptoms (such as hallucinations, delusions, thought disturbances, hostility, suspiciousness), as well as negative symptoms (such as blunted affect, emotional and social withdrawal, poverty of speech). Risperidone may also alleviate affective symptoms (such as depression, guilt feelings, anxiety) associated with schizophrenia.

Pharmacokinetics.

Absorption.

Risperidone is well absorbed after oral administration, reaching peak plasma concentrations within 1 to 2 hours. The absorption is not affected by food and thus risperidone can be given with or without meals.

Metabolism.

Risperidone is partly metabolised by CYP2D6 to 9-hydroxyrisperidone which has two enantiomers with a similar pharmacological activity as risperidone. Another metabolic pathway is oxidative N-dealkylation. 7-hydroxyrisperidone and the metabolite formed by N-dealkylation do not contribute to the activity of risperidone.
In vitro data suggest that medicines that inhibit the metabolism of risperidone to 9-hydroxyrisperidone by inhibition of CYP2D6 would increase the plasma concentration of risperidone and lower the plasma concentration of 9-hydroxyrisperidone (see Interactions with Other Medicines). Medicines metabolised by other P450 isoenzymes (1A1, 1A2, 2C9, MP, 3A4) are only weak inhibitors of risperidone metabolism in vitro. Although in vitro studies suggest that risperidone can inhibit CYP2D6, substantial inhibition of the clearance of medicines metabolised by this enzymatic pathway would not be expected at therapeutic risperidone plasma concentrations. However, clinical data to confirm this expectation are not available.

Distribution and elimination.

Risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone form the pharmacologically active fraction that is similar in extensive and poor metabolisers. Risperidone has an elimination half-life of about 3 hours in extensive metabolisers and 17 hours in poor metabolisers. Clinical studies do not suggest that poor and extensive metabolisers have different rates of adverse effects. No comparison of effectiveness in the two groups has been made. The elimination half-life of 9-hydroxyrisperidone and the active fraction is 24 hours.
Risperidone steady state is reached within 1 day in most patients. 9-hydroxyrisperidone steady state is reached within 4-5 days of dosing. Risperidone plasma concentrations are dose proportional within the therapeutic dose range.
Risperidone is rapidly distributed. The volume of distribution is 1-2 L/kg. In plasma, risperidone is bound to albumin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein. The plasma protein binding of risperidone is 88% and that of 9-hydroxyrisperidone is 77%. The binding of either product was not affected by the presence of the other.
One week after administration, 70% of the dose is excreted in the urine and 14% in the faeces. In urine, risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone represents 35-45% of the dose.
A single dose study showed higher active plasma concentrations and a slower elimination of risperidone by 30% in the elderly and 60% in patients with renal insufficiency. Risperidone plasma concentrations were normal in patients with liver insufficiency, but the unbound fraction of risperidone was somewhat increased by about 35% due to diminished concentration of both alpha1-acid glycoprotein and albumin. The pharmacokinetics of risperidone, 9-hydroxyrisperidone and the active antipsychotic fraction in children is similar to that in adults.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials have shown that risperidone is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia including first episode psychoses, acute schizophrenic exacerbations and chronic schizophrenia. Risperidone is also indicated as long-term therapy for the prevention of relapse (acute exacerbations) in chronic schizophrenic patients.

First episode psychosis.

In a 6 week double blind, parallel group, actively controlled study in first admission, newly diagnosed schizophrenic patients (N = 183, risperidone = 99, haloperidol = 84) risperidone (1-8 mg twice daily, mean daily dose 6.1 mg) was as effective as haloperidol (1-8 mg twice daily, mean daily dose 5.6 mg) in controlling psychotic symptoms. The average patient age was 26 years (range 15-50) and 31% of the patients were women. There were statistically significant (p < 0.001) reductions in total PANSS, positive, negative and general psychological symptom scores and in derived BRPS scores in both groups.

Acute exacerbations of chronic schizophrenia.

Two new studies were conducted to establish the efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of acute exacerbations of schizophrenia. A third study investigated the efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of resistant schizophrenics.
The first was a double blind, parallel group, actively controlled study of 6 weeks duration in 98 patients (risperidone = 48, zuclopenthixol = 50), 48% of who were male. The dosage was risperidone 2 mg twice daily and zuclopenthixol 10 mg twice daily increasing by one tablet a day until adequate control was achieved. The mean daily dose at endpoint for risperidone was 8 mg and for zuclopenthixol 38 mg. The median age was in the mid 30's (range 18-65). The overall severity of symptoms during the study was lower for risperidone (p = 0.06) and the clinical response (58% vs 42%; p = 0.11) was higher for risperidone.
Two dosages of risperidone 4 mg twice daily and 8 mg once daily, were studied in the treatment of acute exacerbations of schizophrenia in chronic or subchronic schizophrenics. The study was a double blind parallel group study of 6 weeks duration with a patient population of 211 patients (67% males) aged 18-64 (median 34) years. Efficacy was comparable for the two groups although the trough plasma medicine concentrations were lower and concentrations in the first 8 hours postdose were higher (statistically not significant) for the 8 mg of dosage. According to basic pharmacokinetic principles, these findings are expected because a once daily dosage regimen will result in higher peaks and lower troughs than after the same daily dose given over two intakes.
The efficacy and tolerability of risperidone (1-6 mg twice daily) compared to clozapine (50-300 mg twice daily) in treatment resistant schizophrenic patients was studied in an 8 week multicentre, double blind, parallel group study in 86 patients (risperidone = 43, clozapine = 43). In both groups of patients, there was a significant reduction in total PANSS scores in the positive, negative and psychopathology subscales and in the PANSS derived BPRS scores. The percentage of patients showing a clinical response at endpoint on the PANSS and BPRS (at least 20% reduction in base score) was comparable (68%) for both treatment groups.

Long-term therapy for the prevention of relapse (acute exacerbations) in chronic schizophrenic patients.

The long-term efficacy and tolerability of risperidone was established at the time of marketing in open long-term studies involving 402 patients of whom 282 had been treated with risperidone for 6 months, 221 for 12 months and 30 patients for between 12 and 40 months. Additional long-term data are available from an actively controlled study and a study compared to the patient's usual neuroleptic treatment. The total number of patients treated with risperidone in these two studies was 285, while 306 patients were treated with haloperidol or other neuroleptics. In another three long-term open studies, 758 patients were treated with risperidone.
In a multicentre, double blind, randomised, parallel group trial of 1 year duration risperidone (91 patients, 63% male) was compared to haloperidol (99 patients, 59% male) to evaluate the incidence of relapse in chronic schizophrenic patients. The mean daily dose at endpoint was 9 mg risperidone and 8.9 mg haloperidol. The incidence of relapse was 14% for risperidone and 16% for haloperidol and the time to withdrawal from the study because of an adverse event and/or psychotic relapse was longer for risperidone (day 99) compared to day 42 under haloperidol (p = 0.023). At endpoint response on the total PANSS score defined as a 50% score reduction versus baseline was observed in 43% of patients receiving risperidone compared to 30% of patients receiving haloperidol (p = 0.035). The total BPRS score at endpoint, defined as at least a 50% reduction in baseline score value, was 47% of patients receiving risperidone compared with 34% patients receiving haloperidol (p = 0.043). The instrumental role functioning on the Quality of Life Scale scored significantly better under risperidone (p = 0.037). The Clinical Global Impression scores showed no significant difference between the two treatment groups. The results of the trial show that risperidone is as efficacious and safe as haloperidol.

Behavioural disturbances in dementia.

The efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of behavioural disturbances, such as aggressiveness (verbal outburst, physical violence), activity disturbances (agitation, wandering) and psychotic symptoms (paranoid and delusional ideation, hallucinations), in patients with dementia was demonstrated in two double blind, placebo controlled clinical studies. One study was a randomised, parallel group, multicentre design involving 617 patients that examined the efficacy of three doses of risperidone (0.5, 1 or 2 mg/day) over a twelve week period. The other involved 344 patients assigned to either placebo, risperidone or haloperidol for a 12 week period. The two studies were pooled and the results from this analysis are presented in Table 1. The primary outcome parameter was the percentage of responders, defined as a reduction at endpoint of at least 30% on the BEHAVE-AD total score. Several important aspects of efficacy were assessed by the secondary endpoints that examined the effect on individual disturbances (e.g. aggressiveness). Aggressive symptoms were the major problem at entry in the two trials.
The rate of discontinuation from the pooled studies was similar for patients receiving placebo (30.2%), risperidone (33.5%) and haloperidol (29.6%). In the combined analysis, risperidone, at a daily dose above 0.75 mg, effectively reduced the severity (measured by means of the BEHAVE-AD) and frequency (measured by the CMAI) of aggressiveness symptoms in this patient population.

Reductions in BEHAVE-AD aggressiveness scores and on each of the aggressive clusters of the CMAI were significantly greater with risperidone (doses above 0.75 mg/day) than placebo at endpoint in both studies and in the combined analysis. Reductions in CMAI total aggressive scores declined throughout the studies in the risperidone patients but changed minimally after week 2 in patients receiving haloperidol or placebo.

Conduct disorder.

Children and adolescents.

Two double blind placebo controlled randomised parallel group studies of 6 weeks duration were conducted in children and adolescents 5 to 12 years with borderline intellectual functioning or mild to moderate mental retardation. The studies, of identical design, involved a combined population of 120 patients receiving placebo and 105 patients receiving risperidone at 0.02-0.06 mg/kg/day. Twenty six per cent of the patients receiving risperidone had conduct disorder with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 39% had oppositional defiant disorder with ADHD and 6% had disruptive behavioural disorder with ADHD. A decrease in the primary efficacy parameter of the Conduct Problem Subscale of the Nisonger Child Behaviour Rating Form (N-CBRF) of -6.5 ± 1.02 was observed in placebo treated patients compared to -15.6 ± 1.04 for risperidone. The improvement for risperidone compared to placebo was statistically significant (p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference between risperidone and placebo was apparent at week 1 and continued throughout treatment. A subanalysis of patients with ADHD indicated risperidone was effective for the primary and secondary efficacy parameters whether psychostimulants were or were not being taken.

Adults.

A double blind placebo controlled, randomised parallel group study was conducted in adults with borderline intellectual function or mild to moderate mental retardation and conduct or other disruptive behaviour disorders. Thirty nine patients received 1.0-4.0 mg/day of risperidone (modal dose 1.64 mg/day) and 38 patients received placebo for 4 weeks. The change in the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) score from baseline to endpoint, the primary efficacy parameter, was -27.3 in the risperidone group compared to -14.9 in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Significantly greater reduction in the ABC total score was noted at week 2 in patients receiving risperidone and was maintained throughout the double blind period.

Long-term studies.

Three open label long-term studies, two in children and adolescents and one in adults, were conducted. One study in children and adolescents (N = 107) of 48 weeks duration was an extension of a primary clinical study. A statistically significant improvement from the double blind (p < 0.001) and open label (p < 0.01) baselines was observed. In the other long-term study in children (N = 319) of 52 weeks duration the mean change in N-CBRF from baseline to endpoint was highly statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean modal dose for the long-term studies in children was 1.67 ± 0.039 mg/day (range 0.2 to 4.0). The one year long-term study in adults (N = 58) was a continuation of the 6 week double blind study. The mean ABC score at open label baseline was 31.2. At endpoint the mean decrease from OL baseline was 9.0 (p = 0.012). The overall mean modal dose in adults during long-term treatment was 1.81 ± 0.125 mg/day (range 1 to 4 mg/day). The safety profile of risperidone in children, adolescents and adults with conduct disorder and other disruptive disorders is comparable to that seen in other populations (e.g. schizophrenia).
The growth observed in children and adolescents after one year of treatment with risperidone was 6.9 cm. On the basis of growth curves in children of the same age, growth is as expected.

Indications

Risperidone is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and related psychoses.
Risperidone is also indicated for the treatment of behavioural disturbances in dementia.
Risperidone is indicated in the treatment of conduct and other disruptive disorders in children (over 5 years), adolescents and adults with subaverage intellectual functioning or mental retardation in whom destructive behaviours (e.g. aggression, impulsivity and self injurious behaviours) are prominent.

Contraindications

Risperidone is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to the medicine or any of its excipients.

Precautions

Elderly patients with dementia.

Overall mortality.

Elderly patients with dementia treated with atypical antipsychotic medicines have an increased mortality compared to placebo in a meta-analysis of 17 controller trials of atypical antipsychotic medicines, including risperidone. In placebo controlled trials with risperidone in this population, the incidence of mortality was 4.0% (40/1009) for risperidone treated patients and 3.1% (22/712) for placebo treated patients. The mean age (range) of patients who died was 86 years (range 67-100).

Concomitant use with frusemide.

In the risperidone placebo controlled trials in elderly patients with dementia, a higher incidence of mortality was observed in patients treated with frusemide plus risperidone (7.3% [15/206]; mean age 89 years, range 75-97) compared to treatment with risperidone alone (3.1% [25/803]; mean age 84 years, range 70-96) or frusemide alone (4.1% [5/121]; mean age 80 years, range 67-90). The odds ratio (95% exact confidence interval) was 1.82 (0.65, 5.14). The increase in mortality was observed in two of the four clinical trials.
No pathophysiological mechanism has been clearly identified to explain this finding and no consistent pattern for cause of death was observed. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised and the risks and benefits of this combination should be considered prior to the decision to treat. Irrespective of treatment, dehydration was on overall risk factor for mortality and should therefore be carefully avoided in elderly patients with dementia.

Cerebrovascular adverse events.

In placebo controlled trials in elderly patients with dementia there was a significantly higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse events, such as stroke (including fatalities) and transient ischaemic attacks in patients (mean age 85 years, range 73-97) treated with risperidone compared to patients treated with placebo. The pooled data from six placebo controlled trials in mainly elderly patients (> 65 years of age) with dementia showed that cerebrovascular adverse events (serious and nonserious combined) occurred in 3.3% (33/989) of patients treated with risperidone and 1.2% (8/693) of patients treated with placebo. The odds ratio (95% exact confidence interval) was 2.96 (1.33, 7.45).

Orthostatic hypotension.

Due to the alpha blocking activity of risperidone, orthostatic hypotension can occur, especially during the initial dose titration period. The dosage should be gradually titrated as recommended (see Dosage and Administration). A dose reduction should be considered if hypotension occurs. Special care should be taken to avoid hypotension in patients with a history of cerebrovascular insufficiency or ischaemic heart disease, and in patients taking medications to lower blood pressure.

Use in patients with concomitant illness.

Patients with a history of clinically significant cardiac disorders were excluded from clinical trials. As clinical experience is limited, risperidone should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart failure, myocardial infarction, conduction abnormalities) and other conditions (such as dehydration, hypokalaemia and hypovolaemia).

Tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD), a syndrome consisting of potentially irreversible, involuntary dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with conventional neuroleptics. Although this syndrome of TD appears to be most prevalent in the elderly, especially elderly females, it is impossible to predict at the onset of treatment which patients are likely to develop TD.
It has been suggested that the occurrence of parkinsonian side effects is a predictor for the development of TD. In clinical studies, the observed incidence of medicine induced parkinsonism was lower with risperidone than with haloperidol. In the optimal clinical dose range, the difference between risperidone and haloperidol was significant. Therefore the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia may be less with risperidone. The risk of developing TD and the likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase as the duration of treatment and the total cumulative dose of antipsychotic medicines administered to the patient increase. However, the syndrome can develop, although less commonly, after relatively brief period of treatment at low doses. There is no known treatment for an established case of TD. The syndrome may remit partially or completely if antipsychotic medicine treatment is withdrawn.
Antipsychotic medicine treatment itself, however, may suppress the signs and symptoms of TD, thereby masking the underlying process. The effect of symptom suppression upon the long-term course of TD is unknown. In view of these considerations, risperidone should be prescribed in a manner that is most likely to minimise the risk of TD. As with any antipsychotic medicine, risperidone should be reserved for patients who appear to be obtaining substantial benefit from the medicine. In such patients, the smallest dose and the shortest duration of treatment should be sought. The need for continued treatment should be reassessed periodically. If signs and symptoms of TD appear in a patient on antipsychotics, medicine discontinuation should be considered. However, some patients may require treatment despite the presence of this syndrome.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially fatal symptom complex that has been reported in association with antipsychotic medicines, including risperidone. Clinical manifestations of NMS are hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status (including catatonic signs) and evidence of autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias and diaphoresis). Additional signs may include elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure.
In arriving at a diagnosis, it is important to identify cases where the clinical presentation includes both serious medical illness (e.g. pneumonia, systemic infection, etc.) and untreated or inadequately treated extrapyramidal signs and symptoms (EPS). Other important considerations in the differential diagnosis include central anticholinergic toxicity, heat stroke, medicine fever, and primary central nervous system pathology.
The management of NMS should include the following.
1) Immediate discontinuation of all antipsychotic medicines and other medicines not essential to concurrent therapy.
2) Intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring.
3) Treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems for which specific treatments are available.
There is no general agreement about specific pharmacological treatment regimens for uncomplicated NMS.
If a patient requires antipsychotic medicine treatment after recovery from NMS, the potential reintroduction of medicine therapy should be carefully considered. The patient should be carefully monitored, since recurrences of NMS have been reported.

Seizures.

Classical neuroleptics are known to lower the seizure threshold. Risperidone has not been studied in patients who also have epilepsy. In clinical trials, seizures have occurred in a few risperidone treated patients. Therefore, caution is recommended when treating patients having a history of seizures or other predisposing factors.

Hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus.

Hyperglycaemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics including risperidone. Assessment of the relationship between atypical antipsychotic use and glucose abnormalities is complicated by the possibility of an increased background risk of diabetes mellitus in patients with schizophrenia and the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus in the general population. Given these confounders, the relationship between atypical antipsychotic use and hyperglycaemia related adverse events is not completely understood. However, epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk of treatment emergent hyperglycaemia related adverse events in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Precise risk estimates for hyperglycaemia related adverse events in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics are not available.
Patients with an established diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who are started on atypical antipsychotics should be monitored regularly for worsening of glucose control. Patients with risk factors for diabetes mellitus (e.g. obesity, family history of diabetes) who are starting treatment with atypical antipsychotics should undergo fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of treatment and periodically during treatment. Any patient treated with atypical antipsychotics should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycaemia including polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weakness. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycaemia during treatment with atypical antipsychotics should undergo fasting blood glucose testing. In some cases, hyperglycaemia has resolved when the atypical antipsychotic was discontinued; however, some patients required continuation of antidiabetic treatment despite discontinuation of the suspect medicine.

Other precautions.

Parkinson's disease/ dementia with Lewy bodies.

Physicians should weigh the risks versus benefits when prescribing antipsychotics, including risperidone, to patients with Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) since both groups may be at an increased risk of neuroleptic malignant syndrome as well as having an increased sensitivity to antipsychotic medications, manifestation of this increased sensitivity can include confusion, obtundation, postural instability with frequent falls, in addition to extrapyramidal symptoms.
Premenopausal women who develop secondary amenorrhoea of greater than six months duration should receive appropriate preventive therapy to avoid hypo-oestrogenic bone loss.
Risperidone may interfere with activities requiring mental alertness. Therefore, patients should be advised not to drive or operate machinery until their individual susceptibility is known.
Patients may be advised to refrain from excessive eating in view of the possibility of weight gain.
For the conduct disorder indication, effects on sexual maturation and gonadal function in children and adolescents have not been evaluated beyond 12 months in relation to long-term treatment. Safety data beyond 12 months is lacking in relation to the effect of long-term treatment for the conduct disorder indication.

Carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and impairment of fertility.

Risperidone was administered in the diet to Swiss albino mice for 18 months and to Wistar rats for 25 months at doses equivalent to 0.3, 1.3 and 5 times the maximum human dose of 10 mg/day (mice) or 0.6, 2.5 and 10 times the maximum human dose (rats) on a mg/m2 basis. There were statistically significant increases in pituitary gland adenomas in female mice and endocrine pancreas adenomas in male rats at the two highest dose levels, and in mammary gland adenocarcinomas at all dose levels in female mice and female rats and at the highest dose in male rats.
Antipsychotic medicines have been shown to chronically elevate prolactin levels in rodents. Serum prolactin levels were not measured during the risperidone carcinogenicity studies; however, measurements during subchronic toxicity studies showed that risperidone elevated serum prolactin levels 5 to 6-fold in mice and rats at the same doses used in the carcinogenicity studies. An increase in mammary, pituitary and endocrine pancreas neoplasms has been found in rodents after chronic administration of other dopamine receptor antagonists and is considered to be prolactin mediated.
The relevance for human risk of the findings of prolactin mediated endocrine tumours in rodents is unknown. In controlled clinical trials, risperidone elevated serum prolactin levels more than haloperidol, although to date neither clinical studies nor epidemiological studies have shown an association between chronic administration of these medicines and mammary tumorigenesis. However, since tissue culture experiments indicate that approximately one-third of human breast cancers are prolactin dependent in vitro, risperidone should be used cautiously in patients with previously detected breast cancer or in patients with pituitary tumours. Possible manifestations associated with elevated prolactin levels are amenorrhoea, galactorrhoea and menorrhagia (see Adverse Effects).
No evidence of genotoxicity was observed in assays for DNA damage, gene mutations or chromosomal damage.
Risperidone impaired mating, but not fertility, in Wistar rats at doses 0.2 to 5 times the maximum human dose on a mg/m2 basis. The effect appeared to be in females since impaired mating behaviour was not noted when males only were treated. In repeat dose toxicity studies in Beagle dogs, risperidone at dose of 1 to 17 times the maximum human dose on a mg/m2 basis was associated with adverse effects on the male reproductive system (inhibited ejaculation, incomplete spermatogenesis, reduced sperm motility and concentration, reduced gonadal and prostatic weight, prostatic immaturity, decreased serum testosterone). Serum testosterone and sperm parameters partially recovered but remained decreased after treatment was discontinued. No-effect doses were not determined in either rat or dog.

Use in the elderly.

For elderly schizophrenic patients, it is recommended to halve both the starting dose and the subsequent dose increments in geriatric patients.

Use in patients with renal impairment.

Since clinical experience is lacking in this patient population, risperidone should be used with caution until further experience is gained. For schizophrenic patients with renal impairment, it is recommended to halve both the starting dose and the subsequent dose increments in patients with renal insufficiency.

Use in patients with hepatic impairment.

Since clinical experience is lacking in this patient population, risperidone should be used with caution until further experience is gained. For schizophrenic patients with hepatic impairment, it is recommended to halve both the starting dose and the subsequent dose increments in patients with hepatic insufficiency. In patients with known liver disease, it is advised to monitor the liver function.

Use in pregnancy.

Category C

Nonteratogenic class effect.

Neonates exposed to antipsychotic medicines (including risperidone) during the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk of experiencing extrapyramidal neurological disturbances and/or withdrawal symptoms following delivery. There have been postmarket reports of agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress, and feeding disorder in these neonates. These complications have varied in severity; while in some cases symptoms have been self limited, in other cases neonates have required intensive care unit support and prolonged hospitalization.
Risperidone should be used during pregnancy only if the anticipated benefit outweighs the risk and the administered dose and duration of treatment should be as low and as short as possible.

Use in lactation.

Risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone are excreted in human breast milk. Women receiving risperidone should not breastfeed.
In rats oral administration of risperidone during late gestation and lactation was associated with an increase in pup deaths during the first 4 days of lactation at doses 0.2 to 5 times the maximum human dose on a mg/m2 basis (a no-effect dose was not determined) and with reduced pup weight gain at doses 5-fold or greater than the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis. It is not known whether these effects resulted from a direct effect on the foetuses and pups and/or to an effect on the dams. There were also increases in stillborn rat pups at an oral dose 2.5-5 times the maximum human dose on a mg/m2 basis.

Use in children.

Experience is lacking in children with schizophrenia aged less than 15 years. There is also insufficient preclinical data to adequately define the safety of risperidone in young children. For information on the use of risperidone in children 5 years and older in the treatment of conduct disorder, see Clinical Trials.

Interactions

The risks of using risperidone in combination with other drugs have not been systematically evaluated. Given the primary CNS effects of risperidone, it should be used with caution in combination with other centrally acting drugs. Risperidone may antagonise the effect of levodopa and other dopamine agonists. Tricyclic antidepressants may potentiate the postural hypotensive effect of risperidone.
Carbamazepine has been shown to decrease the plasma levels of risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone. Similar effects may be observed with other CYP3A4 hepatic enzyme inducers. On discontinuation of carbamazepine or other CYP3A4 hepatic enzyme inducers the dosage of risperidone should be re-evaluated, and, if necessary, reduced.
Topiramate modestly reduces the bioavailability of risperidone, but not that of risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone.
Quinidine, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants and some beta-blockers may increase the plasma concentrations of risperidone but not those of risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone (see Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics).
In patients with schizophrenia receiving risperidone 3 mg twice daily for 28 days, the addition of amitriptyline initially at 50 mg twice daily, increasing to 100 mg twice daily for the last six days of the study, produced relative increases in the 0 to 12 hour AUC of 1.21 ± 0.35, 1.15 ± 0.36 and 1.16 ± 0.34 and Cmax of 1.17 ± 0.33, 1.11 ± 0.43 and 1.11 ± 0.38 for risperidone, 9-hydroxyrisperidone and risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone respectively. These modest increases do not necessitate dose modification.
In volunteer studies, a single 1 mg risperidone dose was administered with cimetidine 400 mg twice daily or ranitidine 150 mg twice daily. Cimetidine produced a relative increase in AUC0-Inf of 1.95 ± 0.78, 1.01 ± 0.25 and 1.15 ± 0.28 for risperidone, 9-hydroxyrisperidone and risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone, respectively. Relative Cmax increases were 1.90 ± 0.95, 0.95 ± 0.21 and 1.24 ± 0.27. Coadministration of ranitidine produced a relative increase of 1.35 ± 0.32, 1.23 ± 0.44 and 1.25 ± 0.39 in AUC0-Inf and of Cmax of 1.45 ± 0.61, 1.28 ± 0.37 and 1.36 ± 0.35. Dose modification is not considered to be necessary.
Paroxetine and fluoxetine are potent CYP2D6 inhibitors. Coadministration of fluoxetine produced relative increases of 1.63 ± 0.43, 1.54 ± 0.54 and 1.40 ± 0.24 in Cmin, Cmax and AUC0-12hr of the active moiety. Administration of paroxetine 20 mg/day for four weeks to patients stabilised on risperidone 4 to 8 mg/day produced a relative increase of 1.51 ± 0.34 in Cmin of active moiety.
When concomitant fluoxetine or paroxetine is initiated or discontinued, the physician should re-evaluate the dose of risperidone.
Erythromycin, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, does not change the pharmacokinetics of risperidone and risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone. The cholinesterase inhibitors galantamine and donepezil do not show a clinically relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of risperidone and risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone.
Risperidone does not show a clinically relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of lithium, valproate or digoxin.
In vitro studies, in which risperidone was given in the presence of various, highly protein bound agents, indicated that clinically relevant changes in protein binding would not occur either for risperidone or for any of the medicines tested.
See Precautions, Elderly patients with dementia regarding increased mortality due to interaction of risperidone and concomitant frusemide.

Adverse Effects

In some instances, it has been difficult to differentiate adverse events from symptoms of the underlying disease. The most frequent adverse reactions reported with risperidone are: insomnia, agitation, extrapyramidal disorder, anxiety, and headache. Sedation has been reported more frequently in children and adolescents than in adults. In general, sedation is mild and transient. Less commonly reported are somnolence, fatigue, dizziness, impaired concentration, constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weight gain, blurred vision, priapism, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, orgastic dysfunction, urinary incontinence, rhinitis, rash and other allergic reactions.
Cerebrovascular accidents have been reported during treatment with risperidone (see Precautions). Approximately 7% of the 1702 patients who received risperidone in controlled clinical trials discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions.
Risperidone (within the dose range of 4-8 mg/day) has a lower propensity to induce extrapyramidal symptoms than classical neuroleptics such as haloperidol. However, the following extrapyramidal symptoms may occur in a dose dependent manner: tremor, rigidity, hypersalivation, bradykinesia, akathisia, and acute dystonia.
Orthostatic dizziness, hypotension (including orthostatic hypotension) and tachycardia (including reflex tachycardia) have been reported following administration of risperidone, particularly with higher initial doses (see Precautions). A decrease in neutrophil and/or thrombocyte count has been reported.
Risperidone induces a dose dependent increase in plasma prolactin concentration. Associated manifestations, namely amenorrhoea, galactorrhoea, gynaecomastia and menorrhagia have occurred in clinical trials. In one study, in which testosterone levels were measured, testosterone decreased below the normal range in 6 out of 85 male patients.
A dose and time dependent weight gain has been reported during treatment with risperidone (a mean bodyweight increase of 2.6 kg after 1 year of treatment; see Precautions). Oedema and increased hepatic enzyme levels have also been reported during treatment with risperidone.
Hyperglycaemia and exacerbations of pre-existing diabetes have been reported in very rare cases during risperidone treatment.
As with classical neuroleptics, cases of water intoxication, either due to polydipsia or to the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), tardive dyskinesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, body temperature disregulation and seizures have occasionally been reported in schizophrenic patients.
In general, no trend in QTc prolongation has occurred. Asymptomatic QTc prolongation was occasionally reported during clinical trials. The incidence of QTc prolongation observed in clinical trial patients receiving therapeutic doses of risperidone was comparable to that in patients receiving placebo. Clinical trial patients with QTc prolongation had pre-existing abnormal QTc values or underlying reasons for the QTc prolongation. Extensive postmarketing experience does not suggest an independent causal role for risperidone at normal doses (see Overdosage).
Benign pituitary adenomas have been reported very rarely in risperidone users during postmarketing surveillance. No causal association could be detected.
In clinical trials in patients with acute mania, risperidone treatment was associated with an increased risk for extrapyramidal symptoms with an incidence of EPS > 10% but which was lower than that seen with haloperidol.

Dosage and Administration

Risperidone tablets are intended for oral administration.

Schizophrenia.

Studies on the efficacy and safety of risperidone have been performed predominantly in patients with schizophrenia. The pivotal studies lasted up to 8 weeks, but more than 600 patients have been treated for at least 12 months.

Switching from other antipsychotics.

When medically appropriate, gradual discontinuation of the previous treatment is recommended while risperidone therapy is initiated. In the case of depot injections, it is recommended that risperidone not be administered until the next scheduled injection.
Alterations in requirements of antiparkinson therapy may be required in patients switching to risperidone. These requirements should be evaluated period.

Adults.

Risperidone tablets may be given once or twice daily.
Patients, whether acute or chronic, may start with 1 mg risperidone twice daily. The dosage may be increased on the second day to 2 mg twice daily. From then on the dosage can be maintained unchanged, or further individualised, if needed. In some patients a slower titration phase and lower starting and maintenance dose may be appropriate. Patients should be titrated gradually in view of the risk of first dose orthostatic hypotension.
In stable patients, risperidone may be given once daily or twice daily, with a recommended daily dose between 4 and 6 mg. However, some patients may benefit from higher doses. Doses above 5 mg twice daily have not been shown to be superior in efficacy to lower doses and may cause extrapyramidal symptoms.
A benzodiazepine may be added to risperidone when additional sedation is required.

Elderly.

A starting dose of 0.5 mg twice daily is recommended in view of the increased risk of first dose orthostatic hypotension. This dosage can be individually adjusted with 0.5 mg twice daily increments to 1-2 mg twice daily.

Renal and hepatic impairment.

A starting dose of 0.5 mg twice daily is recommended. This dosage can be individually adjusted with 0.5 mg twice daily increments to 1 to 2 mg twice daily.
Risperidone should be used with caution in this group of patients until further experience is gained.

Children.

Experience is lacking in children with schizophrenia aged less than 15 years.

Behavioural disturbances in dementia.

A starting dose of 0.25 mg twice daily is recommended. This dosage can be individually adjusted by increments of 0.25 mg twice daily, not more frequently than every other day, if needed. The optimum dose is 0.5 mg twice daily for most patients. Some patients, however, may benefit from doses up to 1 mg twice daily.
Once patients have reached their target dose, a once daily dosing regimen can be considered. As with all symptomatic treatments, the continued use of risperidone must be evaluated and justified on an ongoing basis.

Conduct and other disruptive behaviour disorders.

Subjects > 50 kg.

A starting dose of 0.5 mg once daily is recommended. This dosage can be individually adjusted by increments of 0.5 mg once daily not more frequently than every other day, if needed. The optimum dose is 1 mg once daily for most patients. Some patients, however, may benefit from 0.5 mg once daily while others may require 1.5 mg once daily.

Subjects < 50 kg.

A starting dose of 0.25 mg once daily is recommended. This dosage can be individually adjusted by increments of 0.25 mg once daily not more frequently than every other day, if needed. The optimum dose is 0.5 mg once daily for most patients. Some patients however may benefit from 0.25 mg once daily while others may require 0.75 mg once daily.
As with all symptomatic treatments, the continued use of risperidone must be evaluated and justified on an ongoing basis.
Experience is lacking in children aged less than 5 years.

Overdosage

Symptoms.

In general, reported signs and symptoms have been those resulting from an exaggeration of the medicine's known pharmacological effects. These include drowsiness and sedation, tachycardia and hypotension, and extrapyramidal symptoms. Overdosages of up to 360 mg have been reported in the years since the international launch of risperidone. Rare cases of QT prolongation have been reported, some in association with confounding factors such as hypokalaemia.

Treatment.

Establish and maintain a clear airway, and ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Administration of activated charcoal together with a laxative should be considered. Cardiovascular monitoring should commence immediately and should include continuous electrocardiographic monitoring to detect possible arrhythmias. There is no specific antidote to risperidone. Therefore appropriate supportive measures should be instituted. Hypotension and circulatory collapse should be treated with appropriate measures such as intravenous fluids and/or sympathomimetic agents. In case of severe extrapyramidal symptoms, anticholinergic medication should be administered. Close medical supervision and monitoring should continue until the patient recovers.
As strategies for the management of overdose are continually evolving, it is advisable to contact the Poisons Information Centre to determine the latest recommendations for the management of an overdose. For information on the management of overdose, contact Poisons Information Centre on 131 126 (Australia).

Presentation

Tablets (film coated, scored), 0.5 mg (red, round, marked R on one side): 15's*, 20's*, 30's*, 60's, 100's*; 1 mg (white, oblong, marked R/1 on one side, plain on reverse): 60's; 2 mg (orange, oblong, marked R/2 on one side, plain on reverse): 60's; 3 mg (yellow, oblong, marked R/3 on one side, plain on reverse): 60's; 4 mg (green, oblong, marked R/4 on one side, plain on reverse): 60's; 6 mg* (yellow, oblong, marked R/6 on one side, plain on reverse): 60's (PVC/PVDC/Al blister pack or HDPE bottle*).
*Not currently marketed in Australia.

Storage

Store below 25°C. Protect from light and moisture.

Poison Schedule

S4.