Before ever taking a new medication, or even before stopping one, it’s important to understand how it works. Drugs often have side effects from both interacting with other medications and from stopping them altogether. Generic and brand-name Risperidone is one such drug. In this blog, we focus on, “How long does risperidone stay in your system?” We also cover other important and related information.
At Reich & Binstock, our Houston defective drug attorneys stay up-to-date on all the latest information regarding pharmaceutical recalls and injuries. After all, nobody takes medicine with the assumption that it is dangerous. As consumers, we expect safety when we consume or use a finished product. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If you suffered adverse reactions or injuries from Risperidone, contact us today. Call our office at 713-622-7271 or fill out our online intake form.
What Is Risperidone?
Risperidone belongs to the atypical antipsychotic medication class. A drug class is a set of pharmaceuticals that all operate in the same manner. These medicines are frequently used to treat illnesses that are similar to each other. It works by changing the number of neurotransmitters, which are molecules that naturally present in the brain. Certain neurotransmitters are considered to be out of balance in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and autism. This medication may help to correct the imbalance.
Risperidone is a prescription-only medication. Oral tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, and an oral solution are all available. It’s also available as an injectable that can only be delivered by a medical professional. Risperdal is a brand-name medicine that contains risperidone in an oral tablet form. It can also be purchased as a generic medicine. Generic medications are frequently less expensive than their brand-name counterparts. The brand-name and generic versions of a medicine may be offered in different forms and strengths in some situations.
What Is Risperidone Used For?
Risperidone is a psychiatric medication that is used to treat symptoms of a variety of mental illnesses. The following are some of them.
- Schizophrenia: This is a mental health condition characterized by shifts in thought or perception. People with this illness may experience delusions or even hallucinate.
- Acute manic or mixed episodes from bipolar disorder: This medication can be used alone or in combination with lithium or divalproex. Bipolar illness patients have significant mood swings. Mania (an extremely happy or exuberant mood), sadness, or a combination of the two are examples.
- Autism-associated irritability: Autism has an impact on a person’s behavior, interactions with others, learning, and communication. Aggressiveness toward others, ideas of self-harm, intense outbursts of irritation or anger, and mood swings are all signs of irritability.
Risperidone can be applied as part of a multi-drug treatment plan. As a result, you may need to use it in conjunction with other drugs.
How Long Does Risperidone Take to Kick In?
The way a person reacts to a medicine differs from person to person. However, certain effects may be noticeable during the first few days of usage in some persons. Others, on the other hand, may require three to six weeks for risperidone to reach full potency. You should discuss how it works for you throughout the first several weeks with your doctor. After two to three weeks of use, if no good changes have occurred, your doctor may raise the dose or try switching your prescription.
Typically, doctors start patients on a low dose of risperidone and gradually raise it to a dose that suits them. This also depends on how well you respond to the treatment and how well you tolerate it. If you begin with the long-acting injectable, however, it may take about three weeks for the risperidone to finally release. As a result, your doctor may advise you to keep taking your tablets until the treatment takes effect. This injection will be given to you every two weeks by your doctor. Risperidone will be released steadily for the same amount of time after the injection.
Side Effects of Risperidone
Risperidone oral tablets might make you drowsy and make you feel unsteady. This might result in a fall, which could result in bone fractures or other health issues. If you’re a person over 65 years old and taking other drowsy drugs, you may be at a higher risk of falling. Other side effects include the following.
- Trouble moving
- Restlessness or the urge to keep moving
- Muscle contractions causing repetitive twisting movements
- Tremors
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
- Drooling
- Dry mouth
- Weight gain or an increased appetite
- Rashes
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Stuffy nose
- Inflammation of the nose and throat
If the side effects are minor, they may fade completely in a matter of days or weeks. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if they get more severe or don’t go away.
Serious Side Effects of Risperidone
If you have any major side effects, contact your doctor straight away. If your symptoms are life-threatening or you believe you’re suffering a medical emergency, dial 911. The following are examples of serious side effects and associated symptoms.
- Strokes in older adults with dementia and wrongful death from infection
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Profuse sweating
- High fever
- Confusion
- Muscle stiffness
- Changes in heart rhythm, blood pressure, and breathing
- Kidney failure
- Tardive dyskinesia
- Movements of the tongue, face, or other body parts that you cannot control
- Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar
- Feelings of extreme thirst
- Urge to urinate more often than usual
- Tiredness or weakness
- Severe hunger
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Breath that smells fruity
- High triglycerides and cholesterol
- High prolactin levels in the blood
- Enlargement of breasts
- Milky discharge from the nipple
- Loss of menstrual period
- Erectile dysfunction
- Low white blood cell count
- Infection
- Fever
- Orthostatic hypertension
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Impaired judgment and motor skills, trouble thinking
- Trouble swallowing
- Seizures
- Priapism
How Long Does Risperidone Stay in Your System?
Slow-acting psychotropic medications, such as antipsychotics, take 2-4 weeks to exhibit favorable effects and even longer to leave your body. The advantages will not disappear as soon as the medicine is no longer in your system. The half-life of risperidone is another significant thing to consider. The half-life of most drugs is roughly 24 hours. However, some may take up to 4-5 days to completely leave your system.
Risperidone has a 20-hour half-life in weak metabolizers, but just 3 hours in substantial metabolizers. When determining how long an antipsychotic medicine will last in your system, you must also consider other things. The following are some of these elements.
- How long you took the drug
- Your metabolic function
- Your health profile
- Any other drugs that you took with risperidone
- Genetics
- Any effects of other medications you’re using
With all this in mind, it still might take a few weeks or even months to see a return to normal brain function after you stop your use of this medicine.
Risperidone Withdrawal Symptoms
In general, individuals should not discontinue any medicine without first consulting their healthcare physician. It’s also worth noting that stopping risperidone once you’re feeling better isn’t a smart idea. You may suffer some uncomfortable symptoms if you do. Withdrawal symptoms from risperidone include the following.
- Nausea
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Return of schizophrenia symptoms
It goes without saying that stopping risperidone abruptly is not a good idea, since it might lead to the negative effects described above. However , if you think you need to stop taking the medicine, it’s critical to keep in touch with your doctor. By taking into account your medical history and present situation, they can limit your withdrawal symptoms to a minimum.
Gradual Risperidone Withdrawal
The FDA recommends that you stop using this medicine gradually, just like you would with any other psychoactive prescription. In most situations, tapering antipsychotic drugs gently and under close medical supervision is important for the patient’s safety. Medications are often complex and have unpredictably negative side effects. It’s crucial to note, however, that there are a few exceptions.
Maybe a patient taking antipsychotic medication develops a life-threatening adverse reaction. In these cases, it is critical to withdraw the drug as soon as possible in a clinical setting.
How Does Risperidone Interact with Dopamine?
Risperidone is thought to be able to inhibit or link dopamine at the D2 dopamine receptors. Manic symptoms may be reduced by limiting dopamine availability, according to research. The neuroadaptation of the synapse limits most psychiatric medicines. In reaction to an apparent dopamine deficit, the synapse can boost the receptor’s dopamine binding capability.
The development of some undesirable responses is hypothesized to be connected to enhanced D2 dopamine binding and eventual upregulation. Such reactions can occur while starting or stopping neuroleptic medicines, and they can also occur after an antipsychotic medicine has been discontinued. Upregulation of receptors is most likely a key factor in the symptoms of risperidone withdrawal. Antipsychotic withdrawal can be more difficult for some people than any other medication class.
Contact a Risperdal Lawyer Today
If you or someone you know suffers from adverse reactions to risperidone or Risperdal, we’re here to help. Contact a Houston product liability attorney with Reich & Binstock to find out if you have a case. Call our office at 713-622-7271 or fill out our online intake form.
