Typically, a patient will take Risperdal® for a trial period of at least four to six weeks at optimal dose before evaluating its effectiveness. It is now known that lower doses (3 or 4 mg/day) are often effective with lower risk for side effects.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How long do I need to take Risperdal®? You should take Risperdal as indicated by your doctor. Do not self regulate. Rather, take this drug as prescribed. The FDA has approved Risperdal as safe and effective. It could be dangerous to stop taking medicines, especially abruptly. Patients should talk with their physicians to decide whether benefits and risks of taking Risperdal® make product right choice. Therefore, keep on taking Risperdal® as prescribed by your healthcare professional.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will Risperdal® improve how I feel? Risperdal® showed a large improvement for those taking it, compared to those taking a placebo – according to clinical trials.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What are typical side effects of Risperdal®? · muscle stiffness · tremors · body shakes · low blood pressure · dizziness · heart palpitations · sleepiness · constipation · weight gain · sexual dysfunction · fatigue · Anxiety · Headache · Rhinitis Read more about commonly known risks and side effects of Risperdal®

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What are other Risperdal® side effects that exist?· hypotension · syncope · cardiac arrhythmias · first degree AV-block · seizure · gynecomastia (breast growth in males) · galactorrhea · amenorrhea · menorrhagia · ejaculatory and erectile dysfunction. · photosensitivity · hyperpigmentation · urinary retention

There are also several case reports of patients who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) as a complication of risperidone use, as well as cases of irreversible tardive dyskinesia is a consideration with chronic risperidone therapy, as with all neuroleptics, although risk is thought to be lower with risperidone due to its comparatively weak dopamine receptor affinity.

More about lesser known risks and side effects of Risperdal®?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Studies on safety of Risperdal®

There are also several case reports of patients who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) as a complication of risperidone use, as well as cases of irreversible tardive dyskinesia is a consideration with chronic risperidone therapy, as with all neuroleptics, although risk is thought to be lower with risperidone due to its comparatively weak dopamine receptor affinity.

According to Forbes, "FitzGerald and two colleagues used statistical methods to try to make sure that he wasn't mixing apples and oranges by adding data about patients with arthritis, but he says risk was certainly driven by open heart surgery patients. In first open heart surgery paper, patients were 3.5 times more likely to have heart attacks than those on a sugar pill. In second, risk was 2.88 times higher. In third study, of arthritis patients, risk was 1.77 times higher, according to slides presented by FitzGerald."

What is needed now is further study. Meanwhile, those injured by this drug will wonder why further study was not done sooner. Pfizer is trying to defend itself, claiming that meta-analysis shows drug is safe.

FitzGerald calls for better warnings, rather than a withdrawal of drug. In this way, a doctor can exercise his sound judgment in determining if risks are worth medical effectiveness of drug. Pfizer may need to act fast in putting this warning out, so that patients are given risks and choices of alternatives.