How is Risperdal® different than other drugs? How long does it take for Risperdal® to start working? How long do I need to take Risperdal®? Will Risperdal® improve how I feel? What are typical side effects of Risperdal®? What other side effects exist? Studies on safety of Risperdal®

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What is Risperdal? RISPERDAL®, generically known as risperidone, is an FDA approved medication for treatment of bipolar I disorder and is also approved or to treat acute to manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. It is approved for use as therapy alone or in combination with drugs called mood stabilizers, such as lithium or valproate. Risperdal is also approved for bipolar mania.

The drug was released in 1994 and is prescribed worldwide. It is one of a family of “atypical antipsychotic medications” used to treat schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. Risperdal® improves schizophrenia's positive symptoms (e.g., visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and thought disturbances) and may also help treat illness’ negative symptoms (e.g., social withdrawal, apathy, lack of motivation, and inability to experience pleasure).

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How does Risperdal® work? In order to treat chemical imbalances associated with bipolar mania, dopamine and serotonin levels are controlled using drug. While specific details of how Risperdal® does this are not known, testing shows that Risperdal® adjusts balance of dopamine and serotonin thereby reducing bipolar mania. It is important to note that Risperdal® does not cure, but only helps to control mania.

Risperdal®, like some other atypical antipsychotics, is designed as a serotonin/dopamine antagonist. Apparently, Risperdal blocks serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitter chemicals in brains.

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How is Risperdal® different than other drugs? Conventional antipsychotics seem to primarily affect only dopamine. Risperdal® affects both. Antipsychotics such as Haldol, Stelazine, and Prolixin have treated symptoms in many patients. However, these drugs do not satisfactorily affect negative (depressive) symptoms, Risperdal® has been shown to be as effective as conventional medications in treating positive symptoms.

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While link to strokes and heart attacks in all patients may not be clear at this point. It seems that it is only a matter of time. Forbes receommends that "executives should start thinking about Bextra as a lost cause, partly because it will make it easier for company to defend Celebrex, which is Bextra's chemical cousin and one of Pfizer's best-selling drugs."

Pfizer is sure to be pulled intot he mix as FDA convenes a panel to look at all Cox-2 drugs. This may actually be a boon for Pfizer, who can narrow its focus on how Celebrex may be safer, as it does not take Cox-1 and Cox-2 as far out of balance with each other. It may be better, albeit having a greater risk of ulcers.