Risperidone

Risperidone is an anti-psychotic medication. It may be prescribed to patients with severe schizophrenia or severe bipolar disorder. This medication changes brain chemistry to stop the brain from engaging in abnormal activity. This eliminates hallucinations, delusions and distorted or disorganized thinking. It also can help control the manic phase of bipolar disorder.

Side Effects/Warnings

This medication should not be prescribed to patients who suffer from age-related psychotic dementia. Elderly people who take this medication are more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack, stroke or bout of pneumonia than patients who do not take the medication.

Since this medication changes brain chemistry, it is dangerous to stop using it all at once. Patients who want to stop the medication or switch to a different antipsychotic medication should talk to their doctors and follow instructions exactly for tapering off the medicaiton safely.