Risperdal

Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication intended for the treatment or manic depression and schizophrenia. It can be prescribed for other conditions, but this is a decision that needs to be made by a qualified health care professional. Any drugs you are taking need to be reported even if these are just vitamins, herbal products, minerals, any drugs prescribed by other doctors, prescription or over-the-counter medications that you have been taking for some time. The success of your treatment depends on how exactly you will be following the instructions given by your health care provider. Additional tests may be required if you have any of the following health conditions: diabetes, a history of breast cancer, a history of heart attack or stroke, heart disease, liver disease, a history of suicidal thoughts, seizures, Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure, trouble swallowing, or kidney disease. Any other conditions you have or used to have are also supposed to be communicated to your doctor to make sure taking Risperdal is beneficial for you. This medicine can cause high blood sugar and the following symptoms may indicate that your blood sugar levels have increased: weakness, increased urination, excessive hunger, and increased thirst. This fact can be especially important to report if you have high blood sugar already – in that case talk to your health care provider to see if anything needs to be done about your dose or dosing schedule to make sure you get all the possible benefits of your treatment without suffering from severe side effects. The following serious side effects of Risperdal are sometimes possible: confusion, fever, chills, fainting, body aches, stiff muscles, trouble swallowing, feeling light-headed, flu symptoms, fast or uneven heartbeats, and tremor. The serious side effects mentioned are supposed to be communicated to your doctor as soon as possible, as they are unlikely to go away on their own. Mild side effects are a lot more probable, and they are usually unlikely to last for longer than several hours. The following are most common mild side effects: headache, dry mouth, weight gain, drowsiness, decreased sex drive, dizziness, mild restlessness, blurred vision, sleepiness, nausea, and constipation. Only if they get severe or start to interfere with your everyday life should you report them to your health care provider. Otherwise just wait for them to disappear on their own. To make sure your side effects do not become an unpleasant surprise when you have to take part in some activity that requires all your alertness and concentration, make sure you are aware of the following medicines that are not supposed to be combined with Risperdal as they can add to the sleepiness this medicine causes: sleeping pills, medicine for seizures, narcotic pain medicines, muscle relaxers, depression or anxiety meds, and cold or allergy medicines. Avoid taking those without previously consulting your health care provider to make sure you are able to carry on with your normal life.