Risperdal (resperidone) Information

The second atypical antipsychotic, risperidone (Risperdal), appears to have somewhat lower antipsychotic effectiveness than Clozaril, but a greatly improved side-effect profile compared to older medications. Some studies suggest that it also had some antidepressant effects, probably due to its effects on serotonin metabolism.

Atypical medications such as Risperdal have several advantages over traditional medications: fewer anticholinergic side-effects, less Parkinsonism and dystonia, very low risk of tardive dyskinesia and reversal of many 'negative symptoms' of schizophrenia such as affective blunting, withdrawal, and low motivation. These newer medications all appear to primarily influence dopamine receptors but they also appear to affect serotonin receptors that deal with frontal lobe functions.

For More Information:

Risperdal.com - the official information from Jannsen

Risperdal Information from NAMI

MEDLINEplus: Risperidone Information

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