Do you use Risperdal?

This medication may currently be the subject of a legal inquiry, class-action lawsuit, or Mass Tort civil action. If you have been injured by this product, you may be entitled to compensation.

Risperdal (risperidone)

Risperdal (generic name risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, autism, and schizophrenia, and is prescribed to children, adolescents, and adults. Numerous severe side effects have been reported since its introduction into the market and manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has paid over $2.2 billion dollars in civil and criminal penalties for illegal marketing and other complaints. It is a prescription medication available in a variety of dosages and forms, including an extended release version.

Risperdal

Risperdal Recall

In addition to the more recent recall above, the following recall for Risperdal has been issued:

June 20, 2011

Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals alerted healthcare professionals of an “uncharacteristic odor” in specific lots of risperidone 2mg tablets and Risperdal (risperidone) 3mg tablets. This odor was connected to trace amounts of TBA (2,4,6 tribromoanisole), a byproduct of a chemical preservative that is used to treat wood. (fda.gov)

Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Side effects are numerous and vary in severity, including heart arrhythmia, involuntary facial movements, tardive dyskinesia (involuntary facial movements), and diabetes. This drug shouldn’t be taken by women while they are pregnant, or by women who breastfeed because doing so can cause serious harm to their baby (including withdrawal symptoms, breathing issues, and feeding difficulties).

Patients taking antipsychotics should be monitored because they are at an increased risk of developing suicidal thoughts and changes in behavior (such as aggression). People taking risperidone may have issues controlling their body temperature and may become dehydrated easily. It is important for those taking Risperdal to avoid extreme heat and cold, and drink plenty of water. Risperdal shouldn’t be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as it can cause symptoms of withdrawal in infants. Infants with side effects from risperidone may present with feeding and breathing problems, tremors, and muscle issues. Adults with dementia should not take Risperdal because doing so can increase their risk of death. (nami.org)

If you just started taking Risperdal, be sure that you are aware of how it affects the way you think and react before driving or participating in activities that require you to be alert. Don’t drink alcohol and consume illegal drugs with this medication, as doing so can increase side effects.

Other negative reactions experienced from Risperdal are difficulty concentrating, nausea, stiff muscles, heart rhythm disorders (QT prolongation), uncontrolled facial movements, memory issues, weight gain, high cholesterol, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, depression, anxiety, headache, and changes in blood sugar (including diabetes). Taking Risperdal with other medicines that cause drowsiness will increase these side effects.

People using Risperdal can develop a rare, life threatening, adverse reaction called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (1% of patients experience this side effect). Symptoms include fever, sweating, confusion, and extreme muscle stiffness.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, taking certain medications with risperidone may affect the way it works. Divalproex sodium (Depakote), paroxetine (Paxil), verapamil (Calan), and fluoxetine (Prozac) can increase the levels and effectiveness of risperdal, while phenobarbital carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro), rifampin (Rifadin), and phenytoin (Dilantin) can decrease levels and effectiveness. (nami.org)

Gynecomastia - swollen male breast tissue, also commonly referred to as "man boobs" - is also a commonly-reported side effect of Risperdal in boys and young males.

Legal Issues

On February 24, 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Risperdal, had to pay $2.5 million in damages based on a Philadelphia jury’s decision that the pharmaceutical company neglected to warn consumers that their medication can cause breast growth in men (gynecomastia). The case was brought forward by the family of a boy with autism who took the medication from 2002 to 2006, beginning when he was only seven years old, and developed size 46DD breasts. An expert witness in the case, former FDA commissioner David Kessler, testified that Johnson & Johnson withheld data from the FDA and neglected to warn consumers of gynecomastia in children. Previous gynecomastia cases had been settled in court, but this was the first to go to trial. (blogs.wsj.com)

On November 4, 2013, The New York Times reported that Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.2 billion in civil and criminal penalties in response to a settlement resulting from illegal promotion of the drug for unapproved purposes, such as in older adults, children, and those with developmental disabilities. This was the third largest pharmaceutical settlement in United States history. As part of the settlement, Johnson & Johnson had to plead guilty to a criminal misdemeanor for illegal marketing of the drug to older adults. Johnson & Johnson had been trying to get the FDA to approve the use of Risperdal in older adults with dementia shortly after first marketing the drug, but were repeatedly denied. Despite this, a dedicated sales force (ElderCare) was created that continued to promote Risperdal use in geriatric patients. According to the federal government, the drug company was aware of the risk of stroke in elderly patients using Risperdal, but neglected to state it when marketing the drug to doctors. (nytimes.com)

In January 2012, Bloomberg News reported that Johnson & Johnson was also forced to pay $158 million to settle claims by officials in Texas that they defrauded the state’s medicaid program by marketing Risperdal for unapproved uses. According to the settlement, Johnson & Johnson advertised the drug as being effective in the treatment of psychiatric conditions in children. The drug company continued to illegally market the drug until its approval for pediatric use in 2006. (bloomberg.com)

FDA Safety Alerts

June 2011

According to detailed medication error reports, some patients were accidentally administered ropinirole (Requip) in place of risperidone (Risperdal), and risperidone in place of ropinirole. These errors were been made due to the two drugs’ similarities in appearance, including the names, packaging, drug strengths, and dosage interval. (fda.gov)

August 2008

Elderly individuals with dementia-related psychosis should not take Risperdal and other antipsychotics because it increases their risk of mortality. The most common causes of death in these patients are cardiovascular issues, including heart failure, and infection. (fda.gov)

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

April 2014

Risperdal Consta injections can cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions in people who aren't allergic to oral risperidone. (fda.gov)

September 2011

Taking antipsychotic medications, including Risperdal, can result in heart complications and decreased blood flow to the brain. Metabolic disorders caused by antipsychotics include changes in cholesterol (dyslipidemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and weight gain. (fda.gov)

June 2011

People with autism who are taking risperidone for irritability are at an increased risk for headaches, nosebleeds, and fever. In addition, those taking Risperdal are at an increased risk of developing high cholesterol, blood and lymphatic system disorders (a low white blood cell count) and nervous system disorders (head tremors). Infants born to mothers that took Risperdal while pregnant may develop symptoms of withdrawal after birth. Some patients on risperidone develop a bad taste in their mouth that many describe as tasting metallic, or like blood. (fda.gov)

August 2010

Men taking Risperdal tablets, Risperdal oral solution, and Risperdal M-tab orally disintegrating tablets can experience priapism, or painful erections. Other side effects of these medications are hypoglycemia, diabetes, difficulty urinating, hypothermia, and sleep apnea. (fda.gov)

August 2010 (also)

Adverse reactions brought on by taking Risperdal Contra are delayed ejaculation, insomnia, respiratory tract infection, upper abdominal pain, glucose in urine, and severe itching of the skin (pruritus). (fda.gov)

Uses

Like Invega and Abilify, Risperdal is an antipsychotic medication used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, also called manic depressive disorder. It is also used to alleviate symptoms of irritability in autistic individuals. Risperdal is available in tablets and orally disintegrating tablets (which come in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg doses), as well as in a solution (1 mg/ml). Also available is Risperdal Consta, an extended-release injectable suspension (which comes in 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 37.5 mg, and 50 mg doses). The medication works by balancing out chemicals in the brain (specifically, the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin) that affect behavior, mood, and emotional regulation.

History

Risperdal was developed by Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, from 1988 to 1992, and was approved by the FDA in 1994 to treat schizophrenia. (accessdata.fda.gov)

In 2003, risperidone was approved by the FDA for the temporary treatment of mixed and manic states associated with bipolar disorder, and In 2006, it was approved by the FDA to treat irritability in children and adolescents with autism. On August 22, 2007, Risperdal became the first medication to be approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents, and was also approved to treat bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. (fda.gov)

The FDA approved Risperidone, the generic form of Risperdal in October 2008, manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. and Patriot Pharmaceutics. (fda.gov)

Other Information

Risperdal (generic name risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, autistic disorder, and schizophrenia, and is prescribed to children, adolescents, and adults. It works by influencing chemicals in the brain that affect mood and behavior, namely dopamine and serotonin. Side effects are numerous and vary in severity, including heart arrhythmia, involuntary facial movements, tardive dyskinesia (involuntary facial movements), and diabetes. This drug shouldn’t be taken by women while they are pregnant, or by women who breastfeed because doing so can cause serious harm to their baby (including withdrawal symptoms, breathing issues, and feeding difficulties).

RISPERDAL® contains risperidone, a psychotropic agent belonging to the chemical class of benzisoxazole derivatives. The chemical designation is 3-[2-[4-(6-fluoro-1,2-benzisoxazol-3-yl)-1-piperidinyl]ethyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one. Its molecular formula is C23H27FN4O2 and its molecular weight is 410.49. The structural formula is:

Chemical Structure

Risperidone is a white to slightly beige powder. It is practically insoluble in water, freely soluble in methylene chloride, and soluble in methanol and 0.1 N HCl.

RISPERDAL® Tablets are available in 0.25 mg (dark yellow), 0.5 mg (red-brown), 1 mg (white), 2 mg (orange), 3 mg (yellow), and 4 mg (green) strengths. RISPERDAL® tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, hypromellose, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and starch (corn). The 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg tablets also contain talc and titanium dioxide. The 0.25 mg tablets contain yellow iron oxide; the 0.5 mg tablets contain red iron oxide; the 2 mg tablets contain FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake; the 3 mg and 4 mg tablets contain D&C Yellow No. 10; the 4 mg tablets contain FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake.

RISPERDAL® is also available as a 1 mg/mL oral solution. RISPERDAL® Oral Solution contains the following inactive ingredients: tartaric acid, benzoic acid, sodium hydroxide, and purified water.

RISPERDAL® M-TAB® Orally Disintegrating Tablets are available in 0.5 mg (light coral), 1 mg (light coral), 2 mg (coral), 3 mg (coral), and 4 mg (coral) strengths. RISPERDAL® M-TAB® Orally Disintegrating Tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: Amberlite® resin, gelatin, mannitol, glycine, simethicone, carbomer, sodium hydroxide, aspartame, red ferric oxide, and peppermint oil. In addition, the 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg RISPERDAL® M-TAB® Orally Disintegrating Tablets contain xanthan gum.

Risperdal Manufacturers


  • Rebel Distributors Corp
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Rebel Distributors Corp]
  • Cardinal Health
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Cardinal Health]
  • Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Pd-rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Risperdal (Risperidone) Tablet Risperdal M-tab (Risperidone) Tablet, Orally Disintegrating Risperdal (Risperidone) Solution [Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]

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