Description: Risperidone is an oral antipsychotic agent. It is a first-line option for treating the many fragments of psychosis. Psychotic disorders, including acute and chronic schizophrenic psychoses, and affective symptoms associated with schizophrenia have responded to treament. Controlled clinical trials are also underway studying the efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of Tourette's Syndrome. Advantages over other currently available antipsychotic agents are a reduction in negative symptoms and reduced incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms. Unlike clozapine, the first serotonin-dopamine blocking agent marketed, risperidone is not associated with agranulocytosis. Risperidone was approved for the treatment of schizophrenia by the FDA in December 1993.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: Risperidone is a potent ›A-adrenergic antagonist and can produce hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is more likely to occur during the initiation of therapy. Dizziness can lead to syncope. Patient tolerance develops fairly rapidly, providing the initial dosage is carefully titrated.