Risperdal (Risperidone) for Alzheimer's

Overview
Risperdal is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia. Risperdal is also known by its drug name, Risperidone. Risperdal is sometimes prescribed to treat sleep problems, hallucinations, agitation, aggression, lack of cooperativeness, delusions, and hostility in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Risperdal may be considered in cases where non-drug approaches have failed to address these symptoms. Since the FDA has not approved Risperdal specifically for this usage, it is considered “off-label.”

Risperdal is an antipsychotic, a drug that is used to manage psychiatric problems such as delusions and disordered thoughts. Risperdal is believed to work by blocking dopamine in certain pathways of the brain.

How do I take it?
Risperdal is taken once or twice a day.

Risperdal is available in tablet, disintegrating oral tablet, and oral solution forms.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Risperdal lists common side effects including abnormal (jerky) movements, dizziness, increased appetite, weight gain, headache, feeling unusually hot or cold, dry mouth, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, and fatigue.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Risperdal can include increased risk of death in older adults with dementia.