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The dose of Risperdal (risperidone) your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including: your age and weight, the medical condition being treated, other medical conditions you may have, other medications you may currently be taking. As always, do not adjust your Risperdal dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Risperdal Dosing for Schizophrenia
The recommended starting Risperdal dose for schizophrenia is Risperdal 1 mg twice daily (or Risperdal 2 mg once daily). Usually, the dose can be increased slowly in the next few days, up to Risperdal 3 mg twice daily (or 6 mg once daily) by the third day. If necessary, your healthcare provider may increase your dose up to Risperdal 16 mg total per day if necessary.
Risperdal Dosing for Bipolar Disorder (BD)
The recommended starting Risperdal dose for bipolar disorder is Risperdal 2 mg to 3 mg once daily. Your healthcare provider may increase your dose up to a maximum of Risperdal 6 mg once daily if necessary.
Elderly people, or those with liver or kidney disease, should be started at a lower dose (Risperdal 0.5 mg twice daily).
Risperdal Dosing for Autism
For children weighing less than 44 pounds, the recommended starting dose is Risperdal 0.25 mg once daily (or half of a Risperdal 0.25 mg tablet twice daily). For children weighting 44 pounds or over, the recommended starting dose is Risperdal 0.5 mg once daily (or Risperdal 0.25 mg twice daily). After a minimum of four days, your healthcare provider may increase the dose up to Risperdal 0.5 mg once daily (or Risperdal 0.25 mg twice daily) for children weighing less than 44 pounds. For children weighing 44 pounds or more, the dose can be increased up to Risperdal 1 mg once daily (or Risperdal 0.5 mg twice daily).
Some considerations for people taking Risperdal
Risperdal comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth once or twice a day. Risperdal can be taken with or without food. If Risperdal bothers your stomach, try taking it with food. Risperdal should be taken at the same time(s) each day to maintain even levels of the drug in your blood.
Risperdal also comes in a liquid form and in orally disintegrating tablets that dissolve rapidly in the mouth (Risperdal M-Tabs). These products are helpful for people who have difficulty swallowing tablets. A long-acting injectable form (Risperdal Consta) is also available. Risperdal M-Tabs should be kept in their original foil blister until just before use. Carefully peel back the foil, as pushing the tablet through the foil can crush the delicate tablet. These tablets will dissolve rapidly in your mouth, without any need for water. These tablets should not be chewed, split, or crushed.
For Risperdal to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Risperdal will not work if you stop taking it.
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