Risperidone—or Risperdal, as it is known in the pharmaceutical world—is an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism symptoms. This can have great benefits for people with chronic mental health diseases to allow them to live normal lives.
Risperdal Side Effects
The potential side effects of taking Risperdal are well-cataloged. In fact, the FDA warned about the dangers of elderly and child patients using the drug immediately after its release. Unfortunately, this did not stop Janssen Pharmaceuticals from engaging in advertising campaigns to increase the visibility of the drug on the marketplace. These actions have already resulted in significant settlements with people negatively affected by the drug.
This advertising did not disclose the fact that elderly people taking the drug were dying at an alarming rate, nor did it disclose the extent of young boys developing breast tissue, otherwise known as gynecomastia.
Other common and serious side effects included:
- Weight gain
- Headache or dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Increased chance of stroke
Any of these side effects can have a serious effect on the quality and length of a patient’s life. Especially for patients who were prescribed Risperdal while they were a child or elderly, the drug can have a catastrophic effect on a person’s future.
