Frequently Asked Questions
A doctor or nurse will give you the injection at your healthcare professional’s office. You will get your RISPERDAL® CONSTA® injection in the upper part of your buttock (gluteus) or in the upper arm (deltoid).
If you cannot make it to your doctor’s office, there are alternate locations where RISPERDAL® CONSTA® can be administered. Talk to your treatment team about where these are so you are prepared in any situation.
When a person is given long-acting medicine by injection, there may be some discomfort. Everyone handles pain differently. How it will feel during the injection varies from person to person. However, in clinical trials, patients taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® reported little pain at the site of the injection, which decreased over time.
You can get your injections at a number of locations—at your doctor’s office or at select pharmacies, outpatient clinics, and urgent care centers.
Taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® does not mean that you are sicker in any way. All it means is that you have a different way to take the medicine that can help you manage your Bipolar I Disorder or schizophrenia.
Taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® also means that your treatment team is looking for ways to continue helping you manage your symptoms. Medicines such as RISPERDAL® CONSTA® help healthcare professionals offer you more treatment choices.
If your doctor has decided that RISPERDAL® CONSTA® is right for you and you have never taken risperidone, he or she may give you a test dose to ensure that you can tolerate the medicine. If you have taken risperidone before and you can tolerate it, you may get your first injection of RISPERDAL® CONSTA® right away. Along with the first injection, you will keep taking the other antipsychotic medicine you're already on for at least 3 weeks to give RISPERDAL® CONSTA® a chance to start working. Continue to come back to your healthcare professional every 2 weeks for your next dose.
If you miss an appointment, you should contact your healthcare professional right away to let him or her know that you missed your injection. Your healthcare professional will then advise you when to come for another appointment.
Remember that coming to the office for your dose of RISPERDAL® CONSTA® gives you a chance to talk regularly with your healthcare professional about how you’re doing. Working together with your treatment team is an important part of your treatment plan and can help you feel better and work toward your goals.
In a study of people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® , the most common side effects in the treatment of schizophrenia were headache, tremors, dizziness, restlessness, tiredness, constipation, indigestion, sleepiness, weight gain, pain in the limbs, and dry mouth.
In a study of people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® , the most common side effects in the treatment of bipolar disorder were weight gain (when used alone) and tremors (when used with lithium or valproate).
Contact your healthcare professional if there are any side effects.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR RISPERDAL® CONSTA®
Elderly Patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. RISPERDAL® CONSTA® (risperidone) is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare and potentially fatal side effect reported with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® and similar medicines. Call your doctor immediately if the person being treated develops symptoms such as high fever; stiff muscles; shaking; confusion; sweating; changes in pulse, heart rate, or blood pressure; or muscle pain and weakness. Treatment should be stopped if the person being treated has NMS.
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a serious, sometimes permanent side effect reported with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® and similar medications. TD includes uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, and other parts of the body. The risk of developing TD and the chance that it will become permanent is thought to increase with the length of therapy and the overall dose taken by the patient. This condition can develop after a brief period of therapy at low doses, although this is much less common. There is no known treatment for TD, but it may go away partially or completely if therapy is stopped.
Atypical antipsychotic drugs have been associated with metabolic changes that can increase cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risks. These changes may include:
High blood sugar and diabetes have been reported with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® and similar medicines. If you already have diabetes or have risk factors such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes, blood sugar testing should be done at the beginning and during the treatment. The complications of diabetes can be serious and even life-threatening. Call your doctor if you develop signs of high blood sugar or diabetes, such as being thirsty all the time, having to urinate or “pass urine” more often than usual, or feeling weak or hungry.
Changes in cholesterol and triglycerides have been noted in patients taking atypical antipsychotics. Check with your doctor while on treatment.
Weight gain has been reported in patients taking atypical antipsychotics. Monitor weight gain while on treatment. For adolescent patients (12-17 years of age) weight gain should be assessed against that expected with normal growth.
RISPERDAL® CONSTA® and similar medications can raise the blood levels of a hormone known as prolactin, causing a condition known as hyperprolactinemia. Blood levels of prolactin remain elevated with continued use. Some side effects seen with these medications include the absence of a menstrual period; breasts producing milk; the development of breasts by males; and the inability to achieve an erection.
Some people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® may feel faint or lightheaded when they stand up or sit up too quickly. By standing up or sitting up slowly and following your healthcare professional’s dosing instructions, this side effect can be reduced or it may go away over time.
Blood problems such as low numbers of white blood cells have been reported in patients taking risperidone and similar medications. In some cases it has been serious and life-threatening. Depending upon your medical condition, your doctor may choose to test your blood as you start therapy with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® .
RISPERDAL® CONSTA® may affect your alertness or driving ability; therefore, do not drive or operate machinery before talking to your healthcare professional.
RISPERDAL® CONSTA® should be used cautiously in people with a seizure disorder, who have had seizures in the past, or who have conditions that increase their risk for seizures.
Painful, long-lasting erections have been reported with the use of RISPERDAL® CONSTA® . Call your doctor immediately if you think you are having this problem.
Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) are usually persistent movement disorders or muscle disturbances, such as restlessness, tremors, and muscle stiffness. If you observe any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare professional.
Inform your healthcare professional if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® . Caution should be used when administering RISPERDAL® CONSTA® to a nursing woman.
RISPERDAL® CONSTA® may make you more sensitive to heat. You may have trouble cooling off, or be more likely to become dehydrated, so take care when exercising or when doing things that make you warm.
Some medications interact with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® . Please inform your healthcare professional of any medications or supplements that you are taking. Avoid alcohol while taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA®.
In a study of people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® , the most common side effects in the treatment of schizophrenia were headache, tremors, dizziness, restlessness, tiredness, constipation, indigestion, sleepiness, weight gain, pain in the limbs, and dry mouth.
In a study of people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® , the most common side effects in the treatment of bipolar disorder were weight gain (when used alone) and tremors (when used with lithium or valproate).
In clinical studies of people with Bipolar I Disorder , 11.6% of people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® alone vs 2.8% of people taking placebo experienced a weight gain of >7% body weight, and 26.8% of people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® with lithium or valproate vs 27.3% of people taking placebo experienced a weight gain of >7% body weight.
In clinical studies of people with schizophrenia, 9% of people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® vs 6% of people taking placebo experienced a weight gain of >7% body weight.
On average, most people gained about 1 to 3 pounds during treatment with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® . However, some people have gained more weight. Speak to your doctor if weight gain is a concern.
Some medicines can interact with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® . Your healthcare professional needs to know if you are taking any other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, herbal remedies, or dietary supplements.
Talk to your healthcare professional if you are already pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant while taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® . You should notify your doctor if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy and for at least 12 weeks after the last injection of RISPERDAL® CONSTA®.
Nursing mothers should not breast-feed an infant while taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® and should not nurse for at least 12 weeks after their last injection.
As with any other medicine you take, you should tell your healthcare professional if you notice any side effects. You should not drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. If you do, please be certain to tell your healthcare professional.
Tell your doctor about any other conditions you have or any other medicines you take.
Since risperidone—the medicine in RISPERDAL® CONSTA® —has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills, you should be cautious when operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until you are reasonably certain that treatment with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® does not affect you in such a way. You should not drink alcohol while taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® .
