RISPERDAL® CONSTA® (risperidone) Long Acting Injection

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I take RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?
  2. Will the injections hurt?
  3. Does getting an injection instead of taking pills mean I am sicker than I was before?
  4. How do I start treatment?
  5. What happens if I miss an appointment?
  6. Will I experience any side effects?
  7. Is gaining weight a problem with RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?
  8. Is RISPERDAL® CONSTA® safe to take with my other medicines?
  9. Can I take RISPERDAL® CONSTA® if I am nursing, pregnant, or planning to get pregnant?
  10. Is there anything I should tell my healthcare professional while I’m taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?
  11. Is there anything I should avoid doing while taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?

 

  1. How do I take RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?
    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.

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  2. Will the injections hurt?
    In a clinical study, some people taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® reported they had some pain and that later injections were less painful.

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  3. Does getting an injection instead of taking pills mean I am sicker than I was before?
    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 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 choices in your treatment.

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  4. How do I start treatment?
    If your doctor has decided that RISPERDAL® CONSTA® is right for you and you have never taken RISPERDAL®, they may give you a test dose to ensure that you can tolerate the medicine. If you have taken RISPERDAL® before and you can tolerate it, you may get your first injection of RISPERDAL® CONSTA® right away. After the first injection, you will keep taking the other medicine you're already on for 3 weeks to give RISPERDAL® CONSTA® a chance to start working. After that, come back to your healthcare professional every 2 weeks for your next dose

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  5. What happens if I miss an appointment?
    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 next for an 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 and can help you begin to feel better.

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  6. Will I experience any side effects?
    In a clinical study of patients taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA® the most common side effects reported were sleepiness, restlessness, tremors and rigid muscles, stomach upset, constipation, dry mouth, feeling tired, and weight increase.

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  7. Is gaining weight a problem with RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?
    In a clinical study, weight gain >7% of body weight was observed in 6% of patients receiving injections without medication, and 9% for patients receiving RISPERDAL® CONSTA®. Most people gained about 1 to 3 pounds on average during that period of time. However some people have gained more weight. Speak to your doctor if weight gain is a concern.

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  8. Is RISPERDAL® CONSTA® safe to take with my other medicines?
    Some medications can change how RISPERDAL® CONSTA® works, and your healthcare professional needs to know if you are taking any other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, or dietary supplements.

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  9. Can I take RISPERDAL® CONSTA® if I am nursing, pregnant, or planning to get pregnant?
    Talk to your healthcare professional if you are already pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant while taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA®. You should also let your healthcare professional know if you become pregnant within 12 weeks of stopping treatment.

    Nursing mothers should not take RISPERDAL® CONSTA® and should not nurse for 12 weeks after their last injection.

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  10. Is there anything I should tell my healthcare professional while I’m taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?
    As with any other medication you take, you should tell your healthcare professional if you notice any side effects. You should not drink alcohol or take street drugs. If you do, please be certain to tell your healthcare professional.

    Tell your doctor of any other conditions you have or any other medications you take.

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  11. Is there anything I should avoid doing while taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA®?
    Since RISPERDAL® (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®.

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Patient Brochure
View and download
RISPERDAL ® CONSTA ®
Patient Brochure patient education brochure.
Click here.
Learn about Side Effects
Learn about Side Effects
Click here to learn about side effects that occurred in a clinical trial when taking RISPERDAL® CONSTA®. Read more.

 


RISPERDAL® (risperidone) and RISPERDAL® CONSTA® (risperidone) are used for the treatment of schizophrenia.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR RISPERDAL® AND RISPERDAL® CONSTA®

Elderly Patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. RISPERDAL® (risperidone) and RISPERDAL® CONSTA® (risperidone) are not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

The most common adverse reactions observed in all clinical trials with RISPERDAL® occurring at a rate of at least 10% were somnolence, increased appetite, fatigue, rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection, vomiting, coughing, urinary incontinence, increased saliva, constipation, fever, tremors, muscle stiffness, abdominal pain, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, rash, restlessness, and indigestion.

The most common side effects that occurred with RISPERDAL® CONSTA® were sleepiness, restlessness, tremors and muscle stiffness, stomach upset, constipation, dry mouth, feeling tired, and weight increase.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare and potentially fatal side effect reported with RISPERDAL, 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, 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.

RISPERDAL® and 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.

RISPERDAL, 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. The connection between prolactin levels and side effects is unknown.

High blood sugar and diabetes have been reported with RISPERDAL, RISPERDAL® CONSTA®, and similar medications. If the person being treated has diabetes or risk factors such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes, blood sugar testing should be performed at the beginning and throughout treatment. Complications of diabetes can be serious and even life threatening. If signs of high blood sugar or diabetes develop, such as being thirsty all the time, going to the bathroom a lot, or feeling weak or hungry, contact your doctor.

Some people taking RISPERDAL® or 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 may be reduced or it may go away over time.

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.

Some medications interact with RISPERDAL® or RISPERDAL® CONSTA®. Please inform your healthcare professional of any medications or supplements that you are taking. Avoid alcohol while taking RISPERDAL® or RISPERDAL® CONSTA®.

Inform your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant while taking RISPERDAL® or RISPERDAL® CONSTA®. Do not breast-feed if you are taking RISPERDAL® or RISPERDAL® CONSTA®.

RISPERDAL® and RISPERDAL® CONSTA® may affect your driving ability; therefore, do not drive or operate machinery before talking to your healthcare professional.

RISPERDAL® and RISPERDAL® CONSTA® may affect alertness and motor skills; use caution until the effect of RISPERDAL® or RISPERDAL® CONSTA® is known.

For more information, read the Important Product Information by clicking here.

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This page was last updated on: Jul 21 2008 at 18:23:23 EDT