When using Risperdal for children with autism, the medication is approved to treat children age 5 to 16 years old. Risperdal is also approved to treat schizophrenia in children as young as 13 years old and to treat
bipolar disorder in children as young as 10 years old.
Risperdal works by blocking or lessening the effects of several chemicals in the brain. These brain chemicals (such as dopamine and serotonin) may be elevated in people with schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder (also known as
manic depression), or autism.
If you are considering using this medicine for your child, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the potential risks.
(Click Risperdal Uses for more details on children and Risperdal. This article takes a closer look at bipolar disorder, autism, and schizophrenia, and explains how Risperdal can be an effective treatment for these conditions.)
