Risperdal Uses

The primary Risperdal uses include treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism. Risperdal has been approved to treat irritability associated with autism in children age 5 to 16 years old. Off-label Risperdal uses can include treating ADHD, psychotic depression, and behavior problems in elderly people with dementia.

Risperdal Medication

What Is Risperdal Used For? -- An Overview

Risperdal^® (risperidone) is a prescription medicine known as an "atypical antipsychotic" that has been licensed to treat the following conditions:

Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder
Irritability associated with autism.

Risperdal and Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most confusing and disabling mental illnesses. Schizophrenia is a group of mental disorders that involve abnormal thinking. Although the causes of schizophrenia are not fully understood, it is currently thought that genetics and environmental factors play an important role in developing the illness. Depending on the type of schizophrenia (see Types of Schizophrenia), symptoms may include the following:

Hallucinations
Delusions
Thought disorders
Disorders of movement
Flat affect (immobile facial expression, monotonous voice)
Lack of pleasure in everyday life
A diminished ability to initiate and sustain planned activity
Speaking infrequently, even when forced to interact
Poor executive functioning (the ability to absorb and interpret information and make decisions based on that information)
An inability to stay focused
Problems with working memory (the ability to keep recently-learned information in mind and use it right away).

Although psychotherapy may be helpful for schizophrenia (see Psychosocial Therapy for Schizophrenics), medication is often essential to schizophrenia treatment. Risperdal can help improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. It also helps to prevent schizophrenia relapses (worsening of schizophrenia). However, Risperdal is not a cure for schizophrenia.

(Risperdal Uses Continued: Page 2)