Risvan (Risperidone)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Risvan Used For?
Risvan contains risperidone, which belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics. It’s designed to help manage symptoms of mental health conditions.
Primary Uses
Risvan is used to treat schizophrenia in adult patients. This includes symptoms where you may see, hear or feel things that are not there, believe things that are not true, or feel unusually suspicious or confused.
How It Works
Risvan can help alleviate the symptoms of your condition and stop your symptoms from coming back. It’s intended for patients who have already shown tolerance and effectiveness to oral risperidone.
Good to know: Risvan is designed to gradually release the active ingredient in your body so you don’t have to take medicine every day.
How to Take Risvan
Risvan is given as an injection by a healthcare professional. It’s not something you take at home – your doctor or nurse will give you the injection.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended dose is 75 mg every 28 days, but a higher dose of 100 mg every 28 days may be necessary. Your doctor will decide the right dose for you. The injection is given in your upper arm or buttock, alternating between right and left sides. If you’re new to risperidone, you’ll need to take oral risperidone for at least 14 days before starting Risvan. If you’ve taken risperidone before but are currently on other antipsychotics, you’ll need oral risperidone for at least 6 days before starting Risvan.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you think you missed a dose, contact your doctor or healthcare provider immediately. It’s important not to miss your appointments for your injections every 28 days.
Important: Injection is not to be given intravenously. Risvan is not recommended for patients with moderate to severe kidney problems.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Movement disorders including slow movements, muscle stiffness, shuffling walk, tremor at rest, increased saliva/drooling, loss of facial expression (Parkinsonism)
- Headache
- Sleep disorders
- Irritability
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Feeling sleepy or less alert
- Blurry vision
- Irregular or slow heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth
- Skin rash or redness
- Muscle spasms, bone or muscle pain
- Weight gain
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Tardive dyskinesia (uncontrollable twitching or jerking movements in face, tongue, or body)
- Blood clots in veins, especially legs (swelling, pain, redness)
- Fever, muscle stiffness, sweating, lowered consciousness (Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome)
- Prolonged or painful erection
- Severe allergic reaction (fever, swollen mouth/face/lips/tongue, shortness of breath, itching, skin rash, blood pressure drop)
- Dark red or brown urine with muscle weakness (rhabdomyolysis)
- Weakness, lightheadedness, fever, chills, mouth sores (low white blood cells)
- Dizziness, tremor, brain ischemia, loss of consciousness, convulsions
- Coma due to uncontrolled diabetes
Important Warnings
There are several important warnings to be aware of before using Risvan. Make sure to discuss your medical history with your doctor.
Who Should Not Take Risvan
Do not use Risvan if you are allergic to risperidone or any other ingredients in this medicine. Do not give this medicine to children and adolescents under 18 years old.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: heart problems or irregular heart rhythm; history of stroke risk factors; involuntary movements of tongue, mouth and face; high temperature, muscle stiffness, sweating or lowered consciousness; Parkinson’s disease; dementia; low white blood cell counts; diabetes; epilepsy; prolonged or painful erections (men); problems controlling body temperature; kidney or liver problems; high prolactin levels or prolactin-dependent tumors; family history of blood clots.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor for advice. Newborn babies of mothers who used risperidone in the last three months of pregnancy may experience shaking, muscle stiffness, weakness, sleepiness, agitation, breathing problems, and feeding difficulties. Risvan is excreted in breast milk, so breastfeeding is not recommended while using this medicine.
Elderly Patients With Dementia: Risvan is NOT indicated in elderly people with dementia. Risvan taken with furosemide may have increased risk of stroke or death in elderly people with dementia.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Risvan and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- Benzodiazepines and pain medicines (opiates) – may increase sedative effects
- Medicines affecting heart electrical activity – malaria medicines, heart rhythm medicines, antihistamines, antidepressants
- Medicines causing slow heartbeat or low blood potassium
- Blood pressure medicines
- Parkinson’s disease medicines (levodopa)
- Psychostimulants (methylphenidate)
- Diuretics (furosemide, chlorothiazide)
- Heart disease medicines (quinidine, disopyramide, procainamide, propafenone, amiodarone, sotalol)
- Antidepressants (paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, tricyclics)
- Beta-blockers
- Phenothiazines
- Stomach acid blockers (cimetidine, ranitidine)
- Antifungal medicines (itraconazole, ketoconazole)
- HIV/AIDS medicines (ritonavir)
- Infection medicines (rifampicin)
- Epilepsy medicines (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital)
Alcohol & Driving
Risvan can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol. Take these precautions seriously for your safety.
Alcohol
You should avoid drinking alcohol when using Risvan. Alcohol may worsen the symptoms of your condition and increase the sedative effects of the medicine.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or use any tools or machines without talking to your doctor first. Dizziness, tiredness, and vision problems may occur during treatment with Risvan.
Temperature Regulation
Be careful during strenuous exercise or exposure to extreme heat. Risvan can affect your body’s ability to control temperature. Try to drink plenty of water and avoid overheating.
Storage
Risvan will be stored by your doctor or pharmacist. The injection must be kept in the original package in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. It should be used immediately after reconstitution. Keep away from children and do not use after the expiry date.
Overdose Information
If you think you have received too much Risvan, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Risvan is designed to gradually release the active ingredient in your body over 28 days. Your doctor will monitor your response and adjust treatment as needed.
Risvan is given as an injection by a healthcare professional, so food timing is not a concern. However, discuss any dietary considerations with your doctor.
The source material does not indicate that Risvan is addictive, but you should not stop using this medicine suddenly as your symptoms may return.
Do not stop using Risvan suddenly. If you stop using Risvan, you will lose the effects of the medicine and your symptoms may return. Only stop if told to do so by your doctor.
You should avoid drinking alcohol when using Risvan. Alcohol may worsen the symptoms of your condition and increase the sedative effects of the medicine.
Yes, Risvan may cause you to gain weight. Significant weight gain may adversely affect your health, so your doctor should regularly measure your body weight.
Risvan should be used with caution in elderly patients. It is NOT indicated in elderly people with dementia, and there may be increased risk of stroke or death when combined with certain medications like furosemide.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.