Rixadone Oral (Risperidone)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Rixadone Oral Used For?
Rixadone contains risperidone, which belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotic agents. These medicines help improve symptoms of certain types of mental illness by correcting a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Primary Uses
Rixadone is used to treat sudden (acute) and long-term (chronic) schizophrenia and other related psychoses – disorders that affect thought, feeling, and/or action. It’s also used for short-term treatment of sudden mania associated with bipolar 1 disorder, characterized by elevated mood, inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, racing thoughts, and poor judgment. Additionally, it treats behavioral problems in dementia patients caused by Alzheimer’s disease, including aggression, suspiciousness, agitation, or wandering. It can also treat conduct and disruptive behaviors like aggression and impulsiveness in children over 5 years, adolescents, and adults with intellectual disabilities, as well as behavioral symptoms in autism in children and adolescents.
How It Works
Rixadone works by helping to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that is associated with mental health conditions.
Good to know: Rixadone is not addictive.
How to Take Rixadone Oral
Always take Rixadone exactly as your doctor has told you. The solution comes with a special syringe (pipette) that you must use to measure your dose accurately.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will determine your specific dose based on your condition. For schizophrenia, the usual starting dose is 1 mg twice daily, gradually increased as needed. For elderly patients, the starting dose is typically 0.5 mg twice daily. For acute mania, the recommended starting dose is 2 mg once daily. For behavioral problems in dementia, the usual starting dose is 0.25 mg twice daily. For disruptive behavior disorders, dosing depends on weight: those weighing 50 kg or more start with 0.5 mg once daily, while those under 50 kg start with 0.25 mg once daily. The maximum daily dose is 5 mg taken twice a day. You can take Rixadone with or between meals, and it may be taken once or twice daily as directed.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose when scheduled. Don’t try to make up for missed doses by taking more than one dose at a time. If there’s still a long time before your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. If you forget to take Rixadone for 5 days or more, tell your doctor before starting again.
Important: Never take more solution than your doctor tells you to take. Use only the syringe (pipette) provided with the medicine for measuring doses.
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:
- Sleeplessness or sleep disturbances
- Headache
- Trembling
- Drowsiness, tiredness, difficulty concentrating
- Agitation, anxiety, excitement
- Muscle stiffness
- Restlessness in legs
- Weight gain
- Indigestion, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Unusual breast milk secretion
- Breast swelling
- Missed or irregular menstrual periods
- Eye-related problems
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Fall in blood pressure, particularly on standing
- Faster heart rate, slowed heart rate, heart beat irregularities
- Fever or abnormally high body temperature
- Serious allergic reaction (swelling of face, lips, mouth, throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing)
- Sudden weakness or numbness of face, arms, or legs, especially on one side
- Slurred speech (mini-strokes)
- Worm-like movements of tongue or uncontrolled movements of tongue, mouth, cheeks, jaw, arms, or legs (tardive dyskinesia)
Important Warnings
Rixadone is not suitable for everyone. There are important conditions and situations where this medication should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Rixadone Oral
Do not take Rixadone if you are allergic to risperidone or any ingredients in the medicine. Signs of allergy include skin rash, itching, shortness of breath, and/or swollen face. Don’t take it after the expiry date or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have heart or blood vessel problems, including high or low blood pressure, stroke, dehydration, kidney or liver problems, Parkinson’s disease, dementia or Lewy body dementia, epilepsy, restlessness, eye problems, history of suicide, low blood potassium or sugar, breast cancer, pituitary gland disease, diabetes, tardive dyskinesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, blood clots, or low white cell count. Special caution is needed if you have heart problems, particularly irregular heart rhythm or abnormalities in electrical activity of the heart.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will advise whether you should take Rixadone. Shaking, muscle stiffness, and difficulty feeding may occur in newborns if a mother uses the medicine in the last trimester of pregnancy. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine, as Rixadone is excreted into breast milk.
Elderly Patients With Dementia: There is an increased risk of side effects or death in elderly people if frusemide is also taken with Rixadone. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice sudden weakness, numbness, or slurred speech.
Drug Interactions
Rixadone can interact with many other medicines, potentially affecting how well they work or increasing side effects. Always tell your healthcare providers that you’re taking Rixadone.
- Diuretics like frusemide (increased risk of side effects or death in elderly)
- Psychostimulants like methylphenidate
- Sleeping tablets, tranquillisers, pain-killers, antihistamines
- Antibiotics like rifampicin
- Carbamazepine (may decrease risperidone levels)
- Anti-fungals like itraconazole and ketoconazole
- Medicines for Parkinson’s disease or tremor
- Medicines for epilepsy
- Antidepressants (fluoxetine and paroxetine may increase risperidone levels)
- Heart or blood pressure medicines
- Medicines for pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder
- Other medicines for mental illness
- Medicines to relieve severe nausea and vomiting
Alcohol & Driving
Rixadone can affect your ability to drive safely and can increase the effects of alcohol. Take precautions until you know how this medication affects you.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking Rixadone. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol, making you more drowsy or dizzy.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Rixadone affects you. It may cause dizziness or light-headedness, especially after the first dose. Make sure you know how you react before driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that could be dangerous if you feel dizzy.
Temperature Regulation
Tell your doctor immediately if you develop fever or abnormally high body temperature, as these may be serious side effects requiring urgent medical attention.
Storage
Keep Rixadone oral solution in its original pack until it’s time to take it. Store in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. After opening, discard the solution after 4 months. Don’t store in the bathroom, near a sink, on a window sill, or in the car, as heat and dampness can destroy the medicine. Keep out of reach of children – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above ground is ideal. Don’t use past the expiry date or if the solution’s appearance has changed.
Overdose Information
If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Rixadone, immediately call your doctor, the Poisons Information Centre (Australia – 13 11 26), or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if there are no signs of discomfort. You may need urgent medical attention. Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, excessive trembling, muscle stiffness, increased heart rate, very low blood pressure causing fainting, or unconsciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The time it takes for Rixadone to work varies depending on your condition and individual response. Your doctor will gradually adjust your dose to find what works best for you. It’s important to keep taking the medicine even if you feel well, as it helps control your condition but doesn’t cure it.
Yes, you can take Rixadone either with meals or between meals. The oral solution can be mixed with non-alcoholic drinks like mineral water, orange juice, coffee, or milk, but do not use tea.
No, Rixadone is not addictive. However, you should not stop taking it or change the dosage without checking with your doctor first.
Do not stop taking Rixadone without checking with your doctor. The medication helps control your condition, and stopping suddenly could cause your symptoms to return. Your doctor will advise you on how to safely discontinue the medication if needed.
No, you should not drink alcohol while taking Rixadone. The medication can increase the effects of alcohol, making you more drowsy or dizzy, which could be dangerous.
Yes, weight gain is a possible side effect of Rixadone. Your doctor may recommend eating a moderate diet and avoiding excessive eating to help manage this potential side effect.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose when scheduled. Don’t double up on doses. If there’s still a long time before your next dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you forget for 5 days or more, contact your doctor before restarting.
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.