Risperidone 1 Mg/Ml Oral Solution
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Risperidone 1 mg/ml oral solution
Risperidone
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet,
_please tell your doctor or pharmacist. See section 4._
In this leaflet:
1. WHAT RISPERIDONE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
2. What you need to know before you take RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM
3. How to take RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM is and what it is used for
Risperidone belongs to a group of medicines called ‘anti-psychotics’.
Risperidone is used to treat the following:
• Schizophrenia, where you may see, hear or feel things that are not there, believe things that are not true or feel unusually suspicious, or confused
• Mania, where you may feel very excited, elated, agitated, enthusiastic or hyperactive Mania occurs in an illness called “bipolar disorder”
• Short-term treatment (up to 6 weeks) of long-term aggression in people with Alzheimer’s dementia, who harm themselves or others. Alternative (non-drug) treatments should have been used previously
• Short-term treatment (up to 6 weeks) of long-term, aggression in intellectually disabled children (at least 5 years of age) and adolescents with conduct disorder.
RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM can help alleviate the symptoms of your disease and stop your
symptoms from coming back.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE RISPERIDONE
Do not take Risperidone if:
• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to risperidone or any of the other ingredients of Risperidone (listed in Section 6 below).
If you are not sure if the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using
Risperidone.
Take special care with Risperidone
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Risperidone if:
• You have a heart problem. Examples include an irregular heart rhythm or if you are prone to low blood pressure or if you are using medicines for your blood pressure. Risperidone may cause low blood pressure. Your dose may need to be adjusted
• You know of any factors which would favour you having a stroke, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disorder or blood vessel problems in the brain
• You or someone else in your family has a history of blood clots, as antipsychotics have been associated with formation of blood clots
• You have Parkinson’s disease or dementia
• You know that you have had low levels of white blood cells in the past (which may or may not have been caused by other medicines)
• You are diabetic
• You have epilepsy
• You are a man and you have ever had a prolonged or painful erection If you experience this while taking Risperidone, contact your doctor straight away
• You have problems controlling your body temperature or overheating
• You have kidney problems
• You have liver problems
• You have an abnormally high level of the hormone prolactin in your blood or if you have a possible prolactin-dependent tumour.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience
• involuntary rhythmic movements of the tongue, mouth and face. Withdrawal of risperidone may be needed
• fever, severe muscle stiffness, sweating or a lowered level of consciousness (a disorder called “neuroleptic malignant syndrome). Immediate medical treatment may be needed.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Risperidone.
As dangerously low numbers of a certain type of white blood cell needed to fight infection in your blood has been seen very rarely with patients taking RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM, your doctor may check your white blood cell counts.
Risperidone may cause you to gain weight.
During an operation on the eye for cloudiness of the lens (cataract), the pupil (the black circle in the middle of your eye) may not increase in size as needed. Also, the iris (the coloured part of the eye) may become floppy during surgery and that may lead to eye damage. If you are planning to have an operation on your eye, make sure you tell your eye doctor that you are taking this medicine.
Elderly people with dementia
In elderly patients with dementia, there is an increased risk of stroke. You should not take risperidone if you have dementia caused by stroke.
During treatment with risperidone you should frequently see your doctor.
Medical treatment should be sought straight away if you or your care-giver notice a sudden change in your mental state or sudden weakness or numbness of your face, arms or legs, especially on one side, or slurred speech, even for a short period of time. These may be signs of a stroke.
RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM taken by itself or with furosemide, may have an increased risk of stroke or death in elderly people with dementia.
Children and adolescents
Before treatment is started in conduct disorder, other causes of aggressive behaviour should have been ruled out.
If during treatment with risperidone tiredness occurs, a change in the time of administration might improve attention difficulties.
Before treatment is started your, or your child’s body weight may be measured and it may be regularly monitored during treatment.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines.
It is especially important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
• Medicines that work on your brain such as to help you calm down (benzodiazepines) or some medicines for pain (opiates), medicines for allergy (some antihistamines), as risperidone may increase the sedative effect of all of these
• Medicines that may change the electrical activity of your heart, such as medicines for malaria, heart rhythm problems (such as quinidine), allergies (anti-histamines), some antidepressants or other medicines for mental problems
• Medicines that cause a slow heart beat
• Medicines that cause low blood potassium (e.g. certain diuretics)
• Medicines to treat elevated blood pressure. Risperidone can lower blood pressure
• Medicines for Parkinson's disease (such as levodopa)
• Water tablets (diuretics) used for heart problems or swelling of parts of your body due to a build up of too much fluid (such as furosemide or chlorothiazide). Risperidone taken by itself or with furosemide, may have an increased risk of stroke or death in elderly people with dementia.
The following medicines may reduce the effect of risperidone
• Rifampicin (a medicine for treating some infections)
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin (medicines for epilepsy)
• Phenobarbital
If you start or stop taking such medicines you may need a different dose of risperidone.
The following medicines may increase the effect of risperidone
• Quinidine (used for certain types of heart disease)
• Antidepressants such as paroxetine, fluoxetines, tricyclic antidepressants
• Medicines known as beta blockers (used to treat high blood pressure)
• Phenothiazines (e.g. used to treat psychosis or to calm down)
• Cimetidine, ranitidine (blockers of the acidity of stomach)
If you start or stop taking such medicines you may need a different dose of risperidone.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Risperidone.
Taking Risperidone with food and alcohol
You can take this medicine with or without food. You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking RISPERIDONE.
Pregnancy, and breast feeding and fertility
• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine .Your doctor will decide if you can take it
• Shaking, muscle stiffness and problems feeding, all of which are reversible, have been seen in newborn babies when Risperidone was used during the last trimester of pregnancy.
• RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM can raise your levels of a hormone called “prolactin” that may impact fertility (see 4. “Possible side effects”).
Driving and using machines
Dizziness, tiredness, and vision problems may occur during treatment with Risperidone. Do not drive or use any tools or machines without talking to your doctor first.
3.
HOW TO TAKE RISPERIDONE
The recommended dose is as follows:
For the treatment of schizophrenia Adults
• The usual starting dose is 2 mg per day, this may be increased to 4 mg per day on the second day
• Your dose may then be adjusted by your doctor depending on how you respond to the treatment
• Most people feel better with daily doses of 4 to 6 mg
• This total daily dose can be divided into either one or two doses a day. Your doctor will tell you which is the best for you.
Elderly people
• Your starting dose will normally be 0.5 mg twice a day
• Your dose may then be gradually increased by your doctor to 1 mg to 2 mg twice a day
• Your doctor will tell you which is the best for you.
For the treatment of mania Adults
• Your starting dose will usually be 2 mg once a day
• Your dose may then be gradually adjusted by your doctor depending on how you respond to the treatment
• Most people feel better with doses of 1 to 6 mg once a day.
Elderly people
• Your starting dose will usually be 0.5 mg twice a day
• Your dose may then be gradually adjusted by your doctor to 1 mg to 2 mg twice a day depending on how much you respond to the treatment.
For the treatment of long-standing aggression in people with Alzheimer’s dementia Adults (including elderly people)
• Your starting dose will normally be 0.25 mg twice a day
• Your dose may then be gradually adjusted by your doctor depending on how you respond to the treatment
• Most people feel better with 0.5 mg twice a day. Some patients may need 1 mg twice a day
• Treatment duration in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia should be not more than 6 weeks. Use in children and adolescents
Children and adolescents under 18 years old should not be treated with RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM for schizophrenia or mania.
For the treatment of conduct disorder
The dose will depend on your child’s weight:
For children who weigh less than 50 kg
• The starting dose will normally be 0.25 mg once a day
• The dose may be increased every other day in steps of 0.25 mg per day.
• The usual maintenance dose is 0.25 mg to 0.75 mg once a day.
For children who weigh 50 kg or more
• The starting dose will normally be 0.5 mg once a day
• The dose may be increased every other day in steps of 0.5 mg per day.
• The usual maintenance dose is 0.5 mg to 1.5 mg once a day.
Treatment duration in patients with conduct disorder should be not more than 6 weeks.
Children under 5 years old should not be treated with Risperidone for conduct disorder.
People with kidney or liver problems
Regardless of the disease to be treated, all starting doses and following doses of risperidone should be halved. Dose increases should be slower in these patients. Risperidone should be used with caution in this patient group.
The solution comes with a syringe (pipette). This should be used to help you measure the exact amount of medicine you need.
Follow these steps:
1. Remove the child-proof cap. Push the plastic screw cap down while turning it counter clockwise (Figure 1)
2. 30 ml and 100 ml bottle: Insert the syringe into the bottle through the hole of the adaptor (which supports syringe during the filling) (Figure 2)
60 ml and 120 ml bottle: Insert the syringe into the bottle (Figure 2)
3. While holding the bottom ring, pull the top ring up to the mark that corresponds to the number of millilitres or milligrams you need to take (Figure 2)
4. Holding the bottom ring, remove the entire syringe from the bottle (Figure 3)
5. Empty the syringe into any non-alcoholic drink, except for tea. Slide the upper ring down
6. Close the bottle
7. Rinse the syringe with some water
The outer carton also contains a pipette holder that can be used to store the pipette. On the side of the pipette holder that is curved inwards, there is an adhesive surface which can be attached to the bottle. Remove the protective foil from the adhesive surface (Figure 4). Now press the adhesive surface of the pipette holder (with the large opening facing upwards) onto the lower part of the bottle. The cleaned pipette can now be inserted into the pipette holder (Figure 5).
If you take more Risperidone than you should
• See a doctor right away. Take the medicine pack with you
• In case of overdose you may feel sleepy or tired, or have abnormal body movements, problems standing and walking, feel dizzy due to low blood pressure, or have abnormal heartbeats or fits.
If you forget to take Risperidone
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue as usual. If you miss two or more doses, contact your doctor
• Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose
If you stop taking Risperidone
You should not stop taking this medicine unless told to do so by your doctor. Your symptoms may
return. If your doctor decides to stop this medicine, your dose may be decreased gradually over a few
days.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Risperidone can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Very common: Common: Uncommon: Rare:
Very rare:
Not known:
Figure 5
affects more than 1 user in 10
affects 1 to 10 users in 100
affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000
affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000
affects less than 1 user in 10,000
frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.
The following side effects may happen:
Very Common (affects more than 1 user in 10):
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
• Parkinsonism: this condition may include: slow or impaired movement, sensation of stiffness or tightness of the muscles (making your movements jerky), and sometimes even a sensation of movement “freezing up” and then restarting. Other signs of parkinsonism include a slow shuffling walk, a tremor while at rest, increased saliva and/or drooling, and a loss of expression on the face.
• Feeling sleepy, or less alert.
• Headache
Common (affects 1 to 10 users in 100):
• Pneumonia,infection of the chest (bronchitis), common cold symptoms, sinus infection, urinary tract infection, ear infection, feeling like you have the flu.
Muscle spasm, involuntary movements of face or arms and legs, joint pain, back pain, swelling of arms and legs, pain in arms and legsRISPERIDON RATIOPHARM can raise your levels of a hormone called “prolactin” found on a blood test (which may or may not cause symptoms). When symptoms of high prolactin occur, they may include in men breast swelling, difficulty in getting or maintaining erections, or other sexual dysfunction. In women they may include breast discomfort, leakage of milk from the breasts, missed menstrual periods, or other problems with your cycle.
• Weight gain, increased appetite, decreased appetite.
• Sleep disorder, irritability, depression, anxiety, restlessness.
• Dystonia: this is a condition involving slow or sustained involuntary contraction of muscles. While it can involve any part of the body (and may result in abnormal posture), dystonia often involves muscles of the face, including abnormal movements of the eyes, mouth, tongue or jaw.
• Dizziness.
• Dyskinesia: this is a condition involving involuntary muscle movements, and can include
repetitive, spastic or writhing movements, or twitching.
• Tremor (shaking).
• Blurry vision, eye infection or “pink eye”.
• Rapid heart rate, high blood pressure.
• Shortness of breath, sore throat, cough, nosebleeds, stuffy nose.
• Abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth, toothache.
• Rash, skin redness
• Muscle spasms, bone or muscle ache, back pain, joint pain.
• Incontinence (lack of control) of urine.
• Swelling of the body, arms or legs, fever, chest pain, weakness, fatigue (tiredness), pain.
• Fall.
Uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000):
• Infection of the breathing passages, bladder infection, ‘eye infection, tonsillitis, fungal of the nails, infection of the skin, an infection confined to a single area of skin or part of the body, viral infection, skin inflammation caused by mites.
• Decrease in the type of white blood cells that help to protect you against infection white blood cell count decreased decrease in platelets (blood cells that help you stop bleeding), anemia, decrease in red blood cells, increase in eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in your blood.
• Diabetes or worsening of diabetes, high blood sugar, excessive drinking of water.
Weight loss, loss of appetite resulting in malnutrition and low body weight.
• Increased cholesterol in your blood.
• Elated mood (mania), confusion, decreased sexual drive, nervousness, nightmares.
• Tardive dyskinesia (twitching or jerking movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other parts of your body). Tell your doctor immediately, if you experience involuntary rhythmic movements of the tongue, mouth and face. Withdrawal of RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM may be needed.
• Sudden loss of blood supply to brain (stroke or “mini” stroke).
• Unresponsive to stimuli, loss of consciousness, low level of consciousness.
• Convulsion (fits), fainting.
• A restless urge to move parts of your body, balance disorder, abnormal coordination, dizziness upon standing, disturbance in attention, problems with speech, loss or abnormal sense of taste, reduced sensation of skin to pain and touch, a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness skin.
• Oversensitivity of the eyes to light, dry eye, increased tears, redness of the eyes.
• Sensation of spinning (vertigo), ringing in the ears, ear pain.
• Atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm), an interruption in conduction between the upper and lower parts of the heart, abnormal electrical conduction of the heart, prolongation of the QT interval from your heart, slow heart rate, abnormal electrical tracing of the heart (electrocardiogram or ECG), a fluttering or pounding feeling in your chest (palpitations).
• Low blood pressure, low blood pressure upon standing (consequently, some people taking
RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM may feel faint, dizzy, or may pass out when they stand up or sit up suddenly), flushing.
• Pneumonia caused by inhaling food, lung congestion, congestion of breathing passages, crackly lung sounds, wheezing, voice disorder, breathing passage disorder.
• Stomach or intestinal infection, stool incontinence, very hard stool, difficulty swallowing, excessive passing of gas or wind.
• Hives (or “nettle rash”), itching, hair loss, thickening of skin, eczema, dry skin, skin discoloration, acne, flaky/itchy scalp or skin, skin disorder, skin lesion.
• An increase of CPK (creatine phosphokinase) in your blood, an enzyme which is sometimes released with muscle breakdown.
• Abnormal posture, joint stiffness, joint swelling, muscle weakness, neck pain.
• Frequent passing of urine, inability to pass urine, pain when passing urine.
• Erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder.
• Loss of menstrual periods, missed menstrual periods or other problems with your cycle (females).
• Development of breasts in men, leakage of milk from the breasts, sexual dysfunction, breast pain, breast discomfort, vaginal discharge.
• Swelling of the face, mouth, eyes, or lips.
• Chills, an increase in body temperature.
• A change in the way you walk.
• Feeling thirsty, feeling unwell, chest discomfort, feeling “out of sorts”, discomfort.
• Increased liver transaminases in your blood, increased GGT (a liver enzyme called gamma-glutamyltransferase) in your blood, increased liver enzymes in your blood.
• Procedural pain.
Rare (affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000):
• Infection..
• Inappropriate secretion of a hormone that controls urine volume
• Sugar in the urine, low blood sugar, high blood triglycerides (a fat).
• Lack of emotion, inability to reach orgasm.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (confusion, reduced or loss of consciousness, high fever, and severe muscle stiffness).
• Blood vessel problems in the brain.
• Coma due to uncontrolled diabetes
Glaucoma (increased pressure within the eyeball), problems with movement of your eyes, eye rolling, eyelid margin crusting.
• Eye problems during cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, a condition called intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) can happen if you take or have taken RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM. If you need to have cataract surgery, be sure to tell your eye doctor if you take or have taken this medicine.
• Dangerously low numbers of a certain type of white blood cell needed to fight infection in your blood.
• Severe allergic reaction characterised by fever, swollen mouth, face, lip or tongue, shortness of breath, itching, skin rash and sometimes drop in blood pressure.
• Dangerously excessive intake of water.
• Irregular heart beat.
• Blood clot in the legs, blood clot in the lungs.
• Trouble breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), fast/shallow breathing.
• Inflammation of the pancreas, a blockage in the bowels.
• Swollen tongue, chapped lips, rash on skin related to drug.
• Dandruff.
• Breakdown of muscle fibers and pain in muscles (rhabdomyolysis).
• A delay in menstrual periods, enlargement of the glands in your breasts, breast enlargement, discharge from the breasts.
• Increased insulin (a hormone that controls blood sugar levels) in your blood.
• Priapism (a prolonged penile erection that may require surgical treatment).
• Hardening of the skin.
• Decreased body temperature, a decrease in body temperature, coldness in arms and legs.
• Symptoms of drug withdrawal
• Yellowing of the skin and the eyes (jaundice).
Very rare (affects less than 1 user in 10,000):
• Life threatening complications of uncontrolled diabetes.
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data):
• Serious allergic reaction with swelling that may involve the throat and lead to difficulty breathing
• Blood clots in the veins especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain and redness in the leg), which may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty in breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms seek medical advice immediately.
The following side effect has have been seen with the use another medicine called paliperidone that is very similar to risperidone, so these can also be expected with RISPERIDON RATIOPHARM: rapid heartbeat upon standing.
Additional side effects in children and adolescents
In general, side effects in children are expected to be similar to those in adults.
The following side effects were reported more often in children and adolescents (5 to 17 years) than in adults: feeling sleepy, or less alert, fatigue (tiredness), headache, increased appetite, vomiting, common cold symptoms, nasal congestion, abdominal pain, dizziness, cough, fever, tremor (shaking), diarrhoea, and incontinence (lack of control) of urine.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE RISPERIDONE
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Risperidone after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle and the outer carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not freeze.
The product will keep for 6 months after first opening.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION What Risperidone contains
The active substance is risperidone.
1 ml oral solution contains 1 mg risperidone.
The other ingredients are:
Benzoic acid (E210), tartaric acid and purified water.
What Risperidone looks like and contents of the pack
A clear, colourless oral solution.
Bottles of 30 ml, 60 ml, 100 ml and 120 ml.
30 ml: Brown glass bottle with an adaptor and a 3 ml/mg syringe (pipette) graduated at every 0.05 ml/mg.
60 ml: Brown glass bottle with a 3 ml/mg syringe (pipette) graduated at every 0.05 ml/mg.
100 ml: Brown glass bottle with an adaptor and a 3 ml/mg syringe (pipette) graduated at every 0.05 ml/mg.
120 ml: Brown glass bottle with a 4 ml/mg syringe (pipette) graduated at every 0.25 ml/mg.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder:
ratiopharm GmbH, Graf-Arco-Str.3, D-89079 Ulm, Germany.
Manufacturer:
Merckle GmbH, Ludwig-Merckle-Str.3, D-89143 Blaubeuren, Germany.