Is there any information available on the use of this drug in people with restlessness and agitation from Alzheimers?
Risperidone is a fairly new drug which is used in agitated patients for sedation. Consequently, it is commonly used in Alzheimers patients when there is agitation. It is also used for any patient with agitation – usually demented or psychotic patients. Indeed, it is listed as an anti-psychotic drug. Like other drugs of its class, it may have fairly severe side effects. These include the neuroleptic malignant syndrome(a potentially fatal side effect involving rigidity, fever, and altered mental status), tardive dyskinesia(involuntary movements of the facial muscles-sometimes irreversible) as well as lowered blood pressure, seizures, and elevated prolactin levels. This drug has less sedative effects than some of its predecessors like Thorazine, but similar side effects.
