Risperidone Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Risperidone (Risperdal) is an antipsychotic medication. It’s approved for schizophrenia and bipolar mania in adults and adolescents. It’s also approved to treat irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder in children.

Here, we’ll look at the different forms of risperidone that are available. We’ll also review the recommended risperidone dosages for adults and children.

What dosage forms does risperidone come in?

Risperidone is available in a variety of dosage forms, including an oral tablet, oral solution, and an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT). The available doses and forms are listed below:

If needed, you can mix the oral solution in the following liquids before drinking it:

• Water

• Coffee

• Orange juice

• Low-fat milk

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You shouldn’t mix the solution with soda, tea, or other liquids not on this list. And you should only use a dosing syringe meant for medication to measure the liquid — a household teaspoon won’t measure it properly.

There are also injectable forms of risperidone. They’re injected into the muscle (Risperdal Consta and Rykindo) or under the skin (Perseris). But we won’t be discussing injectable dosage forms in this article, as they’re given by a healthcare provider in a medical office.

What’s the typical risperidone dosage for adults?

The typical dosage of risperidone depends on what you’re taking it for. Keep in mind that your healthcare provider may recommend a different dosage than what’s listed below. In this case, it’s best to follow their instructions.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that can cause hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thinking. The recommended risperidone dosage for schizophrenia in adults is 4 mg to 8 mg per day. It can be taken once a day or divided into two doses.

But you’ll likely start with a lower dosage of 2 mg per day. From there, your healthcare provider may have you increase your dose by 1 mg to 2 mg per day to the recommended dose. There should be at least 24 hours between every dosage change. The maximum recommended dosage is 16 mg per day.

Bipolar mania

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that leads to extreme mood swings. In people suffering from bipolar 1 disorder, this includes periods of mania. The recommended risperidone dosage for bipolar mania in adults is 1 mg to 6 mg per day.

You’ll likely start taking 2 mg or 3 mg per day. Your healthcare provider may then adjust your dose by 1 mg per day to a maximum of 6 mg per day. There should be at least 24 hours between dose changes.

What’s the typical risperidone dosage for children and adolescents?

Risperidone is also approved for children and adolescents. Keep in mind that the oral solution or ODT dosage forms may be better options for children who can’t swallow tablets.

Sometimes, once daily dosing of risperidone causes too much drowsiness in children. If this happens, you can divide the dose in half and take it twice a day instead.

Schizophrenia

Risperidone is approved for schizophrenia in adolescents from 13 to 17 years of age at a target dose of 3 mg per day.

In most cases, teens will start at a lower dosage of 0.5 mg per day. Their healthcare provider may then increase the dose by 0.5 mg to 1 mg daily to the recommended dose of 3 mg per day. Higher doses are sometimes needed, but shouldn’t go over 6 mg per day. There should be at least 24 hours between each change in dosage.

Bipolar mania

For bipolar mania in children and adolescents ages 10 to 17 years, the target risperidone dosage is 1 mg to 2.5 mg per day.

It’s recommended to start with a lower risperidone dosage of 0.5 mg by mouth once daily. From there, your child’s healthcare provider may raise the dose by 0.5 mg to 1 mg per day to the target dose of 1 mg to 2.5 mg per day. There should be at least 24 hours between dosage changes, and the maximum recommended dose is 6 mg per day.

Irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder, also simply referred to as “autism,” is a group of developmental disorders that can affect the way a person behaves and interacts with others. Some people living with autism may experience aggressive or self-harming behaviors. The medical term for this is “irritability associated with autistic disorder.”

Risperidone is approved to treat irritability associated with autism in children and adolescents ages 5 to 17 years old. The target risperidone dosage is 0.5 mg or 1 mg per day and is based on body weight. The following dosing schedule is recommended:

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

If you have other medical conditions, you may need a different risperidone dosage. Be sure your healthcare provider knows about any other health conditions you may have. Other medications may also affect your risperidone dosage. So it’s a good idea to keep an updated medication list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking. Your healthcare provider and pharmacist can use it to look for any potential interactions that may require a change to your risperidone dosage.

Dosage for people with liver or kidney problems

Most people with liver or kidney problems can still safely take risperidone. But if your liver or kidney problems are severe, a lower starting dosage is recommended.

The initial risperidone dosage for adults with severe liver or kidney problems is 0.5 mg by mouth twice daily. After that, you can increase your dose following the regular schedule up to 3 mg per day (1.5 mg twice a day). After that, it’s best to wait at least a week between each further increase in dosage.

What happens if you miss a dose of risperidone?

If you miss a dose of risperidone, you take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your normal dosing schedule. Don’t take two doses at the same time unless your healthcare provider tells you to.

If you’re having trouble remembering to take your medication often, talk to your healthcare provider. Risperidone injections may be a better option for you.

What should you do if you take too much risperidone?

If you mistakenly take an extra dose of oral risperidone, it’s unlikely to cause serious problems. You may experience more side effects, such as drowsiness, a fast heartbeat, or feeling faint.

But taking large amounts of risperidone could cause more severe side effects. This may include an irregular heartbeat, seizures, or confusion.

If you or a loved one takes too much risperidone, it’s best to contact your healthcare provider right away or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. They can help manage your symptoms or direct you to emergency care if necessary.

How to save on risperidone

There are ways to save on risperidone, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic risperidone’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $9.00 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA, has been a pharmacist for 12 years. His first job was floating in a community chain pharmacy.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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