Doctors prescribe the generically named risperidone in the treatment of several types of psychoses. The medication can help people suffering from bipolar disorder as well as schizophrenia and mania. MayoClinic.com states the medication also may help autistic people with their irritability. The medicine, available as a solution or pill, can cause problems with senile dementia patients, so MayoClinic.com recommends against its use for those people. The medication also can cause some side effects in those who take it.
Speech Difficulties
Taking risperidone can induce problems in a person taking it that make it difficult for the person to speak. This same type of side effect can make it a problem when trying to swallow food, drinks or saliva. These forms of side effects classify as serious and require immediate medical intervention, MayoClinic.com reports.
Spasms
Risperidone also can cause the person to experience spasms of the muscles in the back, in the neck or in the face, as well as motions that twist the body as serious side effects of the drug. MayoClinic.com also states the person may experience tremors or shaking in the hands. Spasms also can lead to a sensation of weakness or stiffening in the legs. These side effects need immediate medical help.
Eye Problems
As risperidone works to reduce mental symptoms, it also can cause a serious common side effect in the person's eyes. Specifically, MayoClinic.com reports that the person may not feel able to move his eyes from side to side or up and down. This side effect may indicate a serious problem with the medicine exists for the person and he should seek immediate information about it from his physician.
Anxiety and Restlessness
Using risperidone also can result in non-serious side effects when the person begins treatment. It can, for example, make her feel overly anxious despite having no reason for the feeling. It also can make her feel restless, as though she needs to move and do something because of unexplained reasons. Drugs.com indicates these forms of side effects, while disconcerting, do not usually last beyond the acclimation period as the person becomes used to the medication. The organization does recommend asking a doctor about them if they occur severely or if they do not cease on their own.
Diarrhea and Constipation
Both diarrhea and constipation can happen to a person taking risperidone, although not at the same time. The person may get abdominal cramping effects that accompany diarrhea and constipation. Whether the medication causes the person to have loose stools or hardened, immovable stools, the side effects should stop without a doctor's intervention, Drugs.com indicates.
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