Risperidone For Alzheimer's Disease

    Risperidone is an antipsychotic drug used to treat delusions,hallucinations, and agitation. Risperidone is more effective than haloperidol, a traditional antipsychotic drug [174]. Risperidone also causes far less extrapyramidal side effects, compared with haloperidol [175-176].
    Risperidone is given in doses of 0.25 to 2.5 milligrams daily. In one study, alzheimer patients who were highly aggressive and violent, were effectively calmed, without sedation, when they were given up to 2.5 milligrams of risperidone daily [177]. Approximately 64 percent of all demented patients show decreases in agitation and anxiety with doses as low as 0.25 to 0.5 milligrams of risperidone daily [178].
    Risperidone does have side effects. At doses greater than 1 milligram daily, the following side effects have been noted: insomnia, agitation, headache, tremors, dizziness, constipation, and rapid heartbeat . Sedation is experienced by less than 2 percent of patients [179]. Risperidone can also cause peripheral edema [180].

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