{"id":52560,"date":"2022-07-12T12:30:32","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T16:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=52560"},"modified":"2026-01-16T13:28:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T18:28:02","slug":"risperidone-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/risperidone-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Risperidone alternatives: What can I take instead of risperidone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Risperidone<\/span><\/a> is a generic prescription medication that\u2019s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of <\/span>schizophrenia<\/span><\/a>, bipolar mania, and irritability associated with <\/span>autism<\/span><\/a>. Risperidone is sometimes used <\/span>off-label,<\/span><\/a> meaning without an FDA indication, for Tourette syndrome, aggression in patients with dementia, <\/span>obsessive-compulsive disorder<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>major depressive disorder<\/span><\/a>, and other psychiatric conditions. The brand-name version of risperidone is <\/span>Risperdal<\/span><\/a>. While risperidone and Risperdal are effective for improving psychotic symptoms, they may also cause bothersome <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>. Fortunately, other antipsychotic medications are available for patients seeking a risperidone alternative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of risperidone?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Risperidone belongs to a class of medications called <\/span>atypical antipsychotics<\/span><\/a>, also known as second-generation antipsychotics. These antipsychotic drugs help regulate <\/span>mood<\/span><\/a> and behavior by balancing levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Patients who don\u2019t tolerate risperidone may want to try a different antipsychotic under the guidance of a healthcare provider. When choosing an alternative, it\u2019s important to consider the indication, dosage, side effects, and formulation of the medication. The table below outlines common risperidone alternatives based on some of these considerations. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Compare risperidone alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nCoupons<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Risperidone<\/b><\/td>\nSchizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism<\/span><\/td>\nSchizophrenia and bipolar disorder: starting dose is 0.5-2 mg per day\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Irritability associated with autism: starting dose is 0.25-0.5 mg per day, depending on weight<\/span><\/td>\n

Risperidone coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abilify (aripiprazole)<\/b><\/td>\nSchizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, irritability associated with autism, Tourette\u2019s disorder<\/span><\/td>\nSchizophrenia and bipolar disorder: 10-15 mg once daily\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Major depressive disorder, irritability associated with autism, and Tourette\u2019s disorder: 2 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\n

Abilify coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Haloperidol<\/b><\/td>\nPsychotic disorders, Tourette\u2019s disorder, severe behavioral disorders, and hyperactivity in children<\/span><\/td>\nAdults: 0.5-2 mg twice or three times daily<\/span><\/p>\n

Children: 0.05 mg per kilogram of body weight per day<\/span><\/td>\n

Haloperidol coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Invega (paliperidone)<\/b><\/td>\nSchizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder<\/span><\/td>\n3-6 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nInvega coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seroquel (quetiapine)<\/b><\/td>\nSchizophrenia, bipolar disorder<\/span><\/td>\nStarting dose is 25 mg twice daily and gradually increased<\/span><\/td>\nSeroquel coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zyprexa (olanzapine)<\/b><\/td>\nSchizophrenia, bipolar disorder, treatment-resistant depression<\/span><\/td>\n5-20 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nZyprexa coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\t\t