0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg film-coated tablets
risperidone
What Risperidone Orion is and what it is used for
Risperidone Orion belongs to the group of antipsychotic drugs.
Risperidone Orion is used to treating the following:
- schizophrenia, which can mean seeing, hearing, or feeling things that do not exist, thinking things that are not real or feeling unusually suspicious or confused.
- manic periods, which can mean that you feel very excited, elated, upset, enthusiastic, or overactive. Mania occurs in a disease called “bipolar disorder”.
- short-term treatment (up to 6 weeks) of long-term aggression in people with Alzheimer’s disease with dementia, which harms themselves or others. Alternative treatment without medication must have been tried before.
- short-term treatment (up to 6 weeks) of long-term aggression in children (at least 5 years old) with impaired intellectual ability and adolescents with behavioral disorders.
Risperidone Orion can help relieve the symptoms of your illness and prevent the symptoms from returning.
Risperidone contained in Risperidone Orion may also be approved for the treatment of other conditions not mentioned in this product information. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or another healthcare professional if you have any further questions, and always follow their instructions.
What you need to know before you use Risperidone Orion
Do not use Risperidone Orion
- if you are allergic to risperidone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Risperidone Orion.
Warnings and cautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Risperidone Orion if you:
- have heart problems. For example, it could be an irregular heartbeat or if you have a tendency to have low blood pressure, or if you are taking medication for your blood pressure. Risperidone Orion may cause low blood pressure. Your dose may need to be adjusted.
- know that you have a risk factor for strokes, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or problems with any blood vessel in the brain
- have ever experienced involuntary movements of the tongue, mouth, and face
- have ever had a condition where the symptoms include high body temperature, muscle stiffness, sweating, or decreased level of consciousness (also called malignant neuroleptic syndrome)
- have Parkinson’s disease or dementia
- know that you have had low levels of white blood cells before (this may or may not have been caused by other medicines)
- have diabetes
- have epilepsy
- is a man and has ever had a persistent or painful erection
- have problems controlling your body temperature or getting too hot
- have kidney problems
- have liver problems
- have abnormally high levels of the hormone et prolactin in your blood or if you have a tumor that may be prolactin dependent
- or someone in your family has had a blood clot in the past, as antipsychotics have been linked to blood clots.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Risperidone Orion.
In very rare cases, a dangerously low level of a certain type of white blood cell needed to fight infection in the blood has been seen in patients taking Risperidone Orion. Your doctor may check your white blood cell levels.
Risperidone Orion may cause weight gain. Significant weight gain can hurt your health. Your doctor should check your body weight regularly.
Because diabetes mellitus or worsening of existing diabetes mellitus has been seen in patients taking Risperidone Orion, your doctor should check for signs of high blood sugar. In patients with pre-existing diabetes mellitus, blood glucose should be monitored regularly.
It is common for Risperidone Orion to increase the levels of a hormone called “prolactin”.
This can lead to side effects such as menstrual disorders or fertility problems
in women, and swelling of the breasts in men (see Possible side effects). If such
side effects occur, an assessment of prolactin levels in the blood is recommended.
In cataract surgery ( cataract ), the pupil (the black circle in the middle of the eye) may not increase in size as much as needed. In addition, you can get reduced muscle tension in the iris (colored part of the eye) during the operation and it can lead to eye injuries. If you have an eye operation planned, you must inform your ophthalmologist that you are using this medicine.
Elderly people with dementia
Elderly patients with dementia are at greater risk of developing stroke. You should not use risperidone if you have dementia caused by a stroke. You should have regular contact with your doctor while you are being treated with risperidone.
Seek medical attention immediately if you or the person caring for you notice a sudden change in your mental state or if you suffer from sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side, or slurred speech, even if it is only short-lived. The enumerating symptoms may be signs of a stroke.
Children and young people
Before initiating treatment for a behavioral disorder, other causes of the aggressive behavior must have been ruled out.
If fatigue occurs during treatment with risperidone, a change in the timing of drug intake may result in improved attention span.
Before starting treatment, you or your child may be weighed and the weight may be monitored regularly during treatment.
A small and incomplete study has reported an increase in length in children who took
risperidone, but whether this is an effect of the drug or due to something else is unknown.
Other medicines and Risperidone Orion
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.
You must talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
- drugs that affect the brain, e.g. sedatives ( benzodiazepines ), certain painkillers (opiates), or allergy medicines (certain antihistamines ) as risperidone may increase the sedative effect of all these medicines.
- drugs that can affect the electrical activity of the heart, e.g. medicines for malaria, heart rhythm problems, allergies ( antihistamines ), certain medicines for depression or other medicines for mental problems
- drugs that cause slow heart rate/pulse
- drugs that reduce the level of potassium in the blood (eg certain diuretics)
- medicines for high blood pressure. Risperidone Orion may lower blood pressure.
- medicines for Parkinson’s disease (eg levodopa )
- diuretics are used for heart problems or swelling in parts of the body due to the accumulation of too much fluid (eg furosemide or chlorothiazide). Risperidone Orion taken separately or with furosemide may increase the risk of stroke or death in elderly people with dementia
- drugs that increase the activity of the central nervous system (psychostimulants such as methylphenidate).
The following medicines may reduce the effect of risperidone:
- rifampicin (a medicine used to treat certain infections )
- carbamazepine, phenytoin ( antiepileptic medicine )
- phenobarbital
- itraconazole and ketoconazole (medicines used to treat fungal infections)
- certain medicines used to treat HIV / AIDS, such as ritonavir
- verapamil, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure and/or abnormal heart rhythm
- sertraline and fluvoxamine, medicines used to treat depression and other psychiatric illnesses.
If you start or stop taking these medicines, you may need another dose of risperidone.
The following medicines may increase the effect of risperidone:
- quinidine (used in certain types of heart disease)
- antidepressants, such as paroxetine, fluoxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants
- drugs called beta-blockers (used to treat high blood pressure )
- phenothiazines (used, for example, to treat psychosis or as a sedative)
- cimetidine, ranitidine (counteracts stomach upset)
- itraconazole and ketoconazole (medicines used to treat fungal infections)
- certain medicines used to treat HIV / AIDS, such as ritonavir
- verapamil, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure and/or abnormal heart rhythm
- sertraline and fluvoxamine, medicines used to treat depression and other psychiatric illnesses.
If you start or stop taking these medicines, you may need another dose of risperidone.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Risperidone Orion.
Risperidone Orion with food, drink, and alcohol
You can take this medicine with or without food.
You should avoid drinking alcohol while using Risperidone Orion.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Your doctor will decide if you can take this medicine.
The following symptoms may occur in newborns of mothers who have used Risperidone Orion during the last trimester (the last three months of pregnancy): shaking, muscle stiffness and/or weakness, drowsiness, anxiety, difficulty breathing and difficulty eating. If your child has any of these symptoms, you may need to consult a doctor.
Risperidone Orion may increase your levels of a hormone called “prolactin” which may affect fertility (see “Possible side effects”).
Driving and using machines
Dizziness, fatigue, and vision problems may occur during treatment with Risperidone Orion. Do not drive or use any tools or machines without first talking to your doctor.
You are responsible for assessing whether you are fit to drive a motor vehicle or perform work that requires sharpened attention. One of the factors that can affect your ability in these respects is the use of drugs due to their effects and/or side effects. Descriptions of these effects and side effects can be found in other sections. Read all the information in this leaflet for guidance. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Risperidone Orion contains lactose
Risperidone Orion film-coated tablets contain lactose monohydrate 24 mg
(0.5 mg tablets), 48 mg (1 mg tablets), 95 mg (2 mg tablets), 143 mg (3 mg tablets) and 190 mg (4 mg tablets). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Risperidone Orion 2 mg tablets contain para-orange (E110)
Risperidone Orion 2 mg film-coated tablets contain para-orange (E110), which may cause allergic reactions.
Other ingredients
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per tablet, ie essentially ‘sodium-free’.
How to use Risperidone Orion
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
You should swallow the tablet with a glass of water. 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg tablets can be divided into equal doses. The 0.5 mg tablet cannot be divided. Other products should be used for a dose of 0.25 mg or dose increases of 0.25 mg.
Recommended dose:
Treatment of schizophrenia
Adults
- The usual starting dose is 2 mg per day. This can be increased to 4 mg per day during the second day.
- Dose one can then be regulated by your doctor depending on how you respond to the treatment.
- Most people feel better with daily doses ranging from 4 to 6 mg.
- This total daily dose can be divided into either 1 or 2 doses per day. Your doctor will tell you which is best for you.
Elderly
- The starting dose is usually 0.5 mg twice a day.
- Your doctor may then gradually increase the dose you should take to 1 to 2 mg twice daily.
- Your doctor will tell you which is best for you.
Treatment of mania
Adults
- The starting dose is usually 2 mg once a day.
- Your doctor can then gradually adjust the dose depending on how you respond to the treatment.
- Most people feel better with daily doses ranging from 1 to 6 mg.
Elderly
- The starting dose is usually 0.5 mg twice a day.
- Your doctor may then gradually adjust the dose from 1 to 1 mg to 2 mg twice daily, depending on how you respond to treatment.
Treatment of long-term aggression in people with Alzheimer’s disease
Adults (including the elderly)
- The starting dose is usually 0.25 mg twice daily.
- Your doctor can then gradually adjust the dose depending on how you respond to the treatment.
- Most people feel better with a dose of 0.5 mg twice daily. Some patients may need 1 mg twice daily.
- The duration of treatment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease should not exceed 6 weeks.
Use for children and adolescents
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age should not be treated with Risperidone Orion for schizophrenia or mania.
Treatment of conduct disorder
Dosage one depends on how much your child weighs:
Children weighing less than 50 kg
- The starting dose is usually 0.25 mg once a day.
- Dose one can be increased every other day by 0.25 mg per day.
- The usual maintenance dose is 0.25 mg to 0.75 mg once a day.
Children weighing 50 kg or more
- The starting dose is usually 0.5 mg once a day.
- Dose one can be increased every other day by 0.5 mg per day.
- The usual maintenance dose is 0.5 mg to 1.5 mg once a day.
The treatment time in patients with behavioral disorders should not exceed 6 weeks.
Children under 5 years of age should not be treated with Risperidone Orion for behavioral disorders.
People with kidney or liver problems
Regardless of the disease being treated, all starting doses and subsequent doses of risperidone should be halved. Dose increases should be slower in these patients.
Risperidone should be used with caution in this patient population.
If you take more Risperidone Orion than you should
If you have ingested too much medicine or if e.g. a child has ingested the medicine by mistake, contact a doctor or hospital for risk assessment and advice.
Seek medical attention immediately. Take the medicine pack with you.
If you have taken an overdose, you may feel sleepy or tired, you may have abnormal body movements or problems with standing and walking, you may feel dizzy due to low blood pressure and you may also have abnormal heartbeats or seizures.
If you forget to use Risperidone Orion
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for you to take the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue as usual. If you miss two or more doses, contact your doctor. Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to compensate for a missed dose.
If you stop taking Risperidone Orion
You should not stop taking this medicine unless you have been asked to do so by your doctor. If you stop treatment, your symptoms may return. If your doctor decides to stop the treatment, it can be done by gradually reducing the dose over a few days.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor immediately if you get any of the following less common side effects (which may affect up to 1 in 100 people ):
- have dementia and experience a sudden mental change or sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side, or slurred speech, even for a short period. This may be a sign of a stroke.
- experiencing tardive dyskinesia (involuntary jerking movements of the face, tongue, or other parts of the body). Tell your doctor immediately if you experience involuntary rhythmic movements in the tongue, mouth, or face. Treatment with Risperidone Orion may need to be stopped.
Tell your doctor immediately if you get any of the following rare side effects (which may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people ):
- get blood clots, especially in the legs (symptoms are swelling, pain, and redness on the legs), which can move through the blood vessels to the lungs and cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
- experiencing fever, muscle stiffness, sweating, or decreased consciousness (a condition called “malignant neuroleptic syndrome”). Immediate medical treatment may be needed.
- is a man and experiences persistent and painful erections. This is called priapism. Immediate medical treatment may be needed.
- experiencing a severe allergic reaction with fever, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, shortness of breath, itching, rash, or drop in blood pressure.
The following side effects may occur:
Very common ( may affect more than 1 user in 10 ):
- difficulty falling asleep or sleeping without interruption
- Parkinsonism: this condition can include slow or impaired mobility, feeling tense or stiff muscles (which make your movements jerky), and sometimes even a feeling that the movement stops and then resumes. Other signs of parkinsonism include slow procrastination, tremors at rest, increased salivation and/or drooling, and a lack of facial expressions.
- drowsiness or less alert
- headache.
Common ( may affect up to 1 in 10 people used ) :
- pneumonia, respiratory tract infection ( bronchitis ), cold symptoms, sinusitis, urinary tract infection, ear infection, flu-like sensation
- Risperidone Orion may increase your levels of a hormone called “prolactin” which is seen with a blood test (this may or may not cause symptoms). When symptoms of high prolactin levels occur in men, it may include swollen breasts, difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, decreased sex drive, or other sexual dysfunction. In women, the symptoms can be breast discomfort, milk leakage, missed periods or other problems with the menstrual cycle, or fertility problems.
- weight gain, increased appetite, decreased appetite
- sleep disturbance, irritation, depression, anxiety, restlessness
- dystonia: this is a condition that involves slow or persistent involuntary muscle contractions. Dystonia can affect any part of the body (and lead to an abnormal posture) but often affects the muscles of the face, including abnormal movements of the eyes, mouth, tongue, or jaw
- dizziness
- dyskinesia: this is a condition that involves involuntary muscle movements and may include repeated, convulsive or distorted movements or twitches.
- tremor (tremors)
- blurred vision, an eye infection, or red eyes
- fast heart rate, high blood pressure, shortness of breath
- sore throat, cough, nosebleeds, nasal congestion
- abdominal discomfort or pain, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth, toothache
- skin rash, redness of the skin
- muscle twitching, skeletal or muscle aches, back pain, joint pain
- urinary incontinence
- swelling in the body, arms or legs, fever, chest pain, weakness, fatigue, pain
- case.
Uncommon ( may affect up to 1 in 100 people ):
- respiratory tract infection, bladder infection, eye infection, tonsillitis, nail fungus, skin infection, an infection confined to a single area of the skin or part of the body, viral infection, dermatitis caused by mites
- decrease in the type of white blood cells that help protect you from infection, decrease in white blood cell count, decrease in platelets ( blood cells help to stop bleeding), anemia, decrease in red blood cells, increase in eosinophils (a type of white blood cell ) in the blood
- allergic reaction
- diabetes or worsening diabetes, high blood sugar, excessive water drinking
- weight loss, loss of appetite with malnutrition, and low body weight
- increased cholesterol in your blood
- exhilarated mood (mania), confusion, decreased sexual desire, nervousness, nightmares
- lack of response to stimuli, loss of consciousness, low level of consciousness
- seizures, fainting
- a restless need to touch parts of the body, balance disorders, abnormal coordination, dizziness when standing up, attention difficulties, speech difficulties, loss of taste or abnormal taste experience, decreased sensation in the skin for touch and pain, irritating or stinging sensation or numbness in the skin
- hypersensitivity to light, dry eyes, increased tear flow, red eyes
- the feeling of spinning (dizziness), ringing in the ears, ear pain
- atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm), disturbance in the conduction between the upper and lower parts of the heart, abnormal electrical conduction in the heart, prolonged QT interval from the heart, low pulse, an abnormal electrical signal in the heart ( electrocardiogram or ECG ), a fluttering or throbbing sensation in the chest (palpitations)
- low blood pressure, low blood pressure when you get up (consequently some people who use Risperidone Orion may feel weak, dizzy, or faint when they suddenly stand up or sit up), flushing (feeling hot and reddened in the skin)
- pneumonia due to inhalation of food narrowed airways, obstruction (congestion) in the airways, crackling breathing sounds, wheezing, voice disturbance, disturbance in the respiratory tract
- gastrointestinal infection, stool incontinence, very hard stools, difficulty swallowing, increased flatulence
- rash ( hives ), itching, hair loss, thickening of the skin, eczema, dry skin, discoloration of the skin acne, flaking, itchy scalp or skin, skin disease, skin changes
- increase in creatine phosphokinase in the blood, an enzyme that is sometimes released during muscle breakdown
- abnormal posture, joint stiffness, joint swelling, muscle weakness, neck pain
- frequent urination, inability to urinate, the pain of urination
- erection difficulties, ejaculation disorder (ejaculation)
- loss of menstruation missed periods, or other problems with the menstrual cycle (women)
- breast development in men, milk leakage from the breasts, sexual dysfunction, breast pain, discomfort from the breasts, discharge from the abdomen
- swelling of the face, mouth, eyes, or lips
- chills, increase in body temperature
- change in the way of walking
- – feeling thirsty, feeling sick, feeling uncomfortable in the chest, feeling of being “out of the thread”, discomfort
- – increased levels of liver transaminases in the blood, increased gamma-GT (a liver enzyme called gamma-glutamyltransferase) in the blood, increased levels of liver enzymes in the blood
- pain during treatment.
Rare ( may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people ) :
- infection
- abnormal secretion of a hormone that controls urine volume
- sleepwalking
- sleep-related eating disorder
- sugar in the urine, low blood sugar, high triglycerides in the blood (a type of blood fat)
- lack of emotion, inability to orgasm
- immobility and lack of reactivity in the awake state (catatonia)
- problems with the blood vessels in the brain
- coma due to uncontrolled diabetes
- head tremors
- glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye), problems with eye movements, rolling of the eyes, ulceration at the edge of the eyelid
- eye problems during cataract surgery ( cataract ). During cataract surgery, a condition called “Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS)” may occur if you use or have used Risperidone Orion. If you are going to have cataract surgery, you must inform your ophthalmologist that you are using or have used this medicine.
- dangerously low levels of a certain type of white blood cell needed to protect you from infection in the blood
- dangerously excessive intake of water
- irregular heartbeats
- difficult to breathe during sleep ( sleep apnea ), rapid shallow breathing
- inflammation of the pancreas, a blockage in the intestines
- swollen tongue, chapped lips, rash related to drug use
- dandruff
- degradation of muscle fibers and pain in muscles ( rhabdomyolysis )
- delay of menstrual periods, enlargement of the mammary glands, breast enlargement, secretion from the breasts
- increased insulin levels in your blood (a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels)
- hardening of the skin
- lowered body temperature, cold in arms and legs
- withdrawal symptoms of drugs
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
Very rare ( may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people ):
- life-threatening complications of poorly regulated diabetes
- severe allergic reaction with swelling that may include the throat and lead to breathing difficulties
- absence of bowel movements that cause blockages.
The following side effect has been seen with the use of another drug called paliperidone which is very similar to risperidone, so it can also be expected when treated with Risperidone Orion: palpitations when standing up.
Additional side effects in children and adolescents
In general, side effects in children tend to be similar to side effects in adults. The following side effects have been reported more frequently in children and adolescents (5 to 17 years) than in adults: feeling sleepy, or less alert, lethargy (tiredness), headache, increased appetite, vomiting, general cold symptoms, nasal congestion, abdominal pain, dizziness, cough, fever, tremor (shaking), diarrhea, and urinary incontinence (lack of control).
How to store Risperidone Orion
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25 ° C.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Contents of the package and other information
Content declaration
– The active substance is risperidone, of which one tablet contains 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, or 4 mg risperidone.
– The other ingredients in the tablet core are lactose monohydrate, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose, sodium lauryl sulfate, anhydrous colloidal silica, and magnesium stearate.
Other ingredients in the film coating are hypromellose, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (E 171), and talc. In addition: 0.5 mg tablet contains red iron oxide (E 172), 2 mg tablet contains para-orange (E 110), 3 mg tablet contains quinoline yellow (E 104) and 4 mg tablet contains indigo carmine (E 132) and quinoline yellow (E 104).
What the medicine looks like and the contents of the pack
Risperidone Orion 0.5 mg: a brownish-red, round, film-coated tablet. The tablet can not be shared.
Risperidone Orion 1 mg: a white, biconvex, oblong, film-coated tablet with a notch on one side. The tablet can be divided into two equal doses.
Risperidone Orion 2 mg: a light orange, biconvex, oblong, film-coated tablet with a notch on one side. The tablet can be divided into two equal doses.
Risperidone Orion 3 mg: a light yellow, biconvex, oblong, film-coated tablet with a notch on one side. The tablet can be divided into two equal doses.
Risperidone Orion 4 mg: a green, biconvex, oblong, film-coated tablet with a notch on one side. The tablet can be divided into two equal doses.
Risperidone Orion film-coated tablets are supplied in blister packs or HDPE jars with child-resistant lids with induction sealing. The HDPE can contain a desiccant (silica gel capsule).
Blister packs:
0.5 mg: 20 tablets
1 mg: 20 and 60 tablets
2 mg: 60 tablets
3 mg: 60 tablets
4 mg: 60 tablets
HDPE can:
0.5 mg: 100 tablets
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland
Manufacturer
Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland
Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Joensuunkatu 7
FI-24100 Salo
Finland
For further information on this medicine, please contact your local representative:
Orion Pharma AB, Danderyd
medinfo@orionpharma.com