Active ingredient
Risperidone is a prescription drug from the group of atypical neuroleptics. In Germany it is marketed under the trade name Risperdal®, among others. It is called atypical because Risperidone is said to have fewer side effects on certain nerve tracts in the spinal cord (extrapyramidal motor system) than other neuroleptics. In addition, memory and concentration should be better when treated with atypical neuroleptics than when treated with classic neuroleptics. Thus, the efficacy profile of atypical neuroleptics is in part more favorable.
Field of application
Risperidone is used to treat psychiatric disorders. The main focus is on the treatment of severe and chronic schizophrenia, in which the affected persons suffer from hallucinations and persecution mania, among other things. In addition, it is effective in the therapy of pathological exaggeration (mania), obsessive-compulsive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders. Risperidone is approved for the short-term treatment (maximum 6 weeks) of people with Alzheimer’s dementia who show highly aggressive behaviour towards themselves and their environment. Risperidone can also be used for short-term treatment in children with behavioral disorders (from the age of at least 5 years).
Mode of action
Risperidone acts on special receptors in the brain, which are normally excited by messenger substances (neurotransmitters) and are responsible for mental health and vegetative functions. Risperidone primarily has an inhibitory effect on serotonin receptors. These receptors are particularly responsible for mental dysregulation in the brain.
By attacking the receptors, Risperidone can reduce their effect and attenuate the psychological symptoms. Furthermore, Risperidone has an inhibitory effect on dopamine receptors. Dopamine is a messenger substance that, among other things, conveys feelings of happiness and activates the reward center.
However, if there is too much dopamine in the brain, psychosis and schizophrenia can develop. Risperidone helps to bring the dopamine level back to normal and thus reduce mental dysfunction. Finally, Risperidone also blocks adrenoceptors and histamine receptors. Thus it has a blood pressure-lowering effect, among other things. Risperidone has a positive effect on the patients’ self-control, aggressive behaviour is reduced.
