What should be avoided when taking risperidone?

When taking risperidone, there are several things that should be avoided or used with caution to minimize the risk of side effects or interactions with other substances:

  1. Alcohol: Drinking alcohol while taking risperidone can increase the risk of side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination.
  2. Other medications: Risperidone can interact with other medications, including certain antibiotics, antifungal medications, and antidepressants. It’s important to inform your healthcare provider of all medications you are taking to avoid potential interactions.
  3. Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice can interfere with the way the body metabolizes certain medications, including risperidone.
  4. Driving or operating machinery: Risperidone can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or impaired coordination, which can affect a person’s ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
  5. Smoking: Smoking can increase the rate at which the body metabolizes risperidone, which can lead to lower levels of the medication in the body and reduced effectiveness.
  6. Overheating: Risperidone can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, which can increase the risk of overheating in hot weather or during exercise.

It’s important to follow the instructions of your healthcare provider regarding the use of risperidone and any potential risks or interactions. If you have questions or concerns about the use of risperidone or any other medication, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider.


There are various forms of drugs available, such as tablets or liquids, and each may have a separate patient information leaflet (PIL) for different doses. It is important to refer to the PIL for the specific form and dose of the drug that you have been prescribed.

You can search for further information and PILs on websites such as:

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