Risperdal vs. Abilify
Are Risperdal and Abilify the Same Thing?
Risperdal (risperidone) and Abilify (aripiprazole) are antipsychotic drugs prescribed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and autism.
Abilify is also used to treat depression and some irritable behavior disorders.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Risperdal?
Common side effects of Risperdal include:
- extrapyramidal effects (sudden, often jerky, involuntary motions of the head, neck, arms, body, or eyes),
- dizziness,
- tiredness,
- drowsiness,
- fatigue,
- fever,
- weight gain,
- feeling hot or cold,
- headache,
- dry mouth,
- increased appetite,
- restlessness,
- anxiety,
- sleep problems (insomnia),
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- stomach pain,
- constipation,
- cough,
- sore throat,
- runny or stuffy nose,
- or skin rash.
Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Risperdal including difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms, shaking (tremor), mental/mood changes, or signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat).
What Are Possible Side Effects of Abilify?
Common side effects of Abilify include:
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- drowsiness
- weakness
- lightheadedness
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach upset
- tiredness
- excess saliva or drooling
- choking or trouble swallowing
- blurred vision
- headache
- anxiety
- weight gain
- drowsiness
- sleep problems (insomnia)
- constipation
Suicidal thoughts are may occur in some patients, especially children, teens, and young adults. Tell your doctor if this occurs. Other serious side effects of Abilify include:
What is Risperdal?
Risperdal (risperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic prescribed to treat:
- schizophrenia,
- bipolar mania,
- and autism.
What is Abilify?
Abilify (aripiprazole) is a psychotropic drug (antipsychotic) that alters brain chemical activity used to treat schizophrenia, mania, depression, bipolar disorders, autistic disorder, and some irritable behavior disorders.
What Drugs Interact With Risperdal?
Risperdal may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), carbamazepine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, or rifampin.
Risperdal may also interact with cimetidine, ranitidine, clozapine, valproic acid, or medicines used to treat Parkinson's Disease.
What Drugs Interact With Abilify?
Abilify may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), carbamazepine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, or rifampin.
Abilify may also interact with medications to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition, rifabutin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, quinidine, or fluvoxamine.
How Should Risperdal Be Taken?
Risperdal dose ranges from 0.5 mg to 8mg/day.
How Should Abilify Be Taken?
Abilify is available in tablet, orally disintegrating tablets, oral solution and injectable formulations. Dosage is variable and depends on multiple factors such as the ongoing mental problem, patient age, and other factors to be determined by the prescribing doctor. Abilify has been used in the pediatric population but such use should be discussed with a pediatric specialist.