Risperdal vs. Zyprexa

• Are Risperdal and Zyprexa the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Risperdal? (Side effects)
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Zyprexa? (Side effects)
• What is Risperdal? (Uses)
• What is Zyprexa? (Uses)
• What Drugs Interact with Risperdal? (Interactions)
• What Drugs Interact with Zyprexa? (Interactions)
• How Should Risperdal Be Taken? (Dosage)
• How Should Zyprexa Be Taken? (Dosage)

Risperdal (risperidone) and Zyprexa (olanzapine) are antipsychotic drugs prescribed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar mania.

Risperdal is also used to treat autism.

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).

Common side effects of Zyprexa include:

• akathisia (an inability to sit still),
• constipation,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• restlessness,
• weight gain (more likely in teenagers),
• increased appetite,
• memory problems,
• stomach pain or upset,
• loss of bladder control,
• back pain,
• pain in your arms or legs,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• breast swelling or discharge (in women or men),
• dry mouth, or
• missed menstrual periods.

Risperdal (risperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic prescribed to treat:

• schizophrenia,
• bipolar mania,
• and autism.

Zyprexa (alprazolam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders and the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety in adults. Zyprexa is also indicated for the treatment of panic disorder in adults with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia).

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.

Zyprexa 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, rifampin, or medicines used to treat Parkinson's Disease.

Zyprexa may also interact with heart or blood pressure medications, diazepam, olanzapine, fluvoxamine, or omeprazole.

Risperdal dose ranges from 0.5 mg to 8mg/day.

Oral Zyprexa should be administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals, generally beginning with a 5 to 10 mg initial dose, with a target dose of 10 mg/day within several days.