Alteration in the recommended dosing schedule for risperidone.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal was to study the recommended dose schedule for risperidone.


METHODS
They obtained computerized pharmacy data on 1,283 inpatients with the diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were treated with risperidone. Continuance on risperidone was defined as remaining on the drug for 16 days or until discharge.


RESULTS
The majority of the patients (84%) continued on resperidone. Use of the recommended dose schedule decreased greatly over time. Patients were more likely to continue on risperidone if they had a higher maximum dose (5.7 mg/day versus 4.7 mg/day), a longer number of days to maximum dose (5.7 days versus 3.9 days), and a maximum rise in dose of 0.5-2 mg/day.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the recommended dose schedule should be altered to one that recommends a less rapid titration (over 6 days to a week) and that the dose increments consist of 0.5-2 mg/day.
Luchins
D J
DJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA. danl@yoda.bad.uchicago.edu
Klass
D
D
Hanrahan
P
P
Malan
R
R
Harris
J
J
D000328:Adult; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D018967:Risperidone