The Effectiveness and Safety of Risperidone on Bipolar Disorders

Bahk, Won Myong; Lee, Kyoung Uk

Abstract

Bipolar disorders affect about 1-2.5% of the population. They are leading causes of disability and associated with significant health care costs. Antipsychotic medicaitons have a long history of use in bipolar disorders, for example, chlorpromazine has been used since early 1950s. Conventional antipsychotics are effective against mania, but it has some risks such as inducing depression, tardive dyskinesia. But atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine and olanzapine exhibit antimanic properties in addition to their antipsychotic properties with a far lower risk of extrapyramidal motor side effects than typcial neuroleptics. So they are now the antipsychotics of choice in the treatment of bipolar disorders. Risperidone is a serotonin-dopamine antagonist which was approved by FDA in 1994 and introduced into Korea in 1996. Risperidone appeared effective in controlling manic symptoms but also to have risks for inducing manic symptoms. Recent double-blind studies showed risperidone to be effective for acute mania, both as monotherapy and in combination with mood stabilizers. In summary, risperidone is considered as a mood stabilizer exhibiting both antimanic and antidepressant activity. Nowadays the use of aytpical antipsychotics including risperidone for treating patients with bipolar disorder has been increased. Mounting evidence supports its efficacy, low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects and tardive dyskinesia. With the advance of psychopharmacolgy, psychiatrists can have hope in treating bipolar patients.