Mechanism of Action for Risperdal (Risperidone)

Receptor Interactions and Clinical Implications

• The significant α-noradrenergic antagonism of risperidone contributes to its effectiveness in treating various types of hallucinations 1
• The balanced serotonin-dopamine antagonism of risperidone results in decreased occurrence of extrapyramidal side effects compared to traditional neuroleptics, though risperidone appears more likely to produce extrapyramidal symptoms than other atypical agents 2
• The H1 histaminergic receptor antagonism of risperidone contributes to sedation and somnolence, while α1 adrenergic antagonism can cause orthostatic hypotension 2
• The mechanism of risperidone does not appear to be fundamentally altered by intellectual disability, though children with intellectual developmental disorder may show increased sensitivity to side effects 3