Difference between Risperidone and Seroquel
Perhaps it is the increased pressures of modern life that has caused the seeming increase in various mood related disorders. In any case, anxiety, depression, panic attacks and a host of other similar conditions have become part and parcel of modern life. However, there are ways by which sufferers can manage to live reasonably normal lives with the help of medications such as risperidone and seroquel. In this comparison article, we take a look at the characteristics of these drugs.
Profile
Risperidone is a medication that belongs to the second generation/atypical antipsychotic category of drugs.
Seroquel is a brand name of quetiapine manufactured by AstraZeneca. Quetiapine is also sold under the brand name Ketipinor by Orion Pharma. Like risperidone, it belongs to the atypical antipsychotic category of drugs.
Purpose
Risperidone is commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia, both in adults and in adolescents. It is also used in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder (both mixed and manic states), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and irritability in autistic children.
Seroquel is intended for use in the treatment of schizophrenia, acute bipolar disorder episodes (manic, mixed and/or depressive), and for depression and bipolar disorder, in which case it is used as as augmentor for maintenance treatment.
Side Effects
There are a number of side effects that have been linked with the use of both drugs. Users of risperidone may experience a significant amount of weight gain for instance, while others may experience akathisia, sedation, dysphoria, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction. Other common side effects are low blood pressure, high blood pressure, stiffness and pain in the muscles, tremors, increased saliva production, constipation, and stuffiness in the nasal passages. As with many antipsychotics drugs, risperidone may also cause hyperprolactinemia (which in turn may result in hypogonadism-related osteoporosis), galactorrhoea, gynaecomastia, sporadic menstruation, and sexual dysfunction.
As for seroquel, its side effects are just as varied and can be just as debilitating. One of the most common of these is somnolence, and users may also expect to experience side-effects such as sluggishness, fatigue, dry mouth, sore throat, dizziness, pain in the abdomen. Users may also suffer from constipation, upset stomach, a rapid decrease in blood pressure when standing up, sinus or pharynx inflammation and/or swelling, an increase in appetite, and significant increase in weight. While overdose can be a serious occurrence with seroquel use, causing coma and/or death, most people merely experience sedation, hypotension or tachycardia in the event of excessive seroquel consumption.
Summary
Risperidone
- Belongs to the second generation/atypical antipsychotic category of drugs
- Commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and in adolescents
- Also used in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and irritability in autistic children
- Common side effects are low blood pressure, high blood pressure, stiffness and pain in the muscles
Seroquel
- A brand name of quetiapine
- Belongs to the atypical antipsychotic category of drugs
- Intended for use in the treatment of schizophrenia, acute bipolar disorder episodes, and for depression and bipolar disorder
