Risperdal becomes first antipsychotic drug for teens

WASHINGTON Risperdal became the first atypical antipsychotic drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents, ages 13 to 17, and also for treatment of short-term manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorders in children ranging from ages 10 to 17.

In the treatment of schizophrenia, patients, (who were experiencing an episode of schizophrenia at the time) had fewer symptoms, including a decrease in hallucinations, delusional thinking, and all other symptoms of their illness. For the patients suffering from manic or mixed episodes, a decrease was also found in the patients symptoms including, their elevated mood and hyperactivity when on the drug.

Risperdal was first approved by the FDA in 1993 for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. The drug was later approved for the short-term treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults and the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder in children 5 to 16 years old.