"Thirty-one patients (29 adult/adolescent, 2 pediatric) with reported risperidone overdose were identified. Risperidone was the sole ingestant in 15 cases (1 mg to 180 mg). The major observed effects in this group included lethargy (7), spasm/dystonia (3), hypotension (2), tachycardia (6), and dysrhythmia (1). Sixteen cases involved coingestants, including benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, ethanol, tricyclic antidepressants, lithium, anticonvulsants, diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, and anticholinergic agents. Major effects in these patients included lethargy (10), coma (1), seizure (1), tachycardia (7), bradycardia (1), hypotension (4), and a syndrome of muscle spasms, diaphoresis, and fever. Treatment provided for patients in this study included antiarrhythmics (1), diphenhydramine (2), anticonvulsant (1), vasopressor agent (1), endotracheal intubation/assisted ventilation (5), and supportive care. One patient who coingested imipramine died of medical complications. In the remaining patients, symptoms resolved with 24 hours in the majority, with all patients asymptomatic at 72 hours postingestion. These data show that risperidone toxicity manifests primarily as mild central nervous system effects and reversible neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects".
"Little is known about the lethal effects of the novel antipsychotic risperidone, despite the fact that it is now one of the most widely prescribed antipsychotics in North America. To date, only 1 death attributable to risperidone overdose has been reported".
"Ms. K., a 38 year old woman with a history of paranoid schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria,
was taking risperidone 4 mg/day and 20 mg/day citalopram due to depressive symptoms including
feelings of emptiness, sadness and suicidal ideation. After feeling guilty about being a burden for her
daughter, she was overcome by extreme suicidal ideation and swallowed a total of 1120 mg citalopram
(fifty six 20 mg tablets), 160 mg risperidone (eighty 2mg tablets) and 1500 mg paracetamol.
She was brought to emergency unit by her parents. There was approximately three hours between
ingestion and medical treatment. In her initial examination she was conscious, orientation to time,
person and place was intact and she could cooperate."
Hence, this is not a good way out. Fatality rates are very very small...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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