risperidone (Uzedy)
Brands: UZEDY
Last reviewed 2025-12-30
Reviewed by PsychMed Editorial Team.
Quick answers
What is risperidone (Uzedy)?
Uzedy is a long-acting subcutaneous risperidone formulation with monthly or every-2-month dosing options for schizophrenia maintenance. It is often considered when relapse risk is driven by inconsistent daily dosing and a scheduled injection cadence is preferred.
What is UZEDY?
UZEDY is a brand name for risperidone (Uzedy).
What is UZEDY (risperidone (Uzedy)) used for?
Label indications include: Schizophrenia (maintenance treatment).
What drug class is UZEDY (risperidone (Uzedy))?
Long-acting injectable antipsychotic.
What is the mechanism of action of UZEDY (risperidone (Uzedy))?
Subcutaneous long-acting risperidone depot with monthly or every-2-month dosing options (D2/5-HT2A antagonist) intended for schizophrenia maintenance when scheduled injections support adherence.
What strengths does UZEDY (risperidone (Uzedy)) come in?
Subcutaneous long-acting depot injection administered monthly or every 2 months (interval depends on selected dose).
Is UZEDY (risperidone (Uzedy)) a controlled substance?
No — it is not scheduled as a controlled substance under U.S. federal law.
Snapshot
- Class: Long-acting injectable antipsychotic
- Common US brands: UZEDY
- Long-acting injectable formulation available.
- Therapeutic drug monitoring not routinely recommended.
- Last reviewed: 2025-12-30
Clinical Highlights
Uzedy is a long-acting subcutaneous risperidone formulation with monthly or every-2-month dosing options for schizophrenia maintenance. It is often considered when relapse risk is driven by inconsistent daily dosing and a scheduled injection cadence is preferred. This page focuses on Uzedy. For oral risperidone (broader labeled indications) and for other LAI options derived from risperidone or paliperidone, see the risperidone overview, the paliperidone overview, and the LAI Navigator.
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- Pharmacology mirrors risperidone/paliperidone-class D2/5-HT2A blockade: prolactin elevation and EPS can be limiting, and metabolic monitoring remains important. Depot options are often selected based on interval preference and clinic workflow.
- Label describes a subcutaneous depot with two absorption peaks and steady state approached within ~2 months. The mean apparent half-life is ~14–22 days, reflecting prolonged release and absorption.
- The compare view can help compare depot options; the evidence feed tracks curated reading for this formulation.
- Schizophrenia (adults): long-acting maintenance formulation.
Dosing & Formulations
Subcutaneous depot injection administered either monthly or every 2 months (interval depends on selected dose). Confirm injection technique and interval in product labeling and local protocols. Dose selection is individualized and label-based, typically guided by the established effective oral risperidone dose. Conversion tables and missed-dose guidance should be verified in the product label.
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- Oral tolerability is typically established before switching to depot therapy. Because depot release is prolonged, dose adjustments may take multiple injection cycles to fully assess.
Monitoring & Risks
Boxed warning: increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (antipsychotic class warning). Prolactin elevation is common and can present as sexual dysfunction, menstrual changes, galactorrhea, or bone health concerns; monitoring is typically symptom-driven.
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- EPS and akathisia can occur, especially at higher doses or with polypharmacy; routine movement-disorder screening is part of follow-up.
- Metabolic monitoring remains standard (weight/BMI, lipids, glucose), as weight gain and cardiometabolic changes can occur over time.
- Injection-site reactions are a practical constraint for subcutaneous depots; rotating sites and documenting injection location help support tolerability.
Drug Interactions
Risperidone is metabolized by CYP2D6. Strong 2D6 inhibitors (some SSRIs) can raise risperidone exposure and adverse effects; review interaction profiles when adding antidepressants. Strong enzyme inducers can lower exposure and increase relapse risk. Depot dose adjustments are less “steerable” than with daily oral dosing.
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- Additive CNS depression and orthostasis can occur with sedatives, alcohol, or antihypertensives; clinical monitoring is individualized to baseline risk.
Practice Notes
Uzedy is a workflow-dependent medication: teams benefit from a standardized injection log (date, dose, site) plus a missed-dose algorithm so late injections do not silently become undertreatment. If using the every-2-month schedule, build reminders and a backup plan for missed visits; long gaps can increase relapse risk before there is an opportunity to adjust treatment day-to-day.
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- Longer intervals can reduce visit burden, but also extend the time to fully adjust if adverse effects or underdosing emerge; teams often weigh interval convenience against clinical “steerability.”
- Use the print handout for clinic workflows and the schizophrenia hub for relapse-prevention pathways.
Long-acting injectable (LAI) options
- Interval
- q4wk or q8wk (by dose)
- Oral overlap
- None after first injection (establish oral tolerability first)
- Injection site
- Subcutaneous (abdomen or back of arm)
- Notes
- Monthly and every-2-month schedules use different dose strengths (verify conversion tables in label)
References
- UZEDY prescribing information (DailyMed, 2025). — DailyMed (2025)
- RISPERDAL (risperidone) prescribing information — DailyMed (2025)
- The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia — American Psychiatric Association (2020)
- Comparative Efficacy AND Tolerability OF 15 Antipsychotic Drugs IN Schizophrenia: A Multiple Treatments Meta Analysis — The Lancet (2013)Meta-analysisschizophreniaefficacy
- AGNP Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Neuropsychopharmacology — Pharmacopsychiatry (2018)