Requip, Risperdal Warning Issued Over Possible Medication Mistakes

Due to a similar name and similar packaging, hundreds of people have confused the drugs Requip and Risperdal, leading to medication errors and patients being hospitalized, federal drug regulators warned this week. 

The FDA issued a drug safety warning on Monday, to alert the public and health care professionals about the potential risk of confusion over the Parkinson’s disease drug Requip and the antipsychotic medication Risperdal.

At least 226 medication error reports have been received by the FDA where someone mistook one drug for the other, 5 of which resulted in patients being hospitalized. In one case from outside of the U.S., a patient was given Risperdal for a month when they were supposed to be taking Requip. They died shortly after being switched to Requip, but it is unclear whether the medication error played a role in their death.

Learn More About

Risperdal Lawsuits

Side effects of Risperdal linked to risk of breast growth among young boys, or gynecomastia.

Risperdal (risperidone) is manufactured by Janssen, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen, which is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The atypical antipsychotic is approved by FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism, but it is commonly used among elderly with dementia and sometimes as a form of chemical restraint in nursing homes.

Requip (ropinirole) is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and available as a generic. It is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease as well as Restless Leg Syndrome.

In addition to having similar brand names, the drugs also have similar generic names. However, the FDA says that confusion between the two drugs goes beyond name similarity. They also are both tablets, both taken daily or twice daily, and have similar dosage strengths.

Some Requip and Risperdal prescription errors came from unclear handwritten prescriptions, and the FDA also says it’s likely that the drugs are placed very close to each other on many pharmacy shelves.

Adverse events reported in connection with Requip and Risperdal drug errors include confusion, lethargy, ataxia, hallucinations, fatigue, dizziness, tingling, numbness and altered mental status.

The FDA is looking at a number of measures to prevent confusion between the two drugs, including changes to the labeling that makes it easier to distinguish one from the other. In the meantime, doctors are being warned to write prescriptions clearly and spell out the name prescribing over the telephone. Pharmacists are advised to separate these drugs from one another in their stores, and confirm the drug name when a prescription is unclear.

Patients are encouraged to check the name on the label of very medication bottle and make sure it is what they were prescribed. They should know the purpose and name of any drugs they are prescribed and ask questions if the pharmacist gives them something different than what they expected.

1 Comments

  • MarciaJanuary 26, 2013 at 1:00 am

    I was Dx: w/ Parkinsons Disease 3/2005. The 1st drug i was presribed was Requip & have been on it for 8 yrs. Since beginning the drug ,I developed OCD's. Compulsive shopping has depleted all my earnings,it's been a long down ward spiral. I also obssess in other areas. I am a RN & never had any of these problems before this RX. It has destroyed many relationships,torn my family apart to nam[Show More]I was Dx: w/ Parkinsons Disease 3/2005. The 1st drug i was presribed was Requip & have been on it for 8 yrs. Since beginning the drug ,I developed OCD's. Compulsive shopping has depleted all my earnings,it's been a long down ward spiral. I also obssess in other areas. I am a RN & never had any of these problems before this RX. It has destroyed many relationships,torn my family apart to name a few>

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Silicosis Lawsuit Filed Against Artificial Stone Manufacturers, Distributors
Silicosis Lawsuit Filed Against Artificial Stone Manufacturers, Distributors (Posted today)

An artificial stone countertop fabricator and installer has filed a lawsuit after he developed a debilitating lung disease, known as silicosis, alleging that manufacturers failed to protect workers from inhaling dangerous amounts of silica dust.

BioZorb Lawsuit Indicates Recalled Tissue Marker Migrated After It Failed To Absorb, Resulting in Severe Pain and Surgical Removal
BioZorb Lawsuit Indicates Recalled Tissue Marker Migrated After It Failed To Absorb, Resulting in Severe Pain and Surgical Removal (Posted 4 days ago)

Days after the FDA announced a BioZorb recall, an Arkansas woman has filed a lawsuit, indicating that her BioZorb tissue marker migrated out of position, causing pain and disfigurement, instead of harmlessly absorbing into the body as advertised.