Letting babysitters administer liquid risperidone a recipe for overdose errors, TGA warns
A majority of the overdoses involved children receiving 10 times the prescribed dose, the TGA said.
A series of accidental liquid risperidone overdoses in children last year often involved babysitters or extended family members administering the antipsychotic, the TGA has warned.
Of 22 paediatric oral risperidone overdoses reported in 2024, the watchdog says most involved children who received 10 times the prescribed dose, such as 5mL instead of 0.5mL.
No patient died, but the TGA has mandated that suppliers update the drug information with clearer instructions, including visual aids.
“Paediatric patients are more susceptible to side effects, meaning even a slight overdose of risperidone can cause serious adverse reactions,” said the warning, published on Tuesday.
