As with many types of prescription medications, the combination of taking Risperdal and alcohol can result in serious and even fatal medical conditions. Before your healthcare provider prescribes you Risperdal, you should advise him or her of your typical alcohol intake, and the potential side effects of mixing Risperdal and alcohol. Unfortunately, although Risperdal may be effective in treating some symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as symptoms of autism in children, there are many serious side effects of which you should be aware before beginning to take Risperdal. Some patients taking Risperdal, particularly for off-label uses such as dementia in older patients, have developed life-threatening and often irreversible medical conditions. As a result, many lawsuits have been filed against Risperdal's manufacturer nationwide, claiming that the manufacturer failed to warns patients of potentially deadly interactions, as well as the dangers of using Risperdal to treat certain off-label uses.