Risperidone is one of the first of the new round of "atypical" antipsychotics. The 1st one was clozapine, which is good for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, but generally not a go to medication for most of us.

At low(ish) doses, risperidone is often quite effective and tolerable. Problems go up with the dosage, and once you go past 4-6mgs/daily or so, problems become much more frequent and much more severe.

I took 4mgs for a while, after being put in a hospital for "mania." It was OK. They made me take the dissolving tablets in the hospital. Tasted minty. Not great, but better than the Haldol they gave me on day 1 (shudder).

Hope things work out well for you. :-)