Low Oxygen Saturation During Risperidone Therapy: A Multispecialty Approach

Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic medication commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults. Risperidone therapy is not typically associated with low oxygen saturation. However, recurrent severe acute respiratory distress and acute eosinophilic pneumonia have been documented during risperidone treatment, accompanied by low oxygen saturation and requiring respiratory support. There is a paucity of literature describing low oxygen saturation without acute respiratory compromise during risperidone therapy. Therefore, we present a rare case of low oxygen saturation in a patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and variant hemoglobin (elevated HbA₂) on risperidone therapy, who exhibited no respiratory compromise.