Oral mucositis induced by risperidone: rare side effect of a frequently prescribed medication

Risperidone is a safe second-generation antipsychotic which is rarely associated with the emergence of a few adverse effects, such as oral lesions and stomatitis. We report the case of a 77-year-old woman affected by a neurocognitive disorder with psychotic features and treated with risperidone 2 mg/day. After 1 week, she showed a burning mouth syndrome with oral lesions and risperidone was discontinued. Antipsychotic-induced oral ulcerations may be caused by the reduction of saliva protection with minor adverse effects related to oral movement disorders or impairment of the bacterial flora of saliva.