Comprehensive medication guide to Uzedy including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 for eligible commercially insured patients enrolled in the Teva savings offer; Medicare Part B patients owe ~20% coinsurance after deductible; Medicaid coverage varies by state. Prior authorization is almost always required and typically takes 2–4 weeks.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$1,232–$3,080 per month (WAC/list price) depending on dose; no generic is available. Eligible commercially insured patients may pay as little as $0 through Teva's savings offer at 1-800-887-8100.
Medfinder Findability Score
55/100
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Uzedy is the brand name for risperidone extended-release injectable suspension for subcutaneous use, manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals in partnership with MedinCell. It is a long-acting injectable (LAI) atypical antipsychotic that delivers a steady release of risperidone over four to eight weeks using MedinCell's proprietary SteadyTeq™ polymer technology.
Uzedy is FDA-approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults (approved April 28, 2023) and for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy to lithium or valproate (approved October 10, 2025). It is available only as a brand-name product with no generic equivalent.
Unlike daily oral risperidone, Uzedy is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) in the abdomen or upper arm by a healthcare professional — either once monthly or once every two months. Therapeutic blood concentrations are reached within 6–24 hours of the first injection, eliminating the need for a loading dose or oral risperidone overlap period.
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Uzedy contains risperidone, an atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic that works by blocking specific receptors in the brain. It is a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist and a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist. By blocking excess dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway, risperidone reduces the positive symptoms of schizophrenia — including hallucinations and delusions. By modulating serotonin receptors, it also helps with mood stabilization and reduces the risk of movement-related side effects compared to older antipsychotics.
The extended-release mechanism relies on SteadyTeq™ polymer technology: risperidone is suspended in a biodegradable polymer matrix that slowly dissolves after subcutaneous injection, gradually releasing risperidone into the bloodstream over four to eight weeks. This provides stable, sustained therapeutic drug levels without the peaks and troughs associated with daily oral dosing.
A key pharmacokinetic advantage of Uzedy is its rapid onset: therapeutic concentrations are achieved within 6–24 hours of the first injection. This is faster than older LAI risperidone formulations (such as Risperdal Consta) that required weeks of oral overlap to establish adequate drug levels. The every-2-month dosing option is unique among risperidone LAIs, providing the longest dosing interval available for subcutaneous risperidone.
50 mg/0.14 mL — subcutaneous injectable suspension
Once monthly (q1M) — schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder
75 mg/0.21 mL — subcutaneous injectable suspension
Once monthly (q1M) — schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder
100 mg/0.28 mL — subcutaneous injectable suspension
Once monthly (q1M) or once every 2 months (q2M) — schizophrenia; 100 mg q1M for bipolar I disorder
125 mg/0.35 mL — subcutaneous injectable suspension
Once monthly (q1M) — schizophrenia only
150 mg/0.42 mL — subcutaneous injectable suspension
Once every 2 months (q2M) — schizophrenia only
200 mg/0.56 mL — subcutaneous injectable suspension
Once every 2 months (q2M) — schizophrenia only
250 mg/0.7 mL — subcutaneous injectable suspension
Once every 2 months (q2M) — schizophrenia only
Uzedy is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list. However, patients frequently report difficulty finding it at pharmacies. This is because Uzedy is a specialty injectable dispensed exclusively through specialty pharmacies and administered in clinical settings — it is not stocked at standard retail pharmacies. As a relatively new medication (approved 2023 for schizophrenia, 2025 for bipolar I disorder), its stocking footprint is still expanding.
Insurance prior authorization is almost always required and can take 2–4 weeks, adding to access delays. Patients in rural areas with fewer specialty pharmacies face greater challenges. Higher-dose formulations (150–250 mg) may be less consistently stocked than lower doses.
To find Uzedy at a pharmacy near you, medfinder calls pharmacies on your behalf and texts you the results. Teva Total Support (1-800-887-8100) can also help connect you with a specialty pharmacy that carries your specific Uzedy dose.
Uzedy is not a controlled substance, so it does not require special DEA scheduling registration to prescribe. Any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority can write a prescription for Uzedy. However, many insurance prior authorization requirements specify that Uzedy must be prescribed by or in consultation with a psychiatrist for the prior authorization to be approved.
Types of providers who typically prescribe Uzedy:
Psychiatrists (MD/DO)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs)
Physician Assistants (PAs) in psychiatric settings
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) in select cases
Neurologists (where clinically relevant)
Telehealth providers can prescribe Uzedy in states that permit non-controlled medication prescribing via telemedicine. However, the injection itself must be administered in person at a clinic, community mental health center, or specialty pharmacy. Use SAMHSA's findtreatment.gov or call Teva Total Support at 1-800-887-8100 to locate an Uzedy prescriber and administration site near you.
No. Uzedy (risperidone) is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Risperidone has no known abuse potential and does not produce euphoria or physical dependence. Any licensed prescriber can write a prescription for Uzedy without special DEA registration or scheduling restrictions.
Because Uzedy is not a controlled substance, it can be prescribed via telehealth in states that allow telemedicine prescribing of non-controlled medications. However, because Uzedy must be physically injected by a healthcare professional, patients will still need to visit a clinic or specialty pharmacy for each administration regardless of how the prescription is obtained.
The most common side effects reported in clinical trials include:
Slow movements, muscle stiffness, shaking (tremor), restlessness (akathisia)
Drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety
Weight gain, increased appetite
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, increased saliva
Injection site reactions — lump or itching at injection site
Blurred vision, rash, fatigue, cold symptoms
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): Rare but life-threatening. Symptoms: high fever, severe muscle rigidity, confusion, irregular heartbeat. Seek emergency care immediately.
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD): Involuntary repetitive movements of face/tongue/limbs. Can be permanent. Report immediately.
Metabolic changes: High blood sugar, high cholesterol, significant weight gain. Monitor with blood work.
Increased mortality in elderly with dementia-related psychosis (BLACK BOX WARNING). Uzedy is NOT approved for this use.
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Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate)
Once-monthly IM injection; paliperidone is the active metabolite of risperidone. No oral overlap required. More widely stocked than Uzedy.
Risperdal Consta (risperidone IM)
Biweekly intramuscular risperidone injection. Same active ingredient as Uzedy. More established with broader stocking; requires 3-week oral overlap.
Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole)
Once-monthly IM aripiprazole injection. Lower metabolic side effect profile (less weight gain). Requires 21-day oral overlap. Approved for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.
Perseris (risperidone SC)
Once-monthly subcutaneous risperidone injection. Same route as Uzedy. Available in 90 mg and 120 mg. No oral overlap required.
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Mavorixafor
majorContraindicated — strong CYP2D6 inhibitor that markedly increases risperidone exposure, raising risk of serious adverse effects.
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
moderateCYP2D6 inhibitor — increases risperidone blood levels. Uzedy dose reduction may be needed when fluoxetine is added.
Paroxetine (Paxil)
moderateCYP2D6 inhibitor — significantly increases risperidone levels. Dose adjustment may be required.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
moderateStrong CYP3A4 inducer — can reduce risperidone blood levels by 50% or more. Uzedy dose increase may be needed.
Opioids/Benzodiazepines (combined)
majorProfound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death risk when combined with CNS depressants. Use only when no alternative exists, with close monitoring.
QT-prolonging drugs
majorAdditive QT interval prolongation risk. Avoid combination with sotalol, amiodarone, azithromycin, and other QT-prolonging agents where possible.
Alcohol
moderateIncreases CNS depression and sedation. Avoid alcohol during Uzedy treatment.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
moderatePost-marketing reports of extrapyramidal symptoms when doses of either drug are changed. Use with close monitoring.
Uzedy represents a meaningful advance in long-acting injectable risperidone therapy: subcutaneous rather than intramuscular delivery, rapid onset without oral overlap, flexible dosing intervals including every-two-months for schizophrenia, and now an expanded indication for bipolar I disorder maintenance as of October 2025. For patients who have struggled with oral medication adherence, Uzedy's administration schedule can be life-changing.
The primary access challenges are structural rather than supply-related: Uzedy's specialty-only distribution model, prior authorization requirements, and brand-name cost can delay access. However, Teva Total Support (1-800-887-8100) provides robust support including benefits investigation, PA assistance, and savings program enrollment that can resolve most access barriers.
If you're having trouble finding Uzedy at a pharmacy near you, medfinder calls pharmacies on your behalf to check which ones can fill your prescription, then texts you the results — no hold music required.
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