I’m off Risperdal as of Today

October 8, 2007 by Astrid

Well, as of today, I’m officially off risperdal. I called the doctor’s assistant today. Since it’s been going quite well except for last Thursday, and I wasn’t stopping risperdal cause I didn’t need it but cause it wasn’t effective, the doctor agreed to have me quit taking it. Now, I’ll have to see how things go. The first few days are crucial, as withdrawal symptoms generally occur a few days after stopping risperdal. Well, we’ll see.

Posted in Medication, Personal, Psychiatry | Tagged Antipsychotics, Psychiatric Drugs, Risperdal | 99 Comments

99 Responses

on October 13, 2007 at 7:14 pm | Reply julian

hey, i dont know you or anything, but im telling you this: you need to stop taking risperdal right now. ive been searching google trying to find a way to cure my friend, but so far ive been unsuccessful. He started taking risperdal about 3 years ago, and took it for a period of 8 months to a year, he cant really remember. I knew him before he had ever taken it, and i can honestly say that he was a normal kid, but his parents always pissed him off, and he would end up beating the shit out of them, so they took him to a doctor that put him on risperdal for his anger management. Hes been off it for at least 2 years now, but he’s different, and i dont mean a little different, hes a different person entirely. It’s like his IQ is between dumb and retarded now, he always forgets things, his mind wanders aimlessly, i hate to say this but hes just…stupid now. In addition, he can no longer get angry which is what his parents wanted i suppose. but its to the point where i could punch him in the face repeatedly for no reason, and he would probably give me his crooked smile and say “why did you do that?” He didnt take anything else besides risperdal. this drug rewired his brain or something, it fucked him up and i think it may be permanent. ive been desperately trying to find some way to snap him out of this bullshit…i find myself getting angry at his stupidity but i know its not his fault, i just wish there was something i could do about it. just listen: STOP TAKING RISPERDAL TODAY. you will never be the same. i dont know why you were prescribed this but there must be some other way. you will never be the same if its too late.
- on April 23, 2011 at 11:44 am | Reply Sally Daniel
  
  A year ago my husband and I had a really big fall. We had the PERFECT fairytale marriage ever until he decided he wanted to share me with his best friend. My husband went from controlled drinking to OUT OF CONTROL sleeping for days drinking. When I fell in love with his best friend I fell into deep despair. Then he found out then we were seeing each other behind his back. When this happened I couldn’t stand the hurt I caused for him or the scrutiny I would go through for doing it. I made the decision to leave this place and to also leave my daughters. I don’t know how but I made it right … somehow I would make my beautiful babies lives better without such a screw up of a mother. My husband called 911 and they saved my life. I was put on risperdone. Now thinking back I can say that I remember only about a week of clarity after I got home. I think about how wonderful I want to be to my daughters…all the memories I want to build, BUT I am in a fog…I deep deep fog. When I try to cut back the medication the same insanity that hit me a year ago hits me again. PLEASE HELP ME GET OFF THIS MEDICINE…I want to be a good “checked in” mother. The rest of the world can kiss my ass but I have to be there for my babies…I have also been diagnosed with two brain aneurisms and will be having surgery in less than a week. I don’t know how much time I DO actually have with my girls but I want to make the best of what is gifted to me.
  - on October 27, 2011 at 6:58 pm Angela
    
    My son has been on this terrible drug for 10 years. As of four weeks ago he is off of it.It has taken 2 months to complete this mission. He said it is like someone has lifted the fog on him.
    You have to eat good healthy food,vegetables,salad and fruit three times a day. Drink water, give up smoking and alcohol . Try to give up diary and wheat.Take vitamin tablets and ensure that you are maintaining looking after yourself. It can be done and he is really doing well. There is hope and you can do this.
on October 13, 2007 at 7:17 pm | Reply julian

my email doesnt work….if you feel like responding to me ill check this site and see if you do…ask me anything you like about it ill tell you what i can
on May 3, 2008 at 3:05 am | Reply Latresa

I have a daughter ,she’s on Risperdal…..I rather have my kid back from before the risperdal.. I need help here…….
on May 8, 2008 at 9:36 pm | Reply Latresa

I always thought my daughter had a learning disability, not schizophrenia,how can a Doctor not run any test and just diagnose my 11 yr old w/ that? she is a very sweet kid and now she’s in a zombie state; do to this risperdal,she was not like this before the meds..I want my kid back from before she went to that Doctor. my e-mail is briscolatresa@yahoo.com…chicago……for comments or chat.
on February 13, 2009 at 2:11 am | Reply Melissa

I’ve been taking risperdal for only 3 weeks and I know that I’m messed up it’s so fucked up how doctors can just write a prescription for death I’m only 18 and I reccomend anybody who’s taking it to stop, I don’t want u to end up like me….I can’t think let alone cook I used to want to be a history teacher my brain can barely remember what I ate let alone history, please don’t let your children go on this please please please
on April 16, 2009 at 8:43 pm | Reply Shannon

I have been on Risperdal for about a month now and I have noticed though it does help the severity of my anger outbursts, it does not help one bit with irritibility. I am still irritated all the time just not to the same extent and I also have noticed what the previous people have said about zombieish states and stupidity are true. I am not zombieish but I do find it harder to think and it takes me a longer time to respond properly to questions and such. I am 18 years old, I feel Risperdal has helped me severly mature though I feel like I am stuck in a bit of a foggy state when it comes to thinking, espessially when it comes to answering questions which has affected my ability to hold a job. I find I have hightend anxiety when dealing with people which has affected my ability to continue doing normal things in public places (such as taking a bus). Over all Risperdal has helped me in some ways but burdened me in others, I am getting off of it in 8 days and if things get bad I am going back on.
- on October 27, 2011 at 10:45 pm | Reply Angela
  
  You should stay off it. As a parent I have watch my son change his personality whilst on the meds.
  Recently I took him to a different kind of doctor and he is the first person to ask the following questions.
  Have you ever had a blood test?
  Have you every had your urine tested or any other kind of test done at your doctors or through the mental health team?
  Have you ever had a brain scan?
  Did your doctor put you on these med based on questions and verbal conversation only.
  As a result it has cost me thousands of pound to have all of the above done for my sons but he is off the meds returned to studying and asked us his parents why did he find it so difficult to study before.
  The secret is to eat properly. If you want to know more read about Dr Liz Miller who wrote about mood mapping.
- on July 5, 2012 at 7:17 am | Reply Vicki Hallford
  
  Dear Shannon,
  How are you weaning yourself off this medicine?
  Vicki
on April 16, 2009 at 8:51 pm | Reply Shannon

oh and also they should NEVER diagnose an 11 year old with skitzophrenia, skitzo symptoms dont even show until the onset of adulthood
on August 21, 2009 at 5:35 pm | Reply frustrated

My wife had the perfect storm 2 months ago and lets just say we had an unforgetable experiance. Dr. F put her on reperdal and Zolof. The side effects are worse thn the mania she displayed. We are going stopping all slowly but not sure of the dose. Can any one relate? 1mg of resperdal dec by 1/2 e week The zolof dec by 25mg per week. now how much? one said every other day then every 3 days?
Looking for my wife.
on September 27, 2009 at 2:16 pm | Reply Candice

I was on Risperdone( geniric form of risperdal) for 6 mos. I was on a low dose of .5 mg x”s a day. Three weeks ago all of these horrible symptoms started. My head started to hurt,stiff neck, high prolactin levels, muscleds are sore and twtiching. I ended up in the hospital getting an MRI for a pituitary tumar. It has all been very scarey. My Dr.oridaanlly said it couldn’t been from the meds well it it! I dnt have a tumor( thank goodness) Istopped the med cold turkey. My headaches have subsided but the=ats it so far. My muscles are very weak the cordination is off my mind is a fog. My Dr also has me on ADHD meds and Celexa. I have only been off it for 4 days and the side effects or withdrwl are still really bad!
on October 26, 2009 at 6:10 am | Reply Cindy

Hello, Ive been taking Risperdal for 12 years and trying titrate off of it novv. I take trazadone for sleep and just found out that it causes hallucinations. I don’t knovv vhat is going on but I’m having a lot of visual distortions novv and then.Maybe it is too lat for me to ever get off my 2mg dose. I don’t knovv. My doctor or or psychiatrist told me that in a small percentage of people the drug causes some of the problems your trying to avoid if you have been taking it for too long.This is avvful. I’m not hearing any voices anymore vvith the reduction even. I don’t knovv that novv that I have had the reduction in the risperdal if the trazadone side affects are surfacing more than usual. I vvelcome anyones opinions, especially a doctors. Thankyou, I really hope that this is going to vvork itself out. Thankyou , Cindy
on October 28, 2009 at 5:14 am | Reply Carolyn

Hello, I’ve been taking Risperdal for 15 years. I just started taking 1 mg and am doing fine. Before I had gone dovvn on that 2mg dose I had very much trouble vvith having menstrual cycles until I did some research and took vitex hormonal support vvith chaste tree extract. It is a natural suppliment that helped to lovver my prolactin levels so I could have monthly cycles again. My doctor told me after my tubal ligation that it vvas very important for a vvoman to have cycles because if they don’t sometimes tumors and other problems could occur. I guess these kinds of problems could happen vvith or vvithout that surgery . The tumors vvould be occurring from the unteruses lack of shedding its lining I vvas told. I don”t knovv if I have become dependant on this drug. Ar there any here vvho have taken it for years and then gone off of it successfully? Carolyn
on October 28, 2009 at 5:17 am | Reply Carolyn

I’ts called chaste tree berry, Carolyn
on February 25, 2010 at 2:25 pm | Reply Astrid

@ Deep toot: you rcomments have been deleted. It is not appropriate to insult people ove rtheir spelling, and it is not appropriate to call people “retard” and “idiot” anyway.
on August 1, 2010 at 7:19 am | Reply Deb

my son (21) has taken .5 mg of Risperdal for about 18 days. I haven’t noticed anything positive from this medication—-only negative. He told me tonight he wants off the medication, but won’t see the dr. for another two weeks. Can a person stop taking this medication suddenly since it is at this low dose and for this short period of time?
on October 1, 2010 at 4:03 am | Reply ozzy

Very big warning, once you take medications that mess with your thinking, expect to be brain fried.

Then you have to keep taking the med or the condition gets worse. The best way to leave any of these crap medicine is step down dosage. You will feel it somewhat but it will be bearable.

I used to be outgoing, upbeat, tons of friends, many people liked my company, but after taking this crap to treat a nervous breakdown I was having, I flipped, loner, can’t answer people in a wise/slick way back.

stick to a plan with you doctor. both of you can come up with the best plan to get better.
on November 17, 2010 at 6:47 pm | Reply Alex

I’m on risperidone for a year. It is very difficult to go off. Doctors say the reason is my main disease which I doubt exists at all. Risperidone is known in WWW as Devil shit )
on March 20, 2011 at 2:12 am | Reply elusive

hi
on April 19, 2011 at 6:05 pm | Reply Alex

In many cases it may be dangerous to stop risperdal abruptly
on June 15, 2011 at 9:29 am | Reply Goldie

Helpful . Read this. Hello fellow friends! I have taken Risperdal for over 15 years. I am worried about my eyesight going bad from it but I sort of suspect that what I am experiencing are hallucinations or either symptoms from the withdrawel of this drug.I don’t know for sure.but I am not hearing any voices. I started weening of Risperdal with Inosital which is natural. I should not have mixed it with tegretol as I felt hot all over and felt a burning sensation throughout my body but I read that it helps to curb the side affects of lithium but don’t qoute me and investigate that on your own. I don’t really know if Inosital can be taken with Risperdal as I am taking now. It did help my depression and my anxiety very much and shows great promise for OCD , panic disorders and ,bipolar disorder. It is all on google. The Inosital has no side affects except for loose bowels but don’t qoute me on that either if you take too high of a dose. That is what the internet said.. It really shows no evidence for being a benefit with those with schizophrenia even though some things on the web suggest that it might or maybe in small ways, I am not sure. It is essentially a certain form of vitamin ”B”It did help with my withdrawel for the few days that I took it while titrating off of Risperdal. It is also known for helping people who do other kinds of drugs and their withdrawell but I think they need more than just this one suppliment to do any good for that kind of problem . It is good for diabetics and it promotes good artery health. It also suggested on the web the web that it helps migraine headaches.On a different subject I have stopped drinking any soda because I have found that it contains a neuro-toxin that has a very long pronounciation that is known to lead to brain damage or could lead to death if too much of it is consumed. It starts with the letter p. I don’t know why but my eyes are seeing a lot of things and I don’t know if it is from the reduction or not but possibly when entirely of of Risperdal maybe this would stop and I was thinking that possibly these are withdrawel symptoms but I don’t know.and nothing has looked at me yet so… It is very important to know that some herbs mixed with medications can actually do you in literally . By that I mean you wouldn’t be breathing anymore. I should have checked to see if Inosital agreed with the meds I was taking. Inosital also helps you distribute the fats in your body so you can burn calories which is a nice twist. Too much can also be toxic so don’t get too carried away. I read also that it detoxifies your liver which is good for those who take medications. It is dangerous to stop Risperdal abruptly. Even my doctor cannot figure out why I have these problems with my eyes and I can’t watch to much tv. I can until someone’s mouth suddenly seems as if there is hole there and also this could elevate psychotic symptoms by stopping Risperdal suddenly, not to mention the horribly uncomnforatable feelings of withdrawel. I got frustrated and went higher on my dose of Risperdal, these affects with my eyes were slowly dissipating over months of titration and now I am noticing they are prevalent again. I wish all of you luck and I hope that maybe I helped in some way.
on June 16, 2011 at 3:32 am | Reply maxine marsden

Risperdal does more harm than good. I have been on 2mg for approximately three years. It affects my menstrual cycle, my joints and my eyes. I want to discontinue its use. I plan to reduce to 1mg.

Maxine JUNE 15, 2011.
on June 22, 2011 at 6:32 pm | Reply cindy

i have a 15 year old boy with down syndrome who is on risperdal. we tried weaning him off of it , and boy did it get ugly!!!!!!!!! talk about withdrawals, so now he is back on it and may have to go to rehab to get him off. do not ever put someone on this med, there has to be something else that is not so addicting.
on June 24, 2011 at 5:25 pm | Reply callie

hi,my son has been taking risperidone for 4 months but off now;i brought him for acupuncture,he gets well now.
on June 28, 2011 at 4:26 am | Reply Hannah

I Have been Taking Risperdal shots for 4 years 25 mg and zoloft then was off of bothe for 1 and half years But then I had a relaps and had to go to the hospital and am now on 37 mg shot and 4mg pill of risperdal again any Suggestions should I slowly get off of it I noticed weight gain I use to have musle twitching on it too.
on August 12, 2011 at 11:23 pm | Reply Nick V

Well I might as well chime in.
I’ve been taking 2 mg of Risperidal on and off since the fall of 2007.
I have gone off it three times and “relapsed”, but every time after the so called relapse things have been on the up and up, in every category so far as I am concerned. At least until this last time when they put me on the shot , which I am not convinced is any better. more likely all the difference is is that it is more costly to manufacture and therefore on the hit list that those drug pusher are bribed to promote. Truthfully all it really does is decrease your will power and powers of resistance, the rest is nonesense. Cold showers work better. Diet and exercise along with a real support network are about the best you can do, unless of course you want to put in the hard work involved in a real in depth spiritual practice, which quite frankly is just too hard for most after being subjected to these horribly destructive drugs. But I believe anyone can do it if you start a little bit at a time and dont rush things.
on August 12, 2011 at 11:26 pm | Reply Nick V

Oh and I have self reduced this time to 1 mg. I plan on waiting a good long time until I reduce it again. Like 6 months at least. Its really exhausting for me when I go off. thats the main side effect. otherwise I’m not convinced it does anything. Critical thinking is key, although it doesnt always make things easier right away.
on October 7, 2011 at 5:46 pm | Reply lovelady

hy, my son has taken risperidone 0.25 mg for his moods for about 4 years and he is only twelve years old now. He is also on medication for his ADHD in which he will continue to take that medication because he needs it. He hasn’t taken risperidone for a month. He didn’t didnt stop taking the medication all at once but we did it over a period of about 5 months. My son use to skip the medication quite a bit so I just started to allow him to skip the risperidone every other day. We did this for about three months then, then he went to taking the medicine twic a week, then about every three days until he finally stop taking it a month ago. I ask him does he feel any different off the medication and he tells me he doesn’t feel any difference. I didn’t notice it then but now I can tell that he wants to do things now instead of staying in the house all the time and watch tv or play games. He really wasn’t interested in most things that other kids his age did. After reading countless stories about this medication I wondered if this drug caused that. I have noticed a few times he described to me as having visions like seeing things happen to him or even thinking that something bad is gonna happen to him. I did not do this before taking this drug and I scared that this drug has done something to him. If I had of known all the side effects of this drug and what is does to you I would have never let him start on this drug. I can say it did help him with his mood swings but to be honest he was only having problems at school and I never should have allowed for the dr. to give my son an antipsychotic drug because I really didnt think that he needed it but I didn’t know what else to do about his anger problems. Can someone please tell me if stopping the drug was the right thing to do in the experience that they have had. The other things that I have noticed about him is that he seems to be very tired some days after school and seems sad and this last about an hour or two then he is fine. In the morning some times when he wakes up he make crazy noices and make crazy faces sometimes. I often wonder is this due to stropping risperidone. There is definitely one thing I have learned after all this. And that is ask a lot of questions regarding these drugs the dr. is prescribing and see if the benefit of these drugs out weigh the risk. If not then to hell with the mind altering drugs. I am scared for my son now. I am praying that he will be ok.
- on December 23, 2011 at 3:30 am | Reply Slam
  
  lovelady you did the right thing much love to you xx
on November 10, 2011 at 10:45 pm | Reply sean

i’ve been on this medication on a dose of 1mg for over a a year and the only problems i had were drowsiness and a headache, its not that dangerous, to me at least. I also eat healthy and exercise regurlerly, also i’m 13 and started when i was 12. I think your bodies have some negative reaction to it.
on December 23, 2011 at 3:27 am | Reply Slam

slam

Im on rispiridone im going to stop taking it im going to take myself to the hills away from civilisation for a while and what will be is what will be all the doctors are on the pay roll of course they want you take it how else do you think they get paid ive been on 1mg 2mg 4 mg 6 mg 8 mg 25 ml 37.5 ml injections the english nhs is corrupt they talk out of the bums.
scientology is the cause of modern mental health within society and the way we treat one another. love and acceptance of others for who and what they are not tablets and pills wheres the love for your fellow man gone from the world.Wish me luck I love you all xxx
- on December 23, 2011 at 9:46 am | Reply lovelady
  
  I read in the Waco Tribune Herald that a South Carolina judge has upheld a $327 million civil penaltuy against health giant Johnson & Johnson, which in March was found guilty (GOOD!!!) by a jury of overstating the dafety and effectiveness of its former blockbuster anti-psychotic drug, Risperdal. It also stated that the pill once brought J&J more than $3.4 billion in annual sales. I agree with you Slam, where is the love for your fellow man gone? My son has been of this medications for three months now and I will not dare put him back on that JUNK. Slam, I wish you the very best on getting off risperidone.
on January 5, 2012 at 2:43 am | Reply cat

I happy to see my son get himself off of this drug. He didn’t even look or act the same on it. Good luck to all and thank you bery much for sharing your personal stories. May God bless you.
on January 19, 2012 at 3:36 pm | Reply Kim Knight

Kim
My daughter was in a terrible car crash in May 2010. She was in a coma for 10 days with a severe Traumatic Brain Injury. About 6 months after her accident, she began having these rages. I took her to the ER and she was giving Risperadone .5 in the AM and 1 mg at bedtime. She has gained about 40 lbs, but she laughs, has fun and the rages have stopped and she doesnt seem like she is in a fog. I ask her about how she really feels after reading all these stories and she said she doesnt feel weird. I do want her to stop taking the meds, but I don’t know if she will begain having rages again. Has anyone experienced anything like this?
- on January 20, 2012 at 3:32 am | Reply lovelady
  
  My sons pediatrician started him on risperidone 0.25 my when he was 8 years old for his moods. I regret for not asking alot of questions about this drug. My son really only had problems at school and I should have evaluated the situation by i didnt. Kim maybe in your case this is the right thing to do. Ask her physician or psyciatrist does the benefit of the drugs out weigh the risks. Ask if there is another drug that they would recommend. Just ask lots of questions about this drug. My son is now 12 he has been off risperidone 0.25 mg for about 4 months now. He is fine now but every now and then he hears voices, or visualize things since stopping this drug. This scares the crap out of me. I try to explain to him this is due to stopping this drug and he does understand but I can’t imagine hearing or seeing something thats not there. I watch him very closely and I also ask him questions all the time about his feelings. Its like this drug is not made to be stopped. I just continue to pray for him because there is no going back to this drug. Kim, because of the brain injury she may need this to help her with the rages. For some people this drug does wonders and Kim just do whatever you think is BEST for your child. Just ask lots of questions about this drug. They say all drugs have side effects. May God Bless and guide you.
  - on January 20, 2012 at 1:28 pm Kim Knight
    
    Thanks for replying Lovelady, I have done some research on this drug and find it is a monster to some and does work wonders for others. Kacey’s accident left her with short term memory loss and I do see on some stories where people say it makes them forget what they are about to say. Kacey does that but I know thats part of her injury. The one thing that she has to keep an eye on is her blood/suger and blood pressure. I never knew that her brain injury would cause these psychotic episodes. I hope and pray your son does well.
on March 17, 2012 at 7:19 pm | Reply derek burke

hi , i am a 33 yr old male. i have been taking risperidal for only 10 days now.
i feel fogged up in the head, clumsy , twitchy, really weak, headaches , sick to my stomach, dizzy !!! , and i thought these effects would lessen as time went by
truth is they are getting worse !! i dont feel like myself . if you are taking this drug i have a few words for you….. stop now !! this drug is BAD NEWS.
it is making me sick !!!!! i am going cold turkey..
- on September 12, 2012 at 2:26 pm | Reply nn
  
  10 days is ok. normal exercise for a good feeling come is better. you have a chance that not to fall in
- on November 30, 2012 at 6:10 am | Reply Jess
  
  Can any one tell me if you have got off this drug plz we need help I am so MAD he gave this to my boyfriend he wants off of it he is not the same and he don’t see this dr. Until dec 20 ……
on March 18, 2012 at 3:33 pm | Reply lovelady

Derek, its good that you went ahead and stopped the medication after only ten days after experiencing those side effects. It would have been much harder to stop the drug cold turkey if you had stayed on it a long period of time. Good luck and God Bless everyone trying to get off of risperadal or has stopped taking it.
on April 12, 2012 at 3:25 am | Reply Angela

I have been on Risperdal 0.5mg a day & the only problem that i can see that i’ve had is with my sexual desire but then again i am not sure if it’s the Risperdal or that i am in Menopause. Other than that i have not really had any problems with Risperdal & it’s made me happy & able to handle situations quite differently
- on April 23, 2012 at 4:23 am | Reply Angela
  
  I still take Risperdal until today 7 years now
on April 17, 2012 at 5:04 am | Reply wayne

wayne
i ve been on resperidone 50mg for twelve months,37.5 for 6months,and now am off it,what a difference it makes to be off that horrible drug,i could not manage a smile,maintain a conversation or have a belly laugh,my life was terrible,ive never considered suicide in my life but i did whilst on the drug,i was suffering halucinations and delusions they stopped on the drug but what replaced it was a type of brain death,i could not think off words to finish conversations and generally felt depressed and unmotivated,ontop off that was blurred vision,muscle stiffness and the loss of libido,ive been off the drug for two months now and can noticably feel the difference
- on September 29, 2012 at 2:43 am | Reply rob mckay
  
  did you suffer withdrawl such as twitching, and blinking in the face?
on April 23, 2012 at 4:19 am | Reply Angela

Oh yea I take Ativan 1mg at around 1pm and then again at 7pm then I take the Risperdal 0.5mg at 9pm – and I have been doing this now for 7 years & have not had a side effect for nothing – but like I said before I am not quite sure if it’s the Risperdal or that I am in Menopause – other than that it has worked marvelous for me.
- on April 23, 2012 at 4:26 am | Reply Angela
  
  I would recommend Risperdal to a lot of people – i don’t understand why some people have such bad side effect – yet i really don’t have any – maybe you should ask your Doctor’s about taking an anti-anxiety drug such as Ativan before taking the Risperdal then see if that helps – as this is what i do.
on May 10, 2012 at 4:58 am | Reply gioddaman

I’ve been on risperidone twice, this time I’ve been on it for a year and a half. I have bipolar disorder type 1 and since I’ve been on risperidone (2mg) I have been suicidally depressed most of the time. I can’t be sure I can blame it all on the drug, but I have a suspicion that risperidone is keeping my vital energy down, limiting my creativity and spontenaiety. The first time I was on risperidone I asked my doctor to take me off it after a few months, and a few months later I bounced from depression into hypomania. The hypomania got me into some trouble (mostly via drinking) but it wasn’t unpleasant. My current psychiatrist doesn’t want me to go off the risperidone and this depression is driving me to my limits of sanity. I’m trying to get a new doctor, and in the meantime I’ve taken it upon myself to skip my dose every few days or so. I feel a little bit better, but my sleep suffers when I skip. I’m also taking fluoxetine (30mg) and lithium (900mg)
- on May 10, 2012 at 8:41 pm | Reply lovelady
  
  Hello gioddaman my heart goes out to you. I don’t know if risperidone are causing your suicidal ideations because of the disorder that you have. But it could be possible especially if wasnt have these problems before taking the medicine. My son was about 8 years old when he was put on the drug and he was on it about 4 years when I took him off of it slowly over a period of a few months cause he too was skipping this med. When he was on this drug I did notice a big difference in him. I may have written a few things about it in one of my post. But anyway you really need to get with your doctor as you stated and ask about another antipsychotic drugs such as zyprexa, seroquel, abilify or geodon. Regardless of which drug your doctor may prescribe they all have side effects some worst than others. You will have to just get with the doctor and figure out which one have the least problomatic side effect. Gioddaman have you joined some type of support group with other people whom have this type of disorder. Have you thought about electroconvulsive therapy? Like you said you may want to go ahead a try another doctor. Do everything under your doctors care and advice and stick to your prescription regime. Take one day at a time and good luck on finding the right medication and therapy that works for you.
on May 22, 2012 at 4:21 am | Reply sandy

wow, I ended up in the hospital mid Jan & was put on Risperidone .25 mg. I have had a lot of blurred vision problems, headaches & yes my head has felt like it is in a fog. When I try to read & comperhend anything its like its just words. Im not understanding them as I used to do. I will be running out of them soon & have no insurance and its impossible to get to see the Dr. that writes them here in Florida. Ive somehow got to try & wing myself with what I have left. I took only a half of one the last couple nights. Does anyone have any suggestions? Can someone tell me what or how you usually feel when ur comming off of them, i am a single mom with a 15 yr old son 7 need to know what I may go thru. I have no choice but to try & prepare myself.. Thx for any advice anyone can give me..
- on May 24, 2012 at 1:42 pm | Reply lovelady
  
  Hello Sandy, thats good that you haven’t been on the drug very long because you would probably had worst side effects from stopping the drug. I can’t tell you from experience on how you may feel coming off the drug but I can tell you that my son who is going on 13 years old was on the same mg as you are when he was 8. He stayed on this drug until Aug. of 2011. I decided to taper him off the drug over about 5 months without his doctors input on it. I had once brought it up to his doctor that I wanted to take him off but he said if he is doing fine on it then lets keep him on it. I dread I ever let him take that drug because he really didnt need it. At the time I didn’t know that I was going on what the doctor thought. Well anyway back to you Sandy. It depends on what was the reason you was put on the drug. If you were having problems that you think you need medication for then I suggest you go to your doctor and tell him the side effects you are having and ask for another drug that you can try. All drugs have some kind of side effect, some people experience different side effects than others. What drug that may affect one person may not affect the other other in the same way. But as you have read risperidone does make people have some of the same side effects that you had. Sandy there or other antipsycotic drugs out there you can try or maybe ask your doctor for an antidepressant or antianxiety if this is what you really need. Whatever you or you doctor chose to do I suggest that you research the drug yourself before deciding to start taking it. Again if you are having any kind problems that may need to be addressed, see your doctor or maybe another doctor advice. But really careful with some of the drugs. I am an nurse and I know a lot of people does well on some of the medications but if its not working for you then do something now so it will not be as hard coming off the drug. And also whatever drug you are taking you can go to the manufacturers website and see if they have some kind of coupon, discount card or patient assistant program to help you with paying for that medication because there are many that will. Goodluck and hope everything goes well.
on June 4, 2012 at 10:47 am | Reply Nick

I was put on risperidone and after three days I threw the crap away. It definitely was something I did not need and I hope that only three days of risperidone usage did not permanently alter my brain. Any thoughts are appreciated.
- on June 5, 2012 at 4:39 am | Reply lovelady
  
  Good for you Nick. If you feel like you old self after stopping the drug then you are ok. If you want to know more about this drug and the side effects I suggest that you go to website. If and when your doctor prescribe another medication, do your own research for that drug, then go to your doctor with your concerns. All medications have side effects some affect people different than other and then some people only have mild side effects. Hope this helps.
  - on June 14, 2012 at 6:45 pm Troubled
    
    Hey everyone.. I have been on risperidone for almost a week now, but only half a pill (0.125) I was put on this drug because I get terrible anxiety with my depersonalization disorder. It has only made me worse and I plan on stopping it tomorrow! I recommened anyone who is taking it to get off it. It does nothing benficial, well for me anyways.
on June 5, 2012 at 7:27 am | Reply Nick

Thank you so much for the concern and quick reply, Lovelady. I feel fine but all these bad experiences I am reading about this drug got me a bit worried even though I only took it three days. I wish the best for you all out there.
on June 15, 2012 at 12:43 am | Reply Jessica

well today i had an eval with a new doctor. i was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and he wants to take me off my risperidal and lithium slowly and just give me a regular anti depressant for depression. i have been on risperidal in the past and never had any problems stopping it but i cant remember how long i was on it. im going from 3mg to 2 mg and so on so my question is is that a big enough change to cause withdrawal/ side effects?. does everybody experience that when going off this drug? i have been on it between a year to a year and a half and i also have gained about 60 lbs on it and experience headaches although that could be caused by the lithium as well. not sure. im worried about what is going to happen when i start the dosage change.
on July 1, 2012 at 8:03 pm | Reply Angry Steve -- This medicine kills

Hello all.

I’ve been taking Risperdal for ADHD/Aspergers/ODD (misdiagnosed, I strongly believe) for a few years, unknowingly. After taking it by my own choice for a few weeks, I eventually flushed them down the toilet along with my own feces.

Today, approximately 6 months after quitting all medication and doing some regular exercise, I have lost more than 40 lbs. All my clothes from 2009 are too loose for me, and my waistline has gone from 42 inches to 30.

I couldn’t feel happier for myself, Risperidone is a horrible drug that made me suicidal and lazy, has no positive effects whatsoever, aside from numbing me down mentally and physically, and giving bizarre dreams.

I can recall walking down the hallway to my classroom in the slowest pace imaginable; my motor reflexes were comparable to that of a down’s kindergarten student– I couldn’t doge basketballs, or even thrown pencils from a meter away; my muscles unintentionally clenched in a weird way at certain times; I had regular acne outbursts all over my body; became dizzy and confused in the middle of the day; and my blood pressure and heart rate reached unusually high levels for a 15 year old.

My appetite was among the worst of the side effects, I would have to chew on something (that meant low-quality snacks) every 20 minutes: pancakes, chips, pork rind, peanuts, chocolate cake, cup noodles, a gallon of sweetened cola, and so on. I also would drool and sweat unusually, and that meant having to drink about 15 glasses of water a day on average. My posture and balance were among the worst, I walked slowly with a hunch and stumbled into things for about 3 years without realizing I was on medication.

Getting up from bed was the worst, and I would literally sit in one area for most of the day until numb, and would fall asleep at around 7 pm daily. I cannot imagine the things I could accomplish by now (I’m almost sixteen) if mother hadn’t laced these drugs into my food and destroyed my metabolism and body image.

While on medication, I would experience some massive mental blocks that lasted for days, hours, or weeks before I would act, respond, or decide on a certain thing; Schizophrenic-like symptoms, which meant speaking to an imaginary friend or myself out loud, and muttering certain Satanic phrases in private, along with suicidal and homicidal thoughts, this continued months (and still does?) even after quitting, though most have subsided.

I always check my hard drive for pictures taken earlier this year and compare them to recent ones. I love my present body nearly to the point of homosexuality, and I would probably have a smoking hot girlfriend by now if I never took them in the first place.

Risperdal is a useless medication and I CANNOT stress this enough, though I’ll probably be switched to another drug against my will.

And if anyone is considering giving their teenage child some Risperdal for an imaginary disease, I’ll personally fly thousands of miles to come to you and knock you down, Haha.

Anywhoo, it’s getting late. Thanks for spending time and effort to read this post, I didn’t mean to offend anyone if I did. Peace.
on July 2, 2012 at 1:06 am | Reply Jenna

I’ve been prescribed risperidone 2mg for 8 months. I got lazy, gained weight, couldn’t exercise, my muscles loss mass, I had headaches, and what scared me most was blood in my urine – a side effect. I’m getting tested for a urinary tract infection. Then I’m getting off this drug.
on July 2, 2012 at 9:20 pm | Reply sally

i was on 3 mg of risperidone and gained 4 stone in weight in 6 months. I was told to up it to 4 mg and in just 2 weeks gained 5 pounds. I then realised that this drug definately puts on so much weight. I cant get use to having this body its so hard to move around and I don’t have any motivation to exercise, when I use to do before. I probably needed to take it at the begining as I was having a terrible problem with tiredness which I don’t have any more at all so it helped clear that up, but I dont think i need it now so am going to reduce it. I also figured out all my paranoias where they came from and how I don’t need to have them so next time I start to feel paranoid about a particular subject I will remind myself its just my illness and ignore the thoughts. I think this drug is good for the short term to get you out of your illness and sure it makes you tired at first but if you persist with it that clears up but I can’t see myself taking it any more I just want to be slim again.
on July 3, 2012 at 10:45 pm | Reply John Smith

Ive been taking risperdal for 6 years.I d like to get off of it and will try lowering the dosage every 6 months. The doc prescribes 4mg but I realized it was to much on my own. I started breaking the pill in half, down to 2 mg, and found some 2mg pills that I had, now I break that one in half and have been fine now for 2 months. Everythings going great, eventually I will be off of it completely so I plan to wein my self off of it.

Any questions just ask. I have a long history taking this med (to much to list here)

Thanks,

John
- on July 4, 2012 at 6:13 pm | Reply lovelady
  
  Have you talked to your dr. since you have been weaning yourself off your med. How does your dr. feel about it? If you are fine, your dr shouldnt have a problem with you weaning yourself off the drug. Your dr may give you a little more advice on weaning off the drug. I myself took my son to the dr and ask him could my son, at the time was 11 stop taking the drug. The dr said “not right now”, I guess because my son seem to be doing well on the drug. Well, without the dr advice I started to taper my son off the drug (at this time age 12) because he would be skipping one or two days of the medicine anyway, he hated taking this drug. Next dr visit I informed her of my son being tapered off the drug. The dr question was how is he doing and to notifiy her of any changes. I tapered him off the drug for a period of five months. About the first month that he was completely off the drug he started to show signs almost like he was getting depressed. I was constantly asking him about his feeling and emotions to make sure that he was OK, if you know what i mean. I had previously told him he that he may start feeling depressed and to be sure to let me know if he was feeling different. He still had a couple of instances where he scared me. I previously posted a few things while he has been off risperidone. He is doing well and showing no signs of adverse effects from stopping the drug. Im not saying its the right thing to do without the advice of the dr but this is what I did. I told you this story to kind of give you a picture of my son coming off risperidone. Although everyone is different. Everyone is prescribed this anti-psychotic medication for different reasons (my son for anger issues) and he probably shouldnt have been on this medication in the first place, this is why i didnt hesitate on getting him off. It really should be done with the advice/under the care of a dr. Good luck, Mr. Smith.
- on November 6, 2012 at 8:24 pm | Reply ariana castillo
  
  my husband just quit risperdal saturday nov 3rd.2012, i feel that drug as been doing harm in him. he was incarcerated for about 1 year and half and at the middle of that year we lost our baby son me being 8 mths pregnant. so he started a guilt while in there and he got depressed and alot of anxiety. it took them to give him some time of medication 6 mths after being anxiety and depressed. well what they gave him was risperdal, vistrail and cogentin. but i believe risperdal is very bad, it as him in a stage of lala land, sleeps alot, is emotion flat doesnt care about nothing or no one, and he as always been such a great loving man romantic etc. plus he is now worrying about sexual dysfunction (libido) cant keep it up for a long period and he was always a sex maniac. i mean he is out now for only 1 week from prison and he quit cold turkey he was on that pill for almost 6 mths, i see he also as some twicthing and like it bothers him alot in his legs. PLEASE help me. is this going to stay with him for ever. how long does it take for all this thing to go away from his body and he can start reacting like the man he was before we lost our baby, now he is dying to get me pregnant but with the problem of the libido he is getting frustrated that he cant so i think it will make things worse. please let me know. he is going to make 3 days off the pill what do we expect from it. is all the bad side effects are they going to go away.
  - on November 7, 2012 at 10:44 pm lovelady
    
    Ariana I suggest that he make an appointment with a doctor who deal with people that have had some type of emotional breakdown. He will need to talk to the doctor about what his are as far as getting off risperdal and talk to the the doctor about the symptoms he is having. It is never good to stop a drug cold turkey. Yeah I suggest getting in to see a psychiatrist. Always ask questions about different drugs. You may also want to research the other medicines to see if they can cause a decrease in libido also. Good Luck to the both of you.
on July 16, 2012 at 11:21 pm | Reply Jaine67

I been on Risperidone for 5 weeks now & started at 0.5 which had no effect really apart from weight gain & a bit tired. Went up to 1mg twice a day & all hell let loose. My thirst was horrendous as was my tiredness, could hardly stay awake standing up & became very clumsy constantly walking into things. My speech got slow & I felt like a zombie most the time. Although saying all this because I was so out of it my moods stabilised but I was not the same person as before, making decision was a huge problem & driving became a chore as I could not concentrate.
I have borderline personality disorder & also take 20mg Citalopram & now am stuck what to do, stay a bit zombiefied or go back to being stroppy, anxious & paranoid. I may cut back down to 0.5 morning & night just to see if I can get out of this fog.
on July 30, 2012 at 3:31 am | Reply Jessica

well i successfully went from 3mg of risperdal to 2mg over a month and my doc just lowered it to 1 mg half in the morning and half at night, i had some physical withdrawal going from the 3 to 2, oddly it didnt start until 2 weeks after he had decreased it, i had less sleep fast heartbeat the shakes and sweats and an awful headache the one day, and on the one day it was so bad that night i almost caved and took a 3mg tablet but i didnt and im glad cuz the next day it started to get better, the symptoms lasted a little less then a week. as for the mental i did have a feeling of not being right for awhile, i cant explain it but things have gone back to normal and the doctor felt it was time to decrease it, all in all things were not that bad and in a month i will be off it completely hopefully, as long as that withdrawal or whatever it was isnt any worse from what it was last time from decreasing it again i can handle it. im really looking forward to getting off this drug!
on August 5, 2012 at 4:47 pm | Reply mikcila

I need advice – my sons have been put on risperdal. This has affected them not very much, but I cannot stand causing them harm.

Does anyone have natural alternatives for mentally disabled as well as autistic patients? My children are both quite mentally disabled with autistic tendencies. Any advice or help would be appreciated!
on August 7, 2012 at 2:01 pm | Reply Annie

Hi not sure if anyone can help me
my 16yr old son was put in Respidone 3yrs ago for anger and violence, March this year he stopped taking them cold turkey, I didnt know as he was away at the time. When he came home he told me and although I was concerned he refused to start them again.
May this year he told me his eyes were playing up, he often couldnt see black things, ie : while doing the dishes he couldnt see the handle on the saucepan, a few nights later he had a “blackout” i found him laying on the floor after he called to me he was very dazed and confused. He went to the hospital and they wanted to do tests but he is needle phobic so refused. To cut a long story short these blackouts continued but no loss of consciousness just everything would go black, he could still feel and hear his surroundings. We went to a Neurologist who did some tests but couldnt find the reason, although we found he has a benign tumour in the front temporal lobe this wasnt the cause of the blackouts, told me to monitor him and come back in 3 mths unless he gets worse.
Yesterday someone told my son these blackouts could have been from him stopping the respiridone.
The blackouts have stopped the lose of the color black is back so im wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this or has any ideas or knows where I can get some info

thanks in advance
Annie
on August 15, 2012 at 4:33 am | Reply Jessica

well its been almost 3 weeks since my last risperdal reduction and i didnt experience any withdrawal this time, i also didnt have any feeling of not being mentally right like the last time. in about 2 weeks the doc will put me on either a half of a 1 mg tablet at night or stop it altogether since he has been reducing it 1mg at a time so far.
on August 28, 2012 at 9:02 am | Reply Nicole

Hi – Well – I been reading alot tonight – for over an hour+ now more about Risperdal (generic form is Risperidone?) through people’s personal experiences. As I have done before over the years about his medications, diagnosis’, therapy’s, etc.—One of my 2 son’s has just turned 13 years old, he is a fraternal twin, second born, and was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified-ON The Austism Spectrum, ADHD, and a SLD (Specific Learning disability-that is Language based-so trouble with reading and writing/ speaking–SLP needed) & some say, SID (Sensory Integration Dysfunction) -(the SID came later by a different person–a therapist from Towson State University (TSU) –where I was taking him 2-3 times a week for 6 months or so, to receive SLP – Speech and Language therapy services by the graduate students–which actually helped even though I had my concerns about them being “college students”–I could watch every minute through a 1-way mirrow and monitor sessions and progress)–MAIN PDD-NOS, ADHD, SLD diagnosis’ was back…some 6? years ago now, probably around the first grade or so, at Kennedy Kreiger- K. K. (world-reknown for having an excellent reputation for their diagnosis, treatments and therapys of children with behavioral, mental and emotional issues/ problems) located In downtown Baltimore, Maryland. Highly recommend them for diagnosis- at least. I’ll never forget the Psychologist name- Dr. Kunze, J.– she seemed great that day–not sure she’s still there—she tested him and tested him for hours, with breaks, all day, read through all my answers to her many, many questions on the long questionnaires I had to fill out about him, as well as 1 on 1 interview with me and 1 on 1 interviews with him and had him perform different tests with her that day. Luckily, my insurance at the time, covered 100% of that long, involved expensive (think it was about $ 2–3,000.00) testing. Which also included an IQ Test. I was very relieved at the end to hear her confirm what I had already thought, meaning it seemed “not so bad” to have her confirm the ADHD–I had already suspected for years by then…since he was so very different from his own Twin brother in the areas pertaining to ADHD traits/ characteristics, etc. Fortunately, at that time, she also stated during our closing interview/ meeting, her verbal report / diagnosis to me of her findings….that she felt he was certainly “Above Average Intelligence/ IQ—capable of receiving/ earning A’s/ B’s in almost all areas of academics, except reading, writing, speaking, –HE would definitely need some help/ tutoring for a long time/ foreseeable future to get him to learn the basics and progress with peers, etc./ “graduate” out of Special Education Reading and Writing classes in Elementary public school. For this, I highly recommend Sylvan tutoring–it’s expensive–small fortune, BUT, we went every day for 60 days in a row, July & August one summer years ago, just after failing 3rd grade (I believe) Reading (reading comes first, then fix writing) –& having the Special Educators tell me that without serious private tutoring that I must pay/ get him because she honestly admitted that neither she nor any other Special Educator could ever catch him up 1-2 years in Reading–that he’s behind–during the regular school years— 2 HOURS a day at Sylvan, no joke–and with that HIGH level of determination, frequency, consistency, committment–$3-4-5K, SYLVAN promises to catch- him- up to at least grade level or maybe further….AND, No Kidding–They actually DID! The beginning of the next school year, within 30 days, the Special Ed Reading teacher called and said, he no longer needs to be in Special Ed Reading. A small miracle. Now, IF ONLY I/ WE could control his behavior, moods, emotions, anger, outbursts and some worrisome physical behavior–that seemed self-harming, sometimes pulling on his hair, or seem to recall “walking into doors/ glass windows, etc,?”, (usually at those moments to get a laugh or something, goofy behavior- for lack of a better description), but also, dangerous/ impulsive things like–opening mini-van door before I stopped the van during parking, etc., throwing his little kids chairs in anger/ frustrations, tantrums, food on ceilings/ walls, hitting twin brother from “time to time”, crying loud and hard over what seemed like nothing to me, even for a young small child,–excessively crying, whiney, totally disageeable to practically anything and everything—always had to have HIS way with every single little thing– from the minute I picked him up from school to the moment he FINALLY fell asleep–TOO late at night– & breaking things around house either out of anger or “curiosity”, or frustration, GRANTED DURING THESE TIMES/ MONTHS, HE WAS ALSO GOING TO SPEECH THERAPY Learning to communicate/ talk better to express himself–(plus getting free speech and language therapy at the public schools)–which I thought ALOT of his behaviorial problems stemmed from “no-one understanding him/ his attempt to talk right/ be heard/ listened to” ? The Risperdal–which I was scarred to death about starting him on, bcuz I had no idea of anything to do with/ about “anti-psych” meds., and heaven knows they have some stigma then and still now attached when you mention them to a “lay/ beginner/ newbie”…not to mention the hard time of ME remembering to give them 3 times a day, .25mg EVERY DAY FOREVER!!!???, Plus, daycare providers who forget or give late, plus, school nurses who forget or give late, plus, family members who forget or give late, all while single mother has to work full-time and is still serving in US Navy Reserves actively drilling 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year–gone too much for work–no choice but to rely on others to watch him / them, not mess up his meds….The Risperdal did calm down/ slow down the extreme many outbursts/ tantrums/ meltdowns over time..but, can’t remember IF his “tic” of clearing his throat came before or after the Risperdal, think it was after…PLUS, the “my legs hurt–can’t walk–carry me”–rub my legs–they HURT. every day or every other day or several nights a week for years. Walks into things, doors, door-jams, cabinets, dressors, etc. NOT hard, but, like he’s not paying attention and how could he not see that doorway—it’s been there every day for past 3 years of living here? Thought it was his ADHD traits, just being hyper or impulsive or inattentive?, GENERALLY FOGGY THINKING/ ACTING ALL THE TIME. thought that was ADHD/ disorganized brain?, no weight gain, was told the ADHD Daytrana Patch seriously decreases appetite and must be off-setting any possible weight gain thus far?, does, seem slower with motor reflexes–hard to catch a ball or soccer or what-have-you similarly?, drooling-yes, but thought that was the braces in mouth-Ortho Doctor said excess saliva happens with braces but drooling definitely happened before braces got put on-for sure.-always wiping his mouth on shirt/ spitting alot, ALWAYS THIRSTY-taking my drinks, ALWAYS TIRED–still bad sleeper, refused Doctor when she said let’s up dose/ or strength to get him to sleep earlier or longer or without getting up in middle of nights—DENIED by me–”nope-not yet–I’ll work it out”. “feels dizzy” hear from time to time. “Feel weak”–another comment often. hEADACHES. Can’t think fast enough—can’t talk as fast as my brother–he’s always faster at everything”…can’t find the words to finish my sentence/ thought—hard to talk to teachers/ school office people–they go too fast–don’t let me get my words out–”….this from a boy who has scored ADVANCED MATH on yearly school tests for 5 years now–with scribe and extra time and sitting alone without distractions–to focus….BEEN WANTING TO –SINCE FOREVER TO STOP PILLS TO SEE IF HE CAN LEARN TO COPE ON HIS OWN, LEARN TO DEAL WITH/ WORK THROUGH LIFE’S HUNDREDS? OF LITTLE AND BIG ISSUES EVERY DAY WITHOUT DRUGS–FINALLY WEANING OFF NIGHT TIME PILL AT BEGINNING OF THIS SUMMER, STAYED HOME 24/7 TO WATCH CLOSELY, TALK THROUGH ROUGH MOMENTS, TONE DOWN EXTREMELY HIGH EMOTIONS, PRAYING i CAN “DO THIS FOR HIM/ WITH HIM, pSYCH DR. knows, have her & his monthly therapist on speed dial—lol. Psych DR., not really wanted this, BUT, I am persuasive and insisted we try for his sake and his future–to see “what if” he can live OK without these/ this drug–now–maybe more mature than 5-6 years ago?! My child. My choice, until he’s 18! RIGHT???!!! (father no help at all–99% convinced he’s Asperger’s/ functioning alcoholic, software engineer-6 figures–emotional cripple–common sense 0%)— I Only have Five years left ’till age 18 to legally make 100% decisions for his BEST interest.–at age 18–son decides his own medical/ pills treatment-RIGHT???!! SO–’MUST TRY. & PRAY He don’t hurt himself or someone else. Has not yet. A few tantrums, 1x every night or two for about 5-15 minutes–little yelling/ slam doors) How do I know that’s not regular teenage crap? granted this is a bit more since the 1 less pill daily—but, not tolerating any bad talk, bad ideas, bad actions…LOTS OF TLC, and military MOM-me, makes him do 10-15 push-ups, same for sit-ups, and cleaning chores, and paragraph writing and lectures/ conversations with me and sometimes include twin Brother to work through it all–so far. Plus, take away 1 or more of his XBOX, Playstation, Laptop, TV, connect, desserts, whatever, for 1 hour to 2 days–remove cable box from rooms and hide in mini-van-lol. if needed, working so far. (You’d really think he was “dieing” without his electronics & games–jeez!) Pray, he can live with less/ all drugs…DR says wait until NEXT Summer to attempt wean off 2nd/ lunchtime pill–so we don’t mess up/STRESS HIM OUT Further– his new school year now—WISH we didn;t have to wait—tempted to try it in 1-2-3? months? scared though of stories of too-soon withdrawal symptoms? SAY A PRAYER—we/ HE NEEDS IT! I feel like I am fighting an unseen/ forgotten battle with a ghost, to save his life or at least make it alot better for his adulthood–being off this medication—sounds dramatic–but ??? not sure- EAT, pRAY, LOve—(like the movie-lol)…good diet, exercise, Love, THINK how to help him sleep sooner, better, longer, no middle of night wake-ups to find me–cause he’s scared? of what? don’t know?—maybe try: lady on here say “acupuncture”, or none/ less dairy, or less gluten, or more Omega 3 fatty acids-that’s fish primarily right?, DHA?—we’ll see:-)
on September 12, 2012 at 2:50 pm | Reply nn

i’m one of this medication about 13 years with 4mg. i’m sad with co fate friends. but we should try further dont give up. my experience to live with this drug is comfortable aware your body. this second where is your arm where is your hand. or in a walk slowly. left foot now, right foot now. left foot now, right foot now. then the symtom of cold turkey will decrease. just walk and awareness. nothing happen with no cause .now i’m not a cold turkey teenage but not quite an normal adult. i can tell you that the child called ‘cold turkey’ surely have an uncomfortable in his mind. because i ever experienced this. the parents should be shelter for them. raise up your mind by music,exercise,singing,jogging etc. your happy will cure their subconcious. then someday, he can quit this thing. now i’m try to quit this drug and stand with Stimulant by comfortable awareness of my body. hope the god bless me . it’s a real life case study. hope it help ,my co fate.
on September 21, 2012 at 2:56 pm | Reply Heather Symons

My daughter has a chromosome disorder and has always had some self injurious behaviours. As she got older these behaviours became more violent to the point where if frustrated she would bring her knee up and bang it hard against her head. As this got steadily worse I had her assessed for anxiety and it was confirmed that her anxiety levels were very high and they prescribed half a .25mg am and 1 .25mg pm. At the same time she was put on the pill to regulate her very irregular and heavy periods. The head banging stopped almost immediately and we were delighted. But she put on over a stone in weight and was quite drowsy. After about ten months I noticed the head banging started to return and the rages over little things come back. Because of her learning disability she is unable to explain how she feels physically but she is definitely less articulate, more clumsy, repetitive and complains about her legs hurting. I have decided to see how she is off risperidone. We will start weaning her off from next week. I am nervous about her behaviour because we walk around on eggshells as it is but I have felt uncomfortable about this drug for a long time and certainly don’t want to increase the dosage to try to stop the head banging.
on October 16, 2012 at 10:53 am | Reply imfreenow

I have been on Risperdal for 6 years now, and I have had very little trouble with it, EXCEPT!!!! I also want to go off it because of it’s effect on the body, the blood sugar effect. I don’t believe one should stay on this drug. I also have had trouble going off it.

Here is my advice for everyone trying to go off: trust God your creator, who knows your body, and trust Jesus Christ, whose work on the cross includes the power to emancipate you from this drug.

I know that the 1.5 mg per day that I have been on has not been providing me with the mental health that I have. I believe that the reasons for which I went on it – manic-depression and schizo-effective disorder, are now a thing of the past. I believe that God has restored me and it’s safe to go off medication.

I know very well what everyone is saying about the powerful effect of drugs to make you dependent so that you become ill by trying to go off them – but I know that God has the answer.

God will get me off this drug and it will be a miracle, from what everyone has said. I am also working on changing my diet, which I believe is something God has helped me to do.

I do believe in cooperating with doctors, although they may not be too excited about taking you off meds, you can work with them instead of just running away.
on October 16, 2012 at 2:00 pm | Reply imfreenow

Just so you know, I’m on 1.5 of Risperdal and 50 mgs of Topomax per day.
- on October 18, 2012 at 2:28 am | Reply lovelady
  
  When going off risperdal make sure you taper off the drug. You may have some symptoms at first but you already have the answer, “Christ Jesus.” May God Bless You. “youfreenow”
  - on October 21, 2012 at 5:16 am imfreenow
    
    Thanks lovelady!
on October 23, 2012 at 8:26 pm | Reply imfreenow

Lovelady – I started to take my regular dose of meds, only every other day instead of every day – equivalent of .75 mg Risperdal and 25 mgs Topomax, just over a week ago. Now the symptoms are starting. I hear this lady in the medical field in my head who warned me that when you go off medication it’s that much harder to build up again the therapeutic effect of medicine. That scares me. I don’t want to relapse and go through the whole process again. I just want to believe that I don’t need the medication. But I also fear the dependency that the medication has created having been on it. That’s why I need a miracle. So far, the symptoms have not been real bad – bearable.

Do you think it’s wise to continue? I plan on lowering the meds and then letting the doctors know this is what I have done. I see them in about a month.

But this is scary.
on October 24, 2012 at 9:28 pm | Reply imfreenow

Interesting that I already seem to have an answer. I just took the dose that I have been taking every other day, a little early, as I was having symptoms, and it stopped the symptoms. this is amazing because normally, it would require taking more of it – doubling up, to replace the thinning in the blood. Now it has thinned in my blood, and it is not causing symptoms. I do seem to be feeling something different this time. I think a miracle has begun.
on October 27, 2012 at 4:11 pm | Reply imfreenow

Well, the symptoms started to get really bad – I was feeling miserable finally, and had to get back on the regular dose as quickly as possible. I must tell you – I have learned a process of journaling taught by such people as Mark Virkler – a Christian who has learned to hear God’s voice, and I have heard God speak to me in this way. He has said very loudly and clearly that I don’t need medication anymore, and He will get me off it. I don’t know how, but I know this will be. I will be coming back here to report it in the future. The miracle did not happen this time, but a miracle is eminent.
on December 6, 2012 at 3:26 pm | Reply imfreenow

Well, guess what? I went to my doctor a week ago, and asked her to put me on an arrangement of medication that would allow me to go off it gradually. She agreed. I said that I would be waiting for God to lead me as far as how and when. See? There are doctors willing to do these things. And she is a government provided physician. So, I tried to lower my meds the least amount possible for a week. Last night was the first night I noticed trouble sleeping. This may be difficult, but God is helping me to go off.
- on December 17, 2012 at 7:38 am | Reply lovelady
  
  Hello imfreenow, I don’t know your history, but it sounds to me that you really want to get off risperdal and also your scared to go off it because you don’t want to relaspe. I can understand that and my heart goes out to you. All I can say is trust in God with all your heart and have faith that God is gonna work it out for you. What i will also say is keep working in close contact with your doctor and pray about everything. Whenever you start hearing the voices, talk positve self talk constantly. As long as you know real from unreal and take one day at a time you should do fine. Keep your doctor informed about whats going. I am not an expert on any of this, but I can say that my son was on this drug and I tappered him off. Yes, I was scared about the side effects that he would maybe have once totally of the drug. I am happy to say that he is an A/B student, doesn’t get in trouble in school and is active in sports. He was prescribed the medication for behaviors and I should have never let this happen, had I known more about the drug. He has adhd and he was getting in trouble at school alot. After going on the internet and researching the drug I knew that I wanted my son off of risperdal because I didn’t feel that he needed it. Everybody is prescribed risperdal for different reasons, some may benefit and some may not like it. Imfreenow, I hope and pray everything works out for you. Do what you think is best for you. May God Bless you.
on December 8, 2012 at 10:14 pm | Reply self-defense against psychiatrist psychological murder

More tips on how to deal with psychiatrist harm, can be found minddefensecoach.wordpress.com
on January 9, 2013 at 3:28 pm | Reply imfreenow

Dear Lovelady – thanks for your sweet reply, and just to let you know, I’m on day 41 of going on a lower dose, and so have begun the process of tapering off. This is so exciting. I have had some symptoms, but not bad enough to warrant going back on the higher dose. God is helping me, and this is what I prayed for and waited for. My doctor is in agreement with this, so that gives me peace of mind.

I waited until now, when through journaling, God spoke to me saying that I don’t need medication anymore. When I tried to go off medication in the past, before God gave me His sure word on this, I had terrible results.

Just a word of encouragement – God can and will show you when you are healed.
on January 9, 2013 at 3:53 pm | Reply Jessica

has anybody here who have come off this drug dealt with akathisia, i went from being on 3 mgs down to 1 mg and when it was reduced to 1mg i developed this problem, i had thought i might have tardive dyskenisia but when i explained the problems to my doc he said it is in fact akathisia. he discontinued my risperdal as of yesterday. i have since read a lot of awful things about it on the internet, studies have shown that the outlook for people with this is not a good one that it causes some to commit suicide and some people with it are even violent towards others. i have not as of yet felt either of these and i have been dealing with this for 3 months but it certainly is annoying and i have become more irritable and impatient which is actually caused by the akathisia itself and not necessarily the underlying illness, in fact sometimes doctors have seen these behaviors and dont recognize them as akathisia at first but the mental disorder itself and then try to add more of the med that is causing it which compounds the problem further. i would like to know if anyone here has had it and if and how long til it went away. if anybody is not familiar with it and taking this or any other antipsychotic i would reccomend reading about it.
on January 20, 2013 at 11:34 pm | Reply Nancy Smith

I gained 40 lbs in a two month period..I’m working with my dr..to wein off. I like to just stop it overnight. I’m on .05mg for 6 months.
on January 21, 2013 at 1:01 am | Reply Nancy Smith

What. Are the witnhdrawl symptoms?
on January 27, 2013 at 7:58 am | Reply Eveymarie

I was on 4mg resperidone. I cut cold turkey before and everything was fine until I made the mistake of smoking weed. My life quickly went downhill. My psychiatrist put me on 4mg again but I’m only taking 3mgI’m cutting cold turkey today because iIt makes me feel zombie like as if I’m there but not there and I get mental blocks where I can’t think when I used to be smart. I’m so slow now. Its like my thoughts aren’t connected. Idk how else to exam it except there’s a thick fog with no clarity. I just dont really care about things anymore. But I can still manage to entertain my friends and family by maling them smile. Of course it’s sure easier for my parents to manage me because I’m so easy going not that im violent or aggressive to begin with.Still They made me take the drug because its good for me. It’s not good at all even though it’s medicine it’s still a drug changing your brain. I cant laugh anymore.iI used to be slim and am now overweight. Wish me luck. I don’t think I’ll need it because there are other more harmful drugs to the brain like e for example yet the brain is still able to heal from that. Your brain and body is important. Protect it. If you don’t think you need it get off it. I should’ve listened to my friend who told me to get off it but It’s not too late.
Best of luck everyone.
Just give it time. Time heals everything.
on January 27, 2013 at 8:05 am | Reply Eveymarie

Explain***
Btw was on it for 4 months
on February 7, 2013 at 12:47 am | Reply Tim

I have a love-hate relationship with risperidone.

I used to take it in my teens when i was suffering from hearing persecutory voices. It didn’t take it very long before the voices stopped. I remember back then, my legs would get really stiff as a side effect. Once the voices stopped, I stopped taking it and never heard voices ever again.

However, last September, I went through a heartbreak, and found myself going through cycles of major depression, then major mania, and my brain switched back and forth between the two for 2 weeks. While going through these cycles, I got very delusional, and when i couldn’t take it any more, i went to the ER. Right away, they gave me 4mg of risperidone.

While on this regime, I made a huge mistake of playing with the medication. I found 4mg too strong, so I lowered it to 3. I would still feel too sedated, so a couple nights later, i would lower it to 2. But then I started having my thoughts race, so back up to 3. Then 2. Then 3. I went through an agonizing hell for a couple of months as a consequence.

I’m trusting the doctor, from November till now (February), I’ve stayed at 2mg. Looking back, I do see an improvement. My thoughts don’t race, and my delusions have diminished, Also, i found it really neat how things that would have really tick me off dont bother me in the least anymore. If I owned a very expensive car, and it spontaneously combusted, it wouldn’t bother me at all. But still, I am really trying to push my doctor in getting me off these meds.

I always loved music. I am also into computer programming, and landscaping. But my interest in everything is gone. I feel so damn tired and depressed, and all i do is stare at the walls all day. I still get flare-ups of akathisia once in awhile, which was very bad while i was playing around with my pills. And just like many of you described, i just don’t feel “right”. Its more than just emotional flatness, or depression. Its a strange feeling, like the very structure of my brain is collapsing, piece by piece.

However, I have some ways of keeping myself going. I have a few understanding friends, and they don’t mind my company. Everyday, i walk over to them and have a coffee. They don’t mind me being like a zombie. Interaction with good people, and exercise gives me a nice little dopamine/seratonin boost where nothing else can. I also have a mental health counselor to talk to if need be. It just sucks when I go back home again, I fall back into a flat and boring, lifeless depression.

I’m very sorry for those of you who have to fight through school or work. I too feel “dumbed down” and very low energy for anything. I also had my blood tested and the triglycerides were very high. I’m not sure if that has anything to do with blood sugar or cholesterol, or if it has anything to do with the medication. I see my doctor next week, and i’m gonna see if i can get tapered off this medication, and try something else.
- on February 7, 2013 at 2:24 am | Reply Jessica
  
  I have also developed akathisia, i was put on 3mg of risperdal by my last psychiatrist for sleep but my current psychiatrist decided i dont need it because ive never heard voices or seen things and it was too much. i came off that in 3 months, he stopped it at 1 mg because the akathisia developed so its been about 3 weeks since i been off it. i know how difficult the akathisia can be, its still happening. as for the high triglycerides, i had that also, i know very well that risperdal can cause you to be hungry all the time and mostly for junk, are you eating a lot of junk? that could be the reason. ive noticed that since i quit the risperdal my appetite has gone away considerably compared to what it was when i was on it, i used to be 150 pounds and got all the way to over 200 and now im losing weight. hope things work out for you
- on February 7, 2013 at 2:31 am | Reply Jessica
  
  apparently it took me 7 months to come off it, it felt quicker…
  - on February 8, 2013 at 4:41 am Tim
    
    Yes, I found the akathisia horrible. If not for the constant need to walk my feet 24/7 with no relief, but the delirious confusion and anxiety that goes along with it. I would be taking a walk 4 times a day to get relief from it. Finally I went to the doctor and he mercifully prescribed Cogentin + Clonazapam. It seems to help alot, but I find the best way is to naturally learn to calm myself down, as if I was dealing with a panic attack.
    
    I do eat a lot as well, just for some mental stimulation. I haven’t been really watching my diet either, so maybe triglycerides are from that, or from risperidone making things not metabolizing the way it should.
    
    I can’t wait to see my pDoc again next week. We have discussed tapering off, after telling him about being flat and depressed, and having no motivation for anything. He really wants me pursuing the landscaping. I hope the ‘withdrawal’ that i’ve been reading won’t be as bad for me as some.
on April 5, 2013 at 10:53 pm | Reply Jay

So my life was hell, paranoia, bad thoughts fear all sorts my doctor prescribed me resperidone n took away my bad emotions took away my paranoia… I was happy until I realised my feelings were gone I can barely feel emotion and I’ve gained fat I’m taking myself off this ASAP
on April 16, 2013 at 7:09 am | Reply Joy

“Withdrawal from Risperdal should only be done under the care of a health practitioner. The safest way is to withdraw at an inpatient medical detox facility. At an inpatient medical detox facility with a protocol that includes hydration, vitamins and supplements, most patients can safely stop taking Risperdal in about seven days. Patients can withdraw from Risperdal on an outpatient basis but it will normally take at least four weeks.”

I have been taking this drug since 2008 – 2mg. Its true this medicine cured my mental illness(being very aggressive). But now I am Facing all the major side affects. Nose bleeding Hand shaking and all. Lost my aggression. Lost energy to do something.So many things to say.

Now I planned to quit in April. Taking small amount of medicine everyday and reducing it every week. I quit my job also just to take off this medicine. I am taking vitamins and on good diet. Doing Yoga and exercise. Lets see how it goes.
on April 22, 2013 at 12:52 am | Reply Lynn

I am so glad I found this blog. Your stories helped me make the decision to stop this drug that was prescribed by a psychiatrist after 1/2 hour parent interview and a brief glance at my son through a doorway.

My 10 year old son with autism was prescribed Risperidone after a rage attack at the hospital where we had taken him to emergency. Out of desperation and crisis we started him on the medication. The dosages were .25 in the morning and .25 in the evening for three days and then upping the evening dosage to .5mg.

We saw an initial positive result. Slept soundly, less yelling, more smiles and seemingly less irritable, less running away from dogs and general anxiety. At school they reported that he was quieter and more willing to complete tasks. They also knew that he had started this med. He still was pretty cranky in the morning and still had his yelling and kicking episodes 1-2 times per day.

After the 3rd day of increasing the dosage, the school raved about his day. During these days on the drug, I had watched him carefully, since he is not verbal enough to tell us how he is feeling. I was and still am terrified of this “medicine.” After school we went home and he was set off. His rage was terrible. His nose started bleeding profusely and he started punching himself in the face. He was crying and yelling and kicking and hitting and biting me. He ran at the windows and tried to put his foot through the panes again and again. I called 911 as I was alone.

Long story short. That morning dosage was his last. He had taken it for a total of 8 days. Yesterday was his first day off of it and he had 5 terrible tantrums that day. We are covered in bruises. Today we’ve had one tantrum in the morning that was able to be redirected. We are so not out of the woods yet, but I thank all of you for your sharing your experiences. I wish ALL of you good health.

Lynn.
on April 22, 2013 at 10:49 am | Reply mikcila

Hi Lynn

I just typed an entire email and it got wiped out….

Please contact me re the autistic diet – it has helped me and my boys tremendously. That is, if you are interested.

They are 17 months apart, are non-verbal and have been diagnosed with mental dissabilities and autistic tendencies.

It’s a different kind of merry-go-round living with them, but their love is unconditional. On Riperidone/Risperdal they were zombies. Now, they have been kicked out of all special needs schools they attended because they are too loud as well as too “stupid/dumb”. Life has changed a lot, but this diet has helped us tremendously.

One thing – I buy dried chamomile flowers by the lb. I make tea with a herbal tea such as rooibos tea (caffeine free and deliciously tasting) and these chamomile flowers, hich I give hot or cold as an ice tea sweetened with xylitol. This helps a lot to calm them. Also, see if your child responds well to valerian root. Large doses usually give my boys upset stomachs, but a small dose once a day really helps them. See if his stomach handles it well and then give it to him at niight before he goes to sleep. But be sure to check during the day first. If he doesnt cope with it during the day, he might mess his bed at night.

I have to go – the boys want to watch dvd’s again.

Please contact me if you are interested or simply reply to this thread. There is an app that helps you shop for this condition…dont know the url right now. But if you let me know ill find it for you.

Good luck – you are an amazing person!

Lots of Love

Marianne
on April 22, 2013 at 10:50 am | Reply mikcila

PS: This diet has worked wonders for another person struggling with bipolar and another diagnosed with schizophrenia. So it really works!
on May 20, 2013 at 4:00 am | Reply Joy

Well,finally, I’m off risperdal. and new life begins. All the best for you.
- on May 23, 2013 at 9:15 pm | Reply Idris
  
  (Joy or anyone that has came off risperdal)
  Hi, i have been on risperdal for about a year now, and i must say it has taking the life within me.I started taking it in a state mental facility,To stabilize on this drug was part of my discharge plan…So i definitely wanted out of there so i agreed to try the medication to control my biopolar.I started off slow 1mg to 2 mg – 3 to 4mg eventually there plan was to get me to take the 25mg consta shot.But even just on the pills, i began to sleep more,eat more,i became anit-social with the people i was close with, stopped talking on the phone,and just felt weird altogether.But i wanted out! so i dealt with it, i began taking the shot.,and it made me feel even worse, i felt empty, not like myself,began to walk slower,cant play basketball, or workout like i used too..thats when the staff says your doing better,you look so good!Because i wasnt being “argumentative” “standing up for my rights, and having a voice with a valid opinion . Eventually i was released,still taking the 25MG consta shot.My mothers says i seem different,everyone does.I dont laugh like i used to, i dont enjoy life period.everyday is the same, i used to be goal orientated with plans in life.Now that space is just empty,i used to write poetry,i cant get past 2 lines, its like my brain has a thick fog over it….The good news is my doctor agreed to reduce the shot to only 12.5…..I eventually want off this drug period, my question is, for anyone who has felt the same as me,and came off risperdal, did they get everything back…everything meaning there sense of humor,there intelligence,there motivation, did the emptiness leave?can i recuperate from the damages this medicine has done?(Thankyou)