Risperdal

[inspirations]

Just a few comments/questions about the drug. I started on it 2 weeks ago and for the first week I was elated. My mood swings were gone and even when they did arise I could easily ward them off. Then the 2nd week everything went crazy again. The happiness, the rage, and then the tears. All in a matter of minutes. And it is just as bad as it used to be before any of the drugs. Has this happened to anyone else on Risperdal? Was it really working that first week or did I just have more control over myself? Should I try and have the dose increased, or should I suggest getting off the drug completely? Also, has anyone else had a problem with eating while on Risperdal? I've found that I am eating everything in sight. For crying out loud, I've gained 5 lbs. in 2 weeks.

Last time I went to the pdoc he told me that it sounded to him like bipolar. Ofcourse he didn't read the 15+ page journal I had been writing for the 2 weeks prior. (What a waste of time!) I'm not sure if this diagnosis is correct but I can guarantee a mood stabilizer is in order. I was wondering if any of you could share what mood stabilizers you are on, that way I cuold do some research on them.

Thanks,
Inspirations

[mudhound]

[but I can guarantee a mood stabilizer is in order. I was wondering if any of you could share what mood stabilizers you are on, that way I cuold do some research on them.

Thanks,

My wife has taken several. Amoung them has been Depakote, Topamax (dopeAmax), Abilfi or Ablify (Spelling), and maybe some more. I also hear that Lithem (salt) is used for mood.

Hope this helps. Be sure to check my spelling. LOL I scare myself sometime with the gross misspllings.

[potchrazebie]

Risperdal is an antipsychotic, not a mood drug.
It does make some people gain weight.
I take 3 mg/day. It helps with anti-social thoughts/behavior.
You should be seeing a psychiatrist for psychiatric problems, not a primary care doctor (general practitioner). This is crucial. G.P.'s are not knowledgeable enough in the uses of psych meds.

[angie75]

Originally Posted by inspirations

Just a few comments/questions about the drug. I started on it 2 weeks ago and for the first week I was elated. My mood swings were gone and even when they did arise I could easily ward them off. Then the 2nd week everything went crazy again. The happiness, the rage, and then the tears. All in a matter of minutes. And it is just as bad as it used to be before any of the drugs. Has this happened to anyone else on Risperdal? Was it really working that first week or did I just have more control over myself? Should I try and have the dose increased, or should I suggest getting off the drug completely? Also, has anyone else had a problem with eating while on Risperdal? I've found that I am eating everything in sight. For crying out loud, I've gained 5 lbs. in 2 weeks.

Last time I went to the pdoc he told me that it sounded to him like bipolar. Ofcourse he didn't read the 15+ page journal I had been writing for the 2 weeks prior. (What a waste of time!) I'm not sure if this diagnosis is correct but I can guarantee a mood stabilizer is in order. I was wondering if any of you could share what mood stabilizers you are on, that way I cuold do some research on them.

Thanks,
Inspirations

Hi:

Risperdol is a strong drug. It is technically an anti-psychotic mediaction, and some docs rx it for sleep. Use of if you rally need it, don't if you do not need it. Risperdol, and other drugs like it, can cause rare, but serious side effects, not all of which are temporary...that is why I say that. It is not a mood stabilizer. It is possibile that you felt relief at 1st because it gave you a temporary sedative effect.

As far as mood stabilizers, there are quite a few: lithium, dapakote, tegretol, neurontin, topamax, trileptal. Several of them are ant-seizure meds originally, but are also used for BP. They all affect different people in different ways. My personal experinece has been as follows: can't take litium at all, depakote and tegretol caused a lot of weight gain, neurontin worked well for quite a few years then stopped, am currently on low-dose of tripletal for epilepsy and topamax for bipolar. Topamax gave me side effects for the first few weeks of initiating treatment, but I was fine once I adjutsed.
I hope that helps some, and I hope you get something that helps you out,

Angie

[potchrazebie]

One of the permanent side effects of Risperdal angie75 is probably talking about is tardive dyskinesia. A few years ago a psych told me I could take up to 800 mg/day of vitamin E to help prevent this.
Another mood stabilizer is Lamictal.

Topamax makes some people lose weight.