Has anybody out there had experience of RISPERDAL?
547466
While Risperdal is very effective for short-term management, there are no clinical studies to prove its effectiveness in long-term therapy.  Additionally, long-term therapy can cause serious side effects.  If you take this medication, you have to maintain a close relationship with your doctor, in order for him to effectively monitor your condition as it progresses.  I'd recommend discussing any questions or issues with your doctor.  It's important for you both to be on the same page.
850325
I have personally been on Luvox for probably 20 years.  I took 100mg daily until approximately 3 years ago.  At that time I was increased to 200mg daily which is still my current dosage.  I agree I was beginning to be suicidal and dwelled on everything - a constant state of worry.  I also started carrying out daily rituals.  I really don't know if Luvox helps or hinders me at this time.  Recently my doctor added a medication called Abilify.  This is  an anti-psychotic drug.  I feel wonderful.  My whole life seems suddenly much more stable than I can remember in the past.  I suggest you talk to your medical team about this medication.  It's a wonderful feeling.  \n\n\n\n\nt  \nt
107147
I take Effexor and I love it! I feel much better. Even colors looked brighter after taking it for a few days. I did have some sexual side effects, but they went away. I also had the traditional loss of appetite, but it also went away. I didn't have any other side effects at all. Everyone experiences some differences when taking anti-depressants, but the side effects GO AWAY after about 3 months. I am happy that I chose to take them. I feel better and am actually healthier now.
162094
RISPERDAL CONSTA (risperidone) Long-Acting injection is a proven medication with a state-of-the-art delivery system that gives you the same medicine as RISPERDAL (risperidone) tablets, but in a form that is given every 2 weeks. RISPERDAL CONSTA can help reduce the positive and negative symptoms that are part of schizophrenia and help you get on the road to improvement.\n\nRISPERDAL CONSTA is the only long-acting form of a class of newer antipsychotics, known as atypicals.
341766
I have suffered bipolar for a long time and was on lithium and got well for a while but I got defiant and got sick again with the destructive highs and the desperate lows so stay on your med and talk to your doctor. If you are not happy seek another opinion until you find someone who works well with you and for you. I am now on Valpro and risperadol and I have been well for over 6 years and I have been working full time for two years now. There is something that helps me and that is writing. I keep a diary and write my thoughts and musing in it. Doing crosswords is a good thing to get your mind off your troubles. Good luck and if I can help further contact me at <firenzeperme@yahoo.com.au>\nIf you going through a low reading about your condition will not be a great help but bipolar.com have a downloadable diary that you keep to track your moods on a daily basis. Give it go and keep your chin up! You are not alone in this battle.
943879
Vistaril works for me - but it's gonna take more than a few days -\nyou have to take it for about 2 weeks before you see results.\nI am  on 50 mg., I take it at night to help me sleep with some\nother meds as well.\n\nI find it works well.  You just have to give it some time.\nThere are no quick fixes here...
895778
Yep - I've got it too.\n\nI used to take Effexor, but it killed my libido and the withdrawal effects are super-awful (I now kind of understand drug addiction - vomiting, dizziness, the whole she-bang) I took a lot, though, 150mg so that didn't help.  The med helped the anxiety a ton, though. So much that I thought I was better and decided to wean myself (bad idea - don't do it - you will be sorry 3 months later and have to spend another 3 months getting something new into your system)\n\nI am now starting Prozac.  So far the only bad side effect is I can't take it before bed or I don't sleep well.  It is too soon to tell if it is working - so it isn't helping much yet.  Hopefully soon.  \n\nGood luck.  Go to a psychiatrist - they can prescribe meds and have much more background than a family physician so they will have experience with lots of meds.
886773
i was on wellbutrin for a good 2-4 years & i started to get REALLY tired & completely lacked all motivation. i had memory problems & was really unable to function intelligently. finally, i changed medicines a few times & now i am on effexor xr. i also discovered i had anxiety, which was something doctors had never really paid any attention to in the past.\n\nwhatever you do, DO NOT STOP TAKING THE MEDICINE ON YOUR OWN!!!! really really really bad stuff can happen!!! i made that mistake & i started feeling all sorts of really bizarre things & couldn't sleep... i have also heard you can have weird visions. so, don't do it on your own!!!
224877
i know that relacore may cause erratic mood swings..other than that...i have a co-worker that is taking it and is getting good results..she's quite heavy and for the past two months is noticably shedding the wait...she also hasn't had any problems.
897462
Heather, I'm sorry you're not feeling well and I'll try to give you the best advice I can, based on what you've told me.\n\nFirst, you should expect that every psychotropic medication you read about will come with side effects.  Most if not all side effects usually occur within the first two weeks and are completely manageable.  There are cases where some people will experience more severe side effects than most, but these cases are extremely rare and unlikely to happen.\n\nIt's natural to feel this way towards any type of psychotropic med, as this is unknown territory for most people and people naturally fear what they don't know.  You're Dr will be well aware of the proper titration for the medication and bring you on so you don't experience harsh side effects.\n\nFrom what you described, you discussed having mood swings.  My question from there would be, have you had a diagnosis for a certain type of mood disorder?  If the answer is yes, then Amitriptyline is going to make you worse.  \n\nAmatriptyline is part of the Tricyclic Antidepressants group and used to treat extremely low levels of depression.  For patients that have mood disorders, this is one of the worst medications you can take and will further exacerbate mania and cycling.\n\nZoloft (sertraline) is part of the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) group of antidepressants.  Again, this is a class of medication that doesn't work for those with mood disorders and will actually make your depression worse.  Zoloft happens to be the worst for mood disorders of the SSRI meds.\n\nI have no idea what you've been diagnosed for, but from what you're discussing, you are experiencing some sort of mood disorder, such as bipolar, cylcothymia or BPD, etc.  If I'm correct, it's possible that you've been misdiagnosed, where it's common for most mood disorders to be misdiagnosed as some sort of depression disorder.  If that is the case, you're either not giving your Dr all the details of how you're feeling or he/she is not experienced in treating mood disorders and you'll have to find someone else.\n\nI hope that this helps and that you get better soon.
845252
I was on the same thing for a little while. It is an anti-psychotic drug, but that doesn't mean your prescriber thinks you're psychotic, both anti-depressants and anti-psychotics are used for numerous conditions not just depression or psychosis.\nI stopped taking it because it didn't do a thing, not that I noticed anyway.\nForget any stigma you may think is attached to certain drugs of diagnosis, focus on being well and getting better and improving these things, what may have caused you to be unwell shouldn't be all you focus on, if you do that it can take over your life altogether, believe me I really do know about that, it's what happened to me.\nYou could also get a second opinion, and probably should, it's amazing how doctors diagnosis can vary so much from each other, I think it's worth seeing  another doctor even if only so YOU can look at your situation from a different angle.\nHope this helps a bit and good luck
448564
I'm bipolar. The predominant symptom with me is the depression. It is dark, empty and so incredibly lonely. I tried to commit suicide 4 years ago and that wasn't even my low point. There are other symptoms too like anxiety, paranoia, social anxiety, ocd....I've been married twice (one time for only 3 months) I've claimed personal bankruptcy twice and have moved 10 times over the past 8 years. I maintained a great career for 12 years as an illustrator but lost my job 14 months ago when I went manic and got into drugs like pot, cocaine and ecstasy. Last year I was in a mental hospital 3 times for 1-2 weeks each time. It seems like I've been on every mood stabilizer under the sun like risperdal, lithium, epival, olanzapine and anti-depressants like paxil, effexor and wellbutrin.\nI've been on an anti-seizure med called lamotrigine/lamactil and wellbutrin since January and I'm doing great (knock on wood). Currently I'm back in school ironically to become a pharmacy technician.\nAs rotten as all that stuff sounds I think there is hope for people with bipolar. The most important thing is to not make the same mistake when I stopped taking my meds. The meds are for a reason and when we feel better it's because of the meds and a good reason to keep taking them.\nI've got a daughter and not a day goes by without me praying that she never has to go through the same pain that I've gone through.
658702
I am proud of you, it sounds like you are having a nervous breakdown, but you are still sound enough to know to ask for help and not drink. You don't need the risperdal, you need a good support group of friends and family to stand behind you and to keep doing what you arre doing and that is looking for healthy and wise anwsers. You are aware that you are a mother ,and I am proud that you are not neglecting the childrens future but your including them in your life and future.Of course if the rispidal takes the edge for you  and your doc recommened it well give it a few days, you will feel a little dopey the first few days, your body has toget use to it, Your doc will titrate the dosage as you move on. I am so sorry for the breakup that you are going thru, stay strong, don't let that man get the best of you. If you haven't family or friends than seek out some help form clinics in your neighbor hood or continue to talk to your doc. don't pick up that  beer, it will only make taking the risperdal worse and then you won't be there for you children when they need you. You have an important role in life, know and learn that now. I give you credit for you asking for advice on such. continue to chat with other q and a rooms.what ever ittakes, just love your children, listen to their needs and love yourself. your husband is either an idiot or the two of you may be able to make this break up an amicable one. someitmes people grow at different times which makes it hard for one to understand another.try a marriage counsellor. god bless  you and the kids, and remember , beer and booze will make you fat and old looking before your time :)
648614
Yes, I am bipolar. I have had this problem for many years. Perhaps I showed the first symptoms as early as age 6 or 7. I know it has been with me since my early teens. I began treatment just this year. I am taking Seroquel at bed time to stabilize my mood and help me sleep. Without thr Seroquel I only sleep about 2 - 6 hours each night, averaging 4 hours. I also take Paxil in the morning to ease my depression. These medications are working very well for me.\n\nBefore I began treatment, I was depressed nearly all the time (about 80%). I was also very subject to moood swings. I would be fine one minute then mad at the world the next. Slowly I would cool down, sometimes in a few hours or it could take a few days. Then something else would set me off. I had racing thoughts that would not allow me to let go of the problem and kept me awake.\n\nSince I began treatment, almost nothing really bothers me. If something does make me angry, it is very mild and lasts only a few minutes. Racing thoughts are almost non-existant. People are not afraid to work with me. They joke with me more and actually listen when I have something to say.\n\nI suppose I am lucky in many ways. My doctor and I hit the right medications the first time around. We mad some minor dosing changes and all is well. I also have almost no side effects from the medication. Dry mouth was a minor problem at first but even that has lessened. The only real problem that I can sense from the medicine is the Seroquel does drag me down a very small amount early in the day. But that is very mild and is well worth it to be stable and not angry the whole day and night long. Yes, I consider myself very, very lucky.\n\nIf you wish to communicate with me please do. I do not know what help I may be to you. But, if I can help, I will.\n\nIf you want information on Bipolar Disorder click the link below.\n\nSincerely,\nTerry
790218
Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of risperidone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially: \nLiver disease—Higher blood levels of risperidone may occur, increasing the chance of side effects. Consult your doctor. \nPlease see the webpages for more details on Risperidone (generic name) Risperdal (brand name).
704525
First let me say that I'm sorry that you're suffering.  I would advise that you ignore all of these people who are telling you whether or not you are bipolar.  None of us are Dr's and you haven't given us the full story.\n\nBiopolar Disorder is very complex and comes in many different classifications or "flavors".  The diagnostic criteria is constantly being revised due to the fact that new research is being done and there are many misdiagnosed cases.\n\nYou may or may not have it;  You may have a different type of mood disorder, but these diagnosis don't come within days or weeks.  It takes close observation for several months or years to come to a firm diagnosis for one of these complex mood disorders. \n\nNow; analyzing what you said I can understand why your Dr thinks you're BP.  Prozac is in the antidepressant group of SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)  while these work great for cases of major depression; they are absoultely terrible for bipolar patients.  The SSRI's will trigger mania and increase bipolar depression.  For cases of BP (and other mood disorders) the front line medication is usually an anticonvulsant (mood stabilizer).  Some of the popular mood stabilizers are; Lithium, Depakote, Topamax and Lamictal.\n\nAs per the Effexor, it's part of a different group of antidipressants called MRI's (multiple reuptake inhibitor).  This is also a no no for bipolar patients, not only triggering mania, but rapid cycling (vast mood swings).  It's known that Effexor is the hardest antidpressant to stop taking and comes with the harshest withdrawal symptoms.  If you're misdiagnosed with major depression instead of bipolar disorder and your hooked on Effexor, life is going to suck.\n\nThe safest antidepressant available for bipolar patients is said to be Wellbutrin, which is also an MRI.  This should be prescribed as an adjunct medication to an anticonvulsant in treating bipolar depression.  This is a cocktail that my doc has had a tremendous amount of success with.\n\nI've been diagnosed with a few mood disorders and have gone through different Dr's and different meds for a while, before I was able to get stabilized.  The meds will only take you so far, so in addition to med management therapy, I participate in cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy to learn how to manage myself beyond the medication.\n\nThink of your support tools as if they were things that you needed in the field of battle.  Depression is your enemy, the medication is your armour and weaponry and your Dr's are your field comanders.  You'll need all three to make it out of the trenches alive.\n\nI hope this helps and that you get well soon.
70549
I am and have been for several years now. Over the past year, they have switched mine around so much that I have definitely had some of those effects. It depends on the kind though. As long as you keep your doctor informed, take them every day like you are supposed to, and never just drop them cold turkey, you should be ok. \n\nI was always very wired on Welbutrin and oppositly always tired on paxil. You may have to try a couple types before you find one that is perfect for you, but give them a couple months to reach full potency in your system. It is well worth the struggle once you start to feel like you are in control of yourself again! Trust me, I've been depress for almost 15 years now. I finally admitted it and got treatment a couple of years ago and it has made a world of difference. Make sure you have a good therapist to talk to as well. \n\nOff topic, I really like your avatar. I've seen it a couple times and it always stood out!