I've used both abilify & risperidone but for psychotic depression not schizophrenia. I'll tell you about my experience of risperidone's side effects, but you should remember that everyone is different so, if you want to try risperidone then you should go for it and see how it works for you.

I don't want to put you off, but I found risperidone to be horrible for me. But then I had little problem with abilify so we clearly respond differently to these things. Basically it got rid of the voices but it just kind of put a blanket over everything so that I couldn't think properly and was really sedated to the point that it was obvious to those around me. I was only on 1mg, then dropped to 0.5mg before I had to come off it. Maybe if I'd stuck with it the side effects would have decreased but i couldn't cope with not being able to think; it really freaked me out. However I know lots of people who have had little problem with risperidone and found that it really helps with their psychosis. All they got was a bit sedated so just take it at night.

Hope that helps. See what your pdoc has to say.

*Willow*