Risperdal

Hi there! I have a question or 2 about Risperdal. Been seeing my psy. and ther. for about 6-8 months now. I take zoloft for depression, adderall for ADD. I feel better than I was, but still not even close to where I should be.

Saw psych. yesterday, and I finally trust her (think she knows her stuff). After describing my 'self sabotaging' lifestyle (I never tried to physically hurt myself, or anyone else- just stupid stuff) she strongly suggested I take Risperdal (she said it would help me to focus more--- I have a big problem with focusing). She gave me .25 samples, and to take one a night at bedtime.

Being a bit neurotic, I researched this drug online. Is this drug ONLY prescribed for those with bipolar, or schizophrenic disorder? If she thought I had one or both of these, I know she would have told me, she's very upfront with me.

I'm afraid to take this- Am I being unreasonable? ARGGG I just don't know what to do. I'm scared.

Any advice/ info would be VERY MUCH appreciated.
thanks! Tracy

no, i think its presctibed for other things too. I took it but had some weird side effects(i started lactating ) But i was prescribed it to help with my anxiety, to help with my Borderline Personality and to settle my thinking. So I think its totally possible to see it prescribed for other things.

I took Risperdal for about a year and it worked great for me. It really made a huge difference for me once I added that to my antidepressant - before Risperdal I didn't see much improvement from just the AD. I felt better almost immediately after I started taking it. At the time it was prescribed to me, major depression was my only diagnosis. (Since then, that's been changed to bipolar.) The only thing I didn't like about it was the weight gain - which was significant. Also, it made me restless, but another med. was added to counteract that and it never bothered me as long as I remembered to take that other pill.

I've known other folks who have taken it who were not bipolar or schizophrenic. I think lots of drugs are used for things they aren't specifically approved for - don't they call that "off-label."

If you think it might help, I wouldn't worry about what the prescribing info. says it's specifically for.

Thanks JonB and Rainbowzz!
I feel a bit more comfortable taking this med after what you've said. Maybe I will try it for awhile- hopefully I'll see an improvement.
Thanks again!
Tracy

i had a patient who was prescribed it by her doctor and it caused her to stumble and fall a lot. she was "unfocused".....as soon as it was dropped, she became much more alert and quit falling. that's my only experience with risperdal.

I took it for years (like 6 or 7) to help with self-injury urges. It took the edge off the extreme agitation in a hurry and was helpful as a mild tranquilizer. I miss it, frankly, and would like it back!

Candy

I know that it was used and still is for many research trial. I myself took it for the reason of in Psychi's words "To help her come back to reality and relax."