Risperdone - I'm upset

This drug sounded good as I sat in his office.

Positives: Works quickly for irritability and anxiety
Will ultimately work on depression
Will put me to sleep (told me to take as much as it takes to put me to sleep and then to 1/4 that dose for during the day as well).

So, I was excited..finally maybe some relief...
Stupidly I get in my car and start reading about this drug.
About 90% of the reviews say EXCESSIVE weight gain..one lady gaining 50 lbs in one month...Come on!

Can someone please tell me they have NOT gained excessive weight on this drug? Please.

I have not gained a pound, and i have been on it for nearly two years. There are many people who don't gain weight on it. Drugs.com says 44% have an increase in appetite, so just watch how much you eat, and try to keep you dose low. Some studies say the metabolic side effects are dose dependent.
What is your dosage?

hi...he didn't give me a dose..he told me to start with 1 pill 5mg..and if that didn't put me to sleep than to take 2 of them tommorow..if that works...than he said continue with 2 at night and take 1/4 of whatever works at night during the day.

If I don't fall asleep with 2...than I guess I try 3....

The thing is these pills are so small to cut...so I don't know how I would cut 1/4 if I can only tolerate 5mg.

Additionally, he said I can take these...with the Melatonin..L-Theanine..Chamomile...and Gabapentin..and ONE Lorazepam....he wasn't concerned.

But, in another breath he tells me that this drug is a stronger "tranqualizer" than Lorazepam so he thinks it will definetly calm me down with the irritability. Doesn't make sense that if it is so powerful that I can take it with all these other drugs..

I"m not a big fan of doing that (mixing them)..and may try the 5 alone tonight and see what it does.

Missy you are really fighting this at every turn it seems. Just a suggestion but you might try taking meds as prescribed for a while. You haven't even started taking this new med yet and you are already talking about taking it differently than instructed and then jacking around your other meds.

5 mg is a medium dose, and should be enough to knock you out. However i found that the lower the dose the more sedating it is. 5 mg could be activating for you. Taking two would put you at the high dose range of 10 mg. I wouldn't do that.
If your using it for sleep, depression and anxiety than 5 mg is too high of a dose for that. Most people with anxiety respond to .5 mg to 1 mg, and for depression .5 to 2 mg, As far as for sleep, i find that 1 mg is more sedating than 2 to 3 were. Most people can get by with .25 to 1 mg for sleep.

You mentioned the pills were very small, are sure you don't have .5 mg, and not 5 mg?
5 mg is normally a dosage for psychosis and schizophrenia.

Yea, I probably do have the .5 ...they are tiny.
And I told him I am a light doser
Thank you for help tonight.

I've been on risperidone since 2006, and never gained any weight on it. I did have a weird side effect of starting to lactate about 4 weeks after being on it, but that went away in a couple of weeks, but seriously freaked me out.

You're probably on .5 mg as that's a typical starting dose. I'm on 5 mg, and in Canada at least it doesn't even come in 5 mg doses. I have to take 2 1/2 2 mg tabs nightly.

For me it's a great med, and really helps my mood and calms down my anxiety.

splitimage

I'm on Invega which is related to risperidone and I have been on specifically risperidone in the past with no weight gain. Personally, I think people tend to blame their meds for a lot of things that aren't even related to it.

Shaz? I think you are correct..I do fight everything at every turn..but I'm not talking about doing meds different with this one..He said I could do what I wanted with it...to figure out what dose works...and I haven't tried it yet because I am afraid of it..and I was still in alcohol withdrawal..so I want to know how it works when I'm back to normal which feels like today..so I will try 1/2 of the 5mg tonight...again, he told me that I can do what I want..he just wants me to TRY IT.

Blue..I think you are right...I tend to eat a lot when depressed and people are probably blaming the medications because responses to this thread..people HAVE NOT gained weight...so when I take it I will be mindful of what is happening..my own eating habits or if I'm eating well and gaining weight...thank you.

I took 4mgs daily after some serious problems (with other things...). I was switched to Abilify. I now take a lot of Abilify daily, and 2mgs generic risperidone if I get particularly agitated. Its a good drug.

Prolactin elevation can happen. Tardive dyskinesia can happen with any antipsychotic. I think the deal with risperidone is that its awesome until the dosage goes too high, and then its not so great. I think prolactin levels can be assessed by blood tests and there are pills to help counteract prolactin elevation, or you could be switched to something else.

Hope things work out well for you.

stillcrazy..I like your name....lol
And thank you for your input....