I no longer know exactly what's wrong.

I've been denying that I have major depression until recently. Only few weeks ago I came to peace with that diagnosis.

I'm already having undue guilty feelings related to some other matters. Some symptoms and complications were going up and down recently. But I wouldn't say that I have been hypo-manic.

Today my pdoc started me on risperidone. This is after a two whole years.
I was on Lexapro 20mg and Xanax, Ambien if needed.

Now changed to Lexapro and Risperidone with Melatonin when needed.

I wonder why my pdoc decided to put me on risperidone. I forgot to ask that question then.

Maybe he is using risperidone for treatment resistant depression

hi. low(ish) doses of risperidone can help depression. risperidone is an "atypical" tranquilizer, so its usually easier to tolerate than some of the older options. can also help agitation, anxiety, mood instability, hypomania, etc.

melatonin is an interesting choice. it helps a lot of people w/ sleep, obviously. its also a potent antioxidant. some small studies have used high doses (10mgs) in people w/ tardive dyskinesia. many people showed good results. some "alternative" health people think those of us on the tranquilizers should take antioxidants and vitamins while on the drugs, to reduce the risk of TD and make it easier to tolerate the tranquilizer. That's what I do, and I have 0 EPS (tremor, twitches, etc.) and 0 TD, after years on Abilify.

good luck. :-)

I assume he is taking you off habit forming medications and tries to replace them. Risperdal to replace Xanax... bit weird to me. If it works, fine. I assume you haven't gotten addicted to Xanax so it is OK to just quit.. or that would be a problem.

Good luck with risperidone. I hope it helps. I was on it a long time ago, it helped. Would you be able to call your doc and ask why? Or just wait till next appt.?