Posted by 4wd on November 3, 2005, at 22:56:24
In reply to Re: Risperdal ever make any one worse? » 4wd, posted by SLS on November 2, 2005, at 22:44:15
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your thoughtful and insightful post. I had about decided I had better quit the Risperdal right away even though I was feeling better now. I guess I wouldn't be so scared of things if I weren't already so anxious.
EPS includes involuntary body movements, muscle rigidity, and akathisia. So far, you have not experienced any of these things.
No, and at the low dose I'm taking, I don't expect I will. I have the option to increase to .5mg but as long as .25 is doing okay I think I'll give it another week or so and see how it goes before trying to raise it.
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> All of the newer atypical neuroleptics, including Risperdal, have a much lower incidence to EPS and TD compared to the older ones (Thorazine, Haldol, etc.) Of the newer ones, Risperdal appears to act most like the older ones in several ways. This might be why you have been given negative feedback about it.I kept wondering why no one seemed to be on it. But the other APs haven't worked for me except for Zyprexa and since I'm less than a year into recovery from 30 years of bulimia, I can't risk messing that up.
However, it is generally thought that significant risks with Risperdal occur only at dosages of 6.0mg and higher. As an augmentor of antidepressants to treat non-psychotic depression, the dosages used are generally 2.0mg and less. It does work.
It is working. My mood is better for the last three days. I have actually had three good days in a row now. I saw my pdoc today, jubilant. He was a bit more cautious but wants me to continue the Risperdal for now. It might even be helping with anxiety a tiny bit but the early waking up from the ball of jittery nervousness rolling around in my stomach has gotten a bit worse.
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> Your anxiety might be a component of your depression rather than a separate disorder. When the depression is treated successfully, so might the anxiety along with it.The increased anxiety did coincide with increased depression. I'm not sure which was the instigator. I had been fairly depressed on Effexor for a while but not anxious. When I switched to Cymbalta the depression didn't improve but the anxiety started getting bigger and bigger. And it has stayed with me now through another trial of Effexor, then Celexa, Lexapro and Luvox. Its' better now, though. It's just anxiety now. Last year this time it was outright terror.
Perhaps this can be accomplished in the future without using Risperdal. Just keep working with your doctor to try different treatments. I doubt Risperdal will be necessary long-term.
I don't intend to stay on it indefinitely. I'm being sent to another endocrinologist for an adrenal workup. My pdoc told me that right now we are using band aid treatment for symptoms while we try to figure out what's causing this. (The fairly sudden onset of severe anxiety a year ago).
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> How are you handling drug trials right now? Are you trying new things? Have you ever tried an MAOI? How about Cymbalta?
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I actually answered your post last night right after you wrote it and included a list of meds and just as I was about to finish it up, the power went out and I lost the whole thing. Let's see, I've triedSinequan
trazadone
imipramine
desipramine
Prozac
Zoloft
Buspar
Serzone
Effexor several times
Celexa
Lexapro
Paxil
nortriptyline
amytriptyline
Cymbalta
Remeron
Luvox
Ativan
Xanax
Klonopin
Seroquel
Geodon
Zyprexa
Risperdal
Atarax
Inderaland various combinations. Never tried an MAOI. It makes sense, I guess, but I had an overwhelming problem with insomnia for over 20 years and I'm very fearful of messing up my newfound ability to fall asleep easily and naturally. (never mind that I now wake up unrested after 6 hours instead)
I am excited for you about the mifepristone trial. Have you experienced any benefit at all yet from the dexamethasone trial? Everybody on the board is going to be waiting to hear how the mifepristone works for you and keeping our fingers crossed that this will be the one that does it.Thanks again, Scott.
Marsha
poster:4wd
thread:573941
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051031/msgs/575217.html