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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Daisy on October 9, 2001, at 9:06:13
Hi,
Has anyone had problems with stopping Risperdal? I've been taking a low dose (0.5 mg/day) for about a year now and would like to get off it because I've gained 15 pounds while taking it. But whenever I try to drop the dose to .25 mg, I get extremely irritable and angry within a day or so. I've persisted with it for up to a week with no improvement in the irritability before giving in and going back to my usual dose. I've also tried replacing it with another AP (Seroquel) with the result that I was exhausted, sleeping 18-20 hours a day, and extremely irritable.
Anyone else had this happen? Is it withdrawal? I'd suspect that it was related to hypomania except that it also happened when I switched to Seroquel. Any input would be very much appreciated...
Posted by HenryO on October 10, 2001, at 1:35:58
In reply to Problems stopping Risperdal, posted by Daisy on October 9, 2001, at 9:06:13
Scary. I'll be watching this post. good luck
Posted by SLS on October 12, 2001, at 10:20:14
In reply to Problems stopping Risperdal, posted by Daisy on October 9, 2001, at 9:06:13
> Hi,
>
> Has anyone had problems with stopping Risperdal? I've been taking a low dose (0.5 mg/day) for about a year now and would like to get off it because I've gained 15 pounds while taking it. But whenever I try to drop the dose to .25 mg, I get extremely irritable and angry within a day or so. I've persisted with it for up to a week with no improvement in the irritability before giving in and going back to my usual dose. I've also tried replacing it with another AP (Seroquel) with the result that I was exhausted, sleeping 18-20 hours a day, and extremely irritable.
>
> Anyone else had this happen? Is it withdrawal? I'd suspect that it was related to hypomania except that it also happened when I switched to Seroquel. Any input would be very much appreciated...
Hi Daisy.One possibility is that a depression is emerging that had previously been kept in check by the antidepressant properties of Risperdal. Very often, anger and irritability appear before depressed mood.
I couldn't guess as to what are the chances that this explains your experience. You might look at your case history as an index of probability. There are alternative explanations, but this is one worth keeping in mind.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by vicky on October 13, 2001, at 16:02:40
In reply to Problems stopping Risperdal, posted by Daisy on October 9, 2001, at 9:06:13
> Hi,
>
> Has anyone had problems with stopping Risperdal? I've been taking a low dose (0.5 mg/day) for about a year now and would like to get off it because I've gained 15 pounds while taking it. But whenever I try to drop the dose to .25 mg, I get extremely irritable and angry within a day or so. I've persisted with it for up to a week with no improvement in the irritability before giving in and going back to my usual dose. I've also tried replacing it with another AP (Seroquel) with the result that I was exhausted, sleeping 18-20 hours a day, and extremely irritable.
>
> Anyone else had this happen? Is it withdrawal? I'd suspect that it was related to hypomania except that it also happened when I switched to Seroquel. Any input would be very much appreciated...Hi I took Seroquel for 3 weeks, and it was the worst
3 weeks of my life.
was on prozac, perphenazine, (an older antipsychotic)
and buspar. Dr. dropped the perphenazine,and added the seroquel
BIG MISTAKE
SLEPT 18 hours a day
extreme fatigue, and finally nervous breakdown
now back on Prozac, perphenazine, buspar, and something new
Provigil (for energy) and every thing is
fine!!!!PS. I did try risperdol for awhile in place
of the perhenazine, but got a headache I believe from it
so switched back.
I would like to resume the risperdol (try it again)as I feel
it has less side effects then the perphenazine
Posted by Daisy on October 16, 2001, at 6:56:45
In reply to Re: Problems stopping Risperdal, posted by SLS on October 12, 2001, at 10:20:14
> Hi Daisy.
>
> One possibility is that a depression is emerging that had previously been kept in check by the antidepressant properties of Risperdal. Very often, anger and irritability appear before depressed mood.
>
> I couldn't guess as to what are the chances that this explains your experience. You might look at your case history as an index of probability. There are alternative explanations, but this is one worth keeping in mind.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - ScottI had no idea that it also acts as an antidepressant. That could definitely explain things; when I'm not properly medicated, I'm about equally likely to become depressed or manic, both of which make me highly irritable ;p I guess it just hadn't occured to me that it could be depression since I've been taking it to prevent mania.
I feel a little better now -- I was worrying that it had permanently warped my brain chemistry. I think I'll look into boosting my antidepressant temporarily and have another go at stopping it.
Thanks,
Daisy
Posted by Shar on October 16, 2001, at 9:24:04
In reply to Re: Problems stopping Risperdal » SLS, posted by Daisy on October 16, 2001, at 6:56:45
A while back I reported about stopping Risperdal because doc was concerned about side effects.
This seemed like a good thread to do a final report, if nobody minds my butting in.
It's taken about 10 days for me to begin feeling normal (whatever that is) again. The extreme grogginess is gone (at one point I couldn't drive or operate heavy machinery), the restless legs have calmed down mostly, the involuntary muscle contractions have lessened, muscle weakness seems to be a thing of the past. Am having a lot of headaches, but that could be general tension I guess.
Of course, I have no energy at all (Risp was very energizing for me) and I'm spiraling down quite steadily, have little tolerance for being fu*ked over by life, things still a bit hazy.
Earlier on, I thought I was in a movie. That was a pleasant diversion for a few days. Now I'm back to the real world.
Doc and I will meet to get another med going; thanks to those of you who made recommendations--I have written them down and will discuss them with my pdoc.
I was surprised at how long it took to 'get over' risperdal since it seems to have a short half life.
Go figure--
Shar
Posted by Phil on October 18, 2001, at 6:42:59
In reply to Last gasp on Risperdal, posted by Shar on October 16, 2001, at 9:24:04
Good luck on that, Shar. Sorry it's been rough lately but we evidently weren't given the easy road. Damn, where's the miracle?
Sorry about butting in, too.
P
Posted by Daisy on October 18, 2001, at 17:20:53
In reply to Last gasp on Risperdal, posted by Shar on October 16, 2001, at 9:24:04
> I was surprised at how long it took to 'get over' risperdal since it seems to have a short half life.
>I'm surprised, too -- if I miss a dose, I can get breakthrough manic symptoms very quickly, so I thought it would be really easy to stop taking it, that it would be out of my system pretty quickly.
I guess it just it likes to have the last word with some of us...
This is the end of the thread.
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