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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on December 14, 2008, at 1:13:09
Isn't Risperdal only approved for schizophrenia and bipolar mania?
I don't have either, at least I hope not, but I'm taking 1mg Risperdal right now and I've discovered it really helps me. What does that mean?
It really helps my borderline personality and anxiety. I always used to think my problems were wholly psychological, but it is surprising that meds help me so much.
I hope I can still overcome my problems with therapy and go med free.
My pdoc tried reducing my Risperdal when I was better, but I went downhill fast, back to old behaviours. My pdoc thought I was ready because I had learned new coping skills.
It just sucks to think I rely on a med right now.
Do I have borderline personality or what? Isn't that overcome through therapy? (No answer needed, I'm just asking questions out loud to myself.)
Posted by Racer on December 14, 2008, at 9:16:32
In reply to Risperdal off label use, posted by Deneb on December 14, 2008, at 1:13:09
Deneb, You've overcome a great deal through therapy. You have learned new coping skills. What you haven't had yet is a lot of time to practice them. That will take time.
Additionally, even if your problems are primarily psychological in terms of etiology, they still have physical symptoms -- your anxiety will feel physical, for instance, right? Even though you know it's an emotional response, you still are aware of the physical arousal. That's a good place for meds to act. Your body and your mind are not entirely separate, you know.
If the medication helps, continue taking it and continue receiving benefits from it. You'll get to a place where you won't need it so much anymore, but that is likely to take a while.
And Deneb? Has it occurred to you that maybe the stress of going to school while living at home where your mother AND your sister are around far too often might be part of the situational stew that affects your psychological resilience?
Posted by jakeo29 on December 14, 2008, at 10:03:41
In reply to Risperdal off label use, posted by Deneb on December 14, 2008, at 1:13:09
I am also prescribed Risperdone off-label at bed time to help treat atypical depression and Narcolepsy. Also it may be helpful for me to stabilize attention seeking behavioral impulses associated with Aspergers. Risperdal appears to help me achieve a deeper sleep at night, and with a low dose, allowing to make me feel more awake during the day. GHB or Zyrem is the medication that really is approved to support this idea, however I do not meet the strict requirements set aside with the FDA on getting it prescribed. I am thinking about abilify at low doses because it may do like the Risperdal at night, but further improve depressive and motivation symptoms during the day.
Posted by bleauberry on December 14, 2008, at 11:13:30
In reply to Risperdal off label use, posted by Deneb on December 14, 2008, at 1:13:09
A common misperception amont doctors and patients is that drugs are only intended for their FDA approved uses. Each FDA approval requires millions of dollars and years of time, not to mention the political games behind the scenes. If a pharm company were to get FDA approval for everything a drug could possibly do, it would be in clinical trials for decades and cost billions. They just can't do that. So the most likely use of the med is focused on. In this case, Risperdal for schizophrenia.
Risperdal, or any of its cousins, can and do play a role in treating other symptoms, including things like anxiety, phobias, delusions, personality disorders, depression, anorexia, insomnia, autism, and treatment resistant depression when used to augment an antidepressant. They can also worsen any of the above. It varies widely from person to person because while each body is basically the same, there are dramatic differences in genes and environmental insults.
I have said it here often, that I think it is a common trap for patients and doctors to stay within a confined "bubble" of treatment options depending on the "supposed" diagnosis. There is no black and white, there is no right or wrong, there is no surefire strategy. The diagnosis itself is purely subjective, and will vary from one doctor to another. Therefore I feel it is important to expand the list of treatment options beyond just the ones that are "supposedly" good for a particular "diagnosis".
When all normal and logical treatments failed:
People with anxiety have improved on amphetamines.
People with fatigue have improved on antipsychotics.
People with anxiety have improved on lithium.
And the list could go on and on.I would not put much credence in your diagnosis and I would not spend any effort in wondering why or how it works for. Just be glad that it does. With your newfound lease on life, go out and take advantage of it at every moment of every day.
The world is full of accidents. In your case, Risperdal is what I call a "happy accident". :-)
Posted by Phillipa on December 14, 2008, at 11:14:17
In reply to Re: Risperdal off label use, posted by jakeo29 on December 14, 2008, at 10:03:41
Deneb personally I think it's great that the resperidol is helping you so much while you learn to deal with problems you've come so far. And it seems to be a great med for you. I'd feel really lucky and happy if I also could find a med that helps so much. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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