Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 869903

Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by crittercuddler on December 20, 2008, at 17:35:14

I have severe depression with persistent suicidal thoughts, along with very bad OCD. (Please see my first few posts under "SSRI insomnia, restlessness" farther back on Medication board page for more info on my current condition.)

Risperdal was just prescribed for me and it is the only medication I am taking. I have taken four doses of .25mg Risperidone (generic of Risperdal) and I am feeling so strange and I am very frightened by this.

I don't feel like myself at all. Things feel kind of surreal. I am not keeping up with time well. It is very difficult for me to think. The ease at which I can usually compose an email or forum post has just evaporated. It is like my brain is in slow motion. Usually the words just flow and now I am having to spend a lot of time working at composing something. Doing anything intellectual feels difficult. My memory is being affected. Last night I was trying to do research on the computer and I had to keep reading the same stuff over and over again and I still couldn't remember what I just read. This morning I was trying to read the newspaper and I had to keep going over paragraphs again and again because when the story would mention someone's name I had to go back and verify again who it was they were talking about because I was having such a hard time remembering. I feel subdued in this really weird way. I am so uncomfortable with this sensation and it is really hard for me to endure because it has provoked my obsessions related to my mental abilities.

I know people will say that I am not really experiencing these difficulties and that it must just be my OCD, all "in my head" and stemming from my fear of medications. I need to clarify though that I FELT these sensations, THEN I started worrying about them.- Not vice a versa. So, it can't be that.

I am so worried that they will never go away if I keep taking this medicine. But at the same time I don't want to quit the medicine prematurely because that is what I always do and it has kept me in the awful place where I am so sick for the last three years.

Has anyone else experienced these difficulties on Risperdal? If so, what dose did you take and did they go away?

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by SLS on December 20, 2008, at 17:44:05

In reply to Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 20, 2008, at 17:35:14

> Risperdal was just prescribed for me

For comorbid depression and OCD, Risperdal is an excellent choice. I've been on Risperdal before. For the first few days, it made me feel pretty disgusting. I felt strange. This is something that occurs with a great many psychiatric medications. My guess is that these strange feelings will pass within a week. Either way, it is nothing to be frightened of. If Risperdal is not the right drug for you, you just stop taking it and the weirdness will go away.

Keep us up to date with how you are doing.

Good luck!


- Scott

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP. » crittercuddler

Posted by Tomatheus on December 20, 2008, at 22:17:06

In reply to Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 20, 2008, at 17:35:14

> I don't feel like myself at all. Things feel kind of surreal. I am not keeping up with time well. It is very difficult for me to think. The ease at which I can usually compose an email or forum post has just evaporated. It is like my brain is in slow motion. Usually the words just flow and now I am having to spend a lot of time working at composing something. Doing anything intellectual feels difficult. My memory is being affected. Last night I was trying to do research on the computer and I had to keep reading the same stuff over and over again and I still couldn't remember what I just read. This morning I was trying to read the newspaper and I had to keep going over paragraphs again and again because when the story would mention someone's name I had to go back and verify again who it was they were talking about because I was having such a hard time remembering. I feel subdued in this really weird way. I am so uncomfortable with this sensation and it is really hard for me to endure because it has provoked my obsessions related to my mental abilities.

crittercuddler,

What you're experiencing is sedation. It is a common side effect of Risperdal and most antipsychotics. During the month that I spent on Zyprexa (a medication that I took before I became psychotic), I felt the same way that you've been feeling on Risperdal.

I've also tried Risperdal and felt sedated for the first day that I was taking the medication, but the sedation faded after that. It's possible that it might fade for you too if you stay on the Risperdal for longer. Unfortunately, it's also possible that the sedation will persist as it did with me when I took Zyprexa.

I hope you get better results from Risperdal in the long term. I must admit that I'm personally biased against the use of dopamine-blocking antipsychotics for depression because they've tended to make my depressive symptoms worse, but maybe you're among the depressives who stand to benefit from those medications.

Tomatheus

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP. » crittercuddler

Posted by Phillipa on December 21, 2008, at 0:34:59

In reply to Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 20, 2008, at 17:35:14

I really relate to what you're feeling as also some OCD and I am afraid of meds so any feelings become intensified when change a med. Just one question why the antipsychotic? I haven't looked at the above thread that may have the answer but I do know what fear of meds is like. Let me find and read thread before any further comment. Good luck Love Phillipa

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP. » crittercuddler

Posted by rvanson on December 21, 2008, at 4:27:25

In reply to Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 20, 2008, at 17:35:14

This is a common reaction to what used to be called "anti-psychotic" medications, of which Risperdal is a second generation member of.

I had a similar reaction to Zyprexa, a med in the same class. I am as well have been drunk as everything felt weird and my lack of reaction-time was a major problem at work. Needless to say I quit it.

You need to contact your Pdoc as soon as possible. Unless you have been on some main line anti-depressant SSRI type medications, in my opinion this med should not have been prescribed.

But then I am not a doctor of medicine; just a concerned person who has studied up on such treatments and medications, over many years.

Best wishes to you and I hope you find some medication that will help you feel better.


> I have severe depression with persistent suicidal thoughts, along with very bad OCD. (Please see my first few posts under "SSRI insomnia, restlessness" farther back on Medication board page for more info on my current condition.)
>
> Risperdal was just prescribed for me and it is the only medication I am taking. I have taken four doses of .25mg Risperidone (generic of Risperdal) and I am feeling so strange and I am very frightened by this.
>
> I don't feel like myself at all. Things feel kind of surreal. I am not keeping up with time well. It is very difficult for me to think. The ease at which I can usually compose an email or forum post has just evaporated. It is like my brain is in slow motion. Usually the words just flow and now I am having to spend a lot of time working at composing something. Doing anything intellectual feels difficult. My memory is being affected. Last night I was trying to do research on the computer and I had to keep reading the same stuff over and over again and I still couldn't remember what I just read. This morning I was trying to read the newspaper and I had to keep going over paragraphs again and again because when the story would mention someone's name I had to go back and verify again who it was they were talking about because I was having such a hard time remembering. I feel subdued in this really weird way. I am so uncomfortable with this sensation and it is really hard for me to endure because it has provoked my obsessions related to my mental abilities.
>
> I know people will say that I am not really experiencing these difficulties and that it must just be my OCD, all "in my head" and stemming from my fear of medications. I need to clarify though that I FELT these sensations, THEN I started worrying about them.- Not vice a versa. So, it can't be that.
>
> I am so worried that they will never go away if I keep taking this medicine. But at the same time I don't want to quit the medicine prematurely because that is what I always do and it has kept me in the awful place where I am so sick for the last three years.
>
> Has anyone else experienced these difficulties on Risperdal? If so, what dose did you take and did they go away?
>
>

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by crittercuddler on December 21, 2008, at 5:40:59

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP. » crittercuddler, posted by rvanson on December 21, 2008, at 4:27:25

Friday evening and this evening I developed awful crying spells on both nights. Friday evening I cried for hours and tonight my crying led to a panic attack of some sort. My muscles were shaking very badly and I felt extremely unstable. I have not felt so unsafe in my own skin since I was last admitted to the hospital for my depression back in June of this year. I was so concerned with this rapid deterioration over the last few days that had my doctor call me this evening so we could try and figure out what to do. I was concerned that I would have to go to the hospital again and I did not want to do that.
Thankfully after talking with him I did calm down some. He told me to discontinue the Risperdal and he called me in some Valium just to help the acute situation. I went ahead and took the Valium even though I am proudly six months benzodiazepine free from the long term use of Klonopin. I was just desperate for some peace.

I too was concerned that I was taking Risperdal while not currently being on an anti-depressant, especially with the low dose of Risperdal likely not having any indirect effect on serotonin but instead only working to block dopamine. The doctor had reasons for prescribing it alone because I have had an awful time tolerating even the smallest doses of anti-depressants for some time now. He has been wanting to achieve a kind of soothing of my nervous system if you will, before he tries adding an anti-depressant again. I am not comfortable with that method though because I am so deeply depressed and feel suicidal much of the time. I just feel like it is too big of a gamble for me to not be on an honest to goodness anti-depressant. I know he feels that way too, but we have been banging our heads against the wall trying to get me to tolerate an SSRI successfully. I did try Remeron as well and it doesn't agree with me either, but for different reasons. I am hoping if we can find something to help me sleep that I will be able to take an SSRI or SNRI or something. Terrible insomnia is my biggest problem. I have not wanted to take something every night for sleep when trying to start an A/D because I don't want to become dependent on a medicine to sleep- but I think it is worth the inconvenience. I just need to tell myself that it is a means to and end and then I can stop the sleep medicine. (I have dependency fears from my ordeal with Klonopin) I am supposed to call him back on Monday and I guess he said we will work out a new plan then.

Thank you both for the insight. I must say though that I would not call what I have been feeling sedation. I mean, I don't feel drowsy in the normal sense of the word... but I guess it is kind of like my mind is half asleep...

I hope these feelings induced by the Risperdal go away soon.

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP. » crittercuddler

Posted by SLS on December 21, 2008, at 6:26:17

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 21, 2008, at 5:40:59

Hi.

> I too was concerned that I was taking Risperdal while not currently being on an anti-depressant, especially with the low dose of Risperdal likely not having any indirect effect on serotonin but instead only working to block dopamine.

It works on serotonin receptors also. There are quite a few studies that indicate Risperdal is useful in treating OCD. If depression is SECONDARY to OCD and anxiety, it might improve significantly with Risperdal, even without an antidepressant. It would be nice if you could get Luvox or Anafranil on board, of course. Memantine (Namenda) is also a treatment for OCD that does not share the reuptake properties of the antidepressants. Risperdal and memantine might help in the absence of an SSRI, I don't know. You might want to look into it.

Don't worry too much about theory at this point. Go with evidence-based treatments. I'm sure your doctor has.

In other words, don't get too smart.

:-)

Neuroscientists aren't even that smart yet. (They get smarter each day, though).


- Scott

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by crittercuddler on December 21, 2008, at 12:26:04

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP. » crittercuddler, posted by SLS on December 21, 2008, at 6:26:17

Scott, just so I know, can you please explain how it works on serotonin? I know it is a 5H2A antagonist and a D2 blocker or whatever... and that those two actions "push and pull" on eachtother if you will... so that dopamine is not completely blocked because 5HT2A antagonism causes dopamine release which fights with the dopamine blockade. This makes the risk of EPS lower. Yet, I do not understand how there is any increase of serotonin....

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP. » crittercuddler

Posted by SLS on December 21, 2008, at 14:15:09

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 21, 2008, at 12:26:04

> Scott, just so I know, can you please explain how it works on serotonin? I know it is a 5H2A antagonist and a D2 blocker or whatever... and that those two actions "push and pull" on eachtother if you will... so that dopamine is not completely blocked because 5HT2A antagonism causes dopamine release which fights with the dopamine blockade. This makes the risk of EPS lower. Yet, I do not understand how there is any increase of serotonin....

I didn't say there was. :-) I just noted that Risperdal is a 5-HT2a receptor antagonist. You have a good understand the dynamics here.

Are you wondering why a drug like Risperdal might help with OCD?


- Scott

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by desolationrower on December 21, 2008, at 16:16:27

In reply to Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 20, 2008, at 17:35:14

Since you're quite sensitive to meds, i wonder if a lower dose would help. I had a similar feeling to waht you describe...not a tiredness, but a blackness, a kind of veil over my mind. It was at 4mg of risperdal though, i benefited more from i think .75 or 1mg. Even if a dose usually works for most people, it might not be the right amount for you. And it also might improve with time. I think sometimes medicine makes us feel weird until we learn how to use the new way of being that the medicine creates in ways that are helpful and get used to using them.

-d/r

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by crittercuddler on December 23, 2008, at 15:23:21

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by desolationrower on December 21, 2008, at 16:16:27


Scott- No, I think I know why it helps OCD. It can help with the racing negative thoughts. Right? Isn't that how it helps OCD? If you can explain it more thoroughly I wouldn't mind.

d/r- I was only taking .25mg, which from what I gather, is already very low.

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by desolationrower on December 24, 2008, at 1:00:18

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 23, 2008, at 15:23:21

>
> Scott- No, I think I know why it helps OCD. It can help with the racing negative thoughts. Right? Isn't that how it helps OCD? If you can explain it more thoroughly I wouldn't mind.
>
> d/r- I was only taking .25mg, which from what I gather, is already very low.

Ccuddler - You're right, it is very low. But that just means its less than most people take. The dosage guidlines just mean that 98% of people need that amount. There can be one person who needs 16mg, and another who needs .1mg...take the dose that feels right for you.

-d/r

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by crittercuddler on December 24, 2008, at 8:30:14

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by desolationrower on December 24, 2008, at 1:00:18

d/r-

I guess you didn't see that my doctor has told me to discontinue it for now anyway.

He put me on Trazodone 50mg. It is going okay so far. I think we are still working on a means to and end, with the end of course being me back on an SSRI.

Thanks. :-)

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP.

Posted by desolationrower on December 25, 2008, at 0:58:52

In reply to Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 24, 2008, at 8:30:14

well hey, a med that your body isn't up in arms about. a good nights sleep isn't a bad start.

i missed the discontinuation when i read through the first time. i guess my brain isn't function up at the level of some other people's around around here :)

-d/r

 

Re: Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HEL

Posted by ChrisUK88 on January 3, 2009, at 9:24:09

In reply to Feeling so strange on Risperdal.... Please HELP., posted by crittercuddler on December 20, 2008, at 17:35:14

I just wanted to add something here.

I too experienced everyone of your symptoms, and wanted to provide some insight into why they happened.

When Respiridone lessons dopamine, acetylcholine is increased, this in turn leads to muscle stiffness, cramps, spasms, panicky feelings, thinking too much/analyzing.

Fortunately many anti-psychotics lesson acetylcholine (anti-cholinergic) aswell which lessons those effects; like Olanzapine.

This would explain the relief people get from diphenhydramine (potent anti-cholinergic) when in this circumstance.

Risperidone on the other hand doesn't have any anti-cholinergic effects, leading to those symptoms in many people.

Take it easy.
Chris.


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