Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by iowamoo on April 26, 2014, at 22:43:14
Currently taking .25 risperdal.
My problems are anger and mood issues mainly.
Risperdal keeps me level headed and keeps me from shooting off my big mouth and hurting others and arguing.I'm a bit concerned about taking it though long term. The psych Dr. Thinks I should try lamictal since I'm worried about risperdal.
My question it's for those that have tried both how they compare in how they control these things I have and how you generally felt like numb, weight gain, side effects etc..I really hope to hear a lot of reviews and thanks!
Posted by iowamoo on April 26, 2014, at 23:15:24
In reply to question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal, posted by iowamoo on April 26, 2014, at 22:43:14
I forgot to check box for email.notification
Posted by klein on April 27, 2014, at 8:38:05
In reply to question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal, posted by iowamoo on April 26, 2014, at 22:43:14
> Currently taking .25 risperdal.
> My problems are anger and mood issues mainly.
> Risperdal keeps me level headed and keeps me from shooting off my big mouth and hurting others and arguing.
>
> I'm a bit concerned about taking it though long term. The psych Dr. Thinks I should try lamictal since I'm worried about risperdal.
>
> My question it's for those that have tried both how they compare in how they control these things I have and how you generally felt like numb, weight gain, side effects etc..I really hope to hear a lot of reviews and thanks!If it's helping with the anger problems, why are you worried about taking Risperdal long term?
I've taken both meds. Strangely enough, the Risperdal actually triggered very violent anger in me.
I took Risperdal (0.5 to 1mg) for 3 months to control uncontrollable racing, obtrusive thoughts that were -presumable- being caused by the psychoanalytic therapy I was doing at the time. The analyst himself recommended consulting my doc. The Risperdal worked very well for this but after a couple of months I began to experience extreme, explosive anger along with episodes of violence / rage - 100% unlike me, I'm very laid back and rarely get angry, and certainly not to that extent. My doc whisked me off Risperdal and the anger vanished.
I didn't get numb emotions from Risperdal... except for the anger of course.. maybe my emotions were a bit muted, a bit like SSRI-induced emotional anesthesia, but nothing major.
Weight gain was minimal. It was slightly activating, but I could still sleep at night. No other side effects I can recall. Overall I wasn't too impressed, but it did help the racing thoughts while I was having them.
I took Lamictal years ago for anxiolytic effect and to stabilize my depressive mood a bit, augmenting Lexapro and benzos:
IME it worked very well for mood issues... and for just about anything, really. Anxiety, depression... I felt great, I found it to be very effective. I only dropped it because I got a rash during a long vacation and, as I was going to be unable to see a doc for several days, I freaked out.
I assume that, with it being a very potent mood stabilizer, it could very well help with your anger.
As for side effects: Other than the malignant rash thing (which is, in practice, very rare - my rash turned out to be just a random, unrelated rash) Lamictal's profile is quite tolerable. I felt "off" for a day or two when I started it and each time I raised the dose, but it was no biggie (and eventually well worth it)
At 100mg I got noticeable hair loss (taking folic acid solved the problem), tiredness (so I switched to PM dosing and slept like a baby, waking up very refreshed).. The main issue that DID bother me was that I developed cognitive difficulties, I started to have a very bad work recall problem and my grammar (which is bad enough already) was completely shot. As you can see, I usually ramble, well the emails I wrote while on Lamictal were downright incomprehensible.
Lamictal was completely weight-neutral for me.
Definitely no numbness. In fact, I felt peaceful and collected.
Very good anxiolytic too, with it being an antiepileptic I quit my benzos without a hitch.
Now I want to start taking it again, lol.
BTW, I'm still unclear as to why you're worried about Risperdal. You could always try its active metabolite Invega (paliperidone) which is quite similar to Risperdal and supposedly has less side effects (less weight gain, less anxiety)
OK, I hope this helps :) Good luck - keep us posted.
ps I really do feel for you and your anger problems and I hope that your next step will help.
Posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2014, at 9:48:54
In reply to Re: question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal » iowamoo, posted by klein on April 27, 2014, at 8:38:05
Why so many on antipsychotics now. Why not the tried and true benzos with no weight gain issues and no long term side effects. So little is known about the antipsyotics and if not bipolar why a mood stabilizer? Seems like people are taking too many meds. Phillipa
Posted by iowamoo on April 27, 2014, at 10:03:03
In reply to Re: question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal, posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2014, at 9:48:54
Please help if you have suggestions!
I have mood and anger issues that are destroying my life! Risperdal helps so much but am having anxiety on it anyways. I was just looking into vitamins for this, I found vitamin D, B complex, exercise of course and fish oil. I have been weaning down from the risperdal and an at half of the .25 and I want off it, I take valium as a backup and was taking it daily with the risperdal but now that I've decreased the dose I'm not using the valium, it was two weeks filled with awful anxiety and such body tension at only .25 mgs that valium didn't help much, I could of waited it out to see if it went away but I just couldn't take it anymoreRisperdal gave me energy, made me happy, I smiled, laughed, cleaned my home, had an interest in doing things and more already just blah again, just sitting here again frustrated, I am NOT depressed though but risperdal have me motivation and nothing else did so why? !
I'm going to try this vitamin route so wish me luck. I see psych Dr. May 16th and was going to ask about lamictal out invega because I don't know what else to do...I want risperdal feeling back without that anxiety :( and Soooooo does my hubby
Posted by klein on April 27, 2014, at 10:56:21
In reply to Re: question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal, posted by iowamoo on April 27, 2014, at 10:03:03
> Please help if you have suggestions!
> I have mood and anger issues that are destroying my life! Risperdal helps so much but am having anxiety on it anyways. I was just looking into vitamins for this, I found vitamin D, B complex, exercise of course and fish oil. I have been weaning down from the risperdal and an at half of the .25 and I want off it, I take valium as a backup and was taking it daily with the risperdal but now that I've decreased the dose I'm not using the valium, it was two weeks filled with awful anxiety and such body tension at only .25 mgs that valium didn't help much, I could of waited it out to see if it went away but I just couldn't take it anymore
>
> Risperdal gave me energy, made me happy, I smiled, laughed, cleaned my home, had an interest in doing things and more already just blah again, just sitting here again frustrated, I am NOT depressed though but risperdal have me motivation and nothing else did so why? !
>
> I'm going to try this vitamin route so wish me luck. I see psych Dr. May 16th and was going to ask about lamictal out invega because I don't know what else to do...I want risperdal feeling back without that anxiety :( and Soooooo does my hubbyIowamoo,
It's very important to tell your doc if you feel restless or anxious on Risperdal, call him. There are specific non-benzo drugs that can take care of the issue such as Artane.
I read a few of your previous posts:
Diabetes and seizures are potential side effects, but your current dose of Risperdal is very low. Your fears are not unfounded, but the risk of developing any of these conditions is minimal.
Risperdal is available as a long-acting injection that you get once every few weeks (Risperdal Consta) which could also help eventually.
The benefits of taking Risperdal might far outweigh any potential risks for you.
But right now, I think that it's very important to contact your doctor to describe to him what you're feeling very specifically. Don't wait 2 weeks, why suffer needlessly
Please keep us posted.
Posted by Beckett on May 7, 2014, at 2:15:49
In reply to question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal, posted by iowamoo on April 26, 2014, at 22:43:14
Hi iowamoo,
You have wrestled with the risperdal issue for some time. I really understand your concerns about taking antipsychotics. I took .25 mg of risperdal, and I felt it really helped me. And the dose really is so small. I didn't experience side effect. It sounds like the benefits you describe are great. I think to experience such a response is wonderful. I take lamictal right now, and except for word recall, I like it. I suspect you want to avoid polypharmacy, and I understand, but would you benefit from taking the risperdal and lamictal simultaneously? Just a thought.
Posted by iowamoo on May 7, 2014, at 6:40:54
In reply to Re: question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal » iowamoo, posted by Beckett on May 7, 2014, at 2:15:49
Please tell me why you stopped taking it if it was good and worked for you? I've heard other's say the same thing.
Posted by Beckett on May 7, 2014, at 19:22:46
In reply to Re: question to those who tried risperdal and lamictal » Beckett, posted by iowamoo on May 7, 2014, at 6:40:54
My meds were in flux. I was taken off risperdal and put on saphris which was overkill, but it helped me sleep, and I'm an insomniac. Afterwards, I didn't return. Maybe because I was then on lithium and stable enough. But if needed, I would try risperdal first at exactly your dose. Good luck!
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