Opensky: after 6 weeks of tapering down from .50 mg to .25 mg I’m in a relapse

[Opensky]

I’m looking for support as I find my self in a full blown relapse. I had been on 1 mg of Risperdal for 20 years. A year ago I tapered down to .50 mg. I seemed fine. I started tapering down to .25 six to eight weeks ago and have been battling ever since. My episodes are getting more intense and more frequent.

I am struggling with anxiety and intrusive thoughts as well as episodes that seem like I’m loosing touch with reality.

I changed my diet at the beginning of the year and am eating clean. My general practitioner subscribes my meds as my mental health provider 

retired. I’m don’t know we’re to turn.

Edited September 4, 2020 by Shep
added username to title

[Shep]

Hi, Opensky.

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants.

 

This doesn't sound like relapse. This sounds like antipsychotic withdrawal from tapering faster than your nervous system can handle. With a slower taper, you're less likely to have symptoms like anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and difficulties staying focused on reality. 

 

For more, please see:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off risperidone (Risperdal)

 

I'm glad you're eating a clean diet now. That will really help you heal. 

 

Intrusive thoughts can be helped by using the "change the channel" technique:

 

"Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms

 

For ways of handling anxiety and other symptoms, please see:

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Many of us find mindfulness, breathing techniques, yoga or stretching, etc. to be very helpful during withdrawal. 

 

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• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
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For more information about the signature, please see: Please summarize your withdrawal history in your signature

 

Please continue to use this thread to document your taper and to ask questions. 

 

[Razmuk]

I was on 3 mg of risperdal for over a decade and when I got down to 1 mg the crap hit the fan so to speak...... My solution was counterintuitive but worked..... I jumped at 1 mg even though I spent nearly a year tapering to that point. It was miserable for a good while after that but was actually not as bad as being on the small amount. I don't know why that was and don't fully recommend going that route but I do know it worked for me. I think it was helpful for me because I was so miserable on that smaller amount and knew the taper was going to take another 6 months at least so I told myself if I jump I will be miserable also but maybe it will be over sooner. I have been off for over 3 years now and nearing 100% but that first 6 months was BRUTAL. I also know that I had to cut out literally everything..... I had to cut caffeine, supplements, vitamins, be careful about exercise, eat super clean and healthy, make sure to follow proper sleep hygiene, and pray A LOT. As I said, I don't recommend that approach but I was so bad off the only other alternative was going up and I wasn't going to do that. So ask yourself if it is worth it and pray on it, if you think it is the right thing to do just know that the problem isn't going to get better over night and you are going to have an intense time with the same problems you are having already for awhile just possibly less intense.