What were you like on/off Risperdal or other antipsychotic

[Risperdrawlin]

Hello,

 

I'm currently coming off Risperdal and I'm wondering how I might feel and act once I'm off the drug compared to how I am now. If you have been on Risperdal and are now off it, what is different? How do you act and feel different off the drug? I would especially like to hear from people who have tapered off Risperdal safely.

 

I'm still on Risperdal, but I imagine when I'm off it I will have more affect. I don't really know what else.

 

Thanks!

[Jim24]

When I was on Risperidone I felt heavily sedated I was on 4mg a day 2mg in the morning and 2mg at night It was to high of a dose for me but I didn't know that,

I would also sleep way to much, couldn't cum after an orgasm and it made me wet the bed a few times and I never did that before. One day I felt this overwhelming shock feeling followed by a panic feeling in my chest it was really bad felt like brain damage or something or like someone hit me in the head with a brick, I took this "med" for 3 months and stopped it I did tapper for like 4 weeks from 4mg to 2mg then to 1mg and finally .5mg I have been off it for 4 months now and am experiencing no emotions besides worry, fear and guilt (anhedonia) I cant get pleasure from anything (apathy) my world just feels dull or like my souls been ripped out of me, im like a zombie constantly in a daze, cant think clearly like I used to, unmotivated, an inability to communicate in the real world, memory loss, insomnia, I have wild dreams every night,dont get excited about anything, slow thinking, feels like I lost IQ points, very low energy and fatigue, cant have fun, I am only existing, I dont enjoy anything,the only memories I have are memories and feelings from the time before I took the medication, it is the worst feeling to feel like you are a stranger to yourself . I feel like I am a walking dead person, I would give anything to feel the feeling of physical tiredness and actually take a nap, nonexistent, sex drive gone so ya its hell to say the least, before I took these "meds" I was very happy, cheerful, very creative, bubbly, could listen to music for hours, loved taking showers and driving into town, funny, could think of things to say on a dime and make anyone laugh, talk to girls, do hard labor no problem, had abs and a muscular structure, I was charming, had a care free zest for life, was healthy as a horse, did all kinds of activities, had loads of energy, my cum could hit the ceiling, went to bars/clubs, could party all night, and enjoyed every waking moment of my life, so ya Risperidone ruined my life and now im praying alot and hoping all the bad things are just withdrawals and will go away within a year or so...if not, shotgun sorry...and thats what its like for me feel free to ask me questions??       

[Risperdrawlin]

Jim, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Did you read this: http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/radical_acceptance_text.html? Have you tried meditation? http://practicingmentalillness.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-begin-meditating.html

[westcoast]

Jim, I know what you mean about being a zombie who doesn't ever get tired enough to need a nap. If only my mind would get tired like it used to. One night not long ago I ended up staying up all night reading stuff on the internet. The following night I was able to fall asleep. But that is a high price to pay.

[Miko789]

Can someone work while on neuroleptic medication, Risperdal, Is it possible?

I'm thinking on moving to the UK for work.

[Risperdrawlin]

Miko789, YES, you can. Not sure if you're trying to come off. I found that after I came off Risperdal I felt better. I think I had more energy and emotional expression.

[LucaDiProspero]

ypu are very lucky guy risperdrawlin! risperdal killed me many months ago

[Risperdrawlin]

Thanks Luca. If I were you, I would not be so quick to dismiss your experience as having "no emotions". You've had a lot of med changes and a lot of stuff go on. I think if you had no desires you wouldn't be trying to change anything. You're also currently taking Valium which might have a numbing effect. You should check out DBT, it's helped me. So have meditation and regular (Monday-Friday) work in a fast-paced, social environment. I got exercise and interacted a lot.

[Miko789]

Miko789, YES, you can. Not sure if you're trying to come off. I found that after I came off Risperdal I felt better. I think I had more energy and emotional expression.

 

 

Yeah I try to come off but first I have to taper off seroxat.

 

How long did it take u to taper off completely?

how long have u been taking it?

[antidepressantsNoMore]

I'm coming off saphris right now, was only on it for 2 months and my anxiety is bad. I am barely sleeping at night. Insomnia was listed as the number one w/d symptom of saphris. But the anxiety thing is bugging me out even more. A good drug you can buy online to help wd is picamilon.

[Risperdrawlin]

Hey Miko789, sorry for the late response, I hadn't checked the site in awhile. I'm off Risperdal. I'm currently tapering off Lamictal. I'm at 1.5625 mg of Lamictal per night. You can see how long it took me to taper off Risperdal and everything in my signature and intro thread. This post here (http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7656-risperdrawlin-trying-to-come-off-all-psychiatric-medication-eventually/?p=163397). I stopped Risperdal June 20th, 2015 and haven't taken a dose since then. I had started taking it March/ April 2013, and I started tapering it early October, 2014. The taper took about 8 and a half months. I had been on the drug for about a year and a half before I started tapering.

[Miko789]

Hey Miko789, sorry for the late response, I hadn't checked the site in awhile. I'm off Risperdal. I'm currently tapering off Lamictal. I'm at 1.5625 mg of Lamictal per night. You can see how long it took me to taper off Risperdal and everything in my signature and intro thread. This post here (http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7656-risperdrawlin-trying-to-come-off-all-psychiatric-medication-eventually/?p=163397). I stopped Risperdal June 20th, 2015 and haven't taken a dose since then. I had started taking it March/ April 2013, and I started tapering it early October, 2014. The taper took about 8 and a half months. I had been on the drug for about a year and a half before I started tapering.

 

No problem, I too don't log in to the website too often.

Have you been taking the long acting injection 25mg ? and then you stopped and start tapering with liquid Risperdal the last 8 1/2 months?

I am now taking the injection 25mg every 15 days. I start taking it from October 2013.It's about 1,66mg/day. what's the liquid Risperdal called? My doctor doesn't agree to reduce gradually the drug, I have to convince him.He says to continue taking it for a year more

[Risperdrawlin]

I never took a long-acting injection. I took a pill or pills every day. I'd do some research; I think some people might have experienced withdrawal effects when switching, even if the supposed dose per day did not decrease.

 

I am going to write something about my own approach to/ experience coming off these drugs (a separate post). I think you should consider a new psychiatrist (and I mean consider, not switch to-- consider). I would be wary of committing to being on the drug a day longer, let alone a year. Supposedly the longer you are on it the more it affects your brain chemistry.

 

I have come off these drugs while doing DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and meeting about every month to month-and-a-half with a psychiatrist. I go to a DBT group once a week where we learn skills from a program intended to help people manage emotions and related things. Mindfulness is the core skill, the most important one. DBT is intended for people with Borderline Personality Disorder or a history of suicide attempts or self-harm. In addition to the group, I attend individual therapy twice a week with a therapist trained in DBT and we talk about a lot of stuff. So that's 3 "therapy" appointments per week, sometimes "4" if you count the psychiatrist some weeks. Along with the appointments I fill out a DBT diary card every night which tracks what I did that day, how I felt, my desire to self-harm or commit suicide or escape etc, my desire to quit therapy, and which of the DBT skills I used that day. I also meditate or do a meditation-like activity for 10 minutes each night before bed. I also keep a notebook of the drugs (what dosage I took each day and I make sure to check off that I took the drug), what times I wake up and go to sleep, and the vitamins/ other prescriptions I need to take, and if there's something else I need to do every day like homework for the DBT group I can or do throw that in there as well.

 

As far as coming off the drugs, I have been basically completely in charge since the beginning. I have kept track of my symptoms and reduced my doses when I've felt ready. I've had my own way of looking at coming off the drugs and my own method I've followed. I will write about it in the post, which I plan to link to. If I forget to leave a link here just post here reminding me.

[manymoretodays]

I never met an antipsychotic I liked.  With Risperdal.......I took the first dose and I could hardly move my legs, like they were asleep or something.  It was terrifying.  I think that was it for that one.  One dose.  I don't remember the amount that I was prescribed.

[Risperdrawlin]

Word, thanks for your response manymoretodays.

 

Here's the post I just made about tapering (http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/10320-risperdrawlins-cut-big-hold-long-taper-principle-for-drugs-you-have-been-on-less-than-15-years/), Miko789 and anyone else who is interested.

[ppppp9]

I'm currently tapering off Risperdal from 2mgs. now at .05 mgs.  I hope to be off completely by Christmas.  I've had no withdrawals symptoms so far, doing a very gradual taper so I'm sure that's why.  I'm wondering how others felt getting off this drug after a slow taper.  Although you might not have had many symptoms from tapering, did any symptoms emerge once you stopped taking Riserdal keeping in mind you did a gradual taper?

[KarenB]

Welcome PPPPP9,

 

Congrats on getting so far on your taper - and with no w/ds!  You will be the envy of many here, but also an inspiration to take things gently.

 

Would you like to start yourself an intro in the Intro forum?  That way more people will 'meet' you and we can follow how things continue to do for you. 

 

I'm not on Risperdal, so I'll let others jump in to answer that question.

 

Karen

[Miko789]

Welcome PPP9 to s/a.

 

I'm also tapering off Risperdal. I'm on long acting injections. From March 2015 I tapered from 50mg/every 15 days to 25mg .without considerable withdrawal symptoms. Its 1,66mg /day. Don't know how it'll go from now on. Have to switch to oral to taper from here I suppose.

 

Forgive me for any grammatical errors as I'm not a native English speaker.

[Deadpool]

Feeling like a zombie. No emotions and feels lazy all the time. I feels like I can't do anything properly. My memory is all messed up. Low IQ. No pleasure at all doing activities.