![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 10:56:39
I've been on Risperdal for 10 days now in addition to my usual Klonopin and Depakote (ok, I took two days off to contrast and compare). I like it. I really really like it. I feel energized, I'm losing weight, and I'm feeling less agitated. It obviously has tranquilizing properties. There is no affect on orgasm (except maybe to enhance it a bit due to the energizing effects). And my biggest fear, that it would "normalize" my thinking, hasn't materialized. I still have the slightly off kilter, obsessing thoughts I always have.
My question is how long does it last in your bloodstream. I notice the effects of it pretty quickly. And it is noticeable with each dose, not like an SSRI. During my two day holiday, I could tell I didn't take it. Is it like Klonopin rather than like an SSRI? Is it possible to take it on an as needed basis? Because honestly, I don't really need it all the time. And it robs me of my emotions.
I want to ask my pdoc to let me go to an as needed basis with it. Does anyone use it that way?
Posted by Nikita on November 15, 2002, at 14:43:56
In reply to Risperdal - How long does it last?, posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 10:56:39
Good questions. I'd be curious to know the answers too. I take it for BPD and self-injury and it is REALLY helping. I don't think the half life can be that long though, since the few times I've missed a dose or taken it much later than usual, all the bad feelings have come back. It does act pretty quick thank goodness.
Posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 16:41:02
In reply to Re: Risperdal - How long does it last?, posted by Nikita on November 15, 2002, at 14:43:56
I am so glad you have a similar experience to mine! My pdoc really sounded like he thought I was crazy when I described it, or experiencing a placebo effect or something.
It really does work well on agitation doesn't it? I think it would work well on the feelings that lead me to self injure, althought that hasn't come up in the short time I've been on it. My pdoc has given me permission to take it on an as needed basis. So I'll get to see how that goes. He says we can always revisit the idea of taking it full time if the as needed useage doesn't work.
Posted by Nikita on November 15, 2002, at 16:59:08
In reply to Re: Risperdal - How long does it last?, posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 16:41:02
How much do you take when you do take it? I take .5 mg two times a day and that seems to be enough.
Posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 17:20:22
In reply to Re: Risperdal - How long does it last? » Dinah, posted by Nikita on November 15, 2002, at 16:59:08
I am taking .25 mg once a day, but my pdoc said I'd probably get used to that dose and have to take more eventually.
Does it kill your appetite? Pounds are dropping off.
Posted by BrittPark on November 15, 2002, at 19:58:09
In reply to Risperdal - How long does it last?, posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 10:56:39
According to RxList riperdal has a half life of about 3 hours in fast metabolizers and 20 hours in slow metabolizers (gene polymorphism). It's active metabolite has a half life of about 20 hours. At steady state most people don't notice they are taking it. I didn't. You must be a fast metabolizer.
Britt
Posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 21:54:36
In reply to Re: Risperdal - How long does it last? » Dinah, posted by BrittPark on November 15, 2002, at 19:58:09
I wouldn't have guessed that I was a fast metabolizer. :)
My liver enzymes aren't great so my liver isn't probably working as well as it should. Elevated ALT and AST (?) Perhaps as a result I react very sensitively to meds. I don't need very much at all.
But I definitely feel the Risperdal going to work if I haven't taken it. It takes longer than Klonopin, but no more than a few hours. And it feels tranquilizing, and energizing oddly enough.
Posted by cybercafe on November 15, 2002, at 23:25:28
In reply to Re: Risperdal - How long does it last? » Dinah, posted by BrittPark on November 15, 2002, at 19:58:09
> According to RxList riperdal has a half life of about 3 hours in fast metabolizers and 20 hours in slow metabolizers (gene polymorphism). It's active metabolite has a half life of about 20 hours. At steady state most people don't notice they are taking it. I didn't. You must be a fast metabolizer.
fascinating.... how can one tell if one is a fast metabolizer or a slow metabolizer? scientifically, i mean..... is there a blood test ?
Posted by Nikita on November 25, 2002, at 9:32:34
In reply to Risperdal - How long does it last?, posted by Dinah on November 15, 2002, at 10:56:39
Curious Dinah, how it's going taking Risperdal "as needed." Does it work fast enough for you? When do you take it, when your feelings start to go out of whack? Does it kick in quick enough (say to prevent self injuring?)?
Posted by Dinah on November 25, 2002, at 19:22:17
In reply to Re: Risperdal - How long does it last?- Dinah, posted by Nikita on November 25, 2002, at 9:32:34
I've fortunately not needed it yet. My little meltdowns or agitated depressions only occur on an average of every 8-10 weeks, so I'm hoping it will be a while.
I could feel a reaction when I did take it within a day. I don't think it will stop me from injuring myself short term. I'll have to rely on klonopin, willpower, my promise to my therapist, and support from my therapist for that. But hopefully it will kick in quickly enough to cut short the usual week long duration. I'll let you know the results when I take it.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.