Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 384676

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Risperdal - What does it really do??

Posted by becksA on August 31, 2004, at 10:21:26

I'm taking Risperdal , 1mg daily ...it is supposed to "even me out"...especially emotionally. I know it's an anti-psychotic, but in that case used more in the 4 - 6 mg range...(I think!). I think that the 1mg has helped me SLIGHTLY. what is it really intended for, especially like me in the low doses? (In more techinal terms than "evening out". Because I felt more stable on the 1mg yet not great yet, I am thinking about asking my pdoc to go up to 2mg daily. What could I expect from this new dose?

I've also recently started Neurontin for social anxiety, and am weaning off Xanax XR, but still at 2mg twice daily, about to go down to 1mg. I also take 30mg of Dexadrine Spansules twice daily for ADHD, but am considering switching to Aderal.

 

Re: Risperdal - What does it really do??

Posted by Nikita on August 31, 2004, at 16:41:52

In reply to Risperdal - What does it really do??, posted by becksA on August 31, 2004, at 10:21:26

I take 1 mg. of Risperdal a day too. I initially started taking it to help me stop self injuring. It has helped me "even out" emotionally. I can handle things better, the negative thoughts in my head lessen, I don't go nuts over stupid things, etc. I believe Risperdal is mainly used for schizophrenia, but it has really helped me as a mood stabilizer and helps me sleep at night too. I take 5 mg in the morning and 5 mg at night. 1 mg. is a low dose, so you might get more help from upping it a bit. I haven't had any major side-effects from it except constipation. I'm terrified it will make me gain weight if I take more, but I may be overly paranoid. Good luck.

 

Re: Risperdal - What does it really do??

Posted by linkadge on August 31, 2004, at 16:44:26

In reply to Risperdal - What does it really do??, posted by becksA on August 31, 2004, at 10:21:26

Risperdal mainly blocks the 5-ht2a and the d2 receptors. The 5-ht2a antagonism generally improves SSRI induced insomnia - if you are on an SSRI. It can also help general insomnia.

The atypical antipsychotics *can* act as mood stabalisers for some. They are not always the ideal mood stabalizers, but they tend to work well for people destabalized from SSRI's

The d2 blockade can help with mood swinging due to irrational thinking. It can make the world seem a little bit more basic and straighforward. Overactive dopamine is oftentimes seen in agression, dysphoric/euphoric mania, and psychosis.

You may or may not gain additional benefit from a higher dose. If it is working for you as more than a sleep aid, it might help with mood stabalization, if howver it is helping mainly through its sleep improving qualities, then the lowest effective dose for sleep would be best.


Using atypicals as mood stabalizers is not fully reseached, so it is not totally known their benefit and drawbacks. I have used zyprexa with celexa with mixed results.

Linkadge

 

Re: Risperdal - What does it really do?? » becksA

Posted by Dinah on August 31, 2004, at 20:03:35

In reply to Risperdal - What does it really do??, posted by becksA on August 31, 2004, at 10:21:26

I use it on an as needed basis and I just love it! The antipsychotics used to be known as major tranquilizers as opposed to the minor tranquilizers, benzos, if I remember correctly. That's exactly the way it works for me. When I'm agitated it calms me down but without excessive sleepiness.

 

Re: Risperdal - What does it really do??

Posted by jerrympls on August 31, 2004, at 22:21:04

In reply to Re: Risperdal - What does it really do?? » becksA, posted by Dinah on August 31, 2004, at 20:03:35

Does it cause weight gain like Seroquel???

 

Re: Risperdal - What does it really do??

Posted by krybrahaha78 on August 31, 2004, at 22:33:59

In reply to Re: Risperdal - What does it really do??, posted by Nikita on August 31, 2004, at 16:41:52

my p-doc prescribed me .5 mg of risperdal daily and it knocked me for a loop. I was a zombie for the two days i took it and i had to get off it.

 

For Dinah - Re: Risperdal

Posted by becksA on September 1, 2004, at 14:35:12

Dinah - regarding your post yesterday responding to mine about Risperdal...Got me thinking, since I have a pdoc appointment tomorow I wanted to find out as much as I can quickly. You said you take it as needed, however I've been taking 1mg daily, steadily...not missing doses. I have found it to help, but I think it could do a lot more for me if I went up from 1mg daily to 2. How much do you take? Also, what exactly does it help for you?
(I'm also starting up Neurontin for anxiety that seems to be helping)

 

Re: For Dinah - Re: Risperdal » becksA

Posted by Dinah on September 2, 2004, at 22:30:04

In reply to For Dinah - Re: Risperdal, posted by becksA on September 1, 2004, at 14:35:12

Oops. Sorry. Hope the time has not passed to answer. I don't check the meds board every day. :)

I take 1 mg, only as needed. Probably less than twelve a year, although months can go by where I take none, and other months I might take a few.

I take it as a heavy duty tranquilizer that doesn't knock me out of commission the way an equally effective amount of klonopin would. It works great on that crawly skin anxious/agitated feeling.

I know 1 mg is on the low side, but I don't have any experience with more than 1 mg at a time. I know there are some heavy duty possible side effects, especially for me as a diabetic (in terms of raising blood sugar levels), so I tend to take it only when I really need it.

Sorry I can't be of more help.


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