My medication has been very effective to me and I have few side effects. A little anxiety and massive weight gain are the only noticeable ones for me and others. I am losing weight with healthy eating though and when I started to get better, ate lots of food and continued this until recently. I have changed my habits. I don't put myself in situations which cause anxiety unless I have to. Flying interstate alone and not planning my journey or just travelling alone I would be panicking although I love to travel, I would find someone to go with and plan my journey. Anything unplanned stresses me out.

Get to the point here. Are there any newer medications which are just as or more effective than risperdal that manage anxiety and don't make me want to eat or put on weight. It is very hard to manage my weight when all I want to do is eat. I eat fruit, veges and healthy stuff to snack on but too much and I still gain weight. I am never satisfied and there is only so many raw veggies I can eat. I have done well in my weight loss but it has been slow. 44 lbs in 2 years. I could have done better if I wasn't so hungry all the time. I exercise sure. I never stop moving but that makes me hungry too.

My illness is managed. I have no symptoms except feeling negative and it is a struggle to stay positive and see myself as a good person but I try. I don't hear voices like others do on their meds or see things. That went away in a few weeks after my medication kicked in. I have been very fortunate and on these for nearly 14 years. Managed a lot with them. My doc says if you are on a good thing stick to it and why change but I am curious and she tells me very little unless I ask. She is good though. I have researched this but wondering if anyone has had success on meds besides risperdal. I know people's brain chemistry is different so we all respond to different things. I have had great success on risperdal and I have had training doctors come to talk to me about what a success the medication is but am sick of carrying this weight around. I can lose it on my own though.