Is there anyone with Schizophrenia living a normal life without risperdol?
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Q: Risperdol alternatives a Psychiatrist might approve?
Answers (4)
6/17/09 6:59pm
Hello Hopeful,
The people I know with SZ who are doing extremely well all take some form of SZ medication. To go without SZ medication is to ruin your life if you truly need it.
Other SZ meds include Xyprexa [the biggest offender in terms of weight gain and diabetes], Clozaril, Seroquel, Abilify and Geodon.
I don't like to endorse drugs however I will tell you Geodon saved my life.
I've heard Risperdal has terrible side effects so I could understand it if you don't want to take it. However, I wouldn't go without medication, I would to find a better drug.
Regards,
Christina
6/20/09 11:33am
Hello,
The reason I don't endorse any drugs is that one person's experience with a drug can be different from another person's. I also don't approve of the tactics of pharmaceutical companies so I refuse to give the impression of being in their pocket, which would be unethical. Abilify, as well as Geodon, is one of the atypicals that is generally well tolerated, has less chance of weight gain, and could be of benefit. Again, though, it's often trial-and-error to find the drug that works. If your son is doing well in terms of his symptoms, that's the main thing. However, I don't necessarily agree that the Risperdal is without fault, as the psychiatrist indicated. I know so many people who took Risperdal and had upsetting, violent reactions. To the drug's credit, though, a friend of mine only had her voices stop when she went on Risperdal. Before that, not even Zyprexa took away her voices.
By the way, I have it written into my mental health care advance direct that I refuse to be given Riseperdal or Zyprexa should I not be able to give a doctor my preferences on my own. I'm sure the pharmceutical company that makes Risperdal doesn't want to hear things like this, but they are obviously aware of the flaws of their drug, too.
Another option is to raise the Risperdal back to the level it was before he developed the anxiety, to see if the anxiety goes away. You did not say why the doctor lowered the dose, was it because your son is doing well?
Another thing that is possible: the symptoms of SZ mutate over time, and it is possible your son developed a new symptom, namely the anxiety. After 20 years on one drug, I also started going through a hard time when previously I hadn't. So the doctor switched me.
I might even suggest cognitive therapy as an option for coping with his anxiety or the other symptoms of SZ. I'm following through with this for myself and will be reporting in July or August in a SharePost whether the cognitive therapy worked for me and how it helped.
Regards,
Christina
6/17/09 8:28pm
Risperdal made me violently ill -- constant nausea. I often couldn't even keep water down for 2 weeks. My doctor was in Iran for a month and had turned his practice over to another doctor who might as well have been a witch doctor for all the good he did.
I have tried a lot of different antipsychotic meds, but Zyprexa is the only one that works for me. I would be in a hospital for the rest of my life if it were not for Zyprexa. Still, I hate the side effects of weight gain and drowsiness.
Keep working with your doctor until you find the right medication for you. And then you can set out on the road to recovery.
Best wishes,
Carolyn
6/19/09 5:58am
after taking risperidal i developed speech problem my tongue used to rotate while speaking,i used to feel drowsiness after taking it in the day time.i took it for two years.at that time it was considered no.1 antipsychotic in my country.my overall condition remained same there was no improvement in further recovery.
6/19/09 6:00am
after taking risperdol i developed speech problem my tongue used to rotate while speaking,i used to feel drowsiness after taking it in the day time.i took it for two years.at that time it was considered no.1 antipsychotic in my country.my overall condition remained same there was no improvement in further recovery.
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By Hopeful— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 06/17/09
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He has been residing with us for nearly a year now, so I have observed his state of mind very closely. Many times, when an anxiety spell has taken hold of him J. has exibited a vacilating chin and a nearly lost voice. His countenance looks dark and downcast. He also starts picking at tiny things around him, like hair or crumbs. But what has appeared to help calm him the most has been prayer and loving family or friends around him. I try to find out the root triggers in his thought patterns, which are always fear based at such times. He appreciates dispelling fear with faith. He soon comes out of these spells once his faith is built up; that he is shieled by love and valued for the prescious person he is.
But, the part I'm still wondering about is whether he would be better off on that Geodon med. you mentioned. J. is willing to ask his doctor about it next visit.
God bless you,
Manyabell