Risperidone User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• Pat...
• July 21, 2016

For Paranoid Disorder "I've been on Risperidone for a long time now, and I think it's working great for me. I used to have paranoid thoughts, but after taking Risperidone, I've gained trust in other people more. I think it helped my paranoid thoughts go away by leveling out my mood and anxiety. I think I genetically get anxiety passed down from relatives, but who really knows. I hope I stay on Risperidone for a long time. I didn't even gain weight on it. If you have anxiety, tell your doctor to put you on Risperidone."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2012

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "Mania and depression are basically non-existent while taking this medicine. It does make you a little sleepy, but other than that, I've experienced no serious side effects. You may find that your sex drive goes down a notch at first while taking it. That went away after my body and mind got used to the medicine. I have better concentration and self-value on this drug. I also no longer freak out and leave busy rooms full of people. I can actually deal with social situations without people thinking that I'm a freaking lunatic. I love this drug. It's changed my life around."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 1, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I was put on this about 2 years ago! I was hearing things and seeing things and completely lost my mind and was admitted, and this is what they put me on! At the time, it saved my life and made me feel normal again! But as time went on, I noticed I didn’t get excited about anything anymore, I had no emotions! I gained a lot of weight, I went from 150 to 210 lbs. I stopped having periods. It made me have the worst anxiety ever. I’m currently weaning myself off of it! Come to find out, I had an overactive thyroid and had radiation done and was told I can come off this medicine! So it was my thyroid that made me go crazy and put on this medicine! I’m glad to say I’m coming off of it! I’m ready to enjoy life and have my feelings back! Hope this helps someone!"

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2008

Risperidone for Social Anxiety Disorder "The best medicine I have ever taken. Usually takes about an hour to work. I take it before bedtime (0.5mg). Restful sleep, but no grogginess in the morning. Just a really great medicine! I would highly recommend it to others!"

• Kin...
• May 29, 2019

Risperidone for Mania "Couldn't sweat/exercise. I had horrible tardive dyskinesia (flexing my lips all the time), tremors, mood swings, black spots in vision, overheating, overeating, dropped out of college because I could no longer write and even had trouble focusing on simple reading. Then I stopped drinking 6 cups of coffee a day and succumbed to the med, and all it did was put me away for 12+ hours. I couldn't do anything but eat. I thought my life was over. When I came off the drug, even when I tapered, I experienced hallucinations (more black spots, fuzzy vision). A lot of my 'delusions' were fear that I had MS. This phobia ruled my life until all of the Risperdal was out of my system, along with the rebound anxiety with it. Took it for 4 months and gained 70 lbs. I feel like this kind of medication is overprescribed all of the time. I'm back on track with my life now, and I'll never touch another med of this classification again. I feel insulted that someone tried to do this to me."

• jja...
• June 19, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I finally feel normal! My kids are so glad to have their mom back. After taking so many medicines for depression, I was finally diagnosed as bipolar II after I lost my job and was sent to the outpatient day center. The best three weeks, and my diagnosis led to Lamictal and finally Risperdal, the combination has changed my life. My moods and worry are normal, and I don't think people are out to get me anymore. This medicine is great. So thankful, finally."

• Tee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2020

For Depression "I have never felt mentally ill before taking this medication. It ruined my life for the 3 months I took it, my anxiety was through the roof, my mood was very low every day, crying all the time... just very bad. I am not an anxious person, but this really became some depressed, anxious mess that I did not recognize."

• Anonymous
• February 19, 2014

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I first went on this medication in March of 2013, and almost a year later, I've had to adjust it 3 times, going up to 4 finally. When I first started, I was sent into a manic-like state for several hours, but after about a week, I started to sleep more than I ever did. I usually only got about 3 hours of sleep each and every night, starting from when I was 12 and up until I started Risperidone, which was when I was 18. It has helped with every single thing that was wrong with me: the delusions, hallucinations, dissociation, and homicidal feelings. I would definitely suggest trying this if you haven't yet. It worked wonders for me."

• Thr...
• March 14, 2020

For Autism "Cannot recommend risperidone for autism. If you insist on using, do so with extreme caution!—and careful increasing dose. My son, age 9, was put on low-dose (.25) for meltdowns associated with autism spectrum disorder. He did fine, with complete eradication of meltdowns, for six weeks. Then the doctor ordered us to give him a second dose daily. That is when the horrible side effects began: weird flicking gestures with his fingers and hands. He said he was compelled to do it to get rid of an “itch,” but couldn’t express himself very well. At first, we thought it was an obsessive-compulsive disorder, perhaps caused by the risperidone. But then I discovered tardive akathisia — which is a restless syndrome caused by this class of drug and which manifests as weird body movements. No sure diagnosis yet; still weaning him slowly off the drug. But the experience is terrifying—my son is tormented by this urge to flick his hands, and I pray to God it stops once we end the med. I read that it is usually temporary."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2019

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I have psychosis NOS (not otherwise specified), and I am currently taking 2 mg once daily. My temperament is better. I am not as easily agitated and sleep better at night. Prior to Risperdal, I had severe insomnia and was easily moved to anger. On the downside, I gained 20 lbs in about 2 months, my affect is flat, and my energy level is very low. I force myself to exercise, but I seem to be experiencing muscle tiredness and some coordination problems. I plan to speak with my doctor for med adjustment."

• Xox...
• September 14, 2020

For Anxiety "I feel bad reading the reviews on this risperidone drug that made people feel worse. Risperidone has done wonders for me, and I’ve only been on it for three months. I suffer from dissociative identity disorder and severe irritability due to autism. My irritability has only been lowered a little bit, but I am no longer having dissociative spells where I’m staring at the wall for 4+ hours at a time without realizing it. I also have bipolar disorder and take a different medication for that, but this, in conjunction with my other medication, has worked out really well. I take a very low dose, only 0.25 mg once a day. I didn’t think that such a small dose would do anything for me, but I have absolutely noticed a difference in my behavior and actions. Like I said, I feel terrible for the people who have given it bad reviews that it didn’t work for them because it has truly changed my life."

• MrR...
• October 16, 2008

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking this drug for about 5 or 6 years now and it has changed my life. I was showing all the classic signs of bipolar disorder, and after starting this, in less than a day, I was a changed person. My wife says it saved our marriage. I'm on 4 mg now, and if I miss a dose, my wife can tell right away."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2020

Risperidone "I was given Risperdal for help with severe anxiety at a 0.5 mg dose, which the doctor said was a very low dose since I mentioned I am super sensitive to medication. He said it was shown to help people with severe anxiety while also taking fluoxetine. Fluoxetine helped me with panic attacks. I still had racing thoughts, negative intrusive thoughts, always scared of everything. I always feel dizzy, but doctors don’t seem to understand why. The doctor did explain that the first 2 weeks I would be extremely tired while the medication adjusts. First dose, sleepy. 2 weeks in, and I had slurred speech. I got more anxiety because I felt slow. The doctor said to get off of it. I did, and next I felt like I had drunk 10 cups of coffee. I couldn't sleep, I couldn’t think, my mind racing a million times worse. I had worse depression, which was horrible. I had to go to the ER to get some sedatives. It finally took about the same 2 weeks for my symptoms to subside, and I felt my body a little relaxed. Also, I feel the risperidone took away the effectiveness of my fluoxetine."

• Cha...
• August 16, 2017

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "Risperdal has made my life manageable again. I suffer from PTSD and schizophrenia primarily with thought disorder (although I have hallucinated and heard voices). I used to scream in my sleep and thought everyone was trying to kill me. When I started Risperdal, the terrifying thoughts stopped and my behavior returned to normal. I take Risperdal with a combination of gabapentin and Zoloft. I now have a very good job and good relationships with my friends, family, and co-workers. There are downsides to this drug, such as weight gain. I gained a lot of weight the first two years I started taking Risperdal. It is important to note that I have since lost a good bit of the weight I gained."

• Lea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 29, 2019

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I started out on 1 mg and went all the way up to 4 mg, then all the way back down to 1 mg again. Currently staying at 1 mg in order to have semi-normal cognitive function. When I went up to 4 mg, I was catatonic for 6 months until the dose got lowered down to 1 mg. Everyone is different, but it felt like it shut my whole brain down, the bad AND the good. Good luck."

• Sco...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2014

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "Made me 'flat' and apathetic to everything. Also caused hyperprolactinemia, leading to leaking breasts. Also caused me to gain 35 pounds over several months. Only marginally effective at treating the racing thoughts, etc."

• Wha...
• September 26, 2014

Risperidone for Asperger Syndrome "I was put on this medication as I have suffered from Asperger's Syndrome since I was diagnosed at four years old. This is powerful. At 5 mg, I felt like a zombie. I was constantly sleeping because the effects were strong. It gave me symptoms of paranoia, for example, I was convinced all the time that I was going to throw up every time I ate. It put me off eating heavy food, and as a result, I lost weight. Probably one of the worst antipsychotics I have ever taken. Too strong for a 15-year-old (at the time), and when I came off it, it gave me psychotic symptoms. I heard a constant moaning voice for days, and it scared the crap out of me. Glad I'm off this medication!"

• Per...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2023

"I have obsessive-compulsive disorder, and this drug has ruined my life. I took this medication for three months, and I had to stop using it because it was affecting my communication skills. I became extremely quiet and found it challenging to talk to people. I couldn't hold a conversation with anyone, and I couldn't express myself properly. This medication silenced me, and I couldn't even complete a sentence as I would forget what I was going to say. I became like a zoned-out zombie, and I also gained a lot of weight. The medication also caused permanent erectile dysfunction and tardive dyskinesia, which resulted in uncontrollable muscle movements in my hands, fingers, feet, and legs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 18, 2014

For Autism "I put my 22-year-old autistic son on risperidone 6 months ago, and what a transformation! After years of pleading with doctors to put my son on this medication, I'm finally relieved he's now on it as he is a completely different person. He used to be extremely violent, throwing, hitting out, and biting his arm severely, he was a massive liability, but 6 months on, what a difference! He doesn't do any of these things anymore thanks to risperidone. However, on the downside, this medication has caused him to gain weight and makes him tired. He also doesn't show much emotion with activities where things can be an effort for him, seems quite disinterested in things. I would much rather him be how he is now than how he was before he started taking risperidone."

• Jel...
• June 8, 2019

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "Have been taking Risperdal for almost a year now. I tried Seroquel before for some months, but it made me super drowsy throughout the day, and I couldn’t function. I take Risperdal for severe depression, mania, and extreme hallucinations. I would see cartoons and things appear before me, hear voices/sounds in my ears, or feel things on me (someone patting my back or grabbing my legs when I’m alone in the room). I started off taking 0.5 mg once a day, then upped it to 1 mg. Was on 1 mg for a while. It worked well for me. I stopped seeing hallucinations, and for the most part, my mania and depression have lessened or gone away. I woke up every day feeling refreshed. Even my period cramps were usually less painful than before. Everything would go downhill when I decided to stop the medication, all the symptoms would come back quickly and badly. I didn’t gain significant weight from the meds, and I’ve had moderate acne. Seems like it’s going to be really hard to leave this medication."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2009

Risperidone for Autism "My son has high-functioning autism, and the doctor prescribed this medication for outbursts and agitation. It did the exact opposite. He became more aggressive and physically abusive to the point that he could no longer go to school and learn anything else. It took time to gradually take him off the medication, and once we did, he was so much better. An ADHD medication worked much better."

• Ove...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2016

For Autism "My 9-year-old son, who has autism, was put on risperidone about a year and a half ago after being hospitalized for aggressive and self-harming behavior. It has been very effective with the violent behavior. He is still quite argumentative and has tantrums and meltdowns occasionally, but it's much better. The main side effect was weight gain due to his increased appetite. He was always famished! He gained 8-10 pounds in 2 months, which is a lot for a 7-year-old. The Vyvanse that he takes for ADHD is supposed to suppress his appetite, but it wasn't enough to outweigh what the risperidone was doing. After a few months, his doctor put him on metformin. It did the trick. He lost his added weight. The Vyvanse/metformin combo balanced out the risperidone."

• Doo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2016

For Autism "Our 13-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD at age 6. He is now 13 and in full-blown puberty. Prozac and Focalin were no longer working for him. We went to a top pediatric psychiatrist, and he changed our son's diagnosis to Asperger's or now high-functioning autism. He prescribed Risperdal and told us this medication would act like 'glue' and keep all the connections in his brain together. Three days later, we were in the emergency room because our son was suffering from severe dystonia. It was the scariest thing I ever witnessed. We are now working with a pediatric neurologist to find a medication that will work for him."

• Muc...
• January 30, 2012

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "PROS: This medicine literally saved my life. My thoughts no longer race. I don't dwell on past events 24 hours each day. I sleep 4-6 hours a night instead of 2-4 hours. Panic attacks are a lot less frequent and intense. It saved my marriage, renewed my self-worth, and I have hope for a future again. Cons: If I miss a dose, I know it right away. I really have to watch my diet or I gain weight like crazy; everything tastes amazing. Migraines have increased."

• BBP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2016

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "Was only on 2 mg of Risperdal for two months. While it did handle my moods and anger outbursts almost completely, it did nothing to help with insomnia, which should have been my clue that it was too activating for me. A month after starting this med, I started having heart palpitations (I've never had a heart problem) that continued to get worse until I had been to the ER twice, family doctor once, with an appointment scheduled with a cardiologist, legitimately thinking something major was wrong. Two doctors suggested that Risperdal could be causing it, so I began tapering. Two weeks later, I am completely off the Risperdal, back on Zyprexa, and my heart is fine now. Very scary for me."