Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2018

Risperidone "I have bipolar disorder, been hospitalized and prescribed risperidone 4 mg. It made me very ill and extremely paranoid. Experienced more panic attacks. My legs and arms would go numb. I had such a bad experience on this, I currently am on lithium now and finding this much better."

• Pos...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 19, 2016

Risperidone "This was the worst drug I have been on since I was diagnosed in 1998. I was on the injection for about six months, gained a lot of weight (50 pounds), and had a horrible gallstones flare-up in which I was diagnosed with the condition (after fainting in public). I was put back on Abilify and prefer the oral pill every day to the injection! One nurse didn't inject me correctly, and I developed sciatica for longer than I was on the medication!"

• Pos...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 19, 2016

Risperidone "Worst experience on this drug! Developed sciatica, gained fifty pounds on it, and had my first gallstones flare-up on it. Was on it for about six months. Beware! Make sure whomever injects knows how to do it. Was in pain from the sciatica for about a year after discontinuing the drug."

• Loz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 2, 2019

"Made me spaced out and a bit existential. Very tired and hungry, but overall did calm me down a lot. I eventually stopped and I realized I wasn't falling asleep in classes or in random places anymore. Still trying to get over the weight gain."

• Pat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2023

"This medication stopped me from seeing things that were not here in this world. Now, it's like you aren't taking any medication at all. I sometimes miss the positive symptoms that Risperdal took away. I was on Quetiapine for 9 years but it stopped working. I started out on 0.5 mg and didn't notice much other than it caused insomnia. I now take it in the morning with no problems as it did not cause any sleepiness as I read that some people had. I also take 600 mg of Lithium. My prescription was increased to 1.5 mg and that was an improvement. I would rate this medication high because I don't feel any negative effects, only positive. Give it a try, it may really work for your bipolar depression and visual hallucinations. It did for me."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2017

"There seems to have a lot of mitigated reviews about that med. I have rapid cycling bipolar 2. Tried Seroquel for 2 months a couple years ago, which led me to crazy nightmares, persecution thoughts, and the worst suicidal ideation. So I was very reluctant to try another medication in that class, but surprisingly, risperidone works like a charm in stabilizing my moods. Racing anxious thoughts are reduced to a bare minimum. I can focus on enjoying the present moment, but not elated hypomania, just confident and Zen. Crying spells have not happened since starting 1 month ago. Great night's sleep at 1 mg at night, combined with 10 mg Lexapro in the morning. Risperidone is a sunrise in my life."

• Fle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2024

"I was put on risperidone due to severe anxiety. I was almost always having a panic attack. My mind has always gone a million miles a minute. This was the only drug to ever slow it down. In fact, it made my mind silent. The only time my head has ever been quiet was when I took this medication. I liked it because I needed the break. I needed the quiet. But it was so quiet that I wasn't able to hear my intuition anymore. I've always been able to tell when something bad would happen, or if I was in an unsafe space. I pick up on other people's moods sometimes before seeing them, I can not only feel it, but I would hear it too. On this med, I couldn't hear anything. I also gained a lot of weight. Having an eating disorder previously, this weight gain really affected me. I asked to be taken off and asked for help losing the weight. It was nice to have my head quiet for the first time ever, but I'd rather be able to hear my intuitive thoughts and not be overweight."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2022

"Side effects of risperidone included: • Insane restlessness, to the point of suicidal ideation • Nipple discharge that hasn’t gone fully away even after 3 years of not taking the medication • Constant feeling as though time in the moment was moving extremely slowly, but life itself was passing by in the blink of an eye (new fear of mortality) (also led to suicidal ideation)"

• t g...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2015

"My son was on this drug for years. He now has tardive dyskinesia after being taken off this horrible drug. DO NOT let young children take this drug. My son was given this drug because he was ADHD and was defiant at age 7. This drug fueled 6 years of aggression, hospitalization, and learning disability. When the medication was stopped, he was in the hospital for a week with seizures. He will always be on meds for tics and has permanent pupil dilation. Good news is, he has no behavioral issues and is an honor roll student."

• Ell...
• January 17, 2018

Risperidone "I was hospitalized for major depressive disorder and placed on risperidone 1 mg and Celexa to combat depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. My feelings are that risperidone made me feel like a zombie, caused my thinking to be slower and less clear. I put on 50 pounds in the course of 20 months on this medication, and that is even with regular exercise. So I do not think risperidone is worth the terrible side effects that it brings. I am now on Zoloft and coming off risperidone completely."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2012

"I have been on risperidone for about a week. I started getting chest pain on the second day, but didn't think it was the medication until I was able to see a pattern between taking it and when they would occur. As of day 6 and 7, I am horribly hungry night and day. It also makes me sleepy during the day, which is a pain since I have a young child. My inner anger, which was the main reason I was put on this, has subsided, though, so I'm going to withstand these symptoms a bit longer and see what happens."

• gre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2017

Risperidone "Saved my life. Was put on this in the hospital, and my depression was out of the suicidal level in three days. About 5 days on it now, and have had some recurring moderate depression, however, my pdoc says it should take full effect in 2-4 weeks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 18, 2022

Risperidone "Risperdal is life-changing. It brings complete stability. You can thrive on this medication. Staying on this med has helped me to rebuild my life and go to college, work, and take care of my family. I’m calm and happy. There may be times you need to increase or decrease meds to find your happy place, but overall it’s a miracle drug for bipolar 1."

• Ale...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2021

"I want to confirm risperidone decreased my hallucinations by over 80% and maniacal psychosis by over 90%. Best for psychotic mania and maniacal psychosis caused by clomipramine. Risperidone is great for bipolar."

• Min...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2019

"Within 5 days of taking this medication, I was already gaining so much weight. You'll always feel fatigued, tired, and sleepy, slow thinking/processing thoughts. Your body is suppressed depending on dosage, it slows levels of activity and energy."

• Mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2017

Risperidone "I left a review once before, but have to add to it. I took this medicine for a while, and it helped stabilize my mood. Everything was great, until one day I noticed I was secreting breast milk. The doctor checked my prolactin level, and it was very high. It was in the 100s. I had to stop taking this medicine, which is unfortunate."

• got...
• August 26, 2015

"I have been on this medication, 2 mg a day - 1 in the day and night. I'm hoping in the next few weeks it will change, but I've been tired a lot lately. I've only been on this medication for 3 days, but it's making me tired, but the anxiety, mania, and racing thoughts are gone completely."

• rus...
• January 30, 2021

"I just started this risperidone medication this week, so it might be a tad early to give a review, but nonetheless, here goes. I was on 80 mg of Latuda, and the side effects were driving me crazy, couldn’t get comfortable in the evenings, moving a lot, sweating nonstop in warm environments while others are barely breaking a sweat. So my PA decided that since I have obsessive-compulsive disorder, he asked if I’ve ever tried Risperdal. I said no but had heard of it. He started me off at 0.05 mg, which didn’t sound like much medicine at all, but after reading some of the reviews on here, this seems common. So far, I haven’t had any bad side effects on this medication. One night, I didn’t sleep at all, though, but the next night I slept nice and hard. I plan on giving another review in about a month. Wishing everyone well on Risperdal."

• Mol...
• July 6, 2018

"At first, I absolutely loved this medication, it was the first time I felt truly normal in my life. I was on 1 mg twice a day. After a few days, I started getting terrible leg pains, mostly behind my knees and the bottom of my heels. So, I stopped taking it for a few days, my paranoia came back. I took half a tablet, and it was fine in a couple hours. So, my dose was decreased to 0.5 mg once a day. I felt fabulous for the next month, then suddenly bang, I had the most severe nerve pain in my legs and arms, all the way down to my toes, it was like walking on fire. My whole body would suddenly jolt, also like I was electrocuted. It took me 9 days to seek medical attention because I couldn't move or think. I thought the pain was subsiding, it felt like pins and needles, then suddenly the pain changed and I was freezing cold instead of burning hot. I got some Valium, and the nerve pain slowly went away. I took a sleeping pill and was finally able to sleep. Most horrible experience I ever had."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2022

Risperidone "Risperdal is a life saver. I take it for existential OCD, depersonalization/derealization, and bipolar depression, along with Venlafaxine 75 and 100 mg Lamictal in the morning. It is a life saver. My mood is better. I don't have mood swings. I don't have intrusive thoughts about reality anymore. Also, intrusive thoughts don't control me anymore! Also, I am not dissociated anymore. It helps me to be attached to reality. The first week was like hell. But after that, I started getting better. Give it a try and wait until it works!"

• mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2015

"I'm still in my trial and error period in trying to find something to help me with my mood swings/bipolar anger management, but I have to say by the second pill, I've been pretty much bedridden with severe dizziness, vomiting, vertigo-like symptoms. I have immediately stopped taking it on my own. I've been in bed for 4 days now, just waiting till my next appointment. Hopefully, it's just a severe side effect or allergic reaction because I wouldn't recommend this for my worst enemy. Hopefully, no one else has to experience what I have."

• Anonymous
• April 1, 2023

"I have bipolar 1, and this drug has been a lifesaver. I have had incredibly hard manic and psychotic episodes, and it has stopped me from having them. I regret that I didn’t take it for ten years because of weight gain. I made a lot of stupid choices when manic. I didn’t take it because I was scared of weight gain and made a lot of stupid mistakes in life. I am now taking this and Lamictal and have been stable for four years. Also, I have been at a good weight and was able to keep weight down through exercise and diet. Lamictal and risperidone have been my miracle drugs. You have no idea."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2008

"I've been taking Risperidone for ten years now and have never had any side effects apart from a bit of drowsiness when the dose is too high. I take lithium as well and keep that the same at 1000 mg, and use the Risperidone in varying doses from 1.5 to 4 mg - in telephone consultation with my doctor - to control slight highs. I have not been hospitalized at all while on the drug and have led an active life."

• bip...
• November 17, 2009

Risperidone "Better than some drugs, but Lamictal has been better. I still had manic episodes on this medicine, but sometimes I would forget to take it. Yet I knew there were times when I was taking it that I still got manic. But my spouse could tell the difference when I wasn't taking it, so it must have done something for me."

• Man...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 15, 2016

"Took this for mania in bipolar disorder. I can say that it helped with mania, but it did so in a way that was disabling in other parts of my brain. I could not be still with my feet, I always had an urge to move and shuffle my feet. I was always tired and exhausted despite getting 8+ hours of sleep. One side benefit: my nervous habits of picking my fingers, bouncing my foot, or biting my fingers were totally gone. This drug also caused some insomnia, which required me to take another drug to help with sleeping. This is probably the worst drug I have tried in relation to bipolar."