Risperdal and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Cad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 5, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Works quite well, but beware of side effects. I'm an autistic person and also bipolar 1 with psychotic features. Before I started this, I had horrible episodes of mania and depression, and it made a huge difference. I had almost no manic episodes, decreased irritability, and it almost completely eliminated the auditory hallucinations. However, the weight gain was unbearable. I gained 80 pounds in a year that I still can't lose, and diet and exercise did nothing to stop it. I didn't change medications sooner because it worked so well that I was scared to stop it, and I was convinced eventually the weight gain would stop, but it didn't. Stopped my monthly cycle completely, though I wasn't complaining about that."

• nos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2012

For Schizophrenia "I have used Risperdal several times over the last few years. Originally, I was taking it for ruminating thoughts (I call it busy head) and difficulty sleeping. It definitely helped slow down my thoughts and allowed me to sleep better. After my son was born, I was having some postpartum depression and went back on Risperdal. It helped with the kindling and agitation, but I did gain about 10-15 pounds on it. When I stopped the medication, the weight fell off. Most recently, I'm using it as an adjunct therapy to Neurontin and Trileptal for agitation and anxiety. I have emetophobia, and this has been the only thing that has allowed me to be around my phobia and not have a panic attack and an ER visit. I do not like the weight gain."

• big...
• November 20, 2010

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I was prescribed the medication after my gastric bypass surgery for psychotic episodes. I take it at bedtime. It has truly changed my life. If I miss one dose, it is very noticeable. The only side effect is a weight gain of about 6 pounds every four months. But it is definitely worth it."

• kma...
• April 3, 2010

For Paranoid Disorder "I was prescribed a low dosage of Risperidone, and it was effective at eliminating my paranoid thoughts. However, after 1 year, this medication caused me to gain weight to a level I had never been in my life. I went from 178 lbs to 218 lbs with no changes in diet or exercise. My doctor took me off the medication in July 2009, and by Christmas 2009, my weight dropped to 169 lbs, with some dietary changes."

• Sna...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2020

For Asperger Syndrome "Risperdal made me gain 40 pounds in less than 3 months. It also somehow caused a psychotic episode when I first started it. I was prescribed for irritability in autism, not psychosis/schizophrenia. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life. I suffered through depersonalization, paranoia, and unshakeable beliefs for a couple of weeks. I also had movement issues and brain fog. I switched to another antipsychotic and lost the weight, but the effects following the psychotic episode lingered for 6-8 weeks."

• Hel...
• October 2, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I got put on this medication for psychosis, delusions in December of 2017. I started at 0.5 mg and slowly raised to 3 mg. So far, this is a decent drug. I feel like the way I was before my psychotic episodes began, and it's very nice. The downside is high prolactin levels and slight weight gain (roughly 10 lbs). My doctor and I are in the process of getting off of it (currently at 2 mg), but this drug did the trick to placate delusions. I would recommend but not for long term."

• Nor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Risnia/Risperdal for a few years now. Currently on a dosage of 2 mg of the generic Risnia. As an answer to bipolar disorder with psychotic features, this drug works wonders, and I have been without relapse for 3 years now. My biggest frustration, however, is the weight gain. I have put on 8 kg during this time, and I eat like a bird. I have tried a number of diets and exercise 3-4 times per week. My psychiatrist mentioned slightly decreasing the dosage every second day and see if that helps. I will try this as soon as I get a new script with 1 mg pills. Can anyone recommend a good alternative?"

• Bip...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Beware of side effects! This medication caused sexual side effects. Unless you are a man who doesn't mind not being able to have ejaculation in the bedroom, don't mind growing breasts when you are a man, and don't mind gaining weight, do not take this medication."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2018

For Schizophrenia "This drug did not react well with my body chemistry, but I didn't have any delusions on it or for 4 years afterward. I gained over 120 lbs in a year and a few months on it. I slept about 14 hours a day. It made me apathetic, not a normal trait for me. I just didn't care about things. I stopped having my period and developed a lot of symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Oh, I had major carb cravings, like for fast food pizza, that I never usually have. I didn't feel like myself. I have been diagnosed with different things but believe I have major depression with psychotic features."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 2, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been taking Risperdal for 10+ years. I got diagnosed bipolar after 9 years. Before that, doctors were unable to give me a diagnosis because my symptoms are atypical. I suffered from psychosis and emotional instability. I was given a dose of 6 mg in the beginning, and it stopped the paranoia. I had a lot of side effects like sleepiness, flat affects, lactation, anorgasmia, weight gain, blurry vision, greasy skin, greasy hair. My dose went down to 2 mg, and it stopped the side effects, but I was still emotionally unstable, however, no delusions. After 9 years, I received Lamictal, and I felt a lot better, the depressions stopped, however, I started having psychoses again, and the Risperdal went to 3 mg, then 4 mg. I’m trying another antipsychotic now because of the weight gain. Over the years, I gained 40 lbs, especially when my dose went up."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This is the only antipsychotic that did not cause me to gain weight. It's also the only antipsychotic I didn't 'feel' (tired, apathetic, no emotions) when I took it. When I was put on doses too high for me, I felt it, but not as strongly as other antipsychotics I've been on in the past. I keep my normal eating habits on this and a normal weight and really go about my day not thinking of it. I feel like my normal self on this and I'm not going to try other antipsychotics because this works for me. Weight gain and apathy were my biggest issues with other antipsychotics in the past, and Risperdal is the only one I've tried that does not cause these side effects in me."

• COC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2019

For Schizophrenia "My husband was just prescribed this, however, he is already drowsy, unmotivated, and gaining weight. I am looking for a better option for someone who has been hearing many voices for years. Please help."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2011

For Schizoaffective Disorder "When I started Risperdal, it made my whole body shake the first day, but after that, I was restless every day, and I couldn't sit down for long periods of time. The medicine helped a lot with delusions and hallucinations (including audio) and helped a bit with reality perception but did not help with irrational thinking. Gained 15 lbs."

• LG2...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2018

For Mania "Pros: Decreased delusions, decreased hallucinations due to mania (diagnosed bipolar 1). I felt calmer mentally and physically throughout the day even though I would take the risperidone at night. I started out at 4 mg (to kick mania in the butt) for the first 2-3 months and then tapered off to 1 mg at bedtime. Slept 7-8 hrs every night for almost 1 yr!! Which was great because I have insomnia too. Cons: Lactation (lasted 1 week), amenorrhea (missed period) effects only 2% of women, and I was one of them, straining when urinating (happened 2 times), high cholesterol, weight gain, and muscle spasms. I rated this drug 5 out of 10 because of the side effects. Since being off the drug, I got my period back very intensely, my cholesterol is getting slowly back to normal, lost the weight, and muscle spasms are pretty minor to almost none."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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!"

• shr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2022

For Schizophrenia "This was the medication. I grew painful chest feelings. I still pace all day. My libido made me feel asexual and more. It kept me just laying on the floor in anxious, depressive pain, waiting for a minute to get up. I overate on this drug, and at the time it was the only medication. I spent almost four years laying down because I didn't think another medicine I could afford would be out. I was so worried about trying Seroquel, however, due to the weight gain and diabetes thing. But since I've stopped monitoring my weight (which I believe more doctors should provide therapy for the weight gain and body image issues), and I got on Seroquel, things are better. At the time Seroquel was thought to be not as strong. We will see if it holds up, but much better medications have come out. Also, I think Risperdal prolonged a mood problem for me, that might be why I spent 3 years in bed waiting for it to improve. When they threaten the Invega shot, I get worried because forcing this med to last long."

• Ell...
• January 17, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Kvo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 8, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Risperdal helped my bipolar 1 psychotic symptoms go away after two years in psychosis. I take 7 mg at night daily, and it is easy to take. I had deep depression and take Lexapro with two mood stabilizers (Risperdal and lithium carbonate ER). Right now, I have some depression I’m working on. I can drive and grocery shop and weed the garden, but I’m still a bit critical of myself (depression) and ruminate (from the depression). I realize there might not be a perfect fix for me. Risperdal makes me think more clearly and manages my mania. I’m able to function and talk with others, make light of life, and be a part of society… something I am working more and more towards. I gained 30 lbs or so on Risperdal, but it is worth it… I am a size large in clothing, and I take care of myself by eating healthy and gluten-free."

• Jed...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 4, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been on this medication longer than any other medication I have ever been on. It's been four and a half years, mostly on, and I feel like this medication let me sleep better than all other medications I had been on until Saphris. I gained weight, but not too much, about 25 pounds over the course of four and a half years. I am a man, and I have noticed enlargement of the breasts, development of female breast tissue. I'm coming off Risperidone now, and I will see what the withdrawal effects are. Last time I came off meds, I had a manic episode, which was quite embarrassing. I held a job at Walmart for two and a half years. I would say, though, that the biggest drawback is its effect on diminishing the user's willpower."

• cin...
• July 25, 2014

For Autism "Caused hyperactivity and caused me to gain weight and develop breasts."

• mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2015

For Schizophrenia "Did nothing for me. Just gained a lot of weight!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2018

For Schizophrenia "It did nothing for my delusions and psychotic behavior. Made me gain 40 lbs in 2 months. I now have restless legs and arms that haven’t gone away even though I am not taking it anymore."

• lm2...
• May 25, 2011

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Caused a lot of weight gain."

• kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I was taking this medication to combat features of psychosis with my depression and PTSD. It made me start lactating and gain like 10 lbs. It worked well for my paranoia and nightmares though!"