Risperidone and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Mik...
• May 21, 2017

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I switched from Seroquel to risperidone 6 months ago. I had gained 100 lbs over 10 years on Seroquel and have lost about 20 lbs so far since switching. My constant rage and aggression are gone, it's great not to be furiously psychotic all day. On the minus side, I can't get enough sleep, I have no motivation or energy, and depression has spiked. I may try an antidepressant along with risperidone and a smaller dose (I started on 2 mg, just cut to 1.5 and would like to get to 1 mg or under). I tried going from 2 mg to 1 mg previously on my own, and it was hell - massive anxiety and depression."

• Bir...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 8, 2017

For Agitation "Back in my early 20s, I started experiencing severe agitation, anxiety, mood swings, and couldn't think straight, along with OCD, etc. I finally went to see a psychiatrist. He put me on Paxil, Klonopin, and Risperdal. When I first started this combo of drugs, I felt very good, very clear-headed. It almost seemed like I was myself again. After a few years, the side effects started brewing. My anxiety returned in full force, my thoughts were disorganized once again, and I began itching all over my body, especially my legs and feet. My bladder went bad. Gained weight. From the get-go, Risperdal made me EXTREMELY ANXIOUS upon taking it. It was the culprit behind my itchy skin and bladder issues too. BE CAREFUL. Caused SEVERE INNER RESTLESSNESS!"

• Rag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2020

Risperidone for Autism "Awful. Took it for 4 months. Doctor justified giving me this drug after I had a mere hx of “instructive thoughts.” It made me throw up when it hit my system. It made me shake. It took away my motivation for several years. It made me gain 50 lbs that I struggle to lose. Made me have mood swings and my first ever psychotic episode. When it “ran out,” it unlocked a whole new level of anxiety I never experienced before. Drove me to insomnia and I struggle to sleep without an anti-psychotic since. Had to drink several Red Bulls and smoke cigarettes just to function. Since I’ve been off the meds, I don’t need cigs or Red Bulls. Have been nicotine-free for three years! Screw this horrible drug. Made me hyperventilate when walking. Caused me to have circulatory problems, breast-like growths, and gout. All improved when I got off this medicine."

• Mer...
• May 20, 2023

For Anxiety "I had an out-of-control anxiety attack back in March of this year that sent me to the ER. They gave me THIS as a first choice, and as soon as they injected me with it, my anxiety got WORSE! I started having this extremely uneasy, unsettling feeling under the skin of my legs and the upper part of my arms. I began hyperventilating and overthinking and freaking out over every little thing that went on in my life. Nurses heard me hyperventilating and screaming, so they gave me an injection of Ativan, and I almost immediately calmed down, but it took about half a day for risperidone to completely leave my system."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2012

For Autism "My son has high-functioning autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, aggression disorder, and sensory issues. He was diagnosed at age 3. He started Risperidone soon after his diagnosis. It worked wonders for 6 months or so. His behaviors and meltdowns were better, but it did not help with the OCD. After 3 months, we had to increase the dose, and his symptoms started to get worse gradually. Then, at 6 months, he started to tell us he had ants crawling on him and his heart was beeping. He went through heart tests, and they were fine. The doctor said that the medicine was causing him to see things and maybe have anxiety to have a rapid heart rate. He was taken off and put on Prozac, which didn't help, and now he's on Zoloft and Abilify, which aren't doing anything."

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2019

For Depression "Was on Risperdal 0.5 mg for 1 month and 1 mg for 2 months. I was told to stop cold turkey on 11-16-2018 because it didn’t seem to help with the depression. It was prescribed as an add-on therapy to Wellbutrin. 2 days later, I started having severe anxiety and panic attacks. I mean SEVERE. I had not had anxiety before this! Now, January 2019, I am still having these effects and am on benzodiazepines for the anxiety. No help PLUS they make me feel like a zombie. DO NOT TAKE RISPERIDONE!"

• Sha...
• July 24, 2017

For Anxiety "I loved my life after taking these drugs. I couldn't sleep well and had severe anxiety. Along with taking these medications, the psychologist helped me relieve my anxiety. Plus, I was given the proper diet plan with it and some other medicines to improve my anxiety."

• diw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 1, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed risperidone for bipolar. It had the bonus side effect that it cured my lifelong, non-stop, painful bleeding fingernail biting. It also reduced my anxiety otherwise in the day and at night; I don't get overly excited about little things (good or bad), and I sleep 10 hours without waking every hour as before. I wish I could sleep less, though. I am slow, naturally, to get things done, so losing 2-4 hours of awake time makes me noticeably less productive."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2016

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "Horrible!!! ...made me silent and socially disabled, sucked happiness, just feeling irritated and flat. ...wasn't effective at all for my symptoms, also increased anxiety dramatically when I upped the dose to 4 mg..."

• Kos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2016

For Schizophrenia "I was taking this for 1 year! This drug does miracles!!!! I started with an injection of 50 mg every 15 days. Now I take only 7 mg! I can lift weights again!!!! No depression or anxiety!!! Or paranoia!!!!"

• per...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I'd like to issue a warning to anyone using this medicine. Be aware that it can cause akathisia, a movement disorder characterized by extreme restlessness, the constant need to move, anxiety, and severe dysphoria. I had no name for my problem, and it was difficult to describe. I consulted my doctor and described the basic symptoms, but he told me that it was my bipolar disorder causing this problem, not the medicine. He proceeded to tell me that the medicine was simply becoming ineffective. A week or two after I stopped this drug, I felt better. If you are prescribed this medication and experience ANY signs of akathisia (Google it if you have to), be adamant with your doctor that the symptoms appeared after you started taking the medicine."

• joa...
• December 5, 2009

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I suffer from PTSD, in which I hear voices (psychotic symptoms due to PTSD, not schizophrenic). Been on this drug 6 months now. The risperidone doesn't completely get rid of the voices, but it significantly decreases them. I feel much calmer on this medication than I am without it. I don't recall any major side effects, nothing has bothered me enough to even notice it. A plus is also that it makes me sleepy for the first 12 hours or so, so it counteracts the Wellbutrin, which tends to keep me up at night and helps me get a good night's sleep. I did go off of it for a little while, and the withdrawal was very minimal. I had some increase in anxiety for about 4 days (I worried excessively about things I normally wouldn't worry about)."

• hee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2017

For Social Anxiety Disorder "It was an utter nightmare. I got heavy dissociation, felt like a zombie just from one dose and couldn't shake it off for two days. It made me feel like I was sleepwalking and gave me more anxiety. I stopped it immediately. It was the worst I've ever felt. I then continued on SSRIs and had a way better experience. My doctor made a mistake with this prescription. Hope nobody else is given the wrong medication like I was."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2020

For Anxiety "I was on risperidone for a month or so for anxiety and OCD. Worst thing to happen to me. Risperidone increased my anxiety, I started having paranoia, agitation, it was horrible. Couldn’t function at work, and it ruined my relationship with my boyfriend. They used it off-label for anxiety disorder, and it ruined my life. I’m in my 40s, and it was horrible!!"

• JPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2019

For Depression "I suffered from acute insomnia and depression due to trauma and was put on this risperidone by a psychiatrist. Got my first dose just before bedtime and woke up at midnight with the most terrible panic attack (first time in my life). The panic attack basically lasted until the evening of the following day, varying in intensity. This was one of the worst experiences of my life. The psychiatrist changed my prescription to Seroquel (Quetiapine), which agreed much better with me. I used it for about 2 years until my circumstances improved and have been off all medication for 7 years now. I have never before or since had a panic or anxiety attack, so this was definitely due to the medication. I was told it was a very low percentage side effect."

• kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2017

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "This medication gave me severe anxiety and dissociation-like feelings. I felt as if I was being dragged from reality. It was used as an antipsychotic for my bipolar disorder. I highly recommend you try Abilify instead if you have similar symptoms like I did."

• Geo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 4, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Oh my goodness, terrible drug, fine for the first 6 months, then anxiety, no sexual pleasure all gone, made me very tired, I lost all interest in life. Suicidal, depressed, couldn't be bothered to brush my teeth when I woke up as I was too tired, I look and feel like a tramp, it has turned me into a soap dodger, messes with the receptors in the brain. Cigarettes, tea, and coffee, and fast food never tasted the same, no buzz. I wake after 3 or 4 hours of sleep, and I am still having trouble with sleep, staying up all night and sleeping through the day. I have been off it for 2 months now, and I started getting ringing and piercing sounds in the ears after being off it for about 3 weeks, and this could be permanent. Should ban this dangerous drug, don't think I will be able to return to work. Best regards, Lucky."

• sad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2020

For Agitation "I've been on risperidone for about three months. Since I started, the agitation has gotten worse, also so, so nervous with very bad anxiety. I wish I didn't start taking these, and I am going to speak to a psychiatrist and hope I can go on something with fewer side effects."

• Max...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 31, 2019

For Schizophrenia "Sandoz is great because I quit getting the weird anxiety after being on Sandoz that I had with other risperidone brands. Let me explain myself. I had a type of anxiety with other risperidone brands. At times I felt like repeating words that others said in conversations. I became a weird person. One time when I didn't say good morning to a neighbor outside next door to me, I had obsessive anxiety about this event and went to the neighbor's home to apologize. Thank goodness for Sandoz. My theory is that there's additional rubbish in other brands."

• Kat...
• March 28, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Just took this for the first time 2 days ago at 2 mg. I only took it one time and will NEVER take it ever again. I gradually got less and less in control over my mind and body. I was screaming uncontrollably and rocking and jumping uncontrollably. (The worst mental experience I've had before that is depressive episodes and anger episodes, and I was always somewhat in control.) My heart beat so hard and fast I felt like I was having a heart attack, and I couldn't breathe well, so we called 911. The EMTs said everything was normal, but my heart beat was elevated. I was fully convinced I was dead or dying and hallucinated I was trapped in a cave, and I could feel myself being squeezed by the rocks. I'm not religious, but I pray to God I never go through that again. This lasted 4 hours, then I was able to rest a bit, but not sleep. Today I still feel shaken by the effects of risperidone and anxiety that that would happen again. I also take Wellbutrin, lithium, Lamictal, and spironolactone."

• wan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 18, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I had a period of psychosis, and I started taking risperidone last March, and I haven't had any relapses. I have gained a couple of pounds, I am worried that I also feel emotionally flat. Don't know if I should try 1 mg instead of 2 mg or eventually wean off out of fear of a horrible relapse that would ruin everything. I felt anxiety increase at doses higher, up to 6 mg. Still suffer from anxiety and worry over basically everything."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2020

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I believe after taking this, I stopped thinking well. I took it as an injection. It caused some sort of anxiety and made me think of my past. It cleared up some parts of thinking, but after the Dr. prescribed this, I can't tell if it left permanent damage."

• Jua...
• September 26, 2021

For Anxiety "I've been on risperidone for 5 years now. I took it at the beginning for psychosis, and it worked fairly well. Two years ago, I was on 2 mg, I started to get really bad anxiety and panic. I lowered it to 1 mg, and I wanted to come right off of it, but the doctor wouldn't let me. I've recently been put on another medication that raises the levels of risperidone, and I've had a return of this anxiety/panic/low mood. It's a good drug that can have amazing effects on people, but if you start experiencing really bad negative emotions, don't rule out risperidone for being the culprit."

• T-d...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Risperidone for bipolar disorder for maybe two weeks, after stopping Latuda (it got to be too expensive). I had to stop taking it due to it causing severe depression/mixed episodes and suicidal ideation. It gave me terrible anxiety and insomnia. It made me so dizzy and lightheaded that I would stumble and fall a couple of times and just constantly felt like I was going to pass out. I definitely did not have a good experience, unfortunately. It took several days for these side effects to wear off after stopping the medication."

• Dru...
• February 15, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This was the first antipsychotic I tried for schizophrenia. It did absolutely nothing for me but cause severe anxiety (worse than I already had), made me gain weight, and I was tired all the time. Antipsychotics have ruined my health. I used to weigh 160 pounds and was a very thin male, now I'm over 220 pounds. All thanks to antipsychotics. And that weight gain occurred within the first year and a half of starting antipsychotics. I was on risperidone for about a month before being switched to Zyprexa, which made me gain 20+ pounds in one month!"