Risperidone and Depression: What Users Say

• Jda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2020

For Anxiety "Risperidone literally ruined my life. Before taking this drug, I was outgoing and social, but now I can't even talk to people or socialize. It also makes me super depressed and anxious. I wanna know if the side effects go away or is it permanent. P.S.: I wish I never took this drug."

• Jda...
• February 1, 2020

Risperidone "This medication literally ruined my life. I used to be outgoing and social, but now I'm just really silent. It makes me feel really depressed and anxious. I lost passion for the things I love like music and writing. I used to study finance, but now I lost my drive to study. I want to know if the side effects go away or if they are permanent. Does it also make anyone else quiet to the point where it ruins your life?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2012

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking it for about 3 months now, and it works very well. I do not have those strong unrealistic negative scenarios anymore, no voices, no feeling like disappearing, all that is gone, and it minimized my unreasonable fears. I do have long moments of almost total lack of emotions, and I do not feel much in general (I used to be an enthusiastic person) but I do not mind for now, it was terrible not to be able to control inexplicable feelings. I did not gain weight (just a bit, but I also take Wellbutrin). My only concern is how I am going to be when I stop taking this medicine."

• My...
• September 14, 2011

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "My son had severe acute psychosis and a possible diagnosis of schizophrenia at age 17. Risperdal (Risperidone) brought him back to his normal self, for the most part. He has put on weight (2 trouser sizes bigger) and he is inclined to rock back and forth a little when seated. He is slightly less motivated and says he doesn't retain information as he used to at school. This may be improved by adjusting the dose. But this medicine gave me my son back and seems well-tolerated by him. The psychosis is completely gone."

• awa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2018

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "This is a life-destroying drug. I have anger issues, and this drug was mixed in my food by my family. I couldn't read a book, enjoy music, or watch TV. My thought process became impaired. I suffered from the worst kind of akathisia, endlessly walking for seven months and had suicidal thoughts. I became drowsy, lost all motivation, and couldn't care about anything. I was able to come off it after a great struggle and remained drug-free for eleven years and was able to enjoy all the things I couldn't because of this drug. Unfortunately, however, my siblings have again mixed it in my food as I had to stay with them. All the side effects are back, and life feels like a nightmare devoid of purpose again."

• Far...
• February 3, 2016

For Depression "I have been taking Risperdal for 7 years now. The worst thing about it is the lack of motivation and the carelessness. I don't feel like waking up because I have no interest in life anymore. I wake up when I feel like I have slept too much. I can't work on my projects (I am a web developer). I have no interest in working because I don't feel motivated, and I feel tired after I work instead of satisfied. My sex drive has gone down dramatically. The best thing about this drug is that it doesn't make me feel down or sad all the time, in fact, I don't feel anything anymore, like a zombie, a living dead if you will. Don't take it unless you have to."

• Miu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2020

For Depression "I used to take risperidone when I was in middle school because I was forced. I didn't remember how it made me feel. I took Citalopram with it, so it probably overpowered it. After getting off risperidone when I was 13, I'm now 23, and I am only taking 1 mg of it. After reading more about it, I can see I was misdiagnosed, and the medicine is making me feel extremely numb and anxious. I have a hard time focusing, my memory is foggy, my stomach has had a nervous pit feeling, and I've had slight nausea. I don't recommend this drug if you do not have bipolar or psychotic tendencies. I feel like a shell of my former self. No sex drive, no emotions besides overwhelmed feelings of doom and paranoia. This is a nightmare, and I can feel myself slipping. Be wary of this drug!!"

• 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."

• 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."

• DAM...
• June 27, 2013

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 8 months ago and placed on Risperdal after ending up in the hospital due to a nervous breakdown, 6 weeks after my diagnosis. I was prescribed 0.5 mg in the morning and 1.0 mg in the evenings, but I felt like a zombie. It did curb the severe mood swings, and I also gained about 10 pounds in the first month. I didn't like feeling disconnected from the world and not being able to focus or concentrate, so I independently reduced my evening dose to 0.75 mg. I immediately felt better. I'm still struggling with a low sex drive, depression, and have a few moments of hypomania (restlessness, agitation, 'geeked up'), so now my doctor wants me to go on Depakote 500 mg twice a day instead."

• Met...
• October 15, 2018

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "Absolutely horrible drug! I had worsened serious depression and severe akathisia from it. Agitation, irritability, anxiety, aggression also came into play. I have tried many antipsychotics on the market, and this one is by far the worst (now on Quetiapine and Abilify - much better!). No redeeming qualities whatsoever."

• Poo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2019

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "This drug is very bad and not helpful. Still hallucinated on it. Blurry vision, restlessness, does not make you tired, brain pain, motor control malfunctioning, difficulty thinking on it, lack of emotion on it. Please don't take this 'medicine.' Very bad. Does not work."

• kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 28, 2014

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on risperidone for over a year. I suffer from severe manic depressive bipolar disorder with schizoaffective episodes. The medication, along with an antidepressant, helped with the delusions (visual and auditory). But the weight gain was immense, in one year, I gained over 60 pounds. I weigh over 300 pounds now, and the depression is worse. I have osteoarthritis in both knees that, with the weight, have been severely debilitating. Preparing meals and doing daily activities are almost impossible. Standing for more than ten minutes is excruciating. I suggest using caution with the increase in weight this medicine can cause."

• JeR...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2022

For Schizophrenia "Risperidone ruined my life. It changed everything I loved about myself. I lost pleasure in doing things I love. I'm a morning person, I love to wake up and start my day. Not on Risperidone. I slept 10 hours easily and didn't want to wake up. I had no energy to go to the gym. I gained 40 lbs and got off the medication. Now I can't lose the weight. I eat healthy and go to the gym 7 days a week, and I can't lose weight. I'm so insecure and depressed from the weight gain, I've never been this heavy in my life."

• Tir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2016

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "After going through my third manic episode, I was prescribed 6 mg of Risperdal, which immediately made me feel like an absolute zombie. I couldn't think clearly, was extremely tired all of the time, and was unhappy. Through the course of about 4 months, my dosage is now 1 mg, and I don't feel the severe side effects. Good medicine in controlling the mania, but in high dosages, will make you feel like a zombie."

• K-M...
• July 24, 2018

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I was prescribed Risperdal after voluntarily admitting myself into a psychiatric hospital in Connecticut back in '17. Risperdal was the first antipsychotic drug that I was administered during my stay, and while I did experience some relief from my anxiety, I would say that the side effects were more negative than positive. Upon entering the hospital, I was aware of my surroundings and completely aware of reality. At times, I was also unsure of my own diagnosis, so it wasn't easy taking the Risperdal. I was officially diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and paranoid ideation. Upon release, I found the side effects to be negative. I was sleeping the majority of the day at my house and had a difficult time finding motivation to leave the house. The drug is incredibly powerful, and while I think it can be used for very severe illnesses, I wouldn't recommend it until someone is thoroughly evaluated and the proper diagnosis is made."

• onc...
• June 17, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Last week, I had gotten to the point where I was screaming at everyone about nothing, and I smashed my phone against the wall. I wanted to smash the T.V. to bits but was able to restrain myself. The next morning, I wrote a letter to the p-doc, who added Risperdal to my other medicines: 1 mg morning, 1 mg night. The next day, the anger and irritability went away. And it's helped with depression too!"

• Ben...
• March 26, 2016

For Anxiety "I had been sick first in 2009. Intense anxiety, depression, and paranoid thoughts were my symptoms. The first doctor told me that I am bipolar. I took 1 mg at night for about 9 months with Lustral. I got well. But after I quit, I was sick again. Again, 1 mg at night. But since I was not sleeping more than 4 hours, I started Seroquel too. Every time I got well, I quit. But I got sick again. Now it's 2016 and I am using 1.5 mg for more than 1 year. I am more depressed than ever. I don’t want to do anything but lay in bed. I think it prevents dopamine too much, and I don’t want to do anything. I get lazy and afraid of not doing my daily job. Maybe I will change Risperdal."

• nes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2018

Risperidone "My daughter was prescribed this drug for depression at age 25 by her primary physician. The result was almost catatonic, detached, had to quit her job in education, is still blackballed by the local district for quitting (they did not offer her family leave) and truly has lost at least 9 years of her life. She was/is not bipolar or any of the other diseases listed for use. We should have sued. Beware of this drug and its uses. We almost lost our daughter to enhanced symptoms."

• Anonymous
• September 9, 2011

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I started taking risperidone when I was 15. It does take away the delusions and mood swings, but it leaves me with anxiety and dulls me out to the point where I don't feel like really socializing at all. I've tried other medicines like Zyprexa and Geodon, and they either do the same thing or have another bad effect on me. I'm 20 now and still haven't really found a medicine that works. I think whatever they put in antipsychotics just doesn't agree with me."

• Jaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2019

For Depression "This drug made me develop depression, which I didn’t have prior, just really bad anxiety. Also gave me intrusive thoughts, had me very suicidal. My doctor took me off after 1 month and 2 weeks of using it. Tonight is my first night taking something different. I pray it works for me!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Squ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 9, 2019

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I have been on Risperidone for a number of years now. I was on tablets, then, due to non-compliance, I am now getting injections once a month. So they are now giving me the injections free of charge. The side effects that I am getting outweigh what it is supposed to do. The side effects that I am getting are: destructive and irreversible complications, such as erectile dysfunction, inability of the penis to stay erect - I told my psychiatrist that I had issues with getting an erection; they insisted that it wasn't from the medication. Heartburn - Yes. Blurred vision - Yes. Dry skin - Yes. Dizziness - Yes. Mental/mood changes (anxiety, restlessness) - Yes. Increased thirst and urination. Depressed mood - Yes. I was on Valproate as a mood stabilizer, but that gave me diarrhea, so I stopped taking it and the diarrhea has stopped."

• Ano...
• October 20, 2016

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I started risperidone after my last hospitalization for PTSD with psychosis. Before risperidone, I suffered from insomnia, nightmares, and paranoia that led me to a full-blown psychotic state. I now live a more normal life with few symptoms. I take risperidone with sertraline and clonazepam at night, then pass out for about 10 hours. I suffer from mental fog and lack of emotion on the drug. I don't fully wake up until about 4 pm after my afternoon nap. It has also caused my periods to stop and enlarged breasts that leak once I upped to 2 mg. Going to try ziprasidone next to see if I can have a better quality of life."