Risperidone and Irritability: What Users Say

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 27, 2013

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "This medication saved my life. Tried several different medicines over 10 years and none have worked better than Risperdal. I take escitalopram as well and have seen fantastic results. If I miss a dose, I can tell very quickly within a few days as I don't sleep and feel really agitated and angry at the least little thing. Really helped control my mood swings, and this combination has been great for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2017

Risperidone for Autism "My son is autistic, he is 10 years old. My son's doctor recommended Risperdal for him because of his aggressive behaviors. After 3 months on the medication, he has been more agitated, and he put on 15 pounds. So the doctor wants to increase the medicine. I will not be doing this increased."

• 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."

• 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."

• 1ti...
• April 4, 2011

Risperidone for Autism "This medication was given to my son by an ARNP who swears by it. My son cries for no reason, does not help him sleep but makes him eat like a bear, and he is argumentative about everything whenever he takes this. He needs help sleeping, but there has got to be something else more effective for him with fewer side effects."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2012

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "This was clearly not the medicine for me. The sleeping for 2 days once I went on it thing was okay. I needed it. But it made me so hungry that I gained 30 pounds, so tired that when I took this I cared about nothing, so bored and apathetic so quickly that my life felt without meaning. I began lactating 3 weeks in, and I couldn't concentrate on school. If anything, I got more paranoid...no voices, but OCD and paranoia and agitation through the roof. I was on 0.5 mg in the beginning and eventually went up to 3 mg."

• spu...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 12, 2018

For Anxiety "This medication is terrible, it made me so slow. I lost all of my friends and became agitated at even the slightest remark and anxious. It took me 7 years to complete a 4-year college course. I also lost all interest in girls, and I felt like I suffered brain damage. Avoid at all costs."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2012

For Severe Mood Dysregulation "First off, this medication made me lactate and not be able to lose weight, which was disturbing and frustrating. However, it really helped me sleep. It definitely mellowed me out and made me less anxious and irritable. I stopped it because I started to lose interest in life, but it may have been because 3 mg was too much for me; I believe this is a good medicine for psychosis and mood disorders."

• 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!"

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2023

For Schizophrenia "I started taking Risperdal after being hospitalized unexpectedly after stopping Abilify, which I was taking for about 6 years. Aripiprazole made me quite nervous, irritable, and obsessed with food, shopping, negativism. And after that, risperidone feels like a blessing. It is a bit sedating at 3 mg a day, but I feel sweet inside. It’s like I am again feeling safe, calm, capable, and genuinely happy with myself and with the world. I process a lot through my head and my body (I can be hypervigilant and stressed easily), and Risperdal seems to make this so much easier for me. Also, I gave away my scale because I was only obsessed with numbers on it, and I am now capable of listening to my body more. So far, no weight gain - I drink a lot of water and don’t eat between 13-15 hours per day to give my body much-needed rest - it simply feels right, and therefore, no special weight gain in the first 2 months for me."

• Dar...
• September 14, 2016

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I was on this 'medicine' for 4 years (ages 14 to 18). It is honestly one of the worst medicines I have ever taken. It not only sapped me of all of my strength and willpower, but it increased my agitation to unseen levels (I had a pretty bad temper before this, but I had learned to control it). It made me gain over 150 lbs in that 4-year period (I was at 120 lbs when I started it and 375 lbs when I stopped taking it). It also got me to the point I felt nothing but anger, and when I wasn't riled up, I was a blank mask of indifference. Not only that, but I have been off of it for 4 years now, and I still have trouble controlling my anger and weight. Plus, I have this problem where I can't stop moving (mostly my legs and the right side of my neck)."

• bet...
• February 24, 2020

For Agitation "I've been on risperidone for about 4-5 months, worst antipsychotic I've ever taken. From the first day I took it, I felt strange, very agitated. I just didn't understand why I was feeling like this, then overexcited. I admit it helped my delusional thoughts and going out. I want to stop this drug, but I think they won't give me another one to try to help. What would help with agitation, as they said I'm not allowed diazepam anymore? I'm stuck for any ideas."

• Tir...
• August 24, 2011

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "This medication was not good for me. My doctor added this to the Depakote I was already taking to help with irritability and aggressiveness. This turned me into a zombie. Walked around in a fog the whole time I was on it. Still irritable and more so because I couldn't focus. Experienced nightmares, anorgasmia. When I could keep an erection and had an orgasm, had no ejaculate. Really scary. Took it for 2 weeks and then stopped taking it. Bad for me. May help someone else."

• 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!"

• Kat...
• July 1, 2011

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "Risperdal has helped control my moods and anger so much. I can tell right away if I have missed a dose because I immediately feel agitated. Unfortunately, I began lactating and have not gotten my period since I moved up to a higher dose 2 months ago. I also feel rather sluggish during the day, but to me, the pros exceed the cons. Hopefully, I will be allowed to stay on this."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "My doctor put me on Risperidone to help control my manias. I am also taking Lamotrigine, Escitalopram, and Lithium to control depression, anxiety, and to stabilize moods, respectively. Even with those three medications, I was still experiencing a lot of agitation, feelings of too much energy, inability to hold still, pressured speech and racing thoughts, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and feelings of being out of control. Rather than putting me on the daily dose, my doctor has me taking it as needed. Whenever I feel manic symptoms spiraling upward, I take 1 - 4 mg depending on what I feel is necessary, and it always works perfectly, calming my manic symptoms within 15 - 60 minutes and helping me sleep. It's a lifesaver."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "My doctor put me on Risperidone to help control my manias. I am also taking Lamotrigine, Escitalopram, and Lithium to control depression, anxiety, and to stabilize moods, respectively. Even with those three medications, I was still experiencing a lot of agitation, feelings of too much energy, inability to hold still, pressured speech and racing thoughts, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and feelings of being out of control. Rather than putting me on the daily dose, my doctor has me taking it as needed. Whenever I feel manic symptoms spiraling upward, I take 1 - 4 mg depending on what I feel is necessary, and it always works perfectly, calming my manic symptoms within 15 - 60 minutes and helping me sleep. It's a lifesaver."

• Aut...
• May 6, 2019

For Autism "I am an adult with high-functioning autism and ADHD. My sensory overload, anxiety, and meltdowns have been well controlled with benzodiazepines, and my ADHD with dextroamphetamine. However, my nephew's psychiatrist does not believe in benzodiazepines and chose to medicate his autism-related anxiety, agoraphobia, and tearfulness with this medication, which is an antipsychotic, NOT a medication for anxiety or depression. As a result, my nephew became agitated and self-injurious for the first time ever, claiming he wanted to claw his skin off. Please watch for these reactions, these meds are not a benign panacea. My nephew is very short and of average weight, which is irrelevant. He is also less sad and anxious and thriving academically since his new doctor took him off Risperdal and onto a low dose of Ativan as needed, Ritalin, and Guanfacine."

• 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!!"

• Chr...
• January 5, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Been taking risperidone for about a month now. Haven't had any real bad side effects like a rash or nausea. I do get light headaches and irritability from time to time, but the gain is greater with the medication. Been eating right and working out since I've read all the comments about gaining weight on this medicine. So far, my weight is steady. I figured controlling it in the beginning is easier than trying to get it back down."

• 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."

• jmn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 2, 2017

For Asperger Syndrome "Used to take 3 mg, but it was too sedating. I currently take 0.75 at bedtime, and it keeps me calm during the day. I only feel a little irritable at times still, but nothing like prior to taking risperidone. Just 10 lbs of weight gain, which I think I needed. I take it in combination with antidepressants, and it works very well."

• Cca...
• March 30, 2018

For Mania "Not good. I'm having severe sleep problems after being taken off quetiapine due to rare side effects of irritability. Slower thought process, but I have trouble remembering who I was before, nothing feels anything. I literally have no emotions left in me. Currently on 1.5 mg twice a day. Messing me up big time."