Risperidone and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 2)

• AJW...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2023

For Schizophrenia "Risperidone works really great for controlling my schizophrenia. I have to take 4 mg twice a day. However, and this is big, I immediately gained 38 lbs, and my blood pressure went from normal to 168/98, and my testosterone bottomed out at 169. Now I take telmisartan for blood pressure and use patches for testosterone. I wouldn't take this if it were entirely up to me. My psychiatrist doesn't want to change my meds because of how well the risperidone controls my symptoms and the high dose I'm having to take since he doesn't feel that any other meds will work as well."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2021

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "Prescribed 4 mg daily after auditory hallucinations. Works well for that, but has caused a notable increase in anxiety, complete loss of appetite, and sex drive. Looking to come off this and try a new med."

• PSY...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2016

"I've been on risperidone for 3 months now, and it is by far the worst medication ever invented. Hair loss, weight gain, loss of libido, fever-like symptoms, fatigue, dry mouth, and generally feeling like a zombie. I can't do anything on these tablets, it feels like life has been sucked dry out of me. No thoughts and psychotic visions, which is the only plus side, but I feel as though life can't get any worse than this. If given the option, do not, whatever you do, say 'yes' to this drug."

• bez...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2025

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I have very mixed views on this medication. Starting with the good, this med is probably the only antipsychotic I've taken so far that completely gets rid of my paranoia. I got up to 4 mg. Also really helped with my hallucinations, delusional thinking, paranoia. I also liked how I didn't have to wait forever to get up to an effective dose. Now, for the bad... I had some pretty significant sexual side effects. Not important for everyone, but I found the inability to maintain an erection or orgasm to be pretty distressing. Also, I gained a significant amount of weight on risperidone especially as the dose went up along with extreme tightness in muscles. Eventually had to be taken off of it due to the metabolic side effects (I got diabetes while being on it, and I ate relatively healthy during the time, exercised etc.). A very conflicting medication. I'd recommend it only if your paranoia is very bad and nothing else seems to work. Otherwise, maybe consider something else."

• bez...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2025

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I have very mixed views on this medication. Starting with the good, this med is probably the only antipsychotic I've taken so far that completely gets rid of my paranoia. I got up to 4 mg. Also really helped with my hallucinations, delusional thinking, paranoia. I also liked how I didn't have to wait forever to get up to an effective dose. Now, for the bad... I had some pretty significant sexual side effects. Not important for everyone, but I found the inability to maintain an erection or orgasm to be pretty distressing. Also, I gained a significant amount of weight on risperidone especially as the dose went up along with extreme tightness in muscles. Eventually had to be taken off of it due to the metabolic side effects (I got diabetes while being on it, and I ate relatively healthy during the time, exercised etc.). A very conflicting medication. I'd recommend it only if your paranoia is very bad and nothing else seems to work. Otherwise, maybe consider something else."

• jij...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 8, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Absolutely terrible experience with Risperidone! I haven't had a period since right after birth when I only spotted a little bit (June 2020). I have still not had a period. I also still have breast milk and have had it since I was pregnant from 2019 to 2020. I thought the lack of periods was from a birth control implant. Risperidone has also caused terrible premenopausal symptoms at age 29. I have about 30 hot flashes for 30 minutes a day, mood swings, mental fogginess, sleep problems, vaginal/bladder infections, no sex drive. They started around the time I had my birth control implant removed in March earlier this year. I have been on Risperidone the whole time this has been happening (for about 2 years now). When an MRI told us I did not have a type of tumor in my pituitary gland (which is usually the cause of increased prolactin levels), my psychiatrist had a realization that it was my Risperidone, and we began a 3-week taper plan. I am starting week 2 of my taper now."

• sch...
• December 1, 2017

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "This drug works for psychotic symptoms, but it's terrible in many ways! For example, sexual dysfunction... I'm switching to Abilify in a few months and hoping for the best."