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

• Bob...
• July 11, 2012

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Risperidone has a noticeable effect on my post-traumatic stress disorder and also on my rage. The only real problem I have is weight gain. I read the reviews as soon as I was prescribed the medicine and I thought, 'How hard can it be to keep my weight under control?' Answer...very hard! I've gained about 20 pounds. My pants are very uncomfortable, trying to stuff all my fat into pants designed for a smaller waist size. Next Drs. visit, I will see about other options."

• Obj...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 6, 2016

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I took Risperdal (Risperidone) for about five years. It effectively managed my mania/hypomania and gave me no obvious side effects towards the beginning. Pros - Effectively worked - Helped with hypomania - Helped with mania Cons - Developed hyperprolactinemia - From ^^^ I developed amenorrhea and weight gain - Mental slowness (things were harder to learn and harder to remember). It's a good medication that worked for me, but I had unfortunate side effects. Everyone is different, so don't automatically discount the drug if you are just starting it based on everyone else's experience. It DID work for me the way it was supposed to, but I also had side effects, so I had to switch it. I'm giving it 8 out of 10 because it DID manage my BPD well."

• Mom...
• October 28, 2009

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "My daughter took this medication for about one year. It helped with her mood swings, but the side effects are not worth it. She has a bladder infection, bladder incontinence, weight gain (which upsets her and causes more mood swings!), plus it has slowed her mental processing speed (lower grades in school)."

• Anonymous
• November 10, 2009

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I am currently taking this new medicine, and it has really helped me control my mood swings better than any other medicine that I have taken in the past. One thing that I do not like is that I have gained weight from this. It makes me eat a lot."

• sho...
• September 15, 2015

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I gained 100 pounds or more. I developed diabetes and chronic kidney disease. I also could not keep my hands from moving, and at night my feet would twirl. I chose to stop using Risperdal, and withdrawal was horrible. The medicine did wonders for my mental health, but the side effects were worse than my schizophrenia."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 22, 2018

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "This medication saved my life. Been taking it for two years following two very difficult psychosis episodes, and my brain is a mess without this medication. Without it, I have very weird and intrusive thoughts about the nature of reality. Paranoid thoughts are all but gone as well. The only side effect I noticed is weight gain, which I honestly don't mind."

• 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."

• Val...
• January 10, 2012

For Depression "I use this medicine for self-harming thoughts. I take 1.5 mg, and it does help a lot. My self-harming thoughts have less power and 'stick' less when I'm taking this medication. However, I have gained a lot of weight. I eat pretty healthily, exercise 2 to 3 times per week, and I'm only 17, but I've gone from 130 pounds to 180 pounds after taking this medicine for 3 and a half years. Another side effect is very vivid dreams that occur every night, but this isn't a problem. I also stopped getting my period for about a year and a half; however, that could have been due to self-starvation since it has come back now (the medication is also lower than it has been)."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2016

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "It definitely helped with my mania. I just feel slightly off on it, but it has helped a lot. I take this and Celexa to help with my obsessing, but the Risperdal made me gain weight. I went from 120-125 to 140. I'm so unhappy about the weight gain. I'm going to try to switch medications and will come back to this if I have to, trying to find something better, but this definitely helped my mania and doesn't make me really tired like Seroquel and Abilify or almost pass out like Geodon."

• SoP...
• November 19, 2015

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Risperidone for over four years now. I felt great the first year but had to constantly have my dosage increased. I don't like some of the side effects (anxiety, difficulty concentrating, weight gain, faster heart rate, flu-like symptoms) but have learned to deal with them. Once you start to gain weight, it is virtually impossible to lose the weight, as I have tried everything. It seems you peak at a certain level."

• Nub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2019

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I take Risperdal 4 mg with 20 mg Celexa. I was on Invega Sustenna before. Since I changed, I find that I sing a lot and my mood is sometimes loony, sometimes doesn't want to deal with people. I gained so much weight on both Celexa and Risperdal, around 40 lbs. I will talk to my doctor about decreasing the dose and get on a diet. I hope that will lessen the symptoms."

• oha...
• April 30, 2010

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I have been on Risperdal Consta for over two years now and find it to be a lifesaver. I feel like I have my life back in order and my mind back in order. The only side effects I have experienced are decreased sex drive and weight gain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 3, 2018

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "Was put on Risperdal when first hospitalized and diagnosed with schizophrenia. Gained about 100 lbs in a year. Felt dull cognitively. Slept the majority of the day. No psychotic symptoms. Delusions and hallucinations gone. No agitation. No anxiety tremors."

• JOY...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 10, 2019

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I don't have a problem on Risperdal Consta, except in Canada it is being discontinued, and that is causing me stress. I have been taking Risperdal Consta for the past 12 years, and it has been working miracles for me! I don't even have weight gain issues, but we regularly exercise/work and take supplements!"

• 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)."

• Eli...
• May 15, 2018

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I was forced into a Canadian mental hospital in the late '90s when I was 13 years old (I'm male, by the way). They woke me up in bed and gave me a cup with pills and told me it was to help me with sleep. It was later on that they told me that the pills were Risperdal. When I was on Risperdal, I gained a lot of weight and was drowsy. I even developed minor gynecomastia that still remained 3 years later. I'm in my 30s now, and the gynecomastia surgery isn't covered by any insurance companies. What was covered was the ultrasound and mammogram. I don't have the money to pay for the glandular breast tissue removal surgery. People notice my male breast growth and tell me that I have breasts. My doctor says my gynecomastia is noticeable when I take my shirt off. People who know me notice breast growth through my T-shirt. Can the Canadian Government cover the cost of breast removal surgery if I am required to take antipsychotics that have side effects that grow breasts?"

• sil...
• September 2, 2015

For Depression "My experience with Risperdal started when I first started seeing my psychiatrist about a year ago. I first started with 1 mg for two weeks and then started taking 2 mg for a month, and then 3 mg for another month before my doctor prescribed me 4 mg for a month, which I didn't finish because it was intense for me and it made me really somnolent and overall sleepy all the time. My mom asked him to get me back on 3 mg, which I've been on for seven months now. The only flaw that this medication has is that it causes some severe weight gain, and I can't sleep without it. Risperdal has initially helped with my bipolar depression and has successfully put my racing thoughts to rest."

• Bri...
• June 16, 2015

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I was prescribed Risperdal for schizophrenia ages 12-16 around 10 years ago now, and it's a huge reason as to how I was able to stay in public school. Other people still noticed I was 'different,' but it did wonders for both visual and auditory hallucinations, racing thoughts, and paranoia. It never could fully help my delusions, though. I gained a bit of weight, but what ultimately led me to no longer take the medication was the zombifying effect it had and how I felt it changed my personality. Might be okay for others though."

• Lea...
• February 9, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Weight gain is a problem off the cuff. Take your dose at night, otherwise, you will sleep all day. Stops mania but keeps you quite numb to all emotions. I've found when depression kicks in, it stops the serious lows, but you still feel low, which is hard to deal with when you don't get any mania. No real side effects for me apart from the weight gain and fatigue."

• Bsf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2018

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I suffer from major depressive disorder and ended up in the psychiatric hospital with thoughts of suicide and extremely bad depression. They prescribed me Risperdal 2 mg. I started off at 140 lbs, since being on the medication, I am 230 lbs, almost double my weight, and have gained puffy, tender breasts. As for the pill working, it works 100% at what it's supposed to do. If you're extremely in need of help and don't care for the side effects, go for it."

• jon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2016

For Anxiety "Been on 2 mg once a day for just over 4 months. Mostly wiped out my anxiety and panic attacks, but does nothing for my waves of agitation and irritability. I was reluctant to try it because of the weight gain. Now I regret it, as I have gained 50 pounds!!! I am the heaviest I've ever been and hate it. My pdoc wanted to raise it at last appointment or try me on another antipsychotic (I didn't realize how heavier I was at that point). I'm gonna choose the latter option when I next see her. The weight gain on this is worse than quetiapine (which I also came off for the same reason)."

• reb...
• April 13, 2012

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I've taken the medicine for a month, and I do notice my mood is a lot better. I have gained 16 pounds almost. It makes me very hungry when I take it. My doctor moved me from 0.05 mg per day to 1 mg per day because of my horrible anxiety. It does help, but not all day. I plan to still give it more time. The weight gain is not exactly good though."

• dre...
• August 15, 2019

For Depression "I'm actually on this for psychosis. Risperidone has some terrible side effects. For example, I’m remembering the negatives of my past and cannot control those memories. I don’t like getting up in the mornings, and I’ve got a horrible feeling in my body, in my stomach. On the other hand, I’m doing very well-no more hallucinations, no more silly thoughts against family, no more “racing” thoughts (as someone else put it). I am much better, yet my past is haunting me. Thanks a lot to the psychiatrists for asking me to take this medication. But I cannot wait to get off it! I have three months to go; doctors said “six months to one year.” I hope the doctor says six months in total is OK. I cannot take it for more than six months because it also affects my study and work. I am extremely tired and have been lying down on my bed, staring at the ceiling for three months. I want to get off it even though I am feeling much better. Yes, it makes you gain weight, enlarged breasts for men, and slight blurry vision."

• Gog...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 8, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I've been on it for four years, 33 years old now, for depression and schizophrenia. Works well with concentration, thinking, and understanding things (I'm doing my second degree in veterinary medicine). Problem is becoming 100% rational and have no emotions. I am nowhere near the person I was before, my voice, laughter, humor, and interests have changed dramatically. Getting off is extremely difficult with this drug, but I have to. After the initial boost, I now see the downside of feeling no love and empty all the time. Gained a little bit of weight, but I don't exercise, so that might be it. No libido or sexual interests, none. If you want to change your life, it's a good drug, if you want to keep a bit of YOU, then it's the wrong one."

• 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!"