Comparing Clozapine vs Risperidone

For Schizophrenia: My son is in his early 20'and has schitsoaffective dissorder.He has been on at least five different medications for his illness. And nothing seem to help or if it did it lasted only for a little while or he had severe allergic reactions. So he started clozapine/clozaril around a month ago. And it has made a big difference .The voices gradually are going away. He can actually sit and watch TV and have a conversation. He is enjoying things again. We do go for blood work every week which he does not mind. This medicine is working and I'm hoping his blood work comes back good every week, Because to see him getting better is such a relief . And I am hopeful for a happy productive life for him. Things are looking up.

For Schizophrenia: My son starting showing signs of psychosis right after his 14th bday. Diagnosed with schizophrenia 6 months later. He was in a constant state of his own reality and heard voices on a regular basis. Seroqel, Zyprexa, Invega, and Ability did nothing for him. His psychiatrist prescribed Clozapine as a last resort. I won't allow his dosage any higher than 300mg per day for now since the side effects worry me. This drug has been a lifesaver to allow him to participate in the regular world and quiet the voices where he can focus on real ppl. It makes him drowsy so he takes it at night. Weight gain is significant but most antipsychotics will do this. Regular blood monitoring to make sure his WBC stays normal. So good, so far.

For Bipolar Disorder: I have Bi-Polar II and I have been taking 0.5 mg 1x a day of Risperidone. It has calmed my irritability and my thinking seems more organized. I definitely noticed an immediate difference. It addressed not mood as much as thinking and perception. For mood, I take Lamictal and started taking Topamax also JUST to combat the weight gain from the Risperidone. The weight gain is miserable and THAT depresses me. (I was originally on Lithium but that affected my thyroid adversely and although it had a good effect otherwise, it also "flattened out" my mood to such an extent that I felt really blah).

For Bipolar Disorder: I have been on this medication for about a month now. It has greatly helped with my paranoia and irritability. There are a few bad things though. It has caused my bladder to go by itself if I do not go as soon as possible and also my thought at times is a little slow. I have not noticed any weight gain and the bad that comes with it can make life a little difficult. It is the only medicine that has even remotely helped with my manic symptoms.