Comparing Risperidone vs Zyprexa

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.

For Bipolar Disorder: This medicine works really well as a mood stabilizer for me. The only MAJOR drawback is weight gain. I just can't control myself when the carb cravings happen. I am usually very much in control of my dietary habits, but on Zyprexa that just isn't possible. I also suffer from schizoaffective disorder and hear voices. Although Zyprexa suppresses them, it does not completely get rid of them in my case; they are quiet enough to tolerate though. I have gained 35 pounds in less than about a month and a half. I am going to wean off of these and ask the psych-doc for something else.

For Bipolar Disorder: First year on 5mg at night helped my mood, anger outbursts and anxiety a great deal. Did develop high cholesterol and gained 15 pounds, but the trade off was worth it. Also helps wonderfully with insomnia. After the year mark it was no longer handling my anger well. Started having 2-3 inappropriate outbursts a week. Pdoc started me on geodon but couldn't handle the side effects, so back to the zyprexa I went with another 2.5mg added in the morning and gained another 6 pounds. Have tried other AAPs but can't handle the side effects so I'm still on the zyprexa for now until I get brave enough to try something else again. Taking with Pristiq, Trileptal, Vistiril and Xanax.