Risperdal for Schizophrenia User Reviews (Page 2)

• Eli...
• May 15, 2018

"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 Respirdal 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 side effects are that grow breasts."

• Dark...
• September 14, 2016

"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 will power, but it increased my agitation to unseen levels ( i had a pretty bad temper before this but i had learned to control it) it mad me gain over 150lbs in that 4 year period( i was at 120lbs when i started it and 375lbs when i stopped taking it)it also got me to the point i felt nothing but anger and when i wasnt 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)"

• Anony...
• October 20, 2016

"I started risperidone after my last hospitalization for PTSD with psychosis. Before risperidone I suffered from insomnia, nightmares, and paranoia that lead me to full blown psychotic state. I now live a more normal life with few symptoms. I take risperidone with sertraline and clonazepam at night then pass out for about 10 hours. I suffer from mental fog and lack of emotion on the drug. I don't fully wake up until about 4 pm after my afternoon nap. It has also caused my periods to stop and enlarged breasts that leak once I up'd to 2 mg. Going to try ziprazidone next to see if I can have better quality of life."

• noste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2012

"I have used Risperdal several times over the last few years. Originally, I was taking it for ruminating thoughts (I call it busy head) and difficulty sleeping. It definitely helped slow down my thoughts and allowed me to sleep better. After my son was born, I was having some postpartum depression and went back on Risperdal. It helped with the kindling and agitation, but I did gain about 10-15 pounds on it. When I stopped the medication, the weight fell off. Most recently, I'm using it as an adjunct therapy to Neurontin and Trileptal for agitation and anxiety. I have emetephobia and this has been the only thing that has allowed me to be around my phobia and not have a panic attack and an ER visit. I do not like the weight gain."

• Cactu...
• December 8, 2015

"It's impossible to stay on this med long term unless you want man boobs. My nipples have pain in them and I had sexual side effects. I also had akathisia on this med and needed to pace back and forth. It's not worth the weight gain."

• Hell...
• October 2, 2018

"I got put on this medication for psychosis, delusions in December of 2017. I started at 0.5mg and slowly raised to 3mg. So far, this is a decent drug. I feel like the way I was before my psychotic episodes began, and it's very nice. The downside is high prolactin levels and slight weight gain (roughly 10lbs). My doctor and I are in the process of getting off of it (currently at 2mg) but this drug did the trick to placate delusions. I would recommend but not for long term."

• Jess
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2018

"This drug did not react well with my body chemistry, but I didn't have any delusions on it or for 4 years afterward. I gained over 120 lbs in a year and a few months on it. I slept about 14 hours a day. It made me apathetic, not a normal trait for me. I just didn't care about things. I stopped having my period and developed a lot of symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Oh, I had major carb cravings, like for fast food pizza, that I never usually have. I didn't feel like myself. I have been diagnosed with different things but believe I have major depression with psychotic features."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2016

"Horrrible !!! ...made me silent & socially disabled sucked happiness just feeling irritated & flat ..wasn't effective at all for my symptoms also increased anxiety dramatically when I upped the dose to 4mg..."

• aria
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2017

"This medicine helps with my schizophrenia, calms me down but that's about it. But the worst things about it are the freaking side effects! Look I took this medicine in first grade for irritability, took it again in middle school now I'm 20 and started back up again a few months ago..it makes me soooooo sleepy that I'm falling into things, I get severe panic attacks and I'm hungry as hell hence why I gained 11 lbs. Oh and I have this funny, unbearable feeling in my right leg and it's sooo uncomfortable omg! But on the other hand its not as bad as latuda or haldol but its worth it i guess"

• camil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 11, 2022

"This drug is like all antipsychotics, it's a crime ! And more than that they forgot to label one of the worst side effect of it which is apnea (difficulty breathing), that's because they never tried one pill ! because every time they do RCTs for these types of drugs, most of the subjects they leave early before continuing the studies !"

• COCOA
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2019

"My husband was just prescribed this however he is ALREADY drowsy, unmotivated and gaining weight. I am looking for a better option for someone who has been hearing many voices for years??? Please help"

• Ashley...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2018

"I find it helps in terms of what I wanted with the voices and all but the side effects make me very drowsy and tired and I can barely muster the energy to do anything in my day. My moods been pretty low or up and down too. I find myself to still have a slight paranoia of others. Even when I first starting the meds the first few times I believed I was being poisoned but I usually felt like everyone offering me drinks or food were trying to harm me so not really anything new there. That part has calmed down a fair bit. I hope one day they can find a way to completely rid me of this so I don't have to rely on medications all the time cause I sometimes forget to take them or I can't find them on occasion. I'm glad I'm back on them though after I was initially told by the mental hospital that I'm not to have them anymore which mucked me up. I hope I'm not forced to stop again cause this is honestly my peace."

• shrim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2022

"This was the medication. I grew painful chest feelings, I still pace all day, my libido made me feel asexual and more. It kept me just laying on the floor in anxious depressive pain, waiting for a minute to get up. I over ate on this drug and at the time it was the only medication. I spent almost four years laying down because I didn't think another medicine I could afford will be out. I was so worried about trying seroquel however due to the weight gain diabetes thing, but since I've stopped monitoring my weight (which I believe more doctors should provide therapy for the weight gain and body image issues), and I got on Seroquel things are better. At the time seroquel was thought to be not as strong, we will see if it holds up but much better medications have come out. Also I think Risperdal prolonged a mood problem for me that might be why I spent 3 years in bed waiting for it to improve. When they threaten the Invega shot I get worried because forcing this med to last long"

• FAano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 28, 2018

"19 years old, using 2 ml instead of 3 1/2ml and actually 4 ml was initially prescribed by a psychiatrist. It was because I was hearing voices and was paranoid and smoking marijuana almost every day for a period of 6 months. I got as side effects stiffness, spasms, trembling, increase in saliva, decrease in sexual ability. I have been taking now 1 pill every other day until I don't take it anymore since the doctor said that I had to take it at least for a year without smoking to find out if the problem goes away. I'm looking for another pill to control the these symptoms and I am not smoking or hearing voices anymore. Read all the comments but I do not constipate or gain weight. Since I lowered the dose I am more sociable, smile and confident but the spams worry me since they happen like 3 or 4 times a day."

• tyhmy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2021

"Took this for psychotic depression. It made me unnaturally tired, like I was fighting the effects of a sleep medication all the time! I also started overeating and was constantly hungry (like with Zyprexa). I did feel less anxious, but it wasn't worth it. Wouldn't recommend based on my experience. One note if you're autistic like me - some people report being more sensitive to side effects. It was complete news to me, but makes sense with my history."

• Xen
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 16, 2022

"I have taken Risperidone at least 8 years for Schizophrenia. When I first started taking it, I noticed it made my symptoms a lot better. However it wasn't a cure-all and I still heard the voices, but in a more muffled manner. The visions and visual hallucinations like lazers floating in the air went away, too. It also seemed like despite being on Risperidone or any other antipsychotic that my symptoms were dependent on my external behavior. As far as side effects go, I drool pretty badly at night. It also kind of made me look at things as being pointless. It's hard to know whether it's my Schizophrenia or Risperidone that is causing me problems, I've been on it so long. Overall, it was great for taking away the hallucinations, it just kind of made me a shell of my former self(or was that the Schizophrenia), who knows."

• mojoe
• February 23, 2011

"I have been taking Risperdal for ten years, can't imagine life without it any more. My advice to people is don't stop taking your medicines if you or other people think you don't need to anymore."

• Dontt...
• July 31, 2017

"Please please do not take this drug it destroyed my life,once you take it you are completely dependant on it and trying to stop it can cause brain damage,It is the most horrific med."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2008

"Is providing some relief from hallucinations on 6mg day - also helps bipolar ups and downs. I do have some side effects though."

• Anony...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 8, 2017

"This makes you restless after long term use. Good at controlling symptoms if you be patient with it. Ask your Dr to reduce dosage if you feel better after 3 years. Good Luck"

• matiw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2015

"Did nothing for me. Just gained alot of weight!"

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2009

"No relief of voices. I rarely have visual hallucinations anyway. Very bad menstrual irregularity and some dry mouth. Had to quit taking it."

• Anonymous
• January 26, 2021

"Continue taking Risperidone as long as your doctor tells you to. AND TAKE IT AT THE SAME TIME EVERYDAY."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2018

"It did nothing for my delusions and psychotic behavior. Made me gain 40 lbs in 2 months. I now have restless legs and arms that haven’t gone away even though I am not taking it anymore."

• kayraa
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

"I was taking this medication to combat features of psychosis with my depression and PTSD. It made me start lactating and gain like 10 lbs. it worked well for my paranoia and nightmares though!"