Risperdal and Depression: What Users Say

• Jda...
• February 1, 2020

"This medication literally ruined my life. I used to be outgoing and social, but now I'm just really silent. It makes me feel really depressed and anxious. I lost passion for the things I love like music and writing. I used to study finance, but now I lost my drive to study. I want to know if the side effects go away or if they are permanent. Does it also make anyone else quiet to the point where it ruins your life?"

• My...
• September 14, 2011

For Schizophrenia "My son had severe acute psychosis and a possible diagnosis of schizophrenia at age 17. Risperdal (Risperidone) brought him back to his normal self, for the most part. He has put on weight (2 trouser sizes bigger) and he is inclined to rock back and forth a little when seated. He is slightly less motivated and says he doesn't retain information as he used to at school. This may be improved by adjusting the dose. But this medicine gave me my son back and seems well-tolerated by him. The psychosis is completely gone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking it for about 3 months now, and it works very well. I do not have those strong unrealistic negative scenarios anymore, no voices, no feeling like disappearing, all that is gone, and it minimized my unreasonable fears. I do have long moments of almost total lack of emotions, and I do not feel much in general (I used to be an enthusiastic person) but I do not mind for now, it was terrible not to be able to control inexplicable feelings. I did not gain weight (just a bit, but I also take Wellbutrin). My only concern is how I am going to be when I stop taking this medicine."

• awa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2018

For Schizophrenia "This is a life-destroying drug. I have anger issues, and this drug was mixed in my food by my family. I couldn't read a book, enjoy music, or watch TV. My thought process became impaired. I suffered from the worst kind of akathisia, endlessly walking for seven months and had suicidal thoughts. I became drowsy, lost all motivation, and couldn't care about anything. I was able to come off it after a great struggle and remained drug-free for eleven years and was able to enjoy all the things I couldn't because of this drug. Unfortunately, however, my siblings have again mixed it in my food as I had to stay with them. All the side effects are back, and life feels like a nightmare devoid of purpose again."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I have psychosis NOS (not otherwise specified), and I am currently taking 2 mg once daily. My temperament is better. I am not as easily agitated and sleep better at night. Prior to Risperdal, I had severe insomnia and was easily moved to anger. On the downside, I gained 20 lbs in about 2 months, my affect is flat, and my energy level is very low. I force myself to exercise, but I seem to be experiencing muscle tiredness and some coordination problems. I plan to speak with my doctor for med adjustment."

• DAM...
• June 27, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 8 months ago and placed on Risperdal after ending up in the hospital due to a nervous breakdown, 6 weeks after my diagnosis. I was prescribed 0.5 mg in the morning and 1.0 mg in the evenings, but I felt like a zombie. It did curb the severe mood swings, and I also gained about 10 pounds in the first month. I didn't like feeling disconnected from the world and not being able to focus or concentrate, so I independently reduced my evening dose to 0.75 mg. I immediately felt better. I'm still struggling with a low sex drive, depression, and have a few moments of hypomania (restlessness, agitation, 'geeked up'), so now my doctor wants me to go on Depakote 500 mg twice a day instead."

• Met...
• October 15, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Absolutely horrible drug! I had worsened serious depression and severe akathisia from it. Agitation, irritability, anxiety, aggression also came into play. I have tried many antipsychotics on the market, and this one is by far the worst (now on Quetiapine and Abilify - much better!). No redeeming qualities whatsoever."

• Poo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This drug is very bad and not helpful. Still hallucinated on it. Blurry vision, restlessness, does not make you tired, brain pain, motor control malfunctioning, difficulty thinking on it, lack of emotion on it. Please don't take this 'medicine.' Very bad. Does not work."

• kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 28, 2014

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on risperidone for over a year. I suffer from severe manic depressive bipolar disorder with schizoaffective episodes. The medication, along with an antidepressant, helped with the delusions (visual and auditory). But the weight gain was immense, in one year, I gained over 60 pounds. I weigh over 300 pounds now, and the depression is worse. I have osteoarthritis in both knees that, with the weight, have been severely debilitating. Preparing meals and doing daily activities are almost impossible. Standing for more than ten minutes is excruciating. I suggest using caution with the increase in weight this medicine can cause."

• Tir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "After going through my third manic episode, I was prescribed 6 mg of Risperdal, which immediately made me feel like an absolute zombie. I couldn't think clearly, was extremely tired all of the time, and was unhappy. Through the course of about 4 months, my dosage is now 1 mg, and I don't feel the severe side effects. Good medicine in controlling the mania, but in high dosages, will make you feel like a zombie."

• K-M...
• July 24, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I was prescribed Risperdal after voluntarily admitting myself into a psychiatric hospital in Connecticut back in '17. Risperdal was the first antipsychotic drug that I was administered during my stay, and while I did experience some relief from my anxiety, I would say that the side effects were more negative than positive. Upon entering the hospital, I was aware of my surroundings and completely aware of reality. At times, I was also unsure of my own diagnosis, so it wasn't easy taking the Risperdal. I was officially diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and paranoid ideation. Upon release, I found the side effects to be negative. I was sleeping the majority of the day at my house and had a difficult time finding motivation to leave the house. The drug is incredibly powerful, and while I think it can be used for very severe illnesses, I wouldn't recommend it until someone is thoroughly evaluated and the proper diagnosis is made."

• nes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2018

"My daughter was prescribed this drug for depression at age 25 by her primary physician. The result was almost catatonic, detached, had to quit her job in education, is still blackballed by the local district for quitting (they did not offer her family leave) and truly has lost at least 9 years of her life. She was/is not bipolar or any of the other diseases listed for use. We should have sued. Beware of this drug and its uses. We almost lost our daughter to enhanced symptoms."

• Anonymous
• September 9, 2011

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I started taking risperidone when I was 15. It does take away the delusions and mood swings, but it leaves me with anxiety and dulls me out to the point where I don't feel like really socializing at all. I've tried other medicines like Zyprexa and Geodon, and they either do the same thing or have another bad effect on me. I'm 20 now and still haven't really found a medicine that works. I think whatever they put in antipsychotics just doesn't agree with me."

• Ano...
• October 20, 2016

For Schizophrenia "I started risperidone after my last hospitalization for PTSD with psychosis. Before risperidone, I suffered from insomnia, nightmares, and paranoia that led me to a 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 upped to 2 mg. Going to try ziprasidone next to see if I can have a better quality of life."

• Lav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Please avoid this medication at all costs, it is impossible to get off. I have tried twice and ended up in total disaster. The first time I tried to get off it, I ended up completely constipated, and three years later I am still badly constipated. It changed some mechanism responsible for that during withdrawal. The second time I tried to come off it, I ended up with anhedonia, which is an inability to enjoy things. When I look at food now, it's like looking at a rock, no reaction. These drugs cause total dependency, completely change the brain, and cause brain damage and are not the answer. Please just see a shaman/healer and get an auric sweep and clear out the negative entities that cause schizophrenia. It's worked for thousands of years."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This is the only antipsychotic that did not cause me to gain weight. It's also the only antipsychotic I didn't 'feel' (tired, apathetic, no emotions) when I took it. When I was put on doses too high for me, I felt it, but not as strongly as other antipsychotics I've been on in the past. I keep my normal eating habits on this and a normal weight and really go about my day not thinking of it. I feel like my normal self on this and I'm not going to try other antipsychotics because this works for me. Weight gain and apathy were my biggest issues with other antipsychotics in the past, and Risperdal is the only one I've tried that does not cause these side effects in me."