Risperidone and Hallucinations: What Users Say

• Jam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 21, 2019

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "Risperdal saved my life. I was hospitalized two times with psychosis, and this is what they gave me. It took a few weeks to really kick in. At first, I was tired. I have been on the medication for almost five years now. I am able to live a normal life, although I still have some depression. I take 4 mg of Risperdal, which I just increased from 3 mg because at times I would have mild hallucinations or delusions when tired or the like. They are almost non-existent now, really just coming on if I have caffeine. I did gain weight, but not meaningfully so. The trick is to watch your calories and exercise as much as possible. I would recommend trying this for severe psychosis. I also take 600 mg of lithium, which seems to help my mood. I like to think that the lithium helps protect the brain from the damage Risperdal can cause. Without Risperdal, I wouldn't be here by now. Every day is a blessing and a gift!"

• Lil...
• October 9, 2018

For Anxiety "I was failed by mental health professionals by being prescribed medications that debilitated me for years, this being one of them, and I couldn’t do anything about it because I wanted to believe they were helping me. I became dependent on it, and it made me delusional, fatigued, my ability to do anything became poor, and my behavior became strange and eccentric. I gained weight, and I felt as if I had something wrong with me. It calmed my nerves, but that was the dangerous part about taking this medication - I became mentally addicted to it, and that’s why I never fought to come off it until I realized just how much it was ruining my life. Overall, I have no words to describe the amount of damage this medication has done to me. I am no longer on this medication, and I am so grateful that after almost a year, I’m starting to feel better. I do not recommend this medication at all, especially for anyone under the age of 18."

• Miu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2020

For Depression "I used to take risperidone when I was in middle school because I was forced. I didn't remember how it made me feel. I took Citalopram with it, so it probably overpowered it. After getting off risperidone when I was 13, I'm now 23, and I am only taking 1 mg of it. After reading more about it, I can see I was misdiagnosed, and the medicine is making me feel extremely numb and anxious. I have a hard time focusing, my memory is foggy, my stomach has had a nervous pit feeling, and I've had slight nausea. I don't recommend this drug if you do not have bipolar or psychotic tendencies. I feel like a shell of my former self. No sex drive, no emotions besides overwhelmed feelings of doom and paranoia. This is a nightmare, and I can feel myself slipping. Be wary of this drug!!"

• Anonymous
• February 19, 2014

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I first went on this medication in March of 2013, and almost a year later, I've had to adjust it 3 times, going up to 4 finally. When I first started, I was sent into a manic-like state for several hours, but after about a week, I started to sleep more than I ever did. I usually only got about 3 hours of sleep each and every night, starting from when I was 12 and up until I started Risperidone, which was when I was 18. It has helped with every single thing that was wrong with me: the delusions, hallucinations, dissociation, and homicidal feelings. I would definitely suggest trying this if you haven't yet. It worked wonders for me."

• Anonymous
• February 19, 2014

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I first went on this medication in March of 2013, and almost a year later, I've had to adjust it 3 times, going up to 4 finally. When I first started, I was sent into a manic-like state for several hours, but after about a week, I started to sleep more than I ever did. I usually only got about 3 hours of sleep each and every night, starting from when I was 12 and up until I started Risperidone, which was when I was 18. It has helped with every single thing that was wrong with me: the delusions, hallucinations, dissociation, and homicidal feelings. I would definitely suggest trying this if you haven't yet. It worked wonders for me."

• Kin...
• May 29, 2019

Risperidone for Mania "Couldn't sweat/exercise. I had horrible tardive dyskinesia (flexing my lips all the time), tremors, mood swings, black spots in vision, overheating, overeating, dropped out of college because I could no longer write and even had trouble focusing on simple reading. Then I stopped drinking 6 cups of coffee a day and succumbed to the med, and all it did was put me away for 12+ hours. I couldn't do anything but eat. I thought my life was over. When I came off the drug, even when I tapered, I experienced hallucinations (more black spots, fuzzy vision). A lot of my 'delusions' were fear that I had MS. This phobia ruled my life until all of the Risperdal was out of my system, along with the rebound anxiety with it. Took it for 4 months and gained 70 lbs. I feel like this kind of medication is overprescribed all of the time. I'm back on track with my life now, and I'll never touch another med of this classification again. I feel insulted that someone tried to do this to me."

• Wha...
• September 26, 2014

Risperidone for Asperger Syndrome "I was put on this medication as I have suffered from Asperger's Syndrome since I was diagnosed at four years old. This is powerful. At 5 mg, I felt like a zombie. I was constantly sleeping because the effects were strong. It gave me symptoms of paranoia, for example, I was convinced all the time that I was going to throw up every time I ate. It put me off eating heavy food, and as a result, I lost weight. Probably one of the worst antipsychotics I have ever taken. Too strong for a 15-year-old (at the time), and when I came off it, it gave me psychotic symptoms. I heard a constant moaning voice for days, and it scared the crap out of me. Glad I'm off this medication!"

• Wha...
• September 26, 2014

Risperidone for Asperger Syndrome "I was put on this medication as I have suffered from Asperger's Syndrome since I was diagnosed at four years old. This is powerful. At 5 mg, I felt like a zombie. I was constantly sleeping because the effects were strong. It gave me symptoms of paranoia, for example, I was convinced all the time that I was going to throw up every time I ate. It put me off eating heavy food, and as a result, I lost weight. Probably one of the worst antipsychotics I have ever taken. Too strong for a 15-year-old (at the time), and when I came off it, it gave me psychotic symptoms. I heard a constant moaning voice for days, and it scared the crap out of me. Glad I'm off this medication!"

• Jel...
• June 8, 2019

Risperidone for Bipolar Disorder "Have been taking Risperdal for almost a year now. I tried Seroquel before for some months, but it made me super drowsy throughout the day, and I couldn’t function. I take Risperdal for severe depression, mania, and extreme hallucinations. I would see cartoons and things appear before me, hear voices/sounds in my ears, or feel things on me (someone patting my back or grabbing my legs when I’m alone in the room). I started off taking 0.5 mg once a day, then upped it to 1 mg. Was on 1 mg for a while. It worked well for me. I stopped seeing hallucinations, and for the most part, my mania and depression have lessened or gone away. I woke up every day feeling refreshed. Even my period cramps were usually less painful than before. Everything would go downhill when I decided to stop the medication, all the symptoms would come back quickly and badly. I didn’t gain significant weight from the meds, and I’ve had moderate acne. Seems like it’s going to be really hard to leave this medication."

• Tim...
• October 14, 2021

For Anxiety "Was given risperidone for anxiety, took it for a week, and it increased my anxiety and also caused paranoia. Stopped it immediately after a week, and it took a few days to feel normal again. Would not recommend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 5, 2019

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "This has helped a lot for my daughter's hallucinations. She was not diagnosed with schizophrenia, so her hallucinations are related to either her epilepsy or something else. There have been a couple of times where she stopped taking it because she felt better, but then the hallucinations would come back. She had to go on the highest dose after she stopped taking it the first time, so if you find this works for you or a loved one, just make sure they don't stop abruptly."

• jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2021

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "This medication saved my life. I was dealing with psychosis, PTSD, and derealization, I was suffering 24/7. This medication made life bearable. I still have some times where I don’t feel the best, but nothing compared to what I was dealing with. The side effects were pretty rough the first week or two, but I was also very sick. But I pushed through since, again, they were nothing compared to what I was dealing with. This medication was my last straw, I tried everything. Now I don’t know what I would do without it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2012

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "This was clearly not the medicine for me. The sleeping for 2 days once I went on it thing was okay. I needed it. But it made me so hungry that I gained 30 pounds, so tired that when I took this I cared about nothing, so bored and apathetic so quickly that my life felt without meaning. I began lactating 3 weeks in, and I couldn't concentrate on school. If anything, I got more paranoid...no voices, but OCD and paranoia and agitation through the roof. I was on 0.5 mg in the beginning and eventually went up to 3 mg."

• xco...
• March 2, 2009

Risperidone for Schizophrenia "I don't really believe I have an issue. I do admit I hear voices and see things other people can't, but I don't believe they're hallucinations. Anyways, when taking this medication, the voices went away, the walls stopped melting, things stopped changing color, people weren't after me as much, and stuff. It didn't take the visuals away 100%, and I was less afraid. It didn't help my mood as much as it should have (I also have mood problems)."

• Anonymous
• November 22, 2009

Risperidone for Depression "Started this medicine at 45 yrs and have gained 35 lbs in three years without any change in diet or exercise. Take 4 mg a day, and this is the only medicine I take. Find that this medicine will cause psychotic episodes if taken with more than 6-8 beers or half a bottle of spirits. The next day, I can't remember what I said or was doing, and this is not good. If you like to consume alcohol, beware of this drug, as it will turn you into a zombie who does not remember later what you did or said, very scary. Haloperidol was once prescribed for a couple of days, and I experienced double vision and extreme paranoia, as well as chest pains."

• dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2012

Risperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I was experiencing awful symptoms, including visual and auditory hallucinations. I also had problems with 'feeling' something crawling all over me. I felt like someone had taken advantage/control over my physical being. I was scared for my life, wondering if my hallucinations were real. Luckily, this medication has cleared these thoughts and made the hallucinations better, but one moment clearly pointed out to me that the medication hadn't done any harm. I was laying in bed, and I started to laugh uncontrollably because I could actually lay there and listen to the quiet sounds all around me. I wasn't distracted by voices."

• C77...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2022

For Schizophrenia "This medication doesn't work. I take 4 mg twice a day for months now. I'm still hearing voices and getting called all kinds by them. This drug isn't effective as what people make it out to be on here! Being on this medication has been a waste of time. I ended up going on a new medication that I started soon. Goodbye, Risperidone."

• Rag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2020

Risperidone for Autism "Awful. Took it for 4 months. Doctor justified giving me this drug after I had a mere hx of “instructive thoughts.” It made me throw up when it hit my system. It made me shake. It took away my motivation for several years. It made me gain 50 lbs that I struggle to lose. Made me have mood swings and my first ever psychotic episode. When it “ran out,” it unlocked a whole new level of anxiety I never experienced before. Drove me to insomnia and I struggle to sleep without an anti-psychotic since. Had to drink several Red Bulls and smoke cigarettes just to function. Since I’ve been off the meds, I don’t need cigs or Red Bulls. Have been nicotine-free for three years! Screw this horrible drug. Made me hyperventilate when walking. Caused me to have circulatory problems, breast-like growths, and gout. All improved when I got off this medicine."

• Ano...
• October 20, 2016

Risperidone 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."

• Kos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2016

For Schizophrenia "I was taking this for 1 year! This drug does miracles!!!! I started with an injection of 50 mg every 15 days. Now I take only 7 mg! I can lift weights again!!!! No depression or anxiety!!! Or paranoia!!!!"

• Sna...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2020

Risperidone for Asperger Syndrome "Risperdal made me gain 40 pounds in less than 3 months. It also somehow caused a psychotic episode when I first started it. I was prescribed for irritability in autism, not psychosis/schizophrenia. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life. I suffered through depersonalization, paranoia, and unshakeable beliefs for a couple of weeks. I also had movement issues and brain fog. I switched to another antipsychotic and lost the weight, but the effects following the psychotic episode lingered for 6-8 weeks."

• Sna...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2020

Risperidone for Asperger Syndrome "Risperdal made me gain 40 pounds in less than 3 months. It also somehow caused a psychotic episode when I first started it. I was prescribed for irritability in autism, not psychosis/schizophrenia. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life. I suffered through depersonalization, paranoia, and unshakeable beliefs for a couple of weeks. I also had movement issues and brain fog. I switched to another antipsychotic and lost the weight, but the effects following the psychotic episode lingered for 6-8 weeks."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2020

For Anxiety "I was on risperidone for a month or so for anxiety and OCD. Worst thing to happen to me. Risperidone increased my anxiety, I started having paranoia, agitation, it was horrible. Couldn’t function at work, and it ruined my relationship with my boyfriend. They used it off-label for anxiety disorder, and it ruined my life. I’m in my 40s, and it was horrible!!"

• not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2018

For Schizophrenia "It does absolutely nothing to help with hearing voices. It makes you eat too much, and it's honestly making me psychotic and delusional. But who knows, it might be because I'm schizophrenic. It doesn't help at all, I don't like it. I need something stronger to help with hearing voices."

• not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2018

For Schizophrenia "It does absolutely nothing to help with hearing voices. It makes you eat too much, and it's honestly making me psychotic and delusional. But who knows, it might be because I'm schizophrenic. It doesn't help at all, I don't like it. I need something stronger to help with hearing voices."