Risperdal

You answered my question about "psychotic" and I appreciate it.  But I still would like to ask a few more.  I have tried to get off of Risperdal and have managed to do without it for about a month each time I try.  I do not get psychotic but I start feeling really bad.  I can't describe it, I get really quiet, I just feel terrible. (1) Is that any reason to continue an antipsychotic?

(2) Do you know what the "feeling really bad" is?  I don't understand why I start feeling bad or what it is. (3) Do you think it is generalized anxiety?  (4)Do you think that that might just be an adjustment feeling that might subside if I continued to do without it?  (5)If I am not psychotic, would something like Klonopin (sp) work for me?  I really would like to get off of an antipsychotic.

Thank you for your time.  I have wrestled with this for years!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

These are all reasonable questions and good possibilities. I am hesitant to advise you because I don't know you well enough. If psychosis is truly not an issue, then klonopin for generaliszed anxiety would be find. But is psychosis is a real threat, then you are better staying where you are. If your doctor will monitor this closely with you, you might want to try the switch, but be agreeable to go back to risperdal if that is the right thing to do. Only a good, careful trial will give you the answer you are looking for.

[buttrfly]

Are you hearing voices or something? Like, even a little?  Yeah, it would be unethical for a medical doctor to diagnose you over the internet, espcially w/o proper medical history and assessment of problems.  But I'm not a doctor.  Apparently though, if you are being perscribed resperidol (risperidone) by your doctor, if s/he's a psychiatrist, then you've given them too good a reason to prescribe resperidol (risperidone).  However, if a regular doctor is prescribing it, you might consider going to a shrink.  I am completely against anyone but psychiatrists prescribing psychotropic drugs, as the mind is too delicate to play guinea pig games with.  You may want to research the uses of buspar (anxiety) or paxil (more for depression, but okay for anxiety).  They're really good from what I've been told by other people.  If you are going off-on resperidol (risperidone) all of the time, like with any psychotropic drug, it's going to take a few weeks to get out of your system, and the withdrawal complications can last anywhere up to 6-8 weeks after you stopping taking it.  You should still inform your current doctor about being weaned off it or wait until you find a psychiatrist and let them know you want to try something else so they can advise you how to get weaned off it.

buttrfly