I’m taking a low dose of Risperidone, and it’s working for positive symptoms, but I feel really down, really unmotivated, and unable to feel pleasure. I think it started with the Risperidone, but it’s hard to tell if it’s negative symptoms that have started up after the positives went away, or if the med is causing it or making it worse.
This is the first and only AP I’ve been on, and my pdoc thinks it is the most effective so she doesn’t want to change it.
I am on 12mg risperidone and it makes my negatives worse. I was better on lower doses.
I’ve had to raise Risperidone recently because Cariprazine is causing side effects I can’t bare. I’ve had to lower and raise it several times over the years. This time like all other times, it has made my negatives worse, motivation as well but mainly the anhedonia. Think about this, stimulants are dopamine agonists and raise your motivation and pleasure, whereas antipsychotics are dopamine blockers. Sure the newer drugs are more selective but if you’re on a AP as old as Risperidone, you can expect your negatives to get worse.
Does anhedonia mean inability to feel pleasure, or inability to feel any emotions at all? I don’t especially feel any pleasure. I just feel ok about everything. I think I am reasonably happy and content with life. Let’s just say I am happy that I am not sad anymore. But, I feel no sad emotions at all and I never cry. About anything. Even my own son’s death. Or my mother’s death for that matter.
I had my identity stolen recently and I have no particular feelings about it other than a little bit of anxiety. But I am always a little bit anxious about something or other. I am prescribed Klonipin for generalized anxiety.
I have been on either pill form or depot form of Risperdal for years and years. Is this the cause of my lack of emotions?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’d rather be emotion free than all sad, depressed and suicidal. I was just wondering.
This is kind of the ultimate question in treating psychosis, and nobody really knows the answer. How long have you been taking it for? After 8 weeks, many negative side effects ease up. If it’s been longer than 8 weeks and you still feel this way, you could ask about a med change or you could look into adding Sarcosine. It helps with negative symptoms.