After 2 years and a few months, quetiapine just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
I was tapering off it (with my pdoc’s control, ofc), didn’t work so well, dose raised again, didn’t work either.
Right now I’m tapering off it again so I can get a med switch.
I’ve been doing some reading on the antipsychotics available in my country, and risperidone seems to be the choice for me, I am planning to suggest this to my doctor. I’ve tried Geodon before (bad med), and I’m scared of Zyprexa, lol.
Anyways, could I know please about your experiences with risperidone? Especially if you took quetiapine before
It’s a good medication. It worked for me it was the first medication they ever put me on I was just young and stupid and wouldn’t stay on it.
But it did work. I recall feeling a bit “deadened” though. Like life had been taken out of me. But I feel that way anyway now on the AP I am on. I think it’s just an AP thing.
I hope it works well for you whatever your switch and coming off qutiapine.
Hi Bunny.
I have been on Risperidone for years and I was also on Seroquel in the past.
Risperdal is not as sedating as Seroquel.
It also is not a big weight gaining med for many people.
It is possible to lose weight through a healthy diet and some exercise.
The biggest issue that many people have is the raising of prolactin by Risperdal.
So therefore lots of people including myself will complain of sexual side effects.
It’s usually worse for males.
Risperdal binds tightly to dopamine therefore is usually very effective for psychosis control.
Good luck with it and make sure that you address any concerns that you may have with your doctor.
Risperdal was my first med and I was on a dose of 6mg, but that didn’t control any of my hallucinations. However, I’m currently on seroquel and that’s working well for me.
I was previously treated with Risperdal 1 mg orally once daily during my late elementary school years until high school (1998-2004), for the treatment of irritability, repetition and hyperactivity and responded favourably. It was highly effective and devoid of unwanted sedation, motor impairment and weight gain - but this was looong before I even demonstrated significant signs of psychosis (2013).
However, more recently (2016), I used Risperdal (3mg/day) for 9 months total. This time, I experienced a significant weight gain of approximately 54 lbs., and akathisia. In my case, treatment with Risperdal was highly effective but not without significant side effects.
Never having tried Seroquel, I can’t comment on its utility.
My first AP was Risperdal oral but I couldn’t tolerate it. Then I went onto the Risperdal IMI which was much better but rather expensive. I would recommend the injection if you choose Risperdal. My pdoc preferred the injection over the oral as she said it just works better.
I switched from seroquel to risperdal. I found seroquel was more helpful for me. However it was nice being less zonked out when I switched to risperdal. Much less sedating. I also felt less like a ‘zombie’
I however did miss my very weird vividly intense lucid dreams I would get with seroquel.
Everyone is different though. I never experienced weight gain on any AP in my life. Pretty sure I’m a rare exception.
Thank you all for your input, I will disclose this with my pdoc next time
I was mostly worried Risperdal would cause the same hunger effect Seroquel has on me.
