Medication Complaints

[hina_hanta]

Okay, so here's the thing: I DISLIKE ANTIPSYCHOTICS.

I used to be on Risperdal and gained 20 pounds, even though I'm also on Adderall XR (30mg 2x per day) for moderate-severe ADHD, so you would think that would keep me from gaining so much weight. Thank goodness though, I am no longer on that medication (Risperdal). Just wanted to get off my chest that I REALLY dislike Risperdal. Oh, and it didn't help that much either.

Anyways, upon request to get taken off of Risperdal, I got switched to Abilify (2mg). It's not as bad as Risperdal, but still I don't like it. I still gain weight. I used to fit into a size 6 pair of jeans, now I can barely fit into size 9! My psychiatrist wants me to be on an antipsychotic, and upon finding out about my cutting recently, she put me up to 5mg! I haven't started taking it yet, but still. I'm tempted to just throw my Abilify in the toilet and get my body back. I suffered for YEARS with bullying about my weight and appearance. I was a size 14 in middle school and the first two years of high school. Then I fixed myself up, grew into my body, etc. I want to be a size 6 again.

Abilify isn't helping much either. I still have hallucinations, dissociation, etc.

Anyways, that's something else I wanted to get off of my chest.

 

[FindingMyself88]

I did those two backwards. I tried ability but it didn't work at all and caused me to gain 25 pounds. Now I am on Risperdal and so far I am doing pretty good, I have actually lost weight. The only thing is I have to keep a close watch on my blood sugar. I'm on .5mg now but may be going up to 1mg soon!

I hope you find something that works!

 

[Barberian]

I was on Risperdal for a couple months. I am one of the unlucky % that got bad involuntary muscle twitches, can't remember the medical term. I still get them over a year after I quit the medication, in my neck when I'm tired, or when my mind wanders - example: driving in the country between towns on a country road in good driving conditions. This requires very little attention to the task and my mind wanders = sudden spasms in my neck pulling my chin down.

The medication did it's job of slowing my mind down, but the side affect wasn't worth it. At times I think being on a similar medication would be nice because it's exhausting to have a hyperactive thought process, but I'm not willing to take the chance of another side affect, especially a permanent one like I got from Risperdal.

 

[Ed Norton]

I hated Risperdal too, every guy I know who takes it has gynecomastia, plus it gave me a littany of sexual side effects. I am currently on abilify which I also hate but it is not as bad as the former. I worry about metabolic syndrome from it and I have gained weight.

@Barberian involuntary muscle twitching is known as fasciculations

 

[kitty12]

I can totally relate to medication complaints... I haven't ever been on Risperdal, but I've been on Abilify for probably close to 4 years now. I also take Adderall XR, but I've gained tons of weight on the Abilify - from a size 4 to a size 14. I hate feeling so awful about how I look, and I hate not having the energy to really do anything about it. I just have to keep reminding myself that getting to a point where I'm stable on meds (that are actually helping) will hopefully get me to a place where I have the energy to take better care of myself by eating healthier and exercising. But right now, it pretty much sucks. :(

 

[Barconian]

even though I'm also on Adderall XR (30mg 2x per day) for moderate-severe ADHD,

What is Adderall? What are the ingredients?

 

[kitty12]

Adderall is a stimulant medication (dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts), usually prescribed for ADHD.