Risperdal

[EvenStrongerNow]

I had my 2nd appointment with my PTSD neuropsychiatrist yesterday. He prescribed me .5mg of Risperdal. He says he doesn't think I'm clinically depressed, etc.

He says he thinks all of my symptoms are directly tied to trauma and that it will help me sleep, get out of the house, help me be more hungry, and help reduce the horror of re-experiencing, flashbacks, etc and make it safer for me to process in therapy. He even said he thinks it will help regulate my digestive tract.

He thinks it will help with feelings of being fragmented and dissociation too.

Anyone else have this experience?

 

[ggsparky]

Respital does not help with as much as he said. It makes you gain a few pounds and can cause other problems. Make sure you get blood work Done regularly. It does calm thinking down and makes you kinda not have so much going on in your head which helps you process stuff better so good luck it seemed to work good for a lot of people just make sure you check your blood because it caused my mom to have high prolactin levels which can cause breast cancer. But everyone's different.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

Thanks for the tip @ggsparky ! My health insurance becomes effective March 1st so I'll make sure to get blood work done. Thanks so much for telling me that.

I could use a few extra pounds lol He told me about the weight gain. I asked him if it was due to being hungrier, he said yes. I have been having issues with not eating very much and losing weight so I thought it could be good for me. Right now, I'm only eating one meal a day for the most part. If this med makes me eat more, I'll be happy although I do know my limits. It's a good thing I'm on a whole foods organic diet lol

 

[Ryn]

My psychiatrist prescribed me .25mg-.5mg Risperdal to take on an as-needed basis for "agitation". I am always a bit apprehensive about taking it as it does noticeably make me drowsy (it's a small dose but I'm very sensitive to meds) and I need all the energy I can get lately. But I did notice the appetite increase which was a nice change for me! So far it works well and quickly for me, although I can't say it has done all of what you mentioned. Mostly it really helps with the "I-want-to-claw-out-of-my-own-skin" feeling, self-harm urges, and the general restless, panicky, hyperarousal feelings. I hope it works out well for you :)

 

[ggsparky]

You can take respital as the situation arises??? I thought it was a medication you had to let build up in your system and take daily.

 

[Mommarue]

I have read about Risperidone taken as required for 'squirrliness' and busy mind on the crazymeds board. It is probably an off label use.

 

[ggsparky]

Hmmm that's good to know.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

So far, I feel calmer. I do feel the myalgia but I've experienced much worse before.

Memories are coming up since last night, kind of like a flood. But, the anxiety is down to a normal level and I'm not dissociating as much as before. Right now, it seems like not at all. It is helping me manage normal stressors better.

I don't feel so fragmented and I can express anger a bit better. I mean, it seems like I have a pause back where I can look at it and see where it is coming from, but I can still express the anger. I can actually feel angry about what happened to me--memories, rather than internalize it. I can also cry it out without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. It seems like the obsessive thoughts have stopped.

That's a really good thing. I also don't feel as on guard as I did. This is just while I am at home, but this is really great news. I have another college class on Saturday so I will know more about how it is outside of home.