Risperdal

[FindingMyself88]

Ok, so I got a hold of my Psychiatrist's nurse the other day and explained my issue of going from panic attacks to a state of fog, trance, or something like that. I was more wanting to know what was causing this, but my doctor was busy and so instead called me in Risperdal .5mg to take at night alongside my Prozasin 2mg that I take for nightmares. The nurse said Risperdal is long acting and would help with my panic attacks during the day and such. But when I looked up Risperdal, it says its an antiphsycotic used for schizophrenia and bipolar. I just wondering if anyone else has used Risperdal for PTSD and if it helped?

 

[natalya]

Hmm. Interesting. Keep us posted.

 

[Ryn]

As I understand it and as I am currently prescribed for it, it is sometimes used in tiny doses (.25mg-.5mg) on an as-needed basis for agitation and panic. The bigger doses are for schizophrenia and bipolar.

It has helped for me. It is a very slight calming effect, the only side effect being a little tiredness, and helps me with that tear-out-of-my-skin feeling. It reduces my urge to attack myself or pace or panic. I can only comment on the as-needed usage of it however so I am curious to hear if others are taking it more regularly and how it is working for them.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Antipsychotics are commonly used off label. Some are quite often prescribed for treatment resistant depression (I'm sure you've seen the Abilify and Seroquel commercials.) Many people here have been on one antipsychotic or another at some point. I've taken Geodon myself, and only need about 4mg for symptom relief. I think the max dose is upward of 160mg with some patients pushed to double that.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

Here is my experience with Risperdal, I take .5mg once per day at bedtime. You can see in my original post, the neuropsychiatrist told me what Risperdal will help with, and you will see in my last post in this thread, what it is helping me with along with my comments below in my response to another person's thread:

https://www.myptsd.com/threads/risperdal.39986/

and also, I replied to someone else's thread with this:

Surprisingly, the risperdal lowered my anxiety to what I feel is a normal level. I didn't want to get rid of anxiety completely, but I also did not want to increase it. Same with other symptoms. I don't want to rid of anything completely. I want a balance. And I wanted to stop dissociating so much so that I can manage any increase in symptoms brought on by symptoms, if that makes sense, better. I wanted to be able to have the choice. I am very happy that I have a neuropsych who listened to me.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

Oh and I should probably mention, depressive episodes followed a clear pattern of anxiety from being reminded of trauma and re-experiencing. I still have them a little bit, but nowhere near as much as before.

 

[FindingMyself88]

Wow @EvenStrongerNow all of that is very encouraging. I too have been prescribed to take it at night, .5mg. My money that my aunt mailed me didn't come in today so my mom is putting money into my account so I can get it and start tomorrow. Did you notice immediate effects or did it take a while?

I was just kind of Iffy about it because of it being an antipsychotic.. But this does help.

 

[aajones]

Clients that I work with take Risperdal, it is suppose to be a calming down medication.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

For me, it seemed to be over the course of a week's time for different things, but there were immediate effects like calmness and the obsessive thoughts stopped.

When my neuropsych mentioned antipsychotic, my eyes grew big :D He said, "Now I know there is a stigma, but in small doses, this med has been shown to be very effective for treating the cause--PTSD."

Then he said, "The good news is that I am a medical doctor with 42 years experience." lol

I decided to trust him and he ended up being right. I have a fear of medication too and I am extremely sensitive. He studied medicine at Yale University. He also is a PTSD specialist.

 

[Forgetful]

I take 3 mg at bedtime to stop the auditory flashbacks and/or auditory hallucinations. It works for that pretty good. I use to have trouble falling asleep ( even while taking sleep meds ) because I would hear people whispering and music. I would go out of my bedroom convinced that one of my kids was listening to music only to open their door to find that they were asleep and everything was turned off. I'd get back in bed and would hear it again. It would bother the hell out of me because I knew it was all in my head but couldn't turn it off.

I was never told it would reduce anxiety or increase hunger. It did cause weight gain but hasn't increased hunger. I still only eat 1 meal a day.

As for the anxiety and agitation I guess it helped a little because I'm not throwing things in the kitchen as often

I hope you find relief from all the symptoms you were told it would.

 

[FindingMyself88]

Thanks everyone for the experience, I should start taking it tonight. I am worried about the weight gain seeing as how I need to lose weight, but I will just have to stay on top of it.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

My neuropsych said the Risperdal does not cause weight gain from anything other than increased hunger. But, I'm open to believing he is wrong if others say differently.