Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Withdrawals/ Switching meds

Suninbloom
Suninbloom
I've been taking Risperidone 4mg for over 4 years now and have gained 50 lbs and developed Type 2 Diabetes because of it. My PCP asked me to lose 10 lbs to start with but I've been unable to because of the Risperidone side effects.

I'm setting up an appointment soon to see a PDoc about switching to a different med. I read that the withdrawals can be horrendous when going off Risperidone so I'm going to ask the doc about tapering. I read that it's easier on a person to do it this way.

Do you have any recommendations for a specific type of medication that works and has less side effects?
Nester4U
Nester4U
I was put on Resperidone as my first AP and I gained over ten pounds in less than two months. I told my pdoc about how upset I was with it and he put me on Geodon and it's weight neutral and the extra pounds just fell off. I took Geodon for years but he took me off of it bc of slight tremors which he was afraid might become permanent. Now I have been on Thorazine (it's an older AP) and it's weight neutral and I have not noticed in side effects. I've been on it the last couple of years.

Have hope I bet you can find something that works for you that doesn't cause weight gain. About the side effects of coming off Resperidone I don't really know bc I was only on it for a little over two months. Good Luck!!
tommymott
tommymott
I've used several anti-psychotics including risperdal and they've all stopped working at some point so it's just a matter of going on to the next. I never had weight gain with risperdal and had no trouble quitting it. A few of the anti-psychotics I've used are the older variety and they work well, without some of the harsh side effects of the newer types. I go online and read through a list of meds and side effects and select that way, that works pretty well.
Suninbloom
Suninbloom
Thank you all for your help. It's a pretty intense journey to say the least. I've tried a number of different meds over the last 20 some odd years. Never had any trouble with withdrawals from any but when I tried to stop Risperidone I had sweats, anxiety, insomnia, mania, and more.
SensitiveHoboLady
SensitiveHoboLady
I have been on many meds too since 2003, weight gain being an issue for me too. I have been on seroquel for about four years now and gained so much weight. I worked with my pdoc in recent months trying to get off of it. I tried Latuda last summer and it didn't work for me (accelerated hypomania in me) and tried saphris a few months ago and had a bad reaction to it. So I'm still on seroquel and in your situation with weight gain. Once I get thru this other current health problem I will try another one, but I have no idea what yet.

I can say though that I found this board as I was going thru med changes and it's been really helpful as I went thru all the nasty side effects and complications. I've managed to stay out of the psych ward with all this stuff and have learned better coping skills to get me they difficult med changes.

Keep us posted.... I hope you find something better for your body soon!
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