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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LaurasMeds on March 25, 2009, at 12:27:52
I've been taking 2.25 mg of Risperdal for a little over 2 years. About 10 weeks ago I started weaning myself off this very slowly. I was wondering if anyone else successfully weaned off this amount of Risperdal and did you suffer from a lot of withdrawal symptoms? I'm having a helluva time.
Posted by 49er on March 25, 2009, at 15:19:04
In reply to Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by LaurasMeds on March 25, 2009, at 12:27:52
> I've been taking 2.25 mg of Risperdal for a little over 2 years. About 10 weeks ago I started weaning myself off this very slowly. I was wondering if anyone else successfully weaned off this amount of Risperdal and did you suffer from a lot of withdrawal symptoms? I'm having a helluva time.
Hi,
I have never taken Risperdal but what do you mean when you say you are weaning slowly?
49er
Posted by LaurasMeds on March 25, 2009, at 16:21:02
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form) » LaurasMeds, posted by 49er on March 25, 2009, at 15:19:04
I'm dropping half of a .25mg pill every month
Posted by 49er on March 25, 2009, at 16:59:45
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by LaurasMeds on March 25, 2009, at 16:21:02
> I'm dropping half of a .25mg pill every month
Hi,
You might want to slow that taper down to 10% of the current dose every 3 to 6 weeks. That is the recommendation on the Paxil Progress boards for antidepressants. Therefore, you might want to go even more slowly with antipsychotic. How to do it?
1. Can Risperdal be crushed? If it can, then I would buy digital jewelry scale on Ebay in .001g measurements for around $15 to $30 dollars.
2. Buy empty gelatin capsules. I got mine at http://www.vitacost.com
3. Crush the current dose you are taking and put it in the gelatin capsule and weigh. That is the measurement you want to reduce from when it is time to do so.
If Risperdal can't be crushed, you could get your doctor to write a prescription for the dose you can't get at your local CVS. Sorry, due to being tired from lack of sleep that I can't blame on med withdrawal, I can't think if the link to give you to find a local compound pharmacy. But do a google search.
The downside is that many compound pharmacies will make you pay up front and then collect from insurance.
Anyway, I hope you can find a way to slow the taper down because it is the key in my opinion. I have tapered from 4 to 1 med doing it this way.
Ok, I have cheated a few times:)) but I have mostly stuck with it.
Hope this helps and good luck.
49er
PS - If you can't crush Risperday, you could still cut the med and weigh it to get the right amount. It just makes it alot harder to get the right measurement.
Posted by LaurasMeds on March 25, 2009, at 19:19:39
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form) » LaurasMeds, posted by 49er on March 25, 2009, at 16:59:45
Thanks for the info 49er. It's much appreciated.
Posted by SLS on March 26, 2009, at 15:10:06
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by LaurasMeds on March 25, 2009, at 16:21:02
> I'm dropping half of a .25mg pill every month
I have taken Risperdal, but not for the extended period that you have. The rate at which you had planned to taper sounds okay to me.
- Scott
Posted by 49er on March 26, 2009, at 17:35:58
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form) » LaurasMeds, posted by SLS on March 26, 2009, at 15:10:06
> > I'm dropping half of a .25mg pill every month
>
> I have taken Risperdal, but not for the extended period that you have. The rate at which you had planned to taper sounds okay to me.
>
>
> - ScottScott,
With all due respect, I vehemently disagree that the rate that Lauras meds plans to taper at is ok if she is having problems.
I realize that if someone is already tapering as slowly as they can, then there is nothing they can do about it. But she is isn't.
Obviously, it is her call as to what to do but I had to respond since she mentioned she was having problems at her current tapering rate.
Sorry, I am a little sensitive about this as tapering antipsychotics too quickly is a recipe for disaster.
49er
Posted by LaurasMeds on March 26, 2009, at 18:21:19
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by 49er on March 26, 2009, at 17:35:58
Indeed I'm having problems. I've been reducing every 4 weeks by .125 mg and it seems that it's getting more difficult instead of easier. I began on a dose of 2.25 mg and I'm not even a third of the way through my weaning off process and I'm experiencing profound physical and mental symptoms. These symptoms were not there when I was originally prescribed this medication. I've weaned off other medications before but nothing compares to this. I feel horrible.
Posted by SLS on March 27, 2009, at 7:57:31
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by 49er on March 26, 2009, at 17:35:58
> > > I'm dropping half of a .25mg pill every month
> > I have taken Risperdal, but not for the extended period that you have. The rate at which you had planned to taper sounds okay to me.
> With all due respect, I vehemently disagree that the rate that Lauras meds plans to taper at is ok if she is having problems.I did not think she was having problems. I apologize. I seem to have skipped over that part.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on March 27, 2009, at 8:00:12
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by LaurasMeds on March 26, 2009, at 18:21:19
> Indeed I'm having problems. I've been reducing every 4 weeks by .125 mg and it seems that it's getting more difficult instead of easier. I began on a dose of 2.25 mg and I'm not even a third of the way through my weaning off process and I'm experiencing profound physical and mental symptoms. These symptoms were not there when I was originally prescribed this medication. I've weaned off other medications before but nothing compares to this. I feel horrible.
I am sorry that your are indeed having a difficult and painful time discontinuing Risperdal.
Can you describe with more detail what you are experiencing?
What is your diagnosis?
- Scott
Posted by LaurasMeds on March 27, 2009, at 8:52:46
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by SLS on March 27, 2009, at 8:00:12
I was diagnosed as having bipolar ll. A couple of winters ago I had a lot going on in my life and ended up going into a pretty deep depression. Anyway, I take Paxil so my GP upped my dosage from 20 mg to 30 mg. I began to feel better so she upped it once again to 40 mg. At this point I began to experience extreme paranoia (to the point where I considered suicide). My psychiatrist lowered my Paxil back down to 20 mg and put me on Risperdal. It straighted out my head within 72 hours. I thought she was just going to keep me on this drug for a limited period of time but that was over 2 years ago. I have a lot of unwanted side effects so 10 weeks ago I decided to wean myself off of it. I've been experiencing flu-like symptoms and mentally my thoughts have been disorganized at times and I feel like I'm going crazy. Depression has been brewing as well. I've had a week during this tapering process where I felt really good. Now with the last reduction I'm back to feeling depressed. I've been trying to take this very slowly but the withdrawal is still bad. I was just wondering if anyone else experienced these symptoms while trying to come off Risperdal.
Posted by 49er on March 27, 2009, at 18:19:07
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by LaurasMeds on March 27, 2009, at 8:52:46
Scott, thank you for your apology.
Lauras with Meds, my heart breaks for you as I read your story. I can't repeat what I would like to do to your psychiatrist.
Were you diagnosed with BPII before placed on med and on what basis? Just curious.
Not to sound like I am hounding you but if you're feeling bad from the Risperdal withdrawal, why not try to slow it down?
49er
Posted by LaurasMeds on March 27, 2009, at 19:55:36
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by 49er on March 27, 2009, at 18:19:07
I was originally diagnosed with major clinical depression. When I was prescribed Lamictal it really seemed to help even out my mood and significantly lowered my agitation. Based on the success of Lamictal I was diagnosed with Bipolar ll. I truly believe that the paranoid episode that I went through was brought on by the increase in Paxil and not an underlying condition. As for my Risperdal reduction, I'm not lowering it again until I start feeling better. I'm actually scared to discuss my symptoms with my psychiatrist because I'm sure she will tell me that they are proof that I need to go back to my original dose. She's aware of my desire to wean off this medication but she feels it's the wrong thing to do. I'm angry that I was kept on this drug for so long and I'm angry that I was never told how difficult it is to stop taking it.
Posted by 49er on March 28, 2009, at 11:46:11
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form), posted by LaurasMeds on March 27, 2009, at 19:55:36
Hi,
<<I was originally diagnosed with major clinical depression. When I was prescribed Lamictal it really seemed to help even out my mood and significantly lowered my agitation. Based on the success of Lamictal I was diagnosed with Bipolar ll. >>
I had a hunch you would say something like this. Unless you have a history that would indicate BP, you can't diagnose someone on the basis of a med reaction. Joseph Glenmullen, a psychiatrist who is not antimeds, clearly states this in his book, the antidepressant solution.
<<I truly believe that the paranoid episode that I went through was brought on by the increase in Paxil and not an underlying condition. >>
Definitely as that is listed as a side effect on rxlist.com Can't remember if I mentioned this in my previous post, sorry.
As an aside, Laurie Yorke, the RN who runs Paxil Progress Boards, witnessed her son becoming psychotic due to a way too fast Paxil tapering schedule suggested by an MD. Fortunately, 5 years post being off Paxil, he is doing great.
Anyway, that must have been horrifying.
<<As for my Risperdal reduction, I'm not lowering it again until I start feeling better. >>
Great strategy.
<<I'm actually scared to discuss my symptoms with my psychiatrist because I'm sure she will tell me that they are proof that I need to go back to my original dose. She's aware of my desire to wean off this medication but she feels it's the wrong thing to do.>>
Ah yes, your experience is very familiar to people trying to get off of meds. I would say more but I don't want to get kicked off these boards.
By the way, I am sure my psychiatrist felt the same way about my desire get off of meds. He still seems to expect me to fail even though I have been able to taper in spite of dealing with my mother's death and job instability We will be talking about that during my next appointment:)
When you're ready to taper, simply tell your psychiatrist that even if she disagrees, this is what you want to do and ask if you can count on her support? Make sure you have plan for doing so as I told my psychiatrist that I planned on tapering slowly.
He disagree with that (another post) but to his credit, he did cooperate in what I wanted to do.
Unbelievable as they expect you to fail but yet, when you present a plan that has a greater chance of success than their fast tapering program, they act like you're nuts. It is like they want to hold you hostage to these meds. Sorry, lack of sleep is making me sound bitter:)
<< I'm angry that I was kept on this drug for so long and I'm angry that I was never told how difficult it is to stop taking it. >>
You have every right to feel that way. I wish I could say something to make it better but obviously, I can't except to offer you my support.
Hang in there.
49er
Posted by LaurasMeds on March 28, 2009, at 13:29:34
In reply to Re: Question about Risperdal Withdrawal (pill form) » LaurasMeds, posted by 49er on March 28, 2009, at 11:46:11
Thanks for your post 49er. The medication wheel seems to spin round and round and round. It seems that you start off just being prescribed an anti-depressant but that's just a gateway to being put on a plethora of other meds. Pretty soon your head feels all messed up and you're carrying your drugs around in a suitcase with wheels. I think once I get down to 1.5 mg of Risperdal I'll take a break from that for awhile and work on lowering my Ativan a bit.
This is the end of the thread.
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