What is Risperdal?
Risperidone, or more commonly known as Risperdal, is an anti-psychotic often used to treat patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and some side effects of autism. The drug also is prescribed to bipolar patients to help deal with their mood swings, more specifically their manic states. Risperidone is a dopamine antagonist, or a drug that blocks dopamine receptors. The drug was first released in 1994 after being developed by Janssen-Cilag of Johnson & Johnson.
What are the side-effects?
Common side effects include:
-Nausea
-Insomnia
-Increased appetite
-Drowsiness
-Upper respiratory infections
-Dizziness
-Heartburn/Indigestion
-Abdominal pain
-Increased salivation
-Anxiety
-Agitation
-Fatigue
– E.t.c.
What does Risperdal do for bipolar patients?
I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder a couple of months ago, but I’ve suffered from mood swings for several years now. My doctor prescribed me Risperdal for my mood swings. She started me off on 1 mg. and said she would increase the amount in time after she saw how I’d take the side effects. I’m due for my check-up in a week.
When I first started the drug, I was also just entering into Maniaville. I was excited to start new plans, and my mind was as sharp as a blade. I was writing more than I had in quite some time and my thoughts were all jumbled in my excited state. In some ways, I think Risperdal helped me enter into that state because beforehand, my depression symptoms were showing more than anything. Unfortunately, my excitement died within a month or two and I was back to a more calm state afterwords.
Every night I take my pill, I become dead tired within an hour. I can say that I no longer have much trouble going to sleep! I have gained a little weight since I’ve been on Risperdal, but I feel that’s because my appetite has grown within the time I’m been on the medication. I’m a lot more anxious, that’s one side-effect that still bothers me a bit. I’ve also been sneezy for quite a while, so the upper respiratory infection side-effect is another that I think has effected me.
Overall, I don’t really see the pill helping me too much with my disorder. It’s helping a bit when it comes to my sleeping schedule, but not so much with mood swings. Then again, I’m only on 1 mg., so maybe that would change if I took a higher dosage. My opinion on prescribing anyone else with Bipolar Disorder is that pills have different affects on everyone. Risperdal might be for you, or it might not be!
