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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on April 18, 2010, at 9:18:40
I've discovered that I just don't sleep if I don't take my Risperidone at night. I usually take 0.75 mg. I took my Celexa, so that wasn't it.
I just don't sleep! Am I dependent?
It has only been one night though, I don't know if I would continue to not sleep. I have a feeling it would be bad to try it a second night.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on April 18, 2010, at 10:05:12
In reply to Dependent on risperidone??, posted by Deneb on April 18, 2010, at 9:18:40
> I've discovered that I just don't sleep if I don't take my Risperidone at night. I usually take 0.75 mg. I took my Celexa, so that wasn't it.
>
> I just don't sleep! Am I dependent?
>
> It has only been one night though, I don't know if I would continue to not sleep. I have a feeling it would be bad to try it a second night.
>
>Insomnia is very common after stopping an antipsychotic. Antipsychotics are not 'addictive' but withdrawal symptoms can occur after stopping treatment abruptly. Of course, it could be that the insomnia isn't a withdrawal symptom but that risperidone is just helping you to sleep.
Has you doctor told you to stop the risperidone? Please don't make any changes without consulting your psychiatrist. S/he may want you to keep taking risperidone. If you do need to stop risperidone, gradually reduce from 0.75mg to 0.5mg to 0.25mg over a period of several weeks before stopping completely.
Take care.
Posted by Deneb on April 18, 2010, at 10:13:05
In reply to Re: Dependent on risperidone??, posted by ed_uk2010 on April 18, 2010, at 10:05:12
Thanks Ed_uk!
My pdoc says that if I continue to do well like I am now we can decrease the Risperidone, but she hasn't told me to reduce it yet.
I just decided to be irresponsible and stay up all night. I usually get sleepy an hour to two hours after taking my nightly meds. I suspected it was the Risperidone that helped me get sleepy. I guess I am right because it is now 11 AM and I am not tired whatsoever!
I don't want to take it now because then I will sleep the whole day. I'm just going to wait until tonight.
Do you think that is safe?
Posted by ed_uk2010 on April 18, 2010, at 10:32:09
In reply to Re: Dependent on risperidone?? » ed_uk2010, posted by Deneb on April 18, 2010, at 10:13:05
> Thanks Ed_uk!
>
> My pdoc says that if I continue to do well like I am now we can decrease the Risperidone, but she hasn't told me to reduce it yet.
>
> I just decided to be irresponsible and stay up all night. I usually get sleepy an hour to two hours after taking my nightly meds. I suspected it was the Risperidone that helped me get sleepy. I guess I am right because it is now 11 AM and I am not tired whatsoever!
>
> I don't want to take it now because then I will sleep the whole day. I'm just going to wait until tonight.
>
> Do you think that is safe?
>
>I think you might as well wait until this evening and then take your dose as normal. You could discuss the possibility of reducing risperidone at your next appointment.
Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2010, at 11:03:10
In reply to Re: Dependent on risperidone??, posted by ed_uk2010 on April 18, 2010, at 10:32:09
Deneb glad to hear your're doing well but isn't the resperidone the med that keeps you stable? Phillipa
Posted by mellow on April 18, 2010, at 19:38:11
In reply to Dependent on risperidone??, posted by Deneb on April 18, 2010, at 9:18:40
> I've discovered that I just don't sleep if I don't take my Risperidone at night. I usually take 0.75 mg. I took my Celexa, so that wasn't it.
>
> I just don't sleep! Am I dependent?
>
> It has only been one night though, I don't know if I would continue to not sleep. I have a feeling it would be bad to try it a second night.
>
>I am definitely dependent on risperidone and i also take Celexa. I gain tolerance to this drug quickly so it doesn't really knock me out as much anymore. I do find it helps with sleep maintenance as i sleep very sound for about 6 hours until my bathroom break.
I take 2 mg at bed and have been taking this drug for 5 years. I have basically given up on getting off of it. The withdrawal symptoms for me have always been increased anxiety (particularly irrational stuff about the near future or recent past) and lots of irritability. I sometimes have some mild insomnia when i reduce my dose, but it is more just a delayed sleep onset consistent with anxious thoughts running over and over through my head.
I did pretty well for a few month on 1 mg, but when things get rough the quickest way for the doc to get me stable is to kick up the risperdal a notch and calm/sedate me for a couple of days. He will sometimes have me take 3 mg for two nights until i stabilize and go back to 2 mg after that. Don't get me wrong it is an incredible drug, but i have become both biologically and extremely psychologically attached to it.
If you are doing so well at just .75 you might see if you can get by without antipyschotics all together. Seems like an awesome place to be as those can be the meds that (in my humble opinion of course) make us the most tired and fatigued. I wish you well in your taper. I hope this was helpful!
mellow
Posted by Deneb on April 21, 2010, at 1:41:29
In reply to Re: Dependent on risperidone??, posted by mellow on April 18, 2010, at 19:38:11
Thanks mellow!
It my pdoc's plan to slowly wean me off the unnecessary meds I take, of which she means the Risperdal first and foremost. She'll do that when I have been stable for longer.
This is the end of the thread.
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