Posted by Daisy on November 16, 2001, at 13:47:04
In reply to Re: Boy,quiet today-? for Bipolars not on Stabiliz » Daisy, posted by Krazy Kat on November 16, 2001, at 10:16:17
Risperdal is a neuroleptic (anti-psychotic, originally developed to treat schizophrenia). I've never had psychotic symptoms, but for me this works really well to keep the agitation and manic symptoms at bay, much better than mood stabilizers have and with far fewer side effects -- the only side effects I've had from it were sleepiness for the first few weeks and the 10-pound weight gain. I tend to gain weight easily, though, and have to struggle to stay in the slightly-overweight range. From what I understand, it's not as likely as, say, Zyprexa to cause weight gain. I think Zyprexa is the only anti-psychotic that's specifically approved in the US to treat mania, but I've heard of most all of the newer ("atypical") anti-psychotics being used for it.
The first time I ever took it it had astonishing results: I was wildly manic, to the point where the dr wanted to hospitalize me if this didn't work, and within an hour of taking a 1 mg dose I was myself again. For me it's pretty much been a wonder drug.
poster:Daisy
thread:84344
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011113/msgs/84429.html