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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by d miller on July 23, 2002, at 17:07:48
I have a question about risperdal and effexor together. Has anyone done this? My pdoc had me on Buspar 15 mg and 130 mg of effexor, the buspar has done nothing to help the anxiety. She says I'm on a low dose of effexor and wants me to get up to 225mg. I have to do this so slowly because I'm sensitive to meds.
She now wants me to wean off buspar and take 1/2 of .5 mg of risperdal twice daily for anxiety.
I'm not feeling any releive from the effexor, which I have been on in the past at 75mg for 4 years and it worked pretty well for me. I wonder if AD's just do not work as well the second time around, my pdoc said no that is not true. What's you opinion?
D. Miller
Posted by judy1 on July 23, 2002, at 17:45:27
In reply to Risperdal and effexor, posted by d miller on July 23, 2002, at 17:07:48
My opinion is if you are not psychotic, don't take an AP. If you have anxiety ask for a benzo, much more effective than buspar. Take care, judy
Posted by oracle on July 23, 2002, at 23:03:58
In reply to Risperdal and effexor, posted by d miller on July 23, 2002, at 17:07:48
I wonder if AD's just do not work as well the second time around, my pdoc said no that is not true. What's you opinion?
>
> D. MillerYes they do sometimes work on 2nd or 3d try.
If you are taking different meds each time, that
totally changes things, too.As to the Risperdal (or any AP) used for nonpsychotic
conditions, I agree with Judy. Of anxiety, the benzo win over
the AP's for long term treatment. We know the long term effects
of benzos, we do not have long term data on the newer AP's.
AP's always carry a risk of perm. movement disorders.
Posted by cybercafe on July 24, 2002, at 21:23:10
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor, posted by oracle on July 23, 2002, at 23:03:58
> Yes they do sometimes work on 2nd or 3d try.
> If you are taking different meds each time, that
> totally changes things, too.yeah i've heard there is a risk that re-starting the med may not yield the same beneficial results, but who knows
> As to the Risperdal (or any AP) used for nonpsychotic
> conditions, I agree with Judy. Of anxiety, the benzo win over
> the AP's for long term treatment. We know the long term effects
> of benzos, we do not have long term data on the newer AP's.
> AP's always carry a risk of perm. movement disorders.... i wonder what dose of APs risk TD or DIP? ... .. zyprexa is probably one of the better atypicals.... i suppose if you are not psychotic you can always try l-dopa or some other anti-parkinson med to get rid of the disorder lately...
personally i might question being perscribed a antipsychotic.. but maybe your doc has a good reason? you should discuss it with him...
fortunately lostboy told me i would be an idiot if i took an AP for anxiety, so i gave gabapentin a try first and am satisfied with the results...
Posted by d.miller on July 25, 2002, at 15:59:35
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor, posted by cybercafe on July 24, 2002, at 21:23:10
I am not pschotic (as far as I know). Just lots of anxiety with depression. When I was on the effexor for 4 years it really took away the anxiety, that's why I'm suprised it's not working now. I have increased it up to 150mg 2 days ago and I'm feeling the extra anxiety of that increase. Every increase I do my body feels, that was why my old pdoc thought the risperdal would help, because she says I'm obsessive about every little sensation my body makes. Well!
Gabapentin isn't that Neurotin (did I spell that correctly).
That has worked well for you, and you used it for anxiety?d.miller
Posted by cybercafe on July 26, 2002, at 1:26:53
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor » cybercafe, posted by d.miller on July 25, 2002, at 15:59:35
>now. I have increased it up to 150mg 2 days ago and I'm feeling the extra anxiety of that increase. Every increase I do my body feels,
hmmm.. i think most people would feel extra anxiety the first 2 days after increasing the dose... it probably takes at least a week or two to really start to work well no ?
>that was why my old pdoc thought the risperdal would help, because she says I'm obsessive about every little sensation my body makes. Well!
who knows... your doc probably knows you a lot better than i do... i think it's usually better to discuss concerns with a doc and find out what his reasoning is rather than stopping a med on your own
> Gabapentin isn't that Neurotin (did I spell that correctly).
> That has worked well for you, and you used it for anxiety?... yeah... anxiety wasn't much fun :)
Posted by sarahcat on July 26, 2002, at 16:07:52
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor, posted by oracle on July 23, 2002, at 23:03:58
> As to the Risperdal (or any AP) used for nonpsychotic
> conditions, I agree with Judy. Of anxiety, the benzo win over
> the AP's for long term treatment. We know the long term effects
> of benzos, we do not have long term data on the newer AP's.
> AP's always carry a risk of perm. movement disorders.Although I agree that it's important to make people aware of any potential side effects (such as movement disorders), I have to disagree with the suggestion that AP's never be used if psychosis isn't present. I'm on Effexor, Risperdal, Lithium, and Neurontin for suicidal depression (with some suggestion recently that I'm Bipolar II) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I think the Neurontin has done the most to combat my anxiety, but the Risperdal has been a lifesaver because it helps dissipate my chronic suicidal thoughts. Of course Risperdal wasn't a first-line treatment for me, but still, if other things haven't worked, it just might help you.
Sarah
Posted by sarahcat on July 26, 2002, at 16:20:12
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor, posted by sarahcat on July 26, 2002, at 16:07:52
>
>
> I'm on Effexor, Risperdal, Lithium, and Neurontin for suicidal depression (with some suggestion recently that I'm Bipolar II) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.Oops, I temporarily forgot that I'm also on Lamictal (how did I do that?), for what it's worth. Just call me one of the poster children for poly-pharmacy.
Sarah
Posted by cybercafe on July 26, 2002, at 20:44:30
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor, posted by sarahcat on July 26, 2002, at 16:07:52
>Risperdal, Lithium, and Neurontin for suicidal depression (with some suggestion recently that I'm Bipolar II) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I think the Neurontin has done the most to combat my anxiety, but the Risperdal has been a lifesaver because it helps dissipate my chronic suicidal thoughts. Of course Risperdal
i have heard that a lot actually.... (i have friends on zyprexa for suicidal thoughts)
i am curious as to how long it takes for an anti-psychotic to get rid of suicidal thoughts... and what dose docs usually use
... and how exactly does it make you feel...
... i think i heard someone say the antipsychotic gets rid of... unbearable agitation?thanks for sharing -- it's really helpful ;)
cybercafe
Posted by d miller on July 27, 2002, at 12:09:32
In reply to Silly me!, posted by sarahcat on July 26, 2002, at 16:20:12
How long have you been on risperdal?
d.miller
Posted by sarahcat on July 29, 2002, at 0:25:09
In reply to Re: Silly me! » sarahcat, posted by d miller on July 27, 2002, at 12:09:32
> How long have you been on risperdal?
>I sent a reply to your question yesterday, but I don't see it now, so I'll try again.
I've been on Risperdal for a couple of weeks shy of a year now. I started on 1mg twice daily, but that has since been upped to 1mg in the morning and 2mg at night. I never considered going on an AP until I was in the hospital and my inpatient psychiatrist suggested it. Since I'm on so many meds it's sometimes hard to tell which medication has what effect, but I can't argue with the fact that I do pretty well 75% of the time now. The other 25% sucks pretty bad still, but 75% is far better than nothing.
Sarah
Posted by shar on July 29, 2002, at 23:46:15
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor » d miller, posted by sarahcat on July 29, 2002, at 0:25:09
Risperdal, effexor and wellbutrin worked well for me. I'd used the E and W for years (300 mg per day each), and the Risperdal really energized me and just having energy was a HUGE help. Plus, it helped with my mood.
Much to my great sadness, I got a little too twitchy after some months, so we stopped the Risperdal (that's 'we' as in me and my pdoc, not me and my other selves...). I noticed a difference in my mood and energy just a few days after starting Risperdal, something I hear is not unusual with AP's.
I had the 'poop out' experience with Zoloft which was the all-time, record holding most favorite of mine. It was heavenly for a number of months and then slowly stopped working. When it worked I bet I was just like a normal (my depression has been since childhood), and it felt great.
I recently stopped Effexor. I went from 300 mg of the xr, to 150 (for financial reasons) a few months ago, then decided to quit, so I did 75 mg. for 10 days and then to 37.5 for 10 days. It's been about a week since my last dose and I am crashing around like nobody's business with very impressive, huge mood swings that I find myself suddenly awash in. The weeping I'm used to, the rage has me worried.
I take clonazepam (Klonopin) to sleep, so my last rage reaction (the remnants of which still decorate my living room floor) I took .5 mg clonazepam and it helped. I asked my pdoc for a few extra in my refill, because I only get 30 per month.
I dropped the Wellbutrin to 150 a few months ago, also for $$ reasons, and my pdoc suggested upping it again for a while to see if it will help with the mood swings due to Effexor (or lack thereof). He said my reactions to the Effexor withdrawal are not that unusual.
So, I'm back up to 250 mg of Wellbu, for a while anyway.
That's the most recent leg of the journey. I'll be in a holding pattern for a while...I insist...
I did use the patient assistance programs for R, E, and W. W is the all time worst, requiring the signature of my pdoc on the form PLUS I had to have an "advocate" complete the form on my behalf. Jeeze.
Effexor had a copay, but the administrative hassles were less than with Wellbu. Risperdal had the most user-friendly patient assistance program. They were very nice.
Shar
Posted by littlebaldy29 on July 30, 2002, at 14:23:14
In reply to Re: Risperdal and effexor, posted by shar on July 29, 2002, at 23:46:15
I was recently hospitalized with complications of manic depression and am now taking topamax, risperdal,and effexor and it is working beautifully. I do have some psychotic features to my mania but it has also helped with the anxiety and the suicidal thoughts. I can say with some confidence that it is the risperdal because it is adjunctive. My current dosage is at .5 in the morning and 1mg. at night.
This is the end of the thread.
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