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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dingbat on February 18, 2004, at 1:43:28
Hi
I've suffered from mixed Anxiety-Depression for about a decade. The most helpful AD so far has been Efexor XR 150mg (I said "helpful", not "wonderful"). I still get 'break-thru' anxiety though and was wondering about asking pdoc to Rx a very low dose of Risperdal. What have others found re: Risperdal and anxiety???
Posted by Smiley on February 18, 2004, at 2:31:38
In reply to Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ?, posted by dingbat on February 18, 2004, at 1:43:28
I have lots of anxiety while on Risperdal. But I just started it (5 days). Sorry, no help here.
Posted by Metalblade on February 18, 2004, at 7:05:49
In reply to Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ?, posted by dingbat on February 18, 2004, at 1:43:28
Risperdal made my anxiety worse. I don't think it is right for people with anxiety. Its more like a drug you would give to some one to slow down there thinking.
Posted by Tony P on February 19, 2004, at 3:47:47
In reply to Re: Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ?, posted by Metalblade on February 18, 2004, at 7:05:49
I have GAD - generaliized anxiety - and tried Risperdal briefly. It's really an anti-psychotic, and my experience is that unless you have that diagnosis, with GAD it just makes you BEHAVE less anxious - I felt just as anxious inside on Risperdal as without it. YMMV.
You might also ask about Seroquel, which according to my pdoc is very similar to Risperdal but with much lower incidence of nasty side effects.
I am currently taking Lamictal (250mg/day), Seroquel 25-50 mg prn at night, and 4 mg/day clonazepam. The clonazepam helps the most with the anxiety, but my pdoc says Lamictal should also help, so I hope I can cut back on the clonazepam soon, as I develop tolerance very quickly. The Seroquel helps a bit with sleep and is supposed to keep me from going hyper and staying up all night - obviously I haven't taken my dose tonight as it's 1:45 AM and I'm still going strong! Hmm - maybe it's time for that dose.
Tony P
Posted by Ilene on February 19, 2004, at 9:39:46
In reply to Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ?, posted by dingbat on February 18, 2004, at 1:43:28
> Hi
>
> I've suffered from mixed Anxiety-Depression for about a decade. The most helpful AD so far has been Efexor XR 150mg (I said "helpful", not "wonderful"). I still get 'break-thru' anxiety though and was wondering about asking pdoc to Rx a very low dose of Risperdal. What have others found re: Risperdal and anxiety???I think so. I've been taking the smallest dose of Risperdal for a few weeks with no noticeable effect, except perhaps less irritability. My pdoc decided it wasn't doing anything, so yesterday she told me to stop. I woke up this morning with intense anxiety. I think the effect is subtle and gradual.
I also take Klonopin, which dampens the anxiety in about 1/2 hour. Problem is I can't take more than 1/2 tab or I fall asleep, and the effect lasts only 4-6 hours.
I also noticed that anxiety is listed as a Risperdal side effect. You go figure.
Good luck.
Posted by Sooshi on February 19, 2004, at 22:08:47
In reply to Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ?, posted by dingbat on February 18, 2004, at 1:43:28
Hi dingbat,
Have you considered increasing the Effexor? If it is somewhat effective for you at 150, maybe a slightly higher dosage might do the trick. It worked for me that way. I currently take 300mg, whereas 250 wasn't quite doing it for me.
I also take Klonopin on an occasional basis for anxiety...it works wonders, on many different levels (anxiety, sleep, headaches, mania, etc.)
Hope this helps a little.
Posted by dingbat on February 20, 2004, at 0:05:11
In reply to Re: Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ? » dingbat, posted by Sooshi on February 19, 2004, at 22:08:47
Hi Sooshi
Thanx for advice. I also find clonazepam (Klonopin) works pretty well for anxiety. I have already tried increasing dose of Efexor XR to 375mg with my pdoc. While these higher doses are definetly helpful during an anergic exacerbation of depressed symptoms, I find that it is too noradrenergic (?dopaminergic) at this high dose and it will cause my anxiety to worsen. In fact, I usually decrease my Efexor to 75mg when anxiety symptoms > depressive symptoms! Klonopin is a "good and faithful friend" during hi anxiety times!!!
Posted by Sooshi on February 20, 2004, at 9:23:51
In reply to Re: Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ?, posted by dingbat on February 20, 2004, at 0:05:11
Wow! I could never drop my Effexor to 75 mg without major brain whooshes & such! That's great that you can do that!
Good luck on your search!!
Posted by Dinah on February 20, 2004, at 19:25:20
In reply to Anyone = success with Risperdal for Anxiety ?, posted by dingbat on February 18, 2004, at 1:43:28
For those times when Klonopin isn't enough. I've averaged maybe one of the lowest dose tablets per month for the past year and a bit? It's not called a major tranquilizer for nothing.
This is the end of the thread.
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