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peacepresent: My risperidone journey....


peacepresent

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I thought I would make a post here.

 

I was sectioned in august 2016 in a way that caused me huge trauma. ( I never should have been medicated as I never needed it and was in withdrawal from weed) I got out 3 weeks later after being a 'good boy' I 2mg risperidone for two weeks then they upped it to 4mg when I told them the other patients were talking about me. BIG MISTAKE.

 

I felt like a piece of lead in my body, energy, breathing, mind, emotions, cognitive abilities and MY WORLD just felt sinking into void not what it once was I was 'gone'. As Alan Watts says and made me go though this stage faster 'who are you really?' I know this was true as who the ***** was I ? This sh*tty chemical had made me feel a spark of my former self who you are afraid to let ignite and warm your whole being from its true and familiar glow.

 

I got home and kept waking with intense huge panics in the morning waking in shock like my whole being couldnt comprehed the torture this so called 'mental health' system had endured on me.

 

I felt like I had a Nelson Mandela imprisonment level of psyche trauma rolled into a few blurry weeks.

 

I researched the 'medication' and it caused me huge panic and terror.

 

I quickly tapered in around 2 months and finished around november 2016 after tapering to nothing. It was a scary journey, I maybe tapered slightly too fast but my feelings were I wanted to get this crap out of my system as soon as possible with out cold turkey.

 

I felt the worst I ever felt in my life, feelings of akathasia and anhedonia and fear of 'relapsing' fear of how evil these crazy quacks were who prescribed this poison. Disgust at the world. Disgust at how we glorify a 'free equal society' in ways like 'ahhh we are not racist' anymore - look we got a black president. Or had. So many bull **** distractions from real hidden atrocities in this world. Ohhh it makes my blood boil!!!

 

Except we treat people who have unusual mental experiences with 'magic medications' and near psychic psychiatry with their lists of symptoms but no evidenced physical test for diagnosis. Yes I felt bitter and numb to the world and still do. We blame them for things in the media we make teach our kids to be afraid of them when the real people to be afraid of nowadays are really your teachers or doctors who can push bull **** meds onto the poor kids and teens.

 

Although lately I have been choosing hope and letting its fire burn and light my own soul afire again. 

 

In the hope one day the people who are responsible for these mal practices will be put to justice. The more powerful good peoples sons daughters fathers mothers get caught in this sick web will make us stronger. With greed you can only carry so much profit, liability, food before the stomach bursts like all bubbles do! That is my belief.

 

Any how I have been around 3 months free of Risperidone. I have felt at least 75% of the time numb and a whirlwind of horrible fearful dark feelings on top of this. Just numb, like my old life is dead where do I go from here type of mantra of feeling. When its quite on a bad day it is also quite and my mind completely quite unless doing something. Can you relate? I used to meditate to get to this quite but this is like a chemical quite? Or a fear that it is a chemical silence in my head. Maybe its just a fear of the worst but the fact is some times I have read of guys with the same description of feelings.

 The anhedonia is the worst. I have inner akathasia also although I don't pace the house anymore like a zombie. My sleep pattern is always changing aswell. Sleeping though the day for 12-14 hours some times. Some times 10pm to 9 am.

 

I watched a program on the placebo effect last night and I realised it is little more than believing in magic. If it works it just means magic is just a science or technology that we have not discovered yet. I really do believe prayer, ecstatic dance, HOPE FOR HUMANITY and healing of your self all work and are true. I believe that these drugs really are evil and a form of torture and human rights abuses invented to push people to the dark side and go mad with its horrendous side effects to just profit out of them. I say this because the treatment I got from the mental health service in the UK made my state of mind go 1000% worse or more.....

 

Any way I just wanted to say the past day I watched a few nice films and also these videos of stray dogs in India getting rescued and cared for and the transformation is a miracle.

 

After feeling in a place where I feel I cant trust anyone any more for most of the past 6 months those dogs really made me feel love and hope.

 

I noticed when I have a really numb anhedonic and miserable day I go to bed and some times have dreams where it is like I feel all the emotions I did before all this happened or its just the deepest layer of me which is running and flying in those dreams joyfully and it gives me some hope that atleast I feel good some times in my dreams when I am in a bad window or wave. Do you guys relate?

 

Some times I get dreams that I am being chased and I used to wake up terrified of these some times before taking these crap medications. Now because I have felt real terror being put in hospital and chased by police and put in some horrible cage like 72 hour confinement we have here in the UK. I don't feel this fear anymore. I actually have little fear of death and 'scary things' I fear the most not helping get this tragedy put to the light.

 

It is like I am more strong in front of the evil real crazy people in the world.... I am also very close to writing a book on a topic known as topical steroid withdrawal. Which is the same thing as withdrawal from anti psychotics except its for the treatment of 'skin condition' where the hydrocortisone actually causes flare ups stronger and stronger when you stop taking them. I also want to write books on this kind of withdrawal and say my story and tips. As well as a conspiracy theorist type book.

 

I am rambling.... I also felt like I was reborn and everything was new to me even though I knew it was not. It was like the changes chemically and from trauma made me react to everything differently or I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Or be happy or angry I was feeling so many things at once which were also numbed or were they? I mean who knows who can measure it? Its like a psychic raping and trauma caused by the mental health system.

 

I often wonder and believe I was suffering PTSD as the first few months I was really depersonalised and derelised like the world were full of robots going around all smiley while the ******* world is going to ****!!!! This has decreased hugely, I felt in limbo or something it was very weird and scary.

 

 

 

I feel like I went through a crawling stage mentally then a toddler and I am now seeing the first days of teenager today.

 

I FEEL ANGRY HAPPY AND REBELLIOUS although I wont tell my CBT worker this as she may try to say I am bi polar as I keep having small windows of anger and happiness then numbness and crying....

The thing that triggered this beautiful window for me was listening to Kerrang Radio station you know the teenager rebellious skater music. I used to love this music then I went in to old school rock , blues, jazz, funk and 'real music'

 

This raw skater type Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Nickelback type 90s and early 00s music was a big part of my high school years I some what loathed and loved.

 

I also recommend staying mad at the man! Never lose hope as we will see these sick fu cks put to justice and revenge will be sweet.

 

I was laughing hugely also as I felt there is a 'crazier' guy out there that everyone loves in Alex Jones on Joe Rogan show. The latest episode is amazing I suggest you watch it. I feel a lot of hope from it.

 

Tell me what you think guys if you can relate to anything..

 

I will try to post on my feelings and keep you updated. Also I took a break from ashwaghanda and then used it last night and maybe it has helped?

 

Your friend Peter

 

Oh and thai massage helps open great windows some times. I also plan to do a course of 2 weeks every day acupuncture and I will report the results here. Its gota be non detoxing and non stimulating I heard on here? A calming treatment? Thanks!

Edited by JanCarol
added brand name tag, Language
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  • Moderator Emeritus

Pete -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

 

Thanks for taking time to post an introduction. We all learn from each other. I'm sure that your updates will be helpful to lots of people.

 

You did correctly recall our suggestion about acupuncture -- no treatments that detox or stimulate.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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  • 2 weeks later...

yup, i took risperidone as well (for 3 weeks) and i've been off for over 10 months and everything you said you feel sounds familiar, it feels like a pseudo hell. it's so bad that it makes one feel like a science experiment, and stuff like that has actually happened in US history.

 

i've taken countless herbs and vitamins to try to help myself so if you want a review on a certain supplement/vitamin then let me know.  i am doing better now but still not 100%, believe me, month 3 of stopping risperidone feels a lot different than month 10, month 10 feels better.

 

congratulations though, it's not easy to get through risperidone. some people are on it for years.....and they call us insane. they give risperidone to children. 

 

i didn't taper, i came off cold turkey and it was literally the worst pain i've ever felt both mentally and physically for a good week and a half.

In March 2016 i suffered from a paranoia/schizophrenic episode which resulted in me taking risperidone/risperdal 3mg for about 3 weeks along with a couple 7mg long acting injections.  i had an intense withdrawal after stopping cold turkey and i have been off risperidone ever since then.

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I started acupuncture around Fed 15th, the doctor is a really nice caring Chinese man. I had 4 sessions over the next two weeks. I felt it opened a big window of feeling quite normal.

I woke one morning feeling really quite good that I especially remember. After around 3 weeks I then did not have any more acupuncture until now although I plan to go this week. I told my psychologist that I felt I had improved a lot.

It seemed the acupuncture helped me enjoy some old hobbies again and it stopped my depersonalisation and scary empty feelings of the mind when idle.

 

I then had another psychologist appointment and she said that she does not know how to help me and that I need to set goals in order for CBT to work. She really thought this was the turning point for my recovery, I also felt this way although I prefer to keep seeing her for a while longer but she really believed she could not help me further.

 

I then had a appointment from a nurse and support worker, I feel these members of the team don't help me as much as they try with good intentions they seem to re activate my trauma and bad memories. As after speaking with them I felt I have gone into a bad wave or window of dissociation, fear and numbness.

 

I ordered many books on shamanism, ibogaine, psychic trauma and self help / spirituality guides although I have not much drive to read so I force my self at the moment.

 

I don't have physical akathasia like I used to when taking the risperidone, I don't pace the house with inner physical feelings that must come out in this way. Although when I am still and not busy in a 'flow' of a task my mind feels empty and I feel slightly like a vegetable / freeze response of trauma or something that words cant quite explain. I don't enjoy staying with this although I some times wonder if I should buy a singing bowl set or gong and try meditating with these to see if I can learn to fight this in natural disturbing void of the mind or emotion what ever the combination of causes is whether PTSD like or chemical induced. Some times it feels like part of my brain / spirit mind thought process is completely blocked to flow freely like the constant stream I suppose healthy people have. I used to spend time meditating or smoking weed to feel like this although when I felt it before it was brief and took effort although it was very empowering and peaceful as a place. Now it comes very easily when in a bad wave such as being in a quite space idle alone- it feels like I must 'work' to make the thought stream come again although most things seem to not spark me with any real enthusiasm. It also does not provide peace or empowerment it feels like I am missing something or I have been damaged some how that my mind and brain does this. I read books and researched much about bad effects of psych meds, I feel there is no way to tell and diagnose exactly what it is. Although I think it is a mixture of trauma and psych med induced. It feels like if I get triggered or feel a start of a bad wave it also can echoe for a few days in this dissociative state. I then work hard to think positive and eventually I start echoing positive thoughts that lead to a less detached experience of life until I go back in a bad wave or window. I feel like the bad windows can start from a trigger in this case it was watching homeland and the main character got hospitalised and it triggered a freeze like response and it seemed to echo for 5 days or so.

 

I will now talk about the accupunture experience it self. The doctor gently taps the needles in and asks me to tell him when I can feel a slight sensation tingly / electric like. A needle point I especially enjoy is the one he places on the forehead between the eyes near the third eye. He told me it helps allow blood flow to the brain among other things. I am reading a acupuncture book called psycho emotional pain and the eight extra ordinary vessels. It is quite hope inspiring.

 

He advised he thinks some herbs may give me very big results or possibly not work at all and if I would like to try them I said I really would like to but I feel I cant risk anymore strong chemicals in my system for some time.

 

I will try go to another 5 sessions over the next two weeks or so and see if I have any good results. I may try regular acupuncture for around a year then I will try ear acupuncture for PTSD type conditions in which he said he can provide.

I asked about electro acupuncture as I read a very positive study in its use for depression and it had better outcomes than the prescription med. He said it would be too strong for my delicate state and maybe in the future after he helps strengthen the liver heart and kidneys among other things.

 

I have also been reading a book on ibogaine and how it seems to do a 'disk clean up' or system reboot type effect of the brain after being affected or changed by certain drugs or even traumas. I have read a few terrible horror stories of terrible experiences that made people have electric like shock sensations after and a constant state of terrible psychic pain after taking it. I only heard a few of these although I read of a lot of great success stories of people recovering with it and feeling 'reborn'

 

Also MDMA for psychotherapy for trauma seems excellent and hopeful in the research being conducted by MAPS.

 

What does everyone think of my post can you relate? I really hope you feel better Risperdalhater I hope I can feel as good as you say you have improved. When I have a good window I think hmmm I wonder what job I want to do or I come close to starting looking to get back to work then a bad wave hits and I lose all interest apart from looking after my health and waiting until I am ready to work again through good heath and support.

 

I hope everyone is doing great and can find some hope from what I write. I really hope MAPS will find something and science in general becomes more like MAPS and honest in research that needs to be done to help people suffering adverse effects of drugs and complex trauma like syndromes. As there seems to be very little help and support and guidelines for people suffering terrible withdrawal syndromes from pharmaceutical medications.

 

I will update soon after I have treatment and feel any change for the good.

 

:)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Pete,

 

I, myself, am cognitively challenged at times and find it difficult to read such a large block of text, so I imagine that other members may have similar issues.

 

Would you be able to write a briefer outline post of what you are wanting feedback on?  I imagine you would get more responses by doing this.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Administrator

Welcome, Pete.

 

When you come off drugs, your nervous system can take some time to very gradually recover. Please do NOT try to rush the process by experimenting with other drugs.

 

A regular sleep pattern will help your nervous system stabilize. Your body runs on a daily rhythm that is set by sunrise and sunset. When you work with this natural rhythm, your body will function better.

 

I strongly recommend choosing a time to go to bed every night and get up every morning. You may wish to take perhaps 0.25 melatonin about an hour before bedtime and turn all the lights off, or at least turn them down. Your natural sleep cycle is started by darkness, that's when your own body makes melatonin. See Melatonin for sleep: Many people find it helpful 

 

Regular sleep may help your nervous system settle down.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi guys thanks for the responses.

 

I have had not had further acupuncture yet although I have ordered lots of whole foods.

 

I am in a very good long lasting window at the moment. I am eating very healthily. I find gluten, milk, sugar and additives and preservitives make me feel crap.

 

I have this new breakfast with a few table spoons of 100% raw organic cacoa powder which is a very powerful wholefood some people say the most powerful in the world gram for gram. I have 1-2 of these a few times a day with a a  few table spoons maple syrup that I buy in bulk, then a big hand ful of sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds or cashews or almonds.

 

If you feel empty emotion wise and numb or like a ghost please give this super snack a try and share with me if it works along with acupuncture.

 

http://www.secrets-of-longevity-in-humans.com/raw-cacao-benefits.html

 

The window is good for me at the moment. I will update in the future.

 

I am just looking for risperidone or other anti psychotic users to chime in and tell me there progress.

 

I have purchased loads of nice shamanic / spiritual / accupunture meets science and the mind body whole/ druidic / ibogaine and ayuhuasca type books that I have lots of time to read if a bad window happens.

 

I hope you all feel a great window soon!

 

Please try acupuncture and let me know if it helps as well as the gluten avoidance to restore gut and gut neurotransmitter health and avoid dairy anti biotics and other things to help this happen.

 

Warm wishes!!!

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cacoa is the raw unprocessed version of cocoa and tastes smoother and not bitter, here is a quote from the article. -

 

'The phytochemical analysis of cacao beans reveal that raw chocolate is perhaps the most chemically complex food on Earth. There are compounds yet to be discovered in this most amazing of live superfoods. Phytochemicals usually degrade in the cooking process, so the raw forms of them should be abundant in every diet for longevity.

~Anandamide (the only food that contains this neurotransmitter responsible for the feeling of "bliss")
~ N-linoleoylethanolamine (prevents the re-uptake of anandamide)
~Phenethylamine (PEA, a neurotransmitter known as the "love molecule")
~Seratonin (a neurotransmitter that acts as a "stress defense shield" by making you feel good)
~Dopamine (a neurotransmitter that boosts motivation and pleasure)
~MAO Inhibitors (prevents the re-uptake of serotonin and dopamine)
~Coumarin (has appetite suppressant, blood thinner and anti-tumor properties)
~Theobromine (controversial but actually quite beneficial for humans, see last section)
~Asparaginase (an enzyme that has anti-leukemia properties)
~Ergosterol (a precursor to vitamin D)
~Sitosterol (decreases LDL cholesterol)

The nutrient density of raw cacao benefits every function of the body. One of the many cool facts about chocolate is that it is the highest source of magnesium and chromium of any food! Magnesium is the most deficient mineral in the average human. All of the compounds found in raw cacao benefits longevity in humans.

~Vitamin A
~Vitamin B (1, 2, 3, 5 and 6)
~Vitamin C
~Vitamin E
~Magnesium
~Copper
~Calcium
~Manganese
~Zinc
~Sulphur
~Iron
~Chromium
~Phosphorus
~Omega 6 Fatty Acids
~Saturated Fats
~Amino Acids
~Carbohydrates
~Soluble Fiber (which is the type people need more of)
~Enzymes (including catalase, lipase and amylase)
~Other Beneficial Phytonutrients (such as the antioxidants already mentioned in this article)'

 

Amazing!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Am starting Qi gong practice and drinking really nice green teas to see if it will keep this window open.

 

Some times I wonder if the window is blurred and I forgot what I used to feel like if this makes sense...

 

The despair and fear and worry is mostly gone most times since acupuncture.... I been reading lots of books on Chinese medicine and it does some thing to piezo electric circuits and if your whole body is tranquilised maybe it makes some insulation in the circuits and acupuncture releases these blockages like draining dams of stagnant life force or something

 

Give me a comment if your taking risperidone and lets discuss

 

 

Pete

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I been taking chlorella and spirulina and maca as well as cacoa and maple syrup and organic seeds and nuts.

 

My libido has improved quite a lot... maybe the same as before but I cant really remember fully and have not had a partner to see this fully lol...

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I think I will give raw cacao a try.

Took Risperdal (4 mg for one week, 2 mg for some weeks and 3 mg for three days) from early August to early September 2016.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Peace - 

 

It sounds like you have a good toolkit - ecstatic dance, meditation, feeling through your extreme states, chi gung.  Your anger is very useful - put it to work!

 

Having emotions in dreams is an excellent sign!  It's the beginning of feeling again!

 

As someone who is "experienced," I cannot say that any other drug can be an aid to your recovery.  I hear your craving for those peak experiences - but I have found that through simple, slow, steady Practice (yoga, breathing, meditation, vision work, karate, weightlifting, socializing, shamanic drumming) - I am getting - not Peak experiences, but - darned good much better ones.  And they are more real, because, as I am building them in my life, they are also building with purpose, community, and lasting changes.

I greatly respect the work that MAPS is doing - but it is not for the likes of you and me.  Not now.  Maybe decades from now.  

 

I have started adding cacao to my smoothies too.  Oh, it's especially good in a banana cashew smoothie!

 

It does get better!  Time will heal you, and steady practices are your friends!  Remember to fake it till you make it - you may not feel the chi gung, or the shamanic states, but keep with it and you will find your way through.  I love your proactive approach!

I believe these people are doing shamanic workshops in your neighborhood:

http://www.middleearthmedicine.com/calendar/

 

I hope you see the Sun today!

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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I am almost fully recovered. I apologize for sounding angry and seeming to imply to suggest random over the counter herbs, all of these herbs did nothing for me as far as i know.  

In March 2016 i suffered from a paranoia/schizophrenic episode which resulted in me taking risperidone/risperdal 3mg for about 3 weeks along with a couple 7mg long acting injections.  i had an intense withdrawal after stopping cold turkey and i have been off risperidone ever since then.

 

 

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that is excellent news Risperdalhater.

 

Guys I am thinking of making a support / social skype or chat server for other sufferers who have anti psychotic withdrawal symptoms as I really feel some of us can contribute to healing others with a regular place to talk to people for support when needed. Also gaming together through dota 2 as a means of bonding and helping pass time when in the tough times of withdrawal.

 

Allostrata pm me about this some time!

 

Peace present

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

peacepresent -- You may want to post about your skype/chat server in this thread Open to being a phone friend?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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I have started Brazilian ju jitsu and mui thai kick boxing with my brother and his fiancé. It is a great workout and helps me bond with others and release anger. After this I come home and try to do a hour or two of qi gong dvds and meditations.

 

I also have started making lots of 'desires' and goals in my mind. I also started enjoying drinking milk with cacao. I put around 2-3 heaped table spoons of organic cacao in a big mug and mix with lots of hot milk and honey and drink 2-3 cups over the next few hours at night and my libido comes back a lot and makes me feel very at ease, After lots of martial arts my appetite is a lot bigger. Also it makes my thai massage much more enjoyable when my muscles are bruised and aching.

 

I have found qi gong, martial arts, herbs, krill oil, and high quality foods among lots of sleep family time have helped me.

 

I find my nightmares or dreams my baseline for fear is much higher since all these bad events. Its like I have developed more compassion and am much more fearless. Although I also find much less things are sugar coated in life anymore and much more real and brutal as my ego and mind has changed.

 

Life is strange but wonderful for sure!

 

Accupuncture has continued and I told my Chinese doctor about the qi gong practice and he was happy for me and said its very good and will improve the effects of his treatment.

 

One strange thing I have started doing daily is massaging my forehead accupuncture point with my knuckles quite hard. It often stimulates deep and life like dreams. One had amazing music that sounded so familiar but I could never remember it after. Its amazing what can happen in life with lots of reading and meditation and belief.

 

I will try to run the skype group soon I just need to order a microphone and open a talk server and schedule time for it that fits all people in different time zones.

 

Peace and Love guys

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Congrats RH!! I hope things keep going good for you! I have started qi gong and Brazilian ju jitsu and kick boxing. I think that kicking and punching the pads as hard as I can releases huge amounts of anger at what happened to me and millions of others in this some times unjust world. Also Qi gong meditation really helps focus the mind and embrace the void emptiness by replacing it with complete serene nature and stillness like a tree.

 

I hope everyone is doing well.

 

Peace and Love!

Would love to hear your story and how you recovered.

Edited by scallywag
moved from risperdalhater's success story

Dec 2016 Risperidone 1 mg, Seroquel 25mg, Latuda 40mg 

Jan - Mar 2017 Paliperidone (invega) 6 -9mg, Zoloft, Mirtazapine, Proprananol, Ativan

Mar - Apr 2017 Aripiprazole (abilify) 10 mg

Apr 2017 - July 2017 Olanzapine (zyprexa) 5 mg tapered to 0mg

Oct 2017 - Present Effexor 37.5mg and Prozac 10mg 

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Peacepresent

How long were you on Risperidone for in total and how many months have you been off? Are you experiencing more motivation and emotions? Are you having insomnia at all?

Dec 2016 Risperidone 1 mg, Seroquel 25mg, Latuda 40mg 

Jan - Mar 2017 Paliperidone (invega) 6 -9mg, Zoloft, Mirtazapine, Proprananol, Ativan

Mar - Apr 2017 Aripiprazole (abilify) 10 mg

Apr 2017 - July 2017 Olanzapine (zyprexa) 5 mg tapered to 0mg

Oct 2017 - Present Effexor 37.5mg and Prozac 10mg 

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I don't feel like a zero dopamine frozen robot in a completely non human like world that I felt in while taking the risperidone and weening off it for around 6 months.

 

I used to get this very uncomfortable void in my head with no thoughts coming at all unless I 'pushed' for thought paths. Even so they felt not real.

 

After lots of sleep, reading books, watching inspiring videos, forming a new belief system and outlook on the world. I have finally made meaning of this for my self.

 

I am lucky to have supportive family who helped me through this.

 

When spring came I felt emotions again easier also emotions come easier when around good people.

 

I find also when people over here or figure out what happened to you, they go through a whole process of walking on egg shells around you and some times treating you different.

 

This was apparent for some memebrs of family although they realised I believe after some time that I was not crazy and simply had a strange experience due to withdrawal from weed and stress and a failing relationship.

 

Martial arts and qi gong help to get the mind body connected again and build confidence and push out bad anger into a punch bag or sparring partner when wrestling.

 

I took risperidone around 6-8 weeks. I don't believe I needed it and they push the dose up from 2 mg to 4 mg when I said in the hospital I felt others were talking about me or listening in on me, when they were even outside the doctors room listening. The 4mg dose really made me feel like I was dying and like lead and robotic. With chest and breathing difficulties.

 

Anyhow I hope you all find some peace and health soon

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  • 5 months later...

I was sectioned last year and I tapered off 2 mg off risperidone (2weeks prescription) then raised up to 4mg for a few more weeks. I tapered rather fast around 10percent per week or quicker. I felt a zombie state and akathasia quite a lot and restlessness and no joy for a long time as well as sexual side effects. I also felt PTSD type side effects that I worked through with therapy and meditation and positive changes and habits. It felt like fearful freeze type response. 

 

This was last year I started feeling a lot better and joy as spring emerged and I continued with old hobbies and healthy exercise and meditation and healthy diet and social activities.

 

I have felt really good the last few months of summer especially with hobbies and meditation and being able to just sit perfectly still with no heavy tight breathing I got from risperidone and the akathasia ect. Although when I started reading into more spiritual shamanic type books and practices and fasted and mediated all night just simply due to feeling good and making progress with qi gong and yoga my mum then sat up with me all night and then pressed the panic button over the next 6 hours I was feeling high due to deficient attention from family all watching this spectacle where I felt 'high' from life. I am also an artist and wish to learn herbalism and modern shamanism.

As the evening came to a close I was sectioned by police and pushed into ambulance. The doctor said I was likely bi polar. I was put on clonazapine 1mg and risperidone 2.5mg. I have taken them for 3 weeks and want to safely withdraw and just lay low and not make the same mistake with meditation and things. My doctor halved dosage of clonazapine 1.5weeks in then a few days ago I have been on no clonazapine. I felt slight uneasy and panicky and slight negative neuro emotions.

What I wish to ask is that it took around 2 weeks for the risperidone to make me feel restless and drowsy. I now want to withdraw from it. I am using activated charcoal as well as valerian root and passion flower aswell as feeling how my body feels to judge the strength of tapering.

 

I only took the benzo for 2 and a half weeks should I wait much longer regarding taper of risperidone?

 

As I was only taking for 3 weeks at a relatively low dosage could I taper much fast than the 10% per month? I want to try taper in a month or less if possible.

 

When I get anxiety to sleep at night I practice yoga and attend calming acupuncture once a week or so.

 

Please advise me as I feel ok although I have only been home for few days.

 

Many thanks

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Hi guys I am wondering how fast is too fast to taper from these meds. Clonazapine was at 1mg dose I tapered off early with docs advice effects were slight uneasyness. I have now started tapering the risperidone i have decreased around 25 percent of the dose and its been 4 days and I feel fine. Should i just hold at 25 percent and reinstate if needed. I take each day as it comes and try fill it with positive things. I understand the recommended is 10% cuts. If I done this I would be reducing for far longer than I took them. Cheers

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi peace,

 

So that we can see your drug history at a glance please follow these instructions about how we prefer your signature to be.  Please include your tapering method and also update it whenever you make a change so it remains current.  Many members, including the moderators, experience brain fog and it helps to have the information is a way that we can easily see your history without having to read through it.  Thank you.

 

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8 hours ago, peacepresent said:

If I done this I would be reducing for far longer than I took them.

 

Unfortunately that may just be the way it is.  I can see from a quick look at your posts that you have been on psychiatric drug/s previously.  The effect on your CNS (central nervous system) is cumulative.  It is better to get off the drug/s slowly with minimal withdrawal issues than to go too quickly and destabilise your CNS.  Destabilising your CNS can result in more than just physical/mental discomfort.  Some members have lost their jobs, some have had to move in with family members, some have become bedridden.

 

Also, sometimes trying to go faster can result in you being on the drugs longer than what it would have done if you had gone slowly in the first place.  And/or it can result in you ending up on an additional drug, which would then have to be tapered as well.

 

You may be able to go faster than 10% but you will need to listen to your body and at the first sign of withdrawal symptoms worsening you would need to hold.  This topic rhis-start-small-listen-to-your-body-taper-plan has some good information about listening to your body.

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 7 months later...

oh man these docs!!god help us what can we do against these docs?

23rd april2018- 26th april2018-risperdal 1mg

27th october2018- 31st february 2021- clonazepam 0.5mg per day

March 2021- February 2022- Abilify 10mg or 20mg per day

+ few other antidepressants i recheck and write names

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