Risperdal (risperidone) and having a mini meltdown

My psychiatrist started me on Risperdal about 4 days ago. So far I feel very zonned out and after I take it my head feels kind of odd, rushy feeling (hard to describe)

Before I started it however I had a mini meltdown in my work. The voices centre around my workplace and they where really insistent that another member of staff was trying to poison me and had bugged the place. I tried to warn people except nobody believed me and my boss got kind of pissy with me saying these things because he doesn't think its true. I'm not 100 percent certain its true myself, but I get some moments when I am utterly convinced that this is the case(and then it seems very logical to warn other people), and some moments when I'm not sure if I should believe the voices at all.

I finally had a meltdown at work and started crying and I couldn't stop. I'd just had enough I needed to get out of that place and away from that woman and the rest of my work colleagues who I am sure are talking about me behind my back.

I got emergency annual leave so I didn't have to take time off sick, I had 4 months off sick when I was manic and I don't want to take more time off sick leave if I can avoid it.

Since being off work I started Risperdal and I am noticing that apart from being zoned out and feeling a bit flat the voices are defiantly not as intense. I still hear them but not as often and they are easier to ignore. I'm not sure if this is because I don't have the pressure of work or if its because I started this new med. Is 4 days too soon for it to be working? I'm worried I will think I'm better go back to work and find out that I'm not.

my meds are
Lithium 600mg
amitriptyline 75mg
Risperdal 2mg
chlorpromazine 50mgs (only if I need it to help me sleep) - which i do almost every nightI
I was dignosed Bipolar type 1 but now they are saying Schizoaffective Bipolar type.

any advice from you guys would be very welcome, especially about the meds is it common for anti-psychotics to make you feel flat and depressed and is there anyway around this?.

Jools

Hi Manic-Rabbit,

Yeah, Risperdal makes me tired too. If I take it during the day I will be groggy all day. I find that strong cups of coffee do help. Cappuccino especially.

But Risperdal does help my voices go away. It really works for me. I know it's not 100% but the medication makes me think better and makes the voices weaker. I take my dose at night and during the morning it's like I don't have schizophrenia at all. As the day goes by I find I have to take a booster around 3PM or they will start back up again.

I didn't know you worked (out in society). Way to go. I know how tough it is sometimes. I work from home and it's still tough.

Yeah, I had a mini-meltdown just recently. The important thing is to take your meds, get some rest, and remind yourself that your just chemically imbalanced. It does go away and there is always a better tomorrow.

Have a great day!