Risperidone withdrawal could kill me **TW (Trigger warning)*

Risperidone ended up tightening my throat to the point I couldn't breathe easily or swallow food. I put myself on the drug carelessly, and was given 0.5mg daily. I took it for 3 weeks, and then I discontinued it as I was starving myself. It's been 3 days since I haven't taken it, and I have lost the ability to sleep. It's scaring me to death, because I am probably going to die of sleep deprivation. I also have excessive thrist and can't feel happiness. This insomnia only started tonight. I have had insomnia due to a withdrawal on Seroquel as a child, because the doctors made a mistake by putting me on them. I remember how I developed narcolepsy and mild seizures. I also had one case of sleep paralysis.

I'm scared that I will not make it out alive. If there isn't any advice, that's fine. I'm tired, but not tired enough to sleep. My brain just feels like it turned to air, and all of my functions died. I'm only 17, and I'm going to die like this...

This is my experience with Risperidone. I'm sorry for writing it here, if it is the wrong forum. I can't ever trust medication again, and I'm horrified that I took it myself.

negative00 wrote: I am probably going to die of sleep deprivatio

I survived Zyprexa withdrawal but not without something to sleep, Ativan.

You need to taper these kinds of drugs. Better to take a little more than to go crazy from lack of sleep.

negative00 wrote: If there isn't any advice, that's fine.

I don't like doing it, I don't know a thing about you so that would make my advice kind of flawed anyway. I do know the horror of withdrawals and do know that it ends. I know part of the horror of withdrawal is that impending doom feeling that its never going to end but it does.

You have the right to decide to terminate any given treatment. It is important not to stop taking medication before you are ready. But for at least some people, getting off medication, even against a prescriber's advice, may be the best solution.

After you get through this I hope you come back and share with others what you learned to help them get through it.

Maybe someone who has done Risperdone withdrawal will come along read this and post something.

If you feel real sick go to the emergency room . Since the mental health system got you started on medications, it also has a responsibility to help you terminate that treatment as safely as possible if that is your choice.