ruttentud Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 So I got prescribed 2mg Risperdal. I think my doc just wants me to take this until my lamictal gets up to 100mg. We're increasing it by 25mg every week, and I just started wednesday. Anyway, I took the R last night for the first time. It stopped the mania and I slept for like 13 hours. But I'm really really not wanting to take it anymore because of how much I slept and how crappy I felt until about mid-afternoon. I know nobody here can give medication advice, but has ANYBODY used an AP just "as needed" like...if I notice I sleep for 2 hours and start getting manic again, couldn't I just take it to knock the mania down? (also, how long does lamictal take to start kicking in?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderstorm Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I was supposed to use zyprexa 'as needed'. It was prescribed for a mania-induced psychotic episode, and the plan was to give me a couple of weeks on it, then taper it off. Next time I started experiencing psychotic symptoms, i could start the zyprexa again (I luckily only tend to get that bad two or three times a year). It wasnt supposed to be a 'if i start getting manic, I take it for a day or two' type thing, which is what it sounds like you're suggesting. I'd need to take it for a couple of weeks. From what I've read, most people experience a lessening in the tiredness the longer they're on an AAP/AP. The first time I ended up just staying on it for months because I was scared to stop taking it because my Pdoc wasnt actually being very helpful in managing my condition. I've used it 'as needed' once since, and that was for two weeks. That was not under the care of my doc, though, so please dont take that as medical advice! The exhaustion is tough, isnt it? Sometimes you need to trade off shitty side-effects for the good the medication can do you. From your previous posts, it sounds like you really need to give your body and brain a little break from the mania. Why not give it a couple of weeks, then if it's still something you dont want to take, or you feel it still isnt helping, talk to your doc about it? At least then you've given it a go Im feeling the benefits of my lamictal at 25mg, but everyone's mileage will vary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 The sedation will wear off within a week or two. That's important to know. So, if you were saying stuff like this a couple days ago: no it was a guy and lady dressed all in black. they were just talking to the doctor. see...there is some "THEY" out there. i dont know exactly who they are yet. extra dimensional beings. maybe some secret governmet. i dont know. but they have the ability to control certain things. develop diseases in an attempt to get rid of some people. the planet is over populated at all. What makes you think that you won't go delusional quickly and then have the delusions convincing you again to not take meds? And what makes you sure the delusions won't be accompanied by hallucinations? Or that it will feel good? You are bipolar. You are in a manic period. You are not on an antimanic. Risperdal is all that's keeping your head screwed to your shoulders for the time being. It would be very foolish to think that you (or anyone in the same place) could do this med PRN right now. ETA: Ouch. I said what could have been phrased far more nicely and constructively in an awfully harsh way. I'm sorry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Yes, AP's can be Rx'd as needed. But that assumes the condition you are treating requires that. As with most meds, the side effects are worst when beginnng and fade with time. I suggest you giving the Risperdal at least a few days to accomodate. If it's still too strong your doc may approve for you to lower the dosage, perhaps by pill splitting (you can can get pill splitters at the pharmacy for just a couple bucks), or by altering your dosing. I can relate to the sleepiness, as I just restarted some meds and am crashing on the couch at every opportunity. I'm not getting much done, but it IS nice to feel safe and under control. Hope you feel better soon. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scatty Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Once your body gets used to the risperdal, it probably won't be as sedating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuchsia groan Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Can you play with timing at all? I tried taking mine about an hour before bed (=an hour before I OUGHT to go to bed), and that made me sleepy the next day. After messing around, I've found that if I take it at 7, the sedation doesn't really catch up with me until bedtime anyway, and I'm much less sleepy the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anelize Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Really, you don't want to court mania. She is a fickle, two-faced, evil bitch. Nothing truer was ever said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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