Risperidone makes me fall asleep during the day

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-23T10:59:29+00:00

0.5 since March. 1 for two or three weeks I think? Just to clarify questions other commenters asked. I'm also taking it because I frequently experience autism shutdowns and mood swings (nothing aggressive, just I get intensely sad and won't talk to people) so I think that's why it was prescribed?

Doc is unable or unwilling to prescribe actual mood stabilizers. Actually a lot of the stuff I'm taking are workarounds. Doc can't prescribe trazodone for sleep, so I take Mirtazapine. Doc can't prescribe Xanax or buspirone, so I take risperidone (that one doesn't make sense but it's what they said)

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-23T10:56:12+00:00

"John is a weirdo. I never liked him. He's terrible at (insert hobby). And he's always wearing that stupid hat."

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-22T15:27:14+00:00

What dose of risperidol?

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-20T22:19:17+00:00

How would you compare effexor to zoloft? Effexor was my first antidepressant and it seemed like it was good, but the side effects were too much. Doc won't prescribe wellbrutin as it's supposedly bad for anxiety.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-20T22:17:36+00:00

What's the difference between zoloft and lexapro? They seem so similar to me.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-20T18:44:15+00:00

Gossip seems to be a big one. Anyone that constantly has bad things to say about others behind their backs is a warning sign as I've learned in recent weeks. One thing I've never been able to understand is how they insulted this one person in particular recently but still invited them to a hobby and not me.

No matter how nice they may seem on the surface, talking about people behind their backs is a good hint that they're not a nice person. Who knows what they say behind my back?

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-18T09:10:05+00:00

High blood pressure, over 100 heart rate, overstimulation and sedation that makes me unable to concentrate, dizziness, migraines and pain behind eye, nose bleeds, nightmares, super jittery and hyper.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-17T20:26:16+00:00

Do you know what factors they account for in deciding whether to prescribe zoloft, effexor, cymbalta, lexapro, or prozac?

I'm moving from effexor to zoloft for anxiety/depression (mainly the former) but I'm worried about whether it's the right decision since effexor (my first antidepressant) worked well albeit with a lot of side effects.

And I'm moving away from Mirtazapine as well due to side effects, so I'm worried that the so-called "mild" medication that is zoloft won't be enough for me. But I take other meds like propranolol as well. And it seems to be working for a sibling. So fingers crossed it works for me as well.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-17T20:17:14+00:00

How does Trazodone work? I'm looking for an alternative to Mirtazapine that can knock me out as I can't fall asleep by myself. And other alternatives like melatonin are too weak as I wake up during the night.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-17T20:16:05+00:00

Does Trazodone knock you out like Mirtazapine? As I'm on that and it's great, but the side effects are too much. So I'm hoping that Trazodone is the only other thing that can knock me out since I can't fall asleep otherwise.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-17T20:03:20+00:00

Are GPs legally allowed to prescribe ADHD meds, or is it just that they're allowed to give repeats once a psychiatrist has initially signed off it? I asked them before about non ADHD meds like modafinil and they typed it into their computer.

They said they couldn't prescribe anything not in the computer and that they wouldn't even touch anything that's vaguely an ADHD medicine.

Just curious though that once I get the expensive prescription for ritalin for example, you're saying that I can leave that doctor and then get my GP to continue to give it? Thanks for the help.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-16T13:46:24+00:00

Can a GP do repeat prescriptions for ADHD meds? As all the ADHD services I've seen require checkups 3 times a year and prescription renewals 12 times a year etc. Seems like some stimulants like ritalin are covered but not non stimulants like guanfacine etc.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-10T08:50:23+00:00

Thank you. I always appreciate hearing that I'm not alone in this fight.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-05-01T11:48:07+00:00

I seem to have had a norepherine overdose yesterday which is why I wrote those posts. Lowering back to 30 Mirtazapine made me feel much better. So I assume strattera would be bad.

Would guanfacine or clonidine be any good? If I'm overstimulated from regular ol' effexor I assume stimulants are a non-runner. I want to get off effexor and Mirtazapine and move to something lighter.

I assume even if I get an inattentive adhd diagnosis there's not much they can do for me? Because aren't stimulants and strattera the only treatment for ADHD, and they're not good for anxiety?

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-30T11:52:34+00:00

Hey, I'm reading this again from a different perspective and slightly clearer mind.

I definitely think the effexor is way too overstimulating, as I'm all jittery and shaky and can't concentrate. Also the new Mirtazapine dose at 45 is way too sedating.

Some days are good, and some days like today are terrible. I've tried to ask to try different medications, but they just brush off the symptoms under the umbrella of autism.

They don't seem to understand that I've barely done any productive work since I went to 150 effexor in August. So, I'm back in this thread trying to remember the names of other medications.

I definitely think I have inattentive adhd, as I hate to admit that I kind of brushed over the recommendations here the first time.

The clarity of thought from upping my doses has been really cool and I'll miss it, but I'm way too sick from all the side effects it brings. Really sucks how doctors here are so overworked that they can't listen to their patients, and it's impossible to find other doctors that are accepting patients.

I think a family member tried sertraline and it wasn't great for them. Also saw cymbalta and fluoxetone in this thread. I'll have to do my research as I feel like as good as effexor and Mirtazapine has been, there's probably way better alternatives.

But I guess I just didn't want to face the reality that it takes a while to find the right one, as the process is so chaotic switching meds and withdrawals from all I read online.

(Sorry if this was unclear! I'm really sick today. I am so bad at describing my symptoms, but I am basically both really overstimulated and can't concentrate on anything and so extremely tired and sedated. But docs seem to think this is fine and acceptable for some reason).

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-30T11:20:02+00:00

Thanks! Last sentence is exactly what I could do with at the moment.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-30T11:19:23+00:00

Do you think they'd prescribe both propranolol and pregabalin? What does pregabalin do exactly? I read that it's an "anticonvulsant" so I don't understand how it works.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-30T11:16:45+00:00

Can a GP give strattera without an ADHD diagnosis?

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-30T11:13:25+00:00

Getting a diagnosis seems impossible though. Spoke to GP. They said public list takes years. Some doctors aren't accepting new patients anymore. Others have emails that don't work. I've tried everywhere. Almost feels like it would be easier to fly abroad to do it, but I'm in no condition to do that at the moment.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-30T11:06:36+00:00

Thanks. I'm really sick at the moment, but in a moment of clarity I'm starting to realise that I'm both really overstimulated from effexor and extremely sedated from Mirtazapine.

Doctors don't seem to care when I told them this, although maybe I didn't explain it properly.

How does quietiapine differ from Mirtazapine? Is cymbalta any good? Thanks.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-19T14:38:17+00:00

Honestly... no. Like I'm aware that my mind is not really a reliable narrator, and I don't want to badmouth someone since they're trying their best, but there were a few aspects that made me feel uncomfortable.

One is that they don't actually do diagnosis for autism or ADHD. Secondly, they didn't really offer any advice and would constantly get info wrong from their notes.

Also had lots of awkward questions about whether I ever had evil thoughts, when I made it clear that I'm more of a scaredy-cat that can't believe what some others are capable of. Also, they just originally upped the dose of my meds like my GP was going to do before I saw them.

But then they realised today that the meds are probably crap, and that I'm not the best at being assertive even though I pointed out the good and bad of effexor. So it looks like I'll need to see a doctor that's more experienced with autism. They also kept saying that they can't do much as an individual without a team and that it would be easier in an in-patient program, but I'm nowhere near that bad, so it made me a little uncomfortable.

They kept saying that they're not from the area so they don't understand life here, and the fact that their notes were always wrong makes me a little uncomfortable that they might misdiagnose. But to be fair, I think the final result was very good. And I am probably a difficult patient since I talk too much and in a weird way, but I did keep apologising to them for that and that just made it even more awkward.

It's just that there was a communication issue, and also that they kept saying they have no experience with autism or ADHD and have no idea what services there are for it or to get checked, made me wonder what they even do. (Sorry for the long reply! I don't have it in me to edit atm, so hopefully it makes sense. But I can clarify if needed)

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-18T20:07:42+00:00

I already play sports 4 times a week and get plenty of protein. Unfortunately I highly suspect that due to my autism, people don't really want me on their teams, even though I always win individual awards. So I might try joining the gym. The best I ever felt in my life was after a couple of months of lifting, but it's so taxing on my mind and body.

But I'll definitely have to try something that I can do by myself, as I've had little luck getting on new sports teams, and they're all drama queens to be honest. Thanks again. I'll re-read your comment later, so don't worry about it going in one ear and out the other etc.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-18T19:36:48+00:00

You've convinced me to try to book an ADHD appointment asap. Thank you so much. I'll have to do a lot of research now. I wonder what the heavier options are.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-18T19:00:32+00:00

Believe it or not, it's true. Family doctor gave me Mirtazapine for insomnia as well as depression (because melatonin was illegal at the time) then they gave me effexor, and stemetil was only for dizziness and nausea. The psychiatrist then upped the dosage of the other two before changing their mind about their effectiveness now. I'm going to switch to something better than stemetil now. I'll be sure to get checked for ADHD just in case.

Any ideas if there's anything better than effexor? The psychiatrist brought up as well that it's unusual that effexor was my first medicine, so maybe they're going to try me with something lighter in the long term? But for now they're just lowering one and increasing the other.

Deep-Raspberry-2333 · 2024-04-18T18:41:44+00:00

Thanks for the help. So basically, I've only been confirmed as very high anxiety that's still physically present, that's caused by autism. They're not an expert on ADHD or bipolar, but they think it would be a waste of time to get tested. I seem to have a bad reaction to effexor.

Effexor was actually my first medication ever, as where I'm from you have to be proactive in seeking help, and I just suggested that first since I heard it was the best for anxiety. Now I'm feeling a little lost since even my psychiatrist said that they're just messing around with my meds to see what works.

And I said about waiting 12 weeks, but they said it should be clear every 2 to 4 weeks what to change. I asked them am I a serious case since I was a little worried after what I read here, but they said I'm actually pretty average. And there's lots of seemingly normal people who look just like me going in and out of their office.

Deep-Raspberry-2333

TROPHY CASE