Does anyone know if taking my mother off risperdal kind of quickly will have lasting withdrawal symptoms? She was in a zombie vegatable state for about a week on 1.5 mg twice a day. I reduced it down to 1 mg one day after she was unable to do anything. Then I reduced it down to .75 mg the next day, and now only giving her .25 mg a day for about 6 days.

Before being put on risperdal she could walk, talk, eat, had no pain in her legs, and use the bathroom on her own. After becoming a zombie she could do none of these things. Out of fear and extreme worry I took her down to .25 mg a day.

She has regained the ability to use the bathroom, talk, walk but complains that her knee joints hurt, but she still doesn't want to eat. I have to beg her and she gets real angry.

I don't know if I have done the right thing or not. The doctor wants me to put mom back on the risperdal at 1 mg twice a day. I am scared the death to do it. I don't want her to become a zombie again and things I have been reading about risperdal is scary. The drug seems to be very dangerous.

Does anyone have any comments about this?

Any knowledge would help.

Larry, My Mother was on Risperdal for about a year, then developed a tremor and choking issues and shuffling, drooling......she is now on Aricept and Zyprexa....she is still a bit anxious but not as bad.....Good Luck, let us know, ok friend?

ZOEY M

My dad was given Risperdal 0.5 in the a.m and 1 mg in the evening. He walked into the hospital for a medical eval for a nursing home eval. He walked in fine , head help up, walking talking. Well after 2 weeks there, the nursing facility that recommended this route refused him, well they just never called me back. So, i take my dad in to get medical clearance, meds tweaked etc... and he came out worse that he went in. respirdal and haldol did him in, no walking, head to his chest. could no urinate.. And the staff wanted to know why we were upset. He was better at home urinating all over the place than what they did for him. Believe it or not, the home that suggested this Hospital prior to going to their facility( the psych doctor at that hospital that follows their patients) would not return my calls. Obviously that psych doc said that my dad was not a good fit for them. They must have some kind of financial arrangement. Make the patients as easy and docile as can be then we can manage them! Needless to say, my dad is off of Resperdal and haldol, but his head is still in his chest. I think he was better off at home. I should of hired health aides. Now we are at a home that is giving him Geodon (like at the hosp. after the resperdal) plus depakote and ativan prn that they give all the time. My dad was better when I was taking care of him and now we are paying big money for what? I am going to ask the new doctor at the nursing facility if we can go back to his home meds, he was fine with those, and keep some as needed ones for agitation, seeing that he realizes that he is not at home. What a terrible disease.
Thanks, Mk

Larry, just saw your message. Could you give us an update on what happened. My mom is seeming to experience these symptoms and I didn't think it was the Risperdal, because she didn't have these problems until now which is about 2 weeks after it was prescribed. Ie: pain in legs, difficulty standing up straight, etc.