Risperidone

[Pat-rick1]

What’s everyone’s view on Risperidone , I’m thinking of taking part in a study?

[cat3]

Who's idea is it to take part in a study for an anti-psychotic drug ?

Such drugs can have seriously unpleasant side effects with possible destabilising effects on an already damaged, fragile brain. I know there've been positive findings on the use of antidepressants for aiding recovery from brain injury, and now Risperidone is being trialed.

Please be clear on exactly what the effects will be Pat, and how long-lasting ! xx

[Pat-rick1 in reply to cat3]

Thanks cat , it was one of the doctor s at st Mary’s

[cat3 in reply to Pat-rick1]

Pat-rick. please get the opinion of one of your own doctors before commiting to this. It might be perfectly ok, but with such a potent drug I'd be very wary.

What made you decide to take part in the study ? ..........and is the doctor you mentioned, at St Mary's, YOUR doctor (therefore fully aware of your medical history) ?

[Pat-rick1 in reply to cat3]

Hi cat, it was one of my doctors team that emailed me about the study ,so yes he knows . He was also one of the people that suggested I go on antidepressants,

[cat3 in reply to Pat-rick1]

Oh thanks for getting back to me Pat. That makes all the difference knowing they're your 'own people' who understand your history and needs.

I know Risperidone has shown favourable results in post-BI treatment so it looks like you have an up-to-the-minute team on your case ! I hope you'll feel free to ask them any questions you might have, and that all goes well should you decide to go ahead. Let us know what you decide. Good luck, Cat x

[Pat-rick1 in reply to cat3]

Thanks cat, it s the next step on my journey guess ,x

[cat3 in reply to Pat-rick1]

Indeed pat.... Is it St Mary's in Manchester that you attend ? x

[Pat-rick1 in reply to cat3]

London cat

[cat3 in reply to Pat-rick1]

OK, thanks Pat ! Have a good weekend.................... xx

[RogerCMerriman]

One of the studies I looked at a few years back had this I think? My wife Vetoed it, probably very wise!

[sealiphone]

It's a trial so what they'll be able to say and what degree of confidence is bound to be limited.

Risperidone, has undergone previous trails, so some evidence will have come from that including any adverse effects.

There's a good reason why you're asked to sign a Informed Consent form and the researchers are under an obligation to tell you what the trails about and any foreseeable risks involved.

This would happen if you express an interest in taking part.

It not just drug trail which need to be considered very carefully I took part in a face to face questionnaire study, a student doing their Masters degree.

I found that thinking about my answers made me realise something I'd not thought about before. Now I may be angry about that or see it as something better addressed now, either way it was unexpected

[Blixstar]

Hi Pat, would not go on a trial of any medication after brain injury. I have been on some mental health medications that have severely damaged bladder & liver!!! One an antidepressant the other an anti psychotic. I had mental health problems before accident and brain injury exacerbated my mental health issues. So I am on a lot of meds but they have done me more harm physically than mentally beneficial. My liver is so damaged I have a strict diet and meds to stop triglycerides from increasing so much they will make me terminally ill with incurable pancreatic damage. I am also obese too because of medications, I was fit as anything physically before these meds and so with worse physical damage it is making my mental health worse. My bladder is also damaged but still waiting for more tests/results to find out what, where whatever...........some medication ain’t worth what has happened to me anyway. I’m not saying all meds are bad but these days I have to pay for it but most of my medicines are 100% natural.

Take care Sam

[Richdp]

Hey Pat-rick1

I took part in this particular trial, and I've got to say, it wasn't for me. I had adverse side effects to this medication. I had to stop the trial because my side effects were so unpleasant. Steer clear if I were you

[sealiphone in reply to Richdp]

Was it confirmed you'd taken the drug?

[Richdp in reply to sealiphone]

It hasn't been confirmed yet, but a Neuro nurse I see thinks it wasn't the placebo due to the common side effects I experienced.

[Pat-rick1]

Oh now I’m in a pickle, im not on anything right now , I have a box of mirtazanpine beside me that I have not touched it,I now am well aware of my changes : example: I was at doctor,receptionist was just doing her job ? Name date of birth etc, she asked me to repeat my date of birth !!!as slow as I could and not very nice I repeated it. Leaving I was wtf did I just do . I was so rude , this is not me . This is one of the reason that I probably should do this

[StrawberryCream in reply to Pat-rick1]

Pat-rick with any medication some people will encounter side effects and some won't. There is no way of knowing if you will, without you trying it. Sometimes the side effects are minor and resolve after a few weeks but for others the side effects are more significant and sometimes can outweigh the benefits. You have to make your decision whether to give it a go but knowing that if you get intolerable side effects that you can stop it. All medications now come with often a long list of side effects, and their frequency as a percentage of population, but that doesn't mean you will get them. By law now we have to be given all the possible side effects even if has been a very minute number of people that have ever experienced them. But it does make many scared to even take them like you with your mirtazapine. Often medications will make a remarkable positive difference but we have to take them to find out because for some they do and some they don't and you can't find out what the situation for you will actually be if you don't try them. Respiredone is commonly prescribed to children as well but it has to be started by a consultant. It is prescribed often to children who have brain conditions which cause anger and aggression. So similar I think to what you experience. Having read your posts throughout the time you have been on this forum I do think that you do need to have something to help you with your mood problems and maybe things could improve if you gave the medications a try! There are many different types of medications for each problem and so if the mirtazepine or respiridone aren't effective for you or cause problematic side effects you need to be prepared to try another medication. Everyone responds differently and what works for one doesn't for another. An example is my son has FASD which is a brain condition and he has associated ADHD and it has taken a very long period of time of taking and being change to 5 different medications to recently finding the one that works best for him without causing increased problems with his mood and exacerbating anger. He is now much better, happier and achieving more than he would be without a medication. If you don't give the medications a try Pat-rick then you have to accept that this is how you are and you interaction with life is going to continue as it has been. But maybe .......... the medications could improve things but without trying you won't know. If you do join the trial then try to commence with an open mind and not already fixed on 'these are going to make things worse'. Try to keep your opinion in balance by reminding yourself that if you were a type 1 diabetic or a severe epileptic you would have to take the medications regardless of side effects.

Best wishes

[Pat-rick1 in reply to StrawberryCream]

Thanks Caroline,I’m in two minds right now . Do or don’t. I’ll decide next week I guess , thank again x

[sealiphone in reply to Pat-rick1]

We're all very different but people tried to convince me not to take Mirtazapine 45mg, lots of negative experiences on the web.

However I'm well aware you can't really predict so me being me I've been taking that dosage for over 2 years.

None of the common side-effects and if not for the medication I wouldn't be writing this nonsense on the forum.

So to taking part in a trail is bound to carry some degree of risk, personally I'd only do it if it may benefit others with a low degree of risk to myself.

[cat3]

Agree absolutely with Caroline above. And remember you can pull out of the study at any time ! xx

[Pat-rick1 in reply to cat3]

Thanks for all the advice, unfortunately I’m no wiser, it’s Clear this is a dangerous drug . It may help , but also may fuck you up more than you are already . I was on the phone and arguing with a representative about something, my partner was why are you shouting , explain myself and he pointed out I was wrong. I was Overreacting and rude to the caller.of course we had a fight again and he was right . This is happening more and more frequently

[Pat-rick1 in reply to Pat-rick1]

To go from a positive and nice person well at least I think so , too a grumpy so and so ,

The new me is not nice simple as that

[cat3]

OK, back to the beginning. Perhaps Risperidone is a step too far. You said earlier that there was pressure for you to start on antidepressants and maybe that's the path you need to take.

The people who understand your history best are your doctors, but they can be one dimensional in their approach to treatment because of their duty of care to treat a particular issue. And taking part in a study might be a noble cause but maybe better avoided if it's causing you too much stress.

Antidepressants have shown to dramatically improve quality of life for patients with a history of brain injury. Emotional highs and lows are commonplace after any type of BI and you only have to look through this forum to see the discord and grief it causes between many partners & family members to get the measure of its destructiveness.

I can only comment on what I'd do if it were me in this situation. I would walk away from the study and take the antidepressant route, whilst continuing with psychotherapy. Even antidepressants can cause unpleasant side effects which need to be endured for a few weeks before the drug is assimilated and found to be compatible with our own physiology.

But when a suitable one is found, an antidepressant can change your outlook, attitude and demeanour for the better. There's no 'magic' treatment for the after effects of brain injury but, with an effective medication and cognitive work, you might feel an improvement.

But most of the effort has to come from you Pat in protecting your relationship/s. I've learned that simply saying 'Sorry' after an outburst goes a long way in reminding ourselves that we've done/said something to be sorry FOR and can hopefully lead to more respect and understanding.

Most of us here have grieved for who we once were, but looking back and hankering after the 'nice' person we used to be isn't helpful. We are who we are, and that's what we have to work with, whilst taking all available help and keeping in mind how none of this is much fun for those around us either. 😖

Sorry this turned into an essay............. Cat x

[sealiphone]

It seems to me you've got serious doubts so I can't see how that can help you and I suspect they might not even accept you to be part of the trial, unless you're keen and committed.

There's also going to be a 50% chance that you get the placebo, so if there's already a drug that's been proven to help your condition, I think I'd go with that.