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Q: getting off rispderdal
asked by: AminiGrainy on April 19th, 2008
New User
I have been taking rispderdal for 10 years now. I would like to cease taking the medication because of much too elevated levels of prolactin resulting in very little production of testosterone. I feel I will be ok doing this, if not i will resume. I understand it might be difficult so i'm wondering how to do it. I am not having delusions or hallucinations.

I currently take 5-6mg of risperdal at bedtime. In the past I have not been able to go to sleep without it. I take the additional 1-2mg for no other reason than its hard to sleep sometimes. Would like to know how people at the same dosages (4mg or 5mg or so) have gotten off it successfully. I understand that most of the time its done through a psychiatrist. i dont see mine often enough to be able to do this.

thank you
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Georgia59
replied on May 8th, 2008
Especially eHealthy
Hey- sorry I missed this message.

Coming off of medication is tricky- it needs to be done very slowly and preferably monitored by a professional. Have you started? How did it go?
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AminiGrainy
replied on May 8th, 2008
New User
hi

I have not started. I suppose I would decrease by 1mg then continue going down.

I once went to sleep without taking the risperdal. My head felt horrible the next day. I can see my decreasing gradually is necessary.
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antigone
replied on May 8th, 2008
Extremely eHealthy
Absolutely, positively you must go slow. Half a milligram reduction at a time and only every 5-7 days. Have you called your doctor about this? What medication will you use to keep yourself stable? Perhaps cutting the dose way back will alleviate the side effects yet still be enough to keep your psychiatric symptoms under control.

I encourage you to talk to your doctor. If you won't do that will you please post here and let us know how you are doing? I have reduced risperdal doses on my children. I would just like to make sure you are doing ok with it.
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