YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

My family member was on Abilify for a few years and it totally helped with his mental symptoms, but unfortunately caused diabetes so he quit the meds cold turkey. Needless to say, his psychosis came back with a vengeance. The doctor now wants to try Risperdal and I see that it has similar side effects, so this scares me. Is it possible that he won't have diabetic symptoms with this?

I worked alongside psychiatrists in clinics and hospitals for years and unfortunately, all medications have risks. A psychiatrist I worked with told me she liked to prescribe risperdal since the likelihood was lower to develop health conditions as a result. Remember, there are a lot of medications out there for psychosis and those two are not the only options yet I have noticed my clients could tolerate the side effects of risperdal best compared to anti-psychotics in the same class. Invega sustena is often used (injectible form of risperdall) for folks who can't seem to stay compliant with meds. Good luck and ask the prescriber lots of questions to be most informed. www.Crazymeds.us is a peer written site but does list various medication choices and side effects...and peers give their opinions of their experiences ad preferences. Every human body is different and psychiatrists have stated that it is a matter of trial and error. Good luck!

Grace Pacheco, MFT
www.EastBayAreaTherapy.com

*I am not a medical doctor and recommend you ask the psychiatrist about the advantages and disadvantages of any medication.

Thank you!