Does this medication cause vision problems and slow down your movements or is it just me?

Question

I am on risperdal and since taking it it is as if I feel dizziness behind the eyes and I have trouble processing what I see at times. Also it is as if one of my eyes is slightly turned in. I did not notice but someone who saw my pic asked me if I was handicapped because of it. Also, I feel as if I am going as fast as I can when in fact I am moving slower than other people. I need to keep taking it for my schizophrenia but wonder if these side effects are normal. Or could it mean I have another illness I do not know of.

Answer 1

Risperdal

The following findings are based on the short-term, placebo-controlled, North American, premarketing trials for schizophrenia and acute bipolar mania, and are followed by a description of adverse events and other safety measures in short-term, placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients treated for irritability associated with autistic disorder. In patients with Bipolar I Disorder, treatment-emergent adverse events are presented separately for risperidone as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy to mood stabilizers.

Certain portions of the discussion below relating to objective or numeric safety parameters, namely dose-dependent adverse events, vital sign changes, weight gain, laboratory changes, and ECG changes are derived from studies in patients with schizophrenia. However, this information is also generally applicable to bipolar mania and pediatric patients with autistic disorder.

Other Adverse Events

Adverse event data elicited by a checklist for side effects from a large study comparing 5 fixed doses of RISPERDAL® (1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 mg/day) were explored for dose-relatedness of adverse events. A Cochran-Armitage Test for trend in these data revealed a positive trend (p<0.05) for the following adverse events: sleepiness, increased duration of sleep, accommodation disturbances, orthostatic dizziness, palpitations, weight gain, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, orgastic dysfunction, asthenia/lassitude/increased fatigability, and increased pigmentation.

Weight Changes

The proportions of RISPERDAL® and placebo-treated patients meeting a weight gain criterion of ≥7% of body weight were compared in a pool of 6- to 8-week, placebo-controlled trials, revealing a statistically significantly greater incidence of weight gain for RISPERDAL® (18%) compared to placebo (9%).

Somnolence was the most frequent adverse event, and was reported at a higher incidence in the RISPERDAL® group compared with the placebo group.

Possible side effects of Risperdal :

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Anxiety; constipation; cough; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; fatigue; headache; increased appetite; increased saliva production; lightheadedness; nausea; restlessness; runny nose; stomach pain or upset; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weight gain.

SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal thoughts; confusion; decreased sexual ability; drooling; enlarged b*****s; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; inability to control urination; increased sweating; missed menstrual period; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, aggression, severe anxiety); nipple discharge; prolonged painful erection; seizures; severe dizziness; stiff or rigid muscles; suicidal thoughts or attempts; symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, increased thirst, hunger, urination; unusual weakness); tremor; trouble concentrating, speaking, or swallowing; trouble sitting still; trouble walking or standing; uncontrolled muscle movements (eg, arm or leg movements, twitching of the face or tongue, jerking or twisting); unusual bruising; vision changes.

Answer 2

I am currently taking 4 mg's of Risperdal per day for Tourette's and paranoia and I don't have any of the symptoms you've described. Sometimes the Risperdal makes me feel jumpy at times, especially after I take it but no vision problems for me here.

Answer 3

There is a very high chance that your symptoms are a side effect, especially if you have recently (within 2 weeks) started or changed dose size of Risperdal,

Here is the side effects of Risperdal from drugs.com and risperdal.com

Risperdal side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Risperdal and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats; RESTLESS MUSCLE MOVEMENT IN YOUR EYES, tongue, jaw, or neck; tremor (uncontrolled shaking); trouble swallowing; or feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious side effects may include: mild restlessness, drowsiness, or tremor; sleepiness, dreaming more than usual; BLURRED VISION; dizziness or headache; weight gain; problems with urination; or nausea, dry mouth, constipation.

With an eye also turning inward I would make an appointment with a psychiatrist. If they are comfortable with it being a side effect and are going to change something, wait to see what happens. If they are not sure what is happening, go to an optimaligist. They are eye doctors who will be able to exam you to see what is happening.

I am not sure what to say about you feeling like you are going as fast as you can when you are really moving slower that others. Given that you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, your perception may be off some, especially if you have just started medications for it. Most anti-psychotic med's do slow people down (in every way - memory, movement, speech, and reflexes). If you have just started med's your mind might not be working together with your preceptions.

Best Wishes! ! !

Answer 4

My eyeglass prescription changed suddenly, drastically, and permanently while I was on a particular antipsychotic.  To this day I can't wear those old glasses.  I had to get a new prescription. As for the moving slow part you could have drug induced parkinsons.  There is a pill for that.

Answer 5

Call your doctor and discuss this with him,, It sounds like side effects, but I am not no doctor. They have alot of other meds out there than can help, maybe your doctor can change it for you.. I would call him/her asap though.. I had to quit taking a couple in the past due to side effects, which can be harmful. So plzzzzzz  look into this.. Honestly..  

Answer 6

I have taken ripserdal and gone through what you are talking about. Had major major problems with withdrawal when I stopped. Hate to be negative, but it gets way worse. Have you lowered your dosage or missed a pill? Please call your doc asap and make sure you are taken seriously, because you can get very, very sick if this continues.

Answer 7

I have not taken risperdal but I have taken similar medications---seroquel, lamictal and abilify. I looked up the possible side effects for risperdal, and the problem with your eyes and your movements slowing down are listed as side effects for this medication.

As you probably know, people react differently to meds. Some people can have no side effects, while others can have many.

Your best bet is to contact your psychiatrist as soon as possible. Although you feel lousy, I suggest not making any changes with your med until you talk to your doctor. Some side effects are temporary. With some meds, you can experience the side effects when you first start taking them (or when you first change the dosage). However, the side effects can wear off, and then you may feel the positive effects.

I hope you have a doctor you like and you trust. In my case, I had to fire many doctors until I found one that was right for me.

I see that other people have given you lists of possible side effects for risperdal. I have just listed the links below. The first is from drugs.com, and 2nd link is a general link from google on risperdal side effects.

Have you noticed that you have less symptoms of schizophrenia with this med?

I am sorry for all the troubles in your life, and I wish you the best.