Taking Fluoxetine, Risperidone and Sertraline

Positives and negatives of taking Fluoxetine, Risperidone and Sertraline

What medication were you, or are you taking?

Fluoxetine, then Risperidone, then Sertraline. I was taking them separately.

What problems were you facing? Do you have a diagnosis?

For the two antidepressants, Fluoxetine and Sertraline I was depressed and sad, and in a low mood. When I was on Risperidone, it was more for the psychosis. I don’t have a diagnosis in stone, but I have signs of psychosis and depression.

Where did you go for help?

I was admitted into hospital, and then referred to CAMHS. The information was helpful, and when they gave me places I could read more about the medication, like MIND websites and NHS websites, it kind of gave me more information about my condition and what happened to me.

What were the side effects of taking the medication? Positives and negatives?

Fluoxetine – positives – it did bring my mood up, but it made me gain weight, so I took myself off it.

Then I had a gap, and then I was on Risperidone. It was during my exams. That was defective, but I wasn’t on it for long enough – it was during my exams.

But because I was under a lot of pressure I came off it, because it was summer anyway. It definitely made exam stress better, but it didn’t make it any easier.

Sertraline – I’m currently on it now. It kind of works. It does bring your mood up a bit. But because I smoke weed, I’m not sure if it’s effective. Weed brings you up too, so I’m not sure. But yeah, I think it’s quite good. Sertraline is the best.

The last two make me shaky; just always shaky. If I’m trying to do something it’s a bit irritating. But it doesn’t affect my life that dramatically.

What effect did the medication have on the rest of your life?

It made my social life better, because it got rid of or reduced the mental symptoms. It kind of brought my mood up, in terms of the psychosis. Since I went on the medication my relationships have been better – like with my family, I’ve been less grumpy and stuff.

But obviously I don’t notice as much – my mum says it does.

Did you have to change your medication? How was that?

Fluoxetine no, because I took myself off them and didn’t notice any change. My mum did apparently – I was grumpy when I came off the medication. My weight went back to normal.