Risperidone and lactating

[SewhereIam]

Hello!

I have recently been put on risperidone and it is working really well mentally, but I'm having quite a few side effects, the worst being chest pains, heart palputations, weeing like a racehorse and incredibly sore, itchy and burning breasts. My breasts keep leaking, and this morning I had a large solid lump in one. I put some pressure on it because the itching and burning was intense, and have sprayed a constant stream of milk in a massive arc for about 5 mins. The stinging and itching has now abated a bit but the soreness is still there. I'm starting to think I'm getting mastitis from it! I haven't breastfed for well over 5 years and this has only started since taking risperidone. My CPN is away for 2 weeks so I'm not sure who to contact. Is this something that I can ignore? Do I go to the GP and say I'm concerned that I'm starting with mastitis? Should I hand express daily to relieve the pressure? I don't know what to do!

This happened to me when starting Risperidone. I phoned the psychiatrist and he took me off them immediately. Everything then went badly wrong and I begged to go back on them - the lactating did settle down and now it’s only a few drops a week and no swelling or pain at all.

Can you contact the prescriber for advice? If you’re worried it’s mastitis I would contact your GP too. Good luck!

Thank you so much for replying, it was so niche I wasn’t expecting a reply!! I absolutely love the drug, it is doing wonders, but had my prolactin bloods done and my levels are “very abnormal” so they want to take me off it. I’m more worried about losing the Risperidone than the leaky boobs, I must admit. I hope I can stay on it. Thank you for your lovely reply xx

Hi I just wanted to say I have also heard of this happening with risperidone and with a couple of similar ones, I think it's in the side effects in the leaflet. I would get in touch with the GP (they may refer you down the line to the psychiatric team) unless you've got a general number for the department who prescribed it to see if it's something they are worried about as it sounds like you've got a lot of milk.

Sorry just seen the date of the original post, I guess things have moved on now if they want to take you off it! What a shame if it's working!