In 2003 I discontinued the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal. A month later I developed severe, classic IBS-C, and suffered with the condition for over six years. Last year I began taking Risperdal again, and within a few months the symptoms of IBS completely vanished. Bowel movements were regular and complete, there was no more intense, incapacitating rectal pain. My life returned to exactly how it had been for the first twenty-three years of my life, before I developed IBS. The illness was cured and I was once again a "normal" person who had the capacity for work and social relationships.Now, the catch is that Risperdal entails undesirable side-effects, like cognitive and emotional blunting. There is also risk of more severe neurological effects developing. For these reasons I'd love to be off the drug. Precisely when I lower the dose from 1.0mg to 0.75mg, however, the symptoms of IBS begin to re-appear. In the name of finding a different drug that, while also curing IBS, would not have the side-effects of an anti-psychotic, I'm curious as to the pharmacological role of serotonin in IBS. According to Wikipedia, Risperdal"belongs to a class of antipsychotic drugs known as atypical antipsychotics that have more pronounced serotonin antagonism than dopamine antagonism [...] It has actions at several 5-HT (serotonin) receptor subtypes. These are 5-HT2C, linked to weight gain, 5-HT2A, linked to its antipsychotic action". I'm curious in particular about the fact that my experience seems to be in direct contradiction with the paradigm according to which IBS is usually thought about and treated. Typically, serotonin agonists, not antagonists, are utilized in the treatment of IBS-C. Zelnorm, for example, is a serotonin agonist. Although I'm not sure about this, I believe all SSRIS are serotonin agonists as well. On the other hand, drugs used for IBS-D, such as Lotronex, are considered serotonin antagonists. Thus I cannot figure out why a serotonin antagonist like Risperdal would cure my IBS-C, while serotonin agonists like Zelnorm and SSRIs did nothing for me. Although these questions are very difficult and for the most part far beyond me, perhaps there is someone out there who can help me make sense of this apparent contradiction, as well as suggest some pharmacological possibilities.My wish is also to simply let people know that I did find a cure; something which for six years seemed to be an impossibility.