[stevenstwin]

good, bad or otherwise? Strattera did nothing. We're not trying a very small dose of Risperodol to (as the psych. put it) "turn down the volume a little". The idea is to take the edge of the intensity -of both hyperactive behaviour and anger. He's starting at .25 and ramping up to .75 over the course of the next two weeks - maybe up to a full 1 mcg. if necessary.

[zebramom]

We had great experience with it. You can most certainly tell if DS has not had it. It is not a miracle med. It doesn't get rid of the raging completely, but it sure does help make it less severe.

Our DD is on .25 twice a day. That is down from 3 times a day. If she doesn't get her afternoon dose she is more emotional and doesn't sleep as well. We are hoping to be able to wean her off of it as we get closer to adoption. She was so filled with anger for quite a while, and she is doing much better attachment wise now.

[AudreyE]

Risperdal worked very well for my daughter for a few months, then she became refractory to every atypical antipsychotic we tried (risperdal, zyprexa, seroquel... all caused mania, sleep disturbance, just the opposite of what it's supposed to do, LOL).

Our life-saver was Abilify, which apparently is JUST different enough from the other AA's that it did the trick. She's been taking it for almost four years now with absolutely no problem at all.

Having said that, Risperdal has a wonderful reputation for most children... definitely go ahead and try it.

Also, what is your child's diagnosis? Strattera is a failed antidepressant used for ADHD, doesn't work at all for kids with bipolar or other mood disorders... and the jury is still out on whether it really helpts for ADHD either.

Audrey

[stevenstwin]

Originally Posted by AudreyE

Also, what is your child's diagnosis? Strattera is a failed antidepressant used for ADHD, doesn't work at all for kids with bipolar or other mood disorders... and the jury is still out on whether it really helpts for ADHD either.

Audrey

Thanks for the info. He's 16 and he's ADHD, Oppositional Defiant (can have rages) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Frankly I think he looks pretty bi-polar, but no official diagnosis on that. Big issues for him right now are that his mood swings and anger really scare and upset him, and his "hyperness" drives away all his friends. He'd like a girlfriend at some point, LOL, but all this girl "friends" say that he is off-putting because he can be so over-the-top.

[AmyAnne]

I cannot say enough good things about Rispridal. Helped my son's impulse control and bedtime histrionics dwindle and disappear. I believe placing him on this medication saved us from disruption.

[stevenstwin]

Originally Posted by AmyAnne

I cannot say enough good things about Rispridal. Helped my son's impulse control and bedtime histrionics dwindle and disappear. I believe placing him on this medication saved us from disruption.

Oh, this all sounds very positive! I've made a big deal about how brave I think he is being in trying another med despite the fact that the thought of taking anything scares him SO much. I'm really hoping it will be positive for him and really help him feel like it is improving HIS life (and not that he's just doing it to make everyone else happy). I want him to feel more in control, and not less.

[mrsred]

Our son was on Risperdal for 9 months, and behaviorally it was the best 9 months he has had the entire three years we have had him.
Unfortunately, one of the possible side effects of Risperdal is urinary incontinence, and after 8 months it got pretty bad. He was having accidents on a daily basis, and didn't even seem to be aware of it. When we lowered his dosage he began to show signs of withdrawal diskenisia (I am not spelling this right). When we took him off entirely it got even worse. It was a very scary thing, as the doctors could not tell me if the dyskinesia was temporary or permanent. His tongue was in constant motion, he was grimacing all the time, his hands looked like he was playing and imaginary piano, and his feet moved too. It went on for two very scary months.
Since that time we have not been able to get him on anything to help his mood disorder. We have an appt with psychiatrist next month.
anyway, guess what I am saying is Yes, risperdal is a great mood stabilizer, just be aware of all the side effects and on the look out for them.

[Peggy]

My daughter was on Respiradol and it worked well. She was on other meds that did not. It really depends on the child and their body. With all meds, watch for the side effects.

[stevenstwin]

Hmmm...that is interesting, based on something I read in his SCHOOL file. He was on quite a cocktail of drugs when he was about 9 or 10 - no-one alive seems to be sure exactly WHAT all he was on. But apparently in grade 4 he developed a lot of "tic" like symptoms...especially facial grimacing...that caused them to actually test him for Tourettes (negative). So I guess I'd really better watch for that as a possible symptom! (ps - you'd be amazed how much more detail I got out of his school file than I ever got out of Children's Services!!)

Originally Posted by mrsred

Our son was on Risperdal for 9 months, and behaviorally it was the best 9 months he has had the entire three years we have had him.
Unfortunately, one of the possible side effects of Risperdal is urinary incontinence, and after 8 months it got pretty bad. He was having accidents on a daily basis, and didn't even seem to be aware of it. When we lowered his dosage he began to show signs of withdrawal diskenisia (I am not spelling this right). When we took him off entirely it got even worse. It was a very scary thing, as the doctors could not tell me if the dyskinesia was temporary or permanent. His tongue was in constant motion, he was grimacing all the time, his hands looked like he was playing and imaginary piano, and his feet moved too. It went on for two very scary months.
Since that time we have not been able to get him on anything to help his mood disorder. We have an appt with psychiatrist next month.
anyway, guess what I am saying is Yes, risperdal is a great mood stabilizer, just be aware of all the side effects and on the look out for them.

[qs mom]

When my son started Risperdal, I called the doc and thanked her for giving me my boy back!

It brought my funny, happy boy back. His ADHD wasn't quite under control, but the child I loved was back. With some adjustment of the dosage and adding Adderal XR, things couldn't be better.

He takes Adderal in the am. Risperdal .25 after school and .25 before bed. While Adderall is great, he 'rebounds' when it wears off.

I'll have to look into the urinary incontinence. That isn't a side effect our doc brought up. He does occassionally have this. Although, I think he does it on purpose as a way to push my buttons, as 'payback' when he's mad at me!

Best of luck.

[AudreyE]

Originally Posted by stevenstwin

But apparently in grade 4 he developed a lot of "tic" like symptoms...especially facial grimacing...that caused them to actually test him for Tourettes (negative).

FYI, my son tics when his ADHD med gets out of whack (Focalin)... so that's something else to watch out for where ADHD and stimulants are concerned....

Audrey

[mrsred]

stevenstwin, dyskinesia... or how ever it is spelled is a common side effect of anti-psychotic drugs. the atypical anti-psychotic drugs, such as risperdal have a much lower incidence, but it can happen. The facial grimacing is a sign of dyskinesia. DD was on several different meds before we got her. She was on risperdal at one time, and abilify at another. She had extreme symptoms of dyskenisia with both.

[AmyAnne]

One thing I will warn you of, Stevenstwin... our DR says it can sometimes cause "abnormal breast development" in males, when taken for a long time. We have not noticed this with our child... but you may want to warn your guy to be on the lookout.