RISPERODONE

[tracey]

Just been reading all posts on this med

spoke about this with doctor and it seems the best med for aggression and anxiety

unfortuanetly when I read about possible side effects

facial twitching weight gain etc I had to think wouldnt this make matters worse

any views on thie med and side effects

thanks Tracey

[hollie]

Hi,

 

my daughter is on respiredone for severe adhd, and in the 3 months she has been on she has gained a lot more weight, most concerning is that, she has started having lots more toilet accidents,wanting to pee more etc.

we actually have had to reduce dosage slightly to balance these side effects. For us its proving difficult trying to kerb her hyperactivity/adhd and ensuring her quality of life-caused by side effects at same time.

 

no facial twitching as yet, i believe this happens usually if they have been on a high dosage for a long period of time.

 

 

 

Just been reading all posts on this med

spoke about this with doctor and it seems the best med for aggression and anxiety

unfortuanetly when I read about possible side effects

facial twitching weight gain etc I had to think wouldnt this make matters worse

any views on thie med and side effects

thanks Tracey

[Elanor]

Hi

 

I do understand your concerns. My son's been taking risperidone for over 2 years to treat anxiety and aggression in ASD. I've never heard of it being used as a treatment for children with ADHD.

 

This article might help:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/493059

 

My son's psychiatrist regularly updates us on latest research into the use of risperidone, and has so far been reassuring. It isn't very widely used in children, which means that there isn't much data to work with.

 

The side-effects, specifically facial twitches, are not common. All the side-effects notified are as the result of trials of the drug as an anti-psychotic used on adults - at very significantly higher doses than my child has. My son takes 0.5mg daily - 10 times that dose would be considered a small dose for an adult psychiatric patient.

 

On this site, and on OASIS, the most commonly reported side-effect in children is weight-gain. I have been worried about this, as my son became quite chubby, but he stopped gaining weight after 6 months, and now adolescence is kicking in and his weight is sorting itself out. We did have him weighed, and the doctor said he was in a normal range. Actually he was quite slim before, because of his faddy diet - he became less faddy since taking risperidone.

[Minxygal]

We tried this with Mark for his agression but it didn't help much at all and in the short time we trialed it he pot on loads of weight. It was important for us to make the right decision as to whether to keep him on it or not because with it not being effective the weight gain meant he was harder to handle. In the end we chose against it and are now trying something that is more of a sedative.

[butterfingersbimbo]

have had no adverse effects here, el has been on it for three months.

[curra]

My son started taking it a year and half for his aggression and he soon had side effects (muscle twitching, screaming, more anxiety). The pead reduced the dose to 0.25 a day and the side effects disappeared completely. He can control his anger now and he shows very little aggression compared to a year ago. He has not put on weight but I always need to control that he doesn't eat sweets or too many fatty foods. In his case just a tiny dose has been enough .

 

Curra

[tracey]

Thanks all for replies

although it sounds a helpful medication for us the side effects by the

sound of it would cause additional problems (not wor th it)

wonder if theres a similar med without the extreem side effects

will keep looking

Tracey

[loulou]

Hi,

 

Kai has been on it for about 1 year, he takes 0.25mgs twice a day. He put on about half a stone in the first few months, but then the weight gain stopped (he is 8). However, he is much less anxious and aggressive whilst taking it, so you really have to balance out the pros and cons.

 

Loulou xx

[PinkSapphireAngel]

My Luke has been on it since Aug 2005 for his anxiety, self harming and agreesion (aimed mainly at himself)

He put on a little weight which he needed to anyway,

he gets a little more sleepy but not too much as he STILL wakes up very early every morning which is still a nightmare.

 

I was told by the specialist paediatrician that put him on it that they can only put kids on it for 2 years as they have not done enough research into long term side effects in children.

 

I worry what will happen after the 2 years as I do feel he needs it.

[Mother in Need]

My son has been non Respiridone for over a year now, 1 mg twice a day, and the difference it has made to our life's and our safety, is HUGE. Without it, I'd not be sitting here writing this. Fortunately, he does not seem to have had any side affects from it, though the pshyciatrist did keep an eye on it for some time. What I just read about the two year maximum usage is very worrying, as he has ODD as well and is incredibly strong and I couldn't manage him without it at all, not that and keeping his brothers safe from him...

 

A quick edit to add that the respiridone has made him much easier to go to sleep at night, he now sleeps earlier, lasts through the night and wakes later; another life-saver for me!

Edited December 8, 2006 by Mother in Need

[Elanor]

Mother in need - we're over 2 years on risperidone, and there's no talk of stopping using it. The benefits have been enormous to us all. I imagine that each medical practitioner has his own views and experiences, and I certainly wouldn't want to trivialise the risks. My son has blood tests every 6 months (lipid levels), and is monitored by his specilaist every 6 months. I do worry about the effects - but I'm confident that we're doing the right thing, because we have a child who can cope, and who is having a childrhood that is worth having - and that would not be happening without risperidone.

 

Elanor

[Mother in Need]

Thanks Elanor. Yes, my son can cope a lot better now as well, and he AND his brothers now have a childhood worth having. Saying that, he has never had any bloodtests done, but then, that is an impossibility anyway (he has to be unconscious before that can be done...). I sincerely hope that his psychiatrist will feel the same way as your son's specialist! And ofcourse that he won't get any side effects, but then, that is the case with ANY medication, for anyone.