Prozac with risperidone

[JeanneA]

The psychiatrist has now put Glen on prozac (20ml liquid) once a day alongside his 1mg twice a day risperidone (was on 2mg twice daily but had to cut it down due to Glen becoming constipated). Glen's anxiety is still sky high on the risperidone, been on it nearly 8 weeks so she thought she would try prozac as well. Anyone else ever been prescribed both these for their child I would love to hear from you.

[barefoot wend]

JeannneA

 

My son was prescribed both at 14 and was also on Ritalin - seems excessive but it was an attempt by the specialist to keep him in school - it didn't work. He was in such a state at the time with school that it just got too much - nothing had any effect.

 

We took him out of school and things gradually improved - as there seemed to be little help the meds were giving him we gradually cut them out. He started on the Prozac again a couple of years later when he was very down and they worked immediately (apparently they can do that, though it's more usual for them to kick in after a few weeks). The difference in him was incredible and has enabled him to go back into education in a different form.

 

20mg is a pretty low dose for Prozac and I'd give it a try. However, as in our case, I don't think it can work if there are other big underlying issues that remain unresolved.

 

I hope he gets on well.

 

Barefoot

[JeanneA]

Thanks barefoot I will give it a try I am very desperate for something to work things are just so bad at the moment, I am dreading Glen coming home and I know I shouldnt say that, but he will ask for all curtains to be closed lights to be put on and to lay down

[Sally44]

What symptoms is the risperidone for??

[JeanneA]

Hi the risperidone was prescribed for Glen's aggression, he has been self harming and apparently risperidone can be very good for helping lesson the aggression.

[trekster]

Hi the risperidone was prescribed for Glen's aggression, he has been self harming and apparently risperidone can be very good for helping lesson the aggression.

 

Avoiding benzoates and being gf/cf worked better than the risperidone which caused psychosis whilst i was on it.

[JeanneA]

Oh dear risperidone didn't work out for you then trekster?

[Sally44]

Has his medication been considered when looking at this recent mental health decline??

I have a brother with mental health issues, and he really struggles to find any medication that helps. Mostly he gets bad side effects.

If you get the funding for this place, is his medication something they will review, or maybe take him off everything and start again from the beginning?

[JeanneA]

Hi Sally, yes if Glen gets this mental health place which is looking likely, they will review his medication and could take him off of it. I don't have a lot of faith in medication either, but things are so bad at home that I have to give it a try. I am struggling so much coping with Glen and it all falls on me, my husband is Glen's step-dad and although does his best has always struggled with Glen and tends to leave it all to me. I know Glen needs to go away to get the help that I cannot give him anymore. This place seems the ideal one for him especially after visiting it. I should know in the next couple of weeks if the funding has been given the go-ahead but have been told by the psychiatrist that they think it will. They have to go to a panel next to plea Glen's case.

[Sally44]

I hope it all goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Mental health issues, and the treatment of them, is a very tough area. Afterall you are dealing with the chemical balance of individual brains!

[trekster]

Oh dear risperidone didn't work out for you then trekster?

 

It took me months to discover what was causing my erratic behaviour at the time.

[trekster]

I hope it all goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Mental health issues, and the treatment of them, is a very tough area. Afterall you are dealing with the chemical balance of individual brains!

 

 

Good luck in finding the right help and support for Glen.

[JeanneA]

Thanks Trekster, hope we will get the help we need for Glen in the very near future.

[fieldmouse]

Been there. Had fluoxetin hyrdocholride [prozac] alongside risperodone and procyclidine [to counter the side effects]... no constipation as I recall though.

[Enid]

Hi, not been on the forum for a while but I remember your story. My son, 14 now, has been on respidone for "behaviour" ie, violent/aggressive/self harm etc etc for at least 2 years, the effect on him had been dramatic, we lowered it recently, I was unhappy with him being on it long term, the result was an appalling series of violent incidents last november, he is now on 4 mgs a day, which is high but without it we/him cannot cope.

Edited June 7, 2010 by Enid

[MelowMeldrew]

Hi the risperidone was prescribed for Glen's aggression, he has been self harming and apparently risperidone can be very good for helping lesson the aggression.

 

 

I'm a supporter of counselling and therapies, I don't support drugging our children. It is better if the autistic can learn to manage their issues. America drugs their kids from cradle onwards, I'd hate to see Britain following that line. Most are prescribed simply because the therapy and support is not there... I can understand how difficult it is for parents, but we should be lobbying for the non-drug approaches.

[Enid]

I used to agree with the non drug appraoch too, but now its a no brainer for us, we drug him, or he kills us or himself. simple as that.

[smiley1590]

i have AS depression and anxiety and in past was on rispderdal due to my violent agressive behaviours towards my parents and twin deafblind brother were out of control and lasted hours child pyschtrist suggested that med but didn't touch me had no effect nor did when CAMHS pyschologist and pyschtrist but me on prozac all anti-depressants don't see to work for me for some reason neither does any therapy i had! hard to tell if they work or you stay the same i find very hard to tell difference i feel i don't know me at all my parents and family know me better .... i going back to docs on thursday to get ant- anx meds as paranoia ,panic attacks bad atm struggling need something see if ant-anxs meds work better for me than anti-depressants did and hoping work also reduce depression side of things as mixs in with anxiety really closely! fingers crossed

 

XKLX

[JeanneA]

Hi smiley do let us know how you get on Thursday, will be thinking about you, it can't be easy. Hopefully you will get the anxiety type medication you need, my husband is prescribed tablets for anxiety and they do help. Good luck anyway.

[JeanneA]

Going back to the drug debate I agree with Enid I have to give my son Glen medication, I've seen the results of not doing so and I know I have no choice. Glen has calmed down, is happier smiling again since being on prozac. He still has a long way to go but its a start, much better than seeing him suffer. Glen was very aggressive towards himself and others particularly me I can't remember how many times he has hit me in the past, whilst hitting me at one time 2 of my fingers got bent back, it was agony took a while for for fingers to feel the same again.

[trekster]

Going back to the drug debate I agree with Enid I have to give my son Glen medication, I've seen the results of not doing so and I know I have no choice. Glen has calmed down, is happier smiling again since being on prozac. He still has a long way to go but its a start, much better than seeing him suffer. Glen was very aggressive towards himself and others particularly me I can't remember how many times he has hit me in the past, whilst hitting me at one time 2 of my fingers got bent back, it was agony took a while for for fingers to feel the same again.

 

Im pleased the meds are helping Glen.