Prozac & Risperidone

[JeanneA]

I really need some advice please. My son Glen's behaviour problems are escalating. The psychiatrist increased the prozac from 10mls to 12.5mls each morning and the risperidone from 1ml to 2.5mls each morning and 1ml each evening. It hasn't helped at all. Glen had already deteriorated before the increase so I wouldn't like to blame it on that. I'm just so concerned, the psychiatrist is on leave so I cannot confide in her.

 

Glen is hitting himself more each day and is hitting others including myself. I am wondering whether the medication is just not working anymore or the 2 medications just don't work together. If anyone can shed any light on this I would be really grateful.

[trekster]

Risperidone increased my self harming behaviours. i haven't tried prozac, only dietary intervention has helped

my self harm tendencies which are still there but a lot less than they used to be.

[coolblue]

There are other psychiatrists. If you're worried, ask to speak to someone else.

 

 

cb

[JsMum]

There must be a Duty psychiatrist in place of your regular psychiatrist.

 

In the spring we had to call the out of Duty Doctor so there always the Dr.

 

Also NHSDirect too, In the past they have been very helpful and given me ideas, also it is at least all documented and there is evidence of the deteriation in your sons behaviour.

 

I would defo try another pysch if it can not wait until your regular psch is back again.

 

JsMumx

[Beth_]

I reacted very badly to Prozac, it is known for making some people worse.

Like others say, talk to another psych, hopefully they can help

Edited November 17, 2010 by Beth_

[Kathryn]

How long has he been on it? The effects can take a while to kick in. It could be that you're right and both meds together don't work.

 

Risperidone has well documented benefits in reducing anxiety but like all meds it doesn't suit everyone. Adjustments sometimes need to be made before the right dosage is achieved and this should be constantly monitored so you really need qualified help from a psych - any psych - as soon as possible I think.

 

K x

[barefoot wend]

My son was on both at 13 whilst still at school - I think it was an attempt by the professionals to keep him in education. They made him very tired.

 

Unfortunately, they didn't seem to have a huge impact and he left school a few months later. Having got rid of the main cause of his anxiety (school) he eventually calmed and we withdrew meds. A few years later we tried fluoxetine again and it made a big difference to his general wellbeing but still causes excessive tiredness.

 

Do you have any idea what the trigger for Glen's anxiety, moodswings, depression may be - I'm sure it's probably multi-faceted and difficult to pinpoint. I hope you manage to get some help for your son.

 

Barefoot

[JeanneA]

Hi Glen has always been a very anxious child. School has been a major part of his anxiety throughout his life. I guess I should have took him out of School a long time ago. At least he will soon be having a mental health assessment for 12 weeks as in inpatient.

 

Glen in unable to communicate to us his problems so it isn't easy in dealing with him.

[MelowMeldrew]

Hi Glen has always been a very anxious child. School has been a major part of his anxiety throughout his life. I guess I should have took him out of School a long time ago. At least he will soon be having a mental health assessment for 12 weeks as in inpatient.

 

Glen in unable to communicate to us his problems so it isn't easy in dealing with him.

 

My son is exactly the same as yours in all respects. Risperidone worked for 5 days only in my son's case and subsequent increases of dosage have had zero effect and his aggression and anxiety now daily, not twice a week as before, indeed is now 2 or 3 times daily. We are at the crossroads ourselves regarding being an 'in patient' except I live in Wales and there aren't any services they said, my son like yours also has poor communication to explain what is going on. I meet the psychiatrist tomorrow, time we questioned his approach I think.... however his special school appears to be giving up on him so that may push things quicker. They are saying my son needs at least two adults in support all day at school and sometimes 4 ! which again I will be questioning what the school is playing at. Put yourself in any child's position autistic or not and then faced with 4 adults coming at you, hardly a help is it ? I do it alone and manage reasonably well without laying a hand on him. I've fell out with his social worker now who lied on reports stating my son attacked us, when this has never happened his aggression is very inwardly focused not outward. The implications of leaving that on file are obviously very negative. A meeting Wednesday may mean I ask him to leave... and be replaced. It's a week of meeting that have all the hallmarks of open confrontation with his so-called support services. I asked for the NAS to be more involved with my son as support as they know the issues and SS don't, I got an e-mail that said like it or lump it basically, if I don't take what is given, even if it serves nil purpose, I have to pay £19 an hour to the NAS instead.... my choice !

Edited November 22, 2010 by MelowMeldrew

[JeanneA]

Hi yes our sons do sound similar. I'm beginning to think that no medication works to be honest. I am really pleased that Glen has the chance of having this inpatient assessment, even though as a parent it is a difficult decison to make sending your child away, in my case I have no choice. Glen's behaviour has escalated so much this past week. He hasn't been to School since last Wednesday due to his aggression. He is hitting adults at School, hitting the taxi escort, so I decided to keep him home a few days to hopefully calm down. Well today is the first that he has shown signs of relaxing/calming down etc.

 

Sorry to hear the risperidon doesn't seem to be working for your son, I had high hopes for it but it isn't to be. I hope the meeting goes well on Wednesday, you need to stick to your ground. £19 an hour to the NAS I think thats just awful, I can't beleive they would ask you for that much, what a world we live in, heh?

[JeanneA]

Glen started risperidone at the beginning of March - 1mg each morning and evening. He was then put on prozac at the beginning of May - 20mg in the morning. The risperidone went up to 2mg morning and evening early April. The prozac went up 20mg to 40mg early June. I thought they were both working originally as Glen seemed so much better but for the last 2 months it seems they don't work anymore, increasing them again recently hasn't worked out. The phsych told me to decrease the risperidon again so I don't know where I am with medication, I don't think anything works!

[MelowMeldrew]

Glen started risperidone at the beginning of March - 1mg each morning and evening. He was then put on prozac at the beginning of May - 20mg in the morning. The risperidone went up to 2mg morning and evening early April. The prozac went up 20mg to 40mg early June. I thought they were both working originally as Glen seemed so much better but for the last 2 months it seems they don't work anymore, increasing them again recently hasn't worked out. The phsych told me to decrease the risperidon again so I don't know where I am with medication, I don't think anything works!

 

My son was given Diazepam as well as risperidone, but the Diazepam was stopped pretty quick due to adverse reaction. The dosage he is on now is pretty low I think (?) less then 2mg a day. It would appear that because proper assessments have NOT been undertaken clinically, they are just experimenting with tablets. My lad rendered the dosage ineffective in days, let alone weeks. He is eating around the clock, and sleeping at the drop of a hat.... I asked the psychiatric Dr if he knew what he was doing lol he was none too happy I asked. I wanted to know WHAT experiences he had with autistics, he has had very little, which begs the question is he the wrong Dr anyway to see. Our children need to see specialists but there doesn't appear to be many, or, places where treatment counselling etc can be undertaken especially with children under 16. I've sought a second opinion on his claim there is nothing at all in Wales, or we are faced with sending him out of the country to England or somewhere, which we are not willing to do, as this is catch 22 we send him away, the people here then have no demand for the service. We may have no choices at all, who knows ?

[JeanneA]

We do need autism specialists which there seem to be far to few of. These psychiatrists are just giving out medications like diazepam because they don't know what else to do. Glen has been having diazepam these past few days and just now he hit out at me! So much for the diazepam working. As for risperidone well, Glen is on about 2 - 2.1/2 mls in the mornings but it doesn't appear to be working.

Glen is still at home I will try and get him on the taxi to School tomorrow but I'm not holding out much hope.

 

Is your son still in school mellow or is he at home?

[smiley1590]

ive been on boht prozac for depression self harm etc and risperdal anger/aggression /violence meltdowns last hours on end none worked for me personally didn't touch me whatsoever!

 

XKLX

[MelowMeldrew]

We do need autism specialists which there seem to be far to few of. These psychiatrists are just giving out medications like diazepam because they don't know what else to do. Glen has been having diazepam these past few days and just now he hit out at me! So much for the diazepam working. As for risperidone well, Glen is on about 2 - 2.1/2 mls in the mornings but it doesn't appear to be working.

Glen is still at home I will try and get him on the taxi to School tomorrow but I'm not holding out much hope.

 

Is your son still in school mellow or is he at home?

 

We are still getting him to school, but they are saying he is not participating in anything at present, and they are constantly watching him and dealing with meltdowns. We rather fear they will pull the plug frankly, and state they can't continue acting as pseudo nurses in a ward, they are a school. This then puts us in no-mans land as there is no where else to go but a hospital ward if the medication fails to calm, there is no possibility of home schooling.. I am hoping to talk them into staying the course and hoping the medication calms enough to relieve the pressure on the school. They have upped the dosage today, I'm not encouraged the general view seems to be Risperidone has limited effectiveness. He is attending school but that is ALL he is doing. It seems a bad idea to add any other medication with Risperidone, Diazepam had very nasty side effects with it, in our case, there is no question of Prozac or anything else being considered.

[JeanneA]

I'm losing faith with any medication. I couldn't get Glen ready for the taxi to school this morning, he just got too aggressive and constantly hit out at me. I cancelled the school taxi so he's still at home.

[MelowMeldrew]

I'm losing faith with any medication. I couldn't get Glen ready for the taxi to school this morning, he just got too aggressive and constantly hit out at me. I cancelled the school taxi so he's still at home.

 

My lad seems only aggressive with himself no-one else. I hope the medication does work for mine, the consequences if it doesn't.... he has ALWAYS wanted to go to school even when at his worst, the routine mustn't change ! He has lost little school attendance, but his school work and involvement has ceased. They may try teaching him on his own at the school to reduce stress, which seems to be everything at present. I can't fault the school for trying, it depends how long now... if they won't try to cope with him, then he ceases to attend school for maybe GOOD. He cannot be clinically assessed within 100 miles of his home/school, so we would have to agree to him moving out for months or maybe longer... We are still planning ahead and hoping for the best. It must be awful when your child turns on you, but we will take it won't we ? Mine pushed me over a few times, but that was panic to get past me to the road not at me direct, and I had to restrain him doing that, even then he never directed his fists or feet at me.

[JeanneA]

Hi, you are lucky that your son doesn't hit you. Glen has been hitting out at adults for some time now, but it has never been as bad as it is at the moment. It is only in the last couple of weeks that he has hit the taxi escort, he had never done that before. He hit me and my husband this morning, just out of the blue which is often the case. This assessment is crucial for Glen I know he will be away for 12 weeks but it is needed. I am preying they come up with strategies/therapies on how to help Glen for the future and that what they suggest will be carried through after the 12 weeks.

 

I've decided to keep Glen at home until Monday now after whats happened the last couple of days.

[MelowMeldrew]

I suppose I am relying very much on some success with the medication, feeling a bit dissolute now they are saying here it doesn't really work It isn't just the 10-12 weeks away alternative that bothers me, the fact it may be a lot longer than that, once a child is out of your charge, they tend to ignore you and consult the pros and then overrule you, while the child is still at school home, they can't do that without a fight. That is why I am questioning every word, every sentence they put in every report to ensure they don't control what is going on.... Until my son uses violence against another person they are not being allowed to say or suggest he does, you cannot be sure as time passes who will read the notes, it will possibly be someone who doesn't know you, your family, or the circumstances, they will then act on what they read. I'm all for treatment not for them having the final say.. This week I had them re-write his school review, and the social services re-write their input, and used his psychiatrist report to back me up, that is just twice in one week, you really do have to scrutinise every word they put down. They aren't right because they are pros.... There is a cumulative effect of 'assumptions' and innuendo and plain misunderstandings, that will make things very difficult if they are left there and you need support later on. Work on the basis they will do what is expedient to THEM, and not suited to your child, good basis to start from ! The law states the systems HAVE to adapt to the child, keep reminding them of that...

Edited November 25, 2010 by MelowMeldrew

[anewman]

I was misdiagnosed as Paranoid Schizophrenic due to how I appeared, and prescribed Risperidone as it is primarily an anti-psychotic drug. The only thing they seemed to do when they could not see any "improvement" was to increase the dosage to well above recommended levels, and this just increased the extremely undesirable side effects, you need to be aware of them as at their extreme they can potentially be life-threatening and are called extrapyramidal symptoms http://schizophrenia.emedtv.com/extrapyramidal-symptoms/extrapyramidal-symptoms-p2.html I found the Akathisia extremely distressing (I thought at the time I felt that way just because I was detained on a Psychiatric ward, I now know it was the drugs), and the Dystonic reactions (muscles forcing my head to look up and eyes to look up) were extremely unpleasant too - particularly as the doctors somehow reached the conclusion I was faking the symptoms and not to give Procyclidine (the drug used to treat the symptoms). As I understand what I have read, the best results for Risperidone for anxiety are probably when the dosage is kept low - the guns all blazing "increase the dosage" response is not always a good idea. If it does not seem to help when given time to work into the system, maybe a few months at most, I would say it's probably best trying something else. There's no point taking paracetamol if it doesn't help reduce your headache is there?! Same applies for Risperidone whatever the professionals, who may receive backhanders from the drug companies, may think.