Risperdal?

Avatar for kingalex
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Risperdal?
6
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 5:06pm

We just got back from Alex's doctor who prescribes and monitors his Zoloft. She is now starting him on Risperdal (very low dose) to help with his tendency towards impulsiveness (i.e. when he gets upset at school, he screams and rants and raves, and tries to run out of the building). She feels that this low dosage (.25 mg. the first week, then on to 0.5 mg. after that) along with his Zoloft may help.

I've heard of Risperdal, and seen it mentioned on this board, but wanted to know if any of your kids take it or have taken it, and what your thoughts are on it.

Thanks!
Laurie

Laurie

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-21-2006
In reply to: kingalex
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 6:51pm

Hi Laurie:

My son, Dominic (8.5 yo aspie) was on this for almost exactly 2 years. he started at .25 mg and over those two years went up to 1.5 mg (at slow increments). My son is petite, though, so the increase was due to him gaining some weight and it losing potency!

In january we increased him from 1.0 to 1.5, and didn't like the results. he was more manic, depression was a factor. and his impulsivity was running out of control.

I made the decision to take him off risperdal and put him on abilify. it's been one week exactly, and somewhere on this site I posted the best email I've received from school in AGES (specifically at least since the xmas break...).

We were happy with the resuts initially, it was at the higher doses we were noticing increased irritability and impulsivity and loss of independence and self-control. For most of the 2 years, though, we were quite happy. He was 42 pounds when he started, he's 52 now (that can be a side effect of risperdal - increased appetite). He had a decent appetite to begin with, but was eating heartily at every meal. 10 pounds in 2 years is not excessive, especially considering he is still lanky (he's about 48 inches and 52 pounds - wears a medium shirt (though big) and size 7 pants (although they have to have adjustable waist or they slip off!). Part of the reason his weight gain is not affecting him is that i'm very restrictive, he has limited sweets and snacks (cakes, cookies, chips, candy, etc. - and won't drink anything fizzy anyhow, so no soda). I am fortunate in that he has few food aversions (he doesn't like mushy stuff (i.e. mashed potato or yogurt or jello (AH NOT JELLO!)... but he eats a good variety of fruits and veggies and meats (banana, apple, grapes, watermelon, strawberries, cantelope, cukes, broccoli, corn, carrots, celery, others I can't remember; pork chops, ham, steak, meatballs, chicken, salmon, crab and lobster, others)...

Sorry... I'm prone to rambling.

How old is your son? what is his size like?

HTH!:!

Nicole

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
In reply to: kingalex
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 8:17pm

Liam's been on risperdal since August. Initially we were happy with it but lately weight gain has become a factor. We are also seeing increased back talk and defiance; might be the risperdal is funking out on him ('course it could be being 7 and ASD too, lol). I would like to try abilify again (the first time we saw some weight gain...very unusual for abilify). I'd be curious to see if the weight was an issue again on that. But overall it has helped the ranting and angry outbursts.

Dee

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Registered: 02-20-2001
In reply to: kingalex
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 9:10pm

we had bobby on it last year and didnt really see any affect except for big weight gains.

 


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Avatar for kingalex
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: kingalex
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 12:08pm

Thanks for your responses.

Alex is exactly 70 lbs. (and just turned 10), so the .25 mg. the first week, increasing then to 0.5 mg. is apparently a very low dose to start.

What I'm curious about is that a couple of you said that eventually impulsiveness and defiancy increased when your kids used it. Isn't that what Risperdal is supposed to be used to control? I'm confused.

Thanks again,
Laurie

Laurie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
In reply to: kingalex
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 1:53pm

I think what can happen is the body gets used to risperdal and you have to keep uppping the dose incrementally. After a while you have to ask if it's worth it. For the peace it has brought us these last few months I believe it was worth it, but now with weight gain and a need to up the dose again we might have to look at a diferernt med
hth

Dee

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Registered: 02-21-2006
In reply to: kingalex
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 2:36pm

Hi. we got positive results for I'd say about a solid 19 months... but once we upped it the last time, the results were ALL negative, defiance, independence, irritability, intolerance, impulsivity, terrible.

He's had his best week in several months this past week... we changed to abilify last wednesday!

But up until we hit that last dose, I was happy...

I say give it a go. but if you notice manic mood shifts or self-deprication, talk to dr quickly! i think we waited too long to take my son off.

G/L

Nicole