anyone know anything about respiradone? | ADHD Information
Hi ya Rae thanks for the info. Sorry I didnt get back to you sooner, it was labour weekend here so we went up north to visit my sister and her hubby. It was great my sister taught my adhd daughter how to mosaic.
Did the doc explain what the resiradone was suggested for? I know with my boy I was told that it works well with ritalin but on its own it isnt good for fasd kids/people so it has to be in combo and helps to regulate that anger etc. Not sure if my son has seen the doc yet so I have no idea other than what I was briefly told.
I will go check out that url you gave me. Thanks
dwebble, It is interesting - today my sons psychiatrist told me that damian will be needing respiradone - now I need to know what it is. Life is interesting!
Also found a little bit about risperidone see site below. Maybe you could contact this web site and ask some more info.
http://www.drgreene.org/default.cfm?id=250&action=detail &ref=9526&PageTitleColor=&NewsTypesColor =
Rae7038282.210787037The medication you are referring to is RISPERIDONE the generic name for RISPERDAL (of which my son is taking).
This medication is an antipsychotic agent. It is used for the treatment and maintenance therapy of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. My son is taking it for his severe aggressions. He takes 1mg before bedtime which also puts him to sleep very quickly, I might add. He has been on the med since August and his aggresive behavior has changed significantly. We have had one incident at school last week that resulted in him being suspended for 5 days and returning with 3 days in ISS. He did not start the fight, a girl kept calling him names and when he went to her to tell her to stop she hit him in the jaw causing him to use profanity but he never physically hit her. She was suspended for physical contact and he for using profanity on school property. Needless to say, we did not punish him at home for being suspended but rather praised him for not using physical contact which before the risperdal he would have hit her back.
How it works: to reduce abnormal excitement in the brain.
You can read more about the medication by visiting http://www.risperdal.com
momof100mphkid38285.9723842593
I hope everything works out. I think the hardest part is getting the help in the first place. But on the positive side this could be what it takes to turn his life around. Sometimes we need something dramatic to grab our attention before we can help ourselves. If your son gets positive results from this then I think his attitude might change and down the road he will be able to tell you how much your love and support meant to him. I know your heart must be breaking with everything your going through. Stay strong and just know you can always come on here for support or to blow off a little steam.
Funny you should say that MafiaKiddo because that was what I was thinking. I spoke to one of the people at the fetal alcohol suppor trust here in NZ and she suggested getting him commited for an evaluation and to be put on meds. I have spoken to one of the duty probation officers who will be at court on Friday and she has informed the one that will be on in the morning of his history. They will inform the judge of his medical background in the hope the judge will ask for a presentence report. If that is the case then they will contact me of course and I am going to suggest the commital and tell them he needs rehab as well. Hopefully the judge will recommend he get the rehab and be put on meds that work and then maybe be sent into a half way house. I know he will hate me for recommending it but he hates everything that is actually for his best interest and I just hope and pray that when he gets his meds sorted he can actually see the advantages to this coz right now he is incapable of living independantly anyway, he has to live off others like a sponge because others are his external brain. Hi Rae. I found one or two sites about respiradone but they didnt help much either. I think it is going to be a case of trial and error and a matter of letting the professionals try him with it if we can get it to happen and just take it from there. Worst case scenario will be that he will need to try something else that they may know of that I dont. Thanks again for searching sites for me.
Thanks MafiaKiddo. Sadly with my son the FAE doesnt allow for him to think or worry about consequences etc whether it be worry that the meds wont work or anything else. He just likes the buzz coz it makes him feel happy. Unfortunately the alcohol makes him agressive and he has assulted two males who he didnt know at all in the last week. He didnt know them whatsoever just randomly approached them one for money and the other just talking and beat them both up (separate incidents). The latter laid charges and my son is going to court on Friday. He is a repeat offender in the court system, ususally for theft and burglary but now things are becoming more sinister.
I know something needs to be done drastically, basically I need to convince someone to get him committed so that we can get him on proper meds etc, but in our country there is little support for people like my son because fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is not a notifiable disorder. As it is we hardly deal with ADHD and there is very little help for that.
Couldnt even find much on the Web to help you. Had a little look and couldnt find any sites of interest on this drug.
I would suggest going and talking to your local pharmacist/drug store and asking him to look into their medical books for some information.
Can you call a hospital or psychiatrist and get him commited for a bit. I know in the states if you pose a danger to yourslef or others you can be placed in the hopital for 72 hours while the evalute you. Maybe you could get him help through the court since he has documented cases of assulting others. Again I can only speak for this country but a lot of times courts will consider a rehab or hospital stay intead of jail time for someone that needs help. I used to be a reporter and covered the local court house. The judge was always a lot more leniant when the offenders attorney said that his client would volunteer to go in for treatment. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with FAE so I can't offer any advice.
Good luck to you and I hope your son is able to get help.
[QUOTE=dwebble] He was put on slow release ritalin which he refuses to take because he knows if he is taking it he cant smoke pot or drink alcohol. [/QUOTE]
Deb
I can understand your pain and your desire to help your son. Unfortunately at 19 you can't force him to do anything. He needs to make the decision to help himself. If he refuses to take ritalin because he wants to continue smoking and drinking then he will refuse every other combination of meds for the same reason.
I've suffered through ADHD as a child without medication so I can understand how hopeless it all seems to him. Like many ADDers who are either not diagnosed or not on meds he is probably self-medicating to ease his symptoms. While both are harmful I'm sure inside he is worried that the medications prescribed to him won't work. He knows that pot and alcohol don't work great but they do help him cope so if he has to give them up, and the meds don't work then he will be miserable again. He is probably afraid to take that chance. I know I tried many meds before finding the right one and for about a year I refused to even try any more medications. I was tired of having to suffer the side effects for each new attemt but never seeing any improvement in my symptoms to make the whole experience worth while. Eventually I found the right med and things have gotten alot better. I still struggle but not nearly as bad as I once did.
Hi there my name is Deb and Im a newbie to the board. My 19yr old ds has FAE and consequently a side effect of that is ADHD. He was put on slow release ritalin which he refuses to take because he knows if he is taking it he cant smoke pot or drink alcohol. I recently heard that kids like him work well with respiradone as well as the ritalin. Apparently on its own its no good but together they seem to be having some success. Does anyone know here know much about the drug? I think my ds is also bipolar but we have yet to explore that area. I would give anything to have him on the med combo if it meant he could live a more *normal* life and experience things in a positive way for a change. As it is now his behaviour means he cant come home and live because he is too agressive and stressful toward me and his sisters. I would love to be able to allow him to come home and work on a positive relationship with him since we have never had one before. Any information on respiradone greatly appreciated or even any suggestions on any other meds that you may think worth me looking into also greatly accepted. DebHello to all and yes I do know about the combo of the 2 meds.I have 2 sons on meds My 15 yr old has ADHD and Bipolar,My 14 yr old has Anxiety,Mood Disorder and ADD.The 15 yr old takes Risperadol or Risperodone with Adderall Xr and Remoron.14 yr old takes Concerta,Efferor XR,Risperdal and Remoron.The combo of Addrerall and Risperdal or Concerta and Risperdal are very good.For the person that needed help for the 19yr old I would suggest (because of personal experience with my 14yr old) that you get the Adderall or Concerta they do the same thing and Risperdal and also add Depokote.That cocktail worked great on my son.And he is very very aggresive I have had my toe broken,my thumb dislocated and hit in the jaw many times by my son when he had one of his tantrums.All at diffrent times but before he was placed on that combo of meds.We went through many combos before finding a winner.The Depokote makes a very big diffrence in the additude of the person taking it.It will make that very nice to be around.My son went from fighting me and getting in trouble at school to hanging out with me everyday in my room watching movies and helping the teachers and assisting with the younger students at school.Now trust me that is a very big improvement in the behavior before and after the meds were given.He did so well that I requested to have the meds decreased to get rid of some of the side effects he was having.One of the biggest side effect of risperdal is problems with urinating.We trying to pee it would take him a few seconds before it would come out.It began to take longer and longer to come down so they decreased his dosage of risperdal and it all fell apart.I now am having the same problems as before but the thing now is to get him to take the medicine because he now refuses to take it at all.Anyone has any ideas on this?
Hi Dweeble
My nephew is 16 and has been on every medication under the sun. He was diagnosed with ADHD for years and was on RYTALIn(ages4-14).He was taken off of it when they realized he was misdiagnosed..poor guy,anyway he was then diagnosed with Mood and Conuct Disorder and put on Resperidol,it seems to be working from what I hear from Family Updates, the only one that has helped him..thank goodness! My brother is also on Resperidol,he was diagnosed with Bi-Polar,he did have some weight gain from it, but it's hard to see if it has made any diference because he self medicates...alcohol and drugs...~Resperidol is an anti-psycotic drug~
shakespeare i am so glad your apart of this board...i have learned so much from you...my son is on risperdal 1ml morning and night...the only side effect i have noticed is weigth gain and some drooling...the 1st time he was placed on it he drooled really bad....this time around we haven't seen drooling to bad... but the weight gain is kinda upsetting hubby...How long has he been on it? Weight gain usually plateaus withing the first 6 months of treatment. The good news is that a lot of that can be managed through careful control of diet. It is also helpful to watch the intake of refined sugar and simple starches... part of the weight gain is due to glucose dysfuntion that antipsychotics can cause, so the body doesn't handle sugars as well as it used to. It's something to discuss with your doc. There is an over the counter acid reducer (I believe Tagament is the one, though there are several out there and I'm not positive this one is it) that strangely enough has been demonstrated to help control antipsychotic induced weight gain, but I would strongly encourage you to discuss that with the doc before giving it a try.Yes, I know firsthand about this drug resperidone. Three and a half years ago
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder while in the midst of a manic episode.
Doctor gave me olanzapine for first 30 days to calm me down enough to start
me on lithium carbonate. Then I took olanzapine as needed for the first year
and a half but it made me too sleepy and also caused a huge weight gain!
Doctor switched me to resperidone and I am no longer sleepy and have
lost almost half the weight I gained before during the past six months.
One of my brothers was paranoid schizophrenic and he also took resperidone
the last ten years. He said that it is the best med with the least side effects
of all the more serious medications he has had to take over the years.
Resperidone is very potent and only a tiny amount is needed for desired effect.
It calms me down during the upside of the manic episodes and also makes it
possible for me to be in public, drive without fear, and to have a normal life.
Getting on the right meds for each person varies and one must be willing to
go through many unpleasant side effects to get to the right drugs! The first
two years on lithium I had every symptom in the book, but I was determined
to stick it out until things got better. Once the right meds are found, you get
to have your life back. And that is saying a lot for those of us who aren't normal.
Hi. I was just browsing this message board. My son is adhd... reallly severe.. possibly bipolar as well. Right now he is on concerta and risperdal.
Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic. It used to help control the rages that some adhd and bipolars go through. Unfortunately for some it has a high weight gain profile. My son has gained 11 lbs since being put on it in July. It makes them stark raving hungry! He eats nonstop from dinner to bed. But, it also helps him fall asleep. It is supposed to be less weight gain from this than the older antipsychotics. My son is 6. He is taking 1 mg am and 1 mg pm.
Hope this helps.
Tardive Dyskinisia is associated with Risperidone (and other antipsychotics/neuroleptics). It may be a good idea to be aware of this:
Generally:
http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/risperdal.pl?read=146
In adolescents:
http://www.sheller.com/Practice.asp?PracticeID=133
{"Risperdal may also increase chances of developing tardive dyskinesia and gynecomastia (breast development) in adolescents."}
One of the Tardive Dyskinisia cases settled in court, this one specifically risperidone/risperdal:
http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/articles/breggin_ris perdal.htm
Tardive Dyskinisia descriptions:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tardive/tardive.htm
http://www.breggin.com/neuroleptics.html
Description and possible ways to help TD:
http://www.autism.org/tardiv.html
curus38644.7475231482
Rxlist (under Warnings, Precautions section):
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/risperid_wcp.htm
"...Tardive Dyskinesia
A syndrome of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. Although the prevalence of the syndrome appears to be highest among the elderly, especially elderly women, it is impossible to rely upon prevalence estimates to predict, at the inception of antipsychotic treatment, which patients are likely to develop the syndrome. Whether antipsychotic drug products differ in their potential to cause tardive dyskinesia is unknown.
The risk of developing tardive dyskinesia and the likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase as the duration of treatment and the total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs administered to the patient increase. However, the syndrome can develop, although much less commonly, after relatively brief treatment periods at low doses.
There is no known treatment for established cases of tardive dyskinesia, although the syndrome may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn. Antipsychotic treatment, itself, however, may suppress (or partially suppress) the signs and symptoms of the syndrome and thereby may possibly mask the underlying process. The effect that symptomatic suppression has upon the long-term course of the syndrome is unknown.
Given these considerations, RISPERDAL® (risperidone) should be prescribed in a manner that is most likely to minimize the occurrence of tardive dyskinesia. Chronic antipsychotic treatment should generally be reserved for patients who suffer from a chronic illness that (1) is known to respond to antipsychotic drugs, and (2) for whom alternative, equally effective, but potentially less harmful treatments are not available or appropriate. In patients who do require chronic treatment, the smallest dose and the shortest duration of treatment producing a satisfactory clinical response should be sought. The need for continued treatment should be reassessed periodically.
If signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear in a patient treated on RISPERDAL®, drug discontinuation should be considered. However, some patients may require treatment with RISPERDAL® despite the presence of the syndrome..."
curus38644.7550925926
Could it be safer for children, could it be worse for children?
http://www.drugs.com/cons/Risperdal.html
"...Children? Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of risperidone in children with use in other age groups...
...Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, risperidone can sometimes cause serious side effects. Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Signs of tardive dyskinesia include fine, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs. Other serious but rare side effects may also occur. These include neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), which may cause severe muscle stiffness, fever, severe tiredness or weakness, fast heartbeat, difficult breathing, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, or seizures. You and your doctor should discuss the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of taking it..."
http://www.adrugrecall.com/risperdal/effects.html
"Risperdal Side Effects
"Risperdal side effects are serious and potentially deadly..."
"...The well-known side effect of antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal can include tardive dyskenisia. Despite the lack of known Risperdal safety indication in children, a growing number of psychiatrists are prescribing the drug to treat conduct disorders..."
"...The drug Risperdal is a favored prescription medication of child psychiatrists and the report re-ignited the debate of the use of potentially very dangerous medications in children..."
"...The use of Risperdal is connected to the possible cause of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, characterized by muscle stiffness, fast or irregular heartbeat, increased sweating, high fever, blood pressure problems, and death if left untreated..."
curus38644.7795717593I think Mom has a right to know?Curus, do you have first hand knowledge of this drug? Do or did your children take it? First hand experiences are VERY helpful.
I take Risperdal along with a mood stabilizer, and of course I study it in class. Yes, Risperdal is associated with tardive dyskinesia at HIGH doses (usually greater than 6mg) with long term chronic use. The risk is still less than with the conventional antipsychotics. At the doses we are talking about for aggression (0.25mg-2mg) the risks are minimal. There are more studies with Risperdal in pediatric patients than with any other drugs in this class, and the results are often dramatic.
TD is really not something you need to be concerned with. There are many symptoms that occur prior to the development of the syndrome called extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) that include muscle stiffness and involuntary muscle movements. If you see any of those symptoms surfacing, then you need to inform the doc right away. Otherwise, you should be safe.
The side effects that you will probably encounter are some sedation and weight gain. Again, these are often minimal with the lower doses, but research suggests that children are more prone to dramatic weight gain than adults, so you may want to take some measures to watch his diet at the beginning of Risperdal therapy.
It is a mixed serotonin/ dopamine antagonist, antipsychotic agent. It works by muting the imput from those neurotransmitters, blocking receptor sites. It calms overactivity in the brain. That's my lesson for the day... now my personal experience: I would not give up my Risperdal unless my physical health were at stake. It has given me my life back. I take a low dose (0.5mg-1mg, depending on my mood) at night with Lamictal (a mood stabilizer) and it gives me control of myself where that control was lacking. It improves my focus (by increasing dopamine in the frontal cortex) and allows me to think through the consequences of my actions before I act on impulse. My best suggestion is to give it a try. With antipsychotics, usually some response can be observed within the first 3 days, although it may take several weeks to see the full effect. Side effects diminish over the first 2 weeks. If he hates it, he can always stop taking it. That being said, Risperdal can be a miracle drug and it is definitely worth a try. It has saved my life...