Hello Everyone, is anyone familiar with this medication and what type of side effects it might have on an almost 5yr old boy? For parents of diagnosed adhd children----can someone tell me exactly how is a child with adhd diagnosed? What type of tests do they do? I am still struggling as to attempting to find out from my child peditrician to refer me to someone who can diagnose my child. I have an almost 5yr old who will be starting school in the next couple of days and I am concern about his hyperactivity. I recently took him to a psychiatrist who specializes in ADD/ADHD, and she stated to me that he had ADHD and a little of the ADD. She right away prescribed him this medication but i am hesitant about giving my child medication at such an early age and specially if he has not be diagnose properly. The psychiatrist only talk to my son on our first visit and saw his movements and based her diagnosis. Can someone please advise. Thank you.
What are his main ADHD symptoms? Did the psychiatrist complete any testing/parent/teacher questionnaires?Usually, risperdal is not a first line medication for ADHD. A stimulant is usually tried first. We are about to try risperdal along with a stimulant (Ritalin LA) for my son, but he has ADHD comorbid with Aspergers/anxiety/OCD/tics type traits. Risperdal is supposed to help with aggression, irritability, anger, anxiety, OCD and maybe tics. My son was diagnosed with ADHD at 5 and at that age we just started a stimulant first (Concerta).
Hello AJweeks. Thank you for your feedback. Well, my child has always had hyperactivity since he was a child. At first I thought it was just a face that he would outgrow but he is about to turn five and still has the hyperactivity. His symptoms are, not doing things right away when asked, I would have to repeat things to him about 3 or more times. Some distraction, for instance when we cross the street he tends to take off running, of course i have talk to him about always being careful when crossing the street to always look both ways and the dangers of not being careful. The psychiatrist did not give me any teacher/parent questionnaire. At our first visit with her she saw how my child was interacting and how active he was. She also went by the feedback I gave her. How old is your son now? Have you tried other options? For instance, behaivor therapy? I am very hesistant about giving my child medication, I have nothing againts it but reading the sideffects of the medication scares me. I have ready that doctor's usually can detect more accurate add or adhd once kids are 7yrs old. I am new to this and I am doing more study to be able to help my child and myself but it can be really frustrating most of the time.Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic usually prescribed for child or adult bipolar and also for schizophrenia. It usually works very well for these two conditions.
But I would seriously question a pdoc who prescribes it solely for ADHD, especially one as young as yours, without giving you a good idea why. It has been linked to weight gain, type II diabetes and neurological issues.
I have an ADHD child, and I have a bipolar child. A good pdoc can tell the difference. A bad one just throws one medication after another.
Audrey
[QUOTE=pooky11]Hello AJweeks. Thank you for your feedback. Well, my child has always had hyperactivity since he was a child. At first I thought it was just a face that he would outgrow but he is about to turn five and still has the hyperactivity. His symptoms are, not doing things right away when asked, I would have to repeat things to him about 3 or more times. Some distraction, for instance when we cross the street he tends to take off running, of course i have talk to him about always being careful when crossing the street to always look both ways and the dangers of not being careful. The psychiatrist did not give me any teacher/parent questionnaire. At our first visit with her she saw how my child was interacting and how active he was. She also went by the feedback I gave her. How old is your son now? Have you tried other options? For instance, behaivor therapy? I am very hesistant about giving my child medication, I have nothing againts it but reading the sideffects of the medication scares me. I have ready that doctor's usually can detect more accurate add or adhd once kids are 7yrs old. I am new to this and I am doing more study to be able to help my child and myself but it can be really frustrating most of the time.[/QUOTE]
My son was 5 when he was diagnosed by 2 doctors and we filled out a lot of questionnaires and they spent time with him. His teachers also filled out questionnaires. My son is 7 now. He also has poor social skills so he goes to a social skills group with a psychologist who also works on behavior therapy. A combo of therapies has worked well for my son. Like the pp said, I would also be weary of a doctor prescribing risperdal as a first line med for ADHD. I would seek a second opinion. When my son was diagnosed, he was put on a stimulant first. From your description of your son's symtpoms, it doesn't sound like Risperdal is the right med. Risperdal is usually prescribed for irritability, anger, anxiety, aggression.
irritability, anger, aggression are somewhat his symptoms but only when he gets overly active. It has been his 2nd weeks of school and I have tried everything I can to talk to the teachers, principal, counseler, and school psychologist for them to be able to help me and him develop a plan so his education is not as hard. But i do get told by the teacher everyday that he doesn't not sit still in the class. I have an appointment with his doctor to possibly talk about medication. But not the psychologist that prescribed him the respidal, i will mention it to this doctor. Thank you for all your information and feedback
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