Risperidone, Behavior Meds

[seansmom]

Hi there

I just started Sean on Risperidone yesterday. His behavior at school is at a point where the school is starting to lose their minds. His EA keeps getting beat up by him and we have done everything with behavior modification to the point where there is really nowhere to improve. I am so frustrated and down about all of this. He is such a sweetheart for the most part but he just doesn't want to work. That is his trigger.

Anyway, I was wondering if I can get people's feedback on how their kids reacted to meds. The side effects and stories online are really scary. How long did it take to kick in? Do you feel it helped? Were there any bad side effects? Anything I should know?

Thanks
Kellie

[seansmom]

So... no one's kids here are on meds? yikes

[laurasnowbird]

I know there are others whose kids are on meds, they just may not be on here right now. It's going to take a little work to get people back here....I'll try messaging a couple of them today!

[CC]

My Christopher is on meds for severe OCD. Was a lot of trial and error to find what med would help him and very little side effects. Chris has been on Lexapro for many years now and most times it seems to help. For some reason it will be working like a charm and then BAM doesn't seem to work. So along with the Doc we have to play around with the amounts, slowly lower and then slowly up and it seems to kick in again. Basic side effects he seems to have from the Lexapro is he gets more thirsty (sp ?) and some weight gain. Kind of a price he has to pay as his OCD truly gets in the way of daily life for him.

Best of luck to you.

CC from New Jersey ~

[ALLISA]

Hello ! I haven't been on Uno in years....but....coming back to see ! My daughter is 13 and has been on Risperdal/Risperidone for about 6 years. She has a dual dx of DS and Autism, is non verbal ( though she has come pretty far & I still believe I will have speech one day !) The decision to do Risperdal was so hard.....she was teeny tiny for her age and I felt horrible thinking about "medicating" her.....it was agonizing.....but......the reason I was debating meds was JUST as agonizing.....

Erin was self-injurious, head banging, slapping herself, screaming, doorbells would send her in a melt down, cell phones ringing, I could cry thinking about how bad it was for US.....never mind what it must have felt like for HER !!!

It was a lifesaver.....and she truly had a change the first week ! As I said, we are lucky that it still is working, we adjust every year or two based on her weight.....

I am not a mom who rushes to ANY meds....we don't even do cough medicine in my house....but....some kids NEED something ! Good luck ......feel free to ask anything !

[ALLISA]

TO answer your questions fully......Risperdone/Risperdal is said to have weight gains.....Erin needed a boost anyways....she was way off ( down) on ALL charts....she is 13 now and about the size of a 8 year old. She doesn't look like she's in middle school.....so.....we didn't have a concern about the weight. I called my doc the first week and said "is it my imaginiation that it seems to work already" and she said, SOME kids do see it that quick, not all....I was grateful to see the positive effects that fast !

Curious about your sons behaviors and the choice of meds.....does he behave for you at home ? Is school the only trigger ? I don't have any knowledge of any other meds.....but....I'd research more.....Erin's triggers wasn't work demands, it was sounds, herself, smells...things that can't be controlled.....work demands sound controllable and if you don't have an issue at home.....I'd be more inclined why they are having the issue at school.

God knows our kids are smart enough to understand how to get what they want and how far each person in their life can be pushed and will push back.....by that I mean......Erin would get into her flopping routine at school and the teachers would say " we can't make her walk"...period...end of story....."she can't walk down the hall".....RIDICULOS !!of course she could and did with me.....she just knew how to work it so they wouldn't make her......and then for us anyways.....it becomes routine.....she assumes this is what I do.....I flop with teachers....and now we are in a cycle. Expectations are the most important thing....and sometimes kids just CAN'T do something.....Erin couldn't hear a doorbell without kneeling on the ground and forcefully konking her head repeatedly and I couldn't expect her to. BUT she CAN walk down a hall without needing to flop and the teachers needed to expect her to.....every kid is different .....every situation is different.......you know him better than anyone....what do you think he needs ?

[seansmom]

Hi there
Thanks for the replies!
We have now had Sean on meds for three weeks. So far his sleep is affected the most. He falls asleep within minutes as opposed to and hour or more. He also seems to sleep more restfully. He does get really tired by afternoon but he did anyway and this is just a little more.
For behavior he seems to be more level in his moods. He hasn't had any aggression episodes at school since he started and seems to be doing more work. I think another two weeks will really show us a full picture for school since one of the last couple of weeks was a write off at school with them doing special activities so there wasn't a routine in place.
He has gained about 4 lbs already and that is without eating anymore than usual.
Allisa as for your questions about the school. I think we are ok there. I am really onto them about routine, behavior modification, positive reinforcement, and I ask a ton of questions. We have a big meeting coming up on Monday to go over everything. I really have to say that I think they are doing everything they can. Sean just wants to run the show and when he can't he gets very aggressive. I can go on and on about everything he has done. At home there isn't much of an issue anymore as I follow the behavior plan (I had a behavior consultant come in the home for five years). There isn't the same kind of expectations at home though so school is more difficult.
We will continue to monitor him.