Question for those whose children are on Risperdal

[Guest guest]

Hi all-

I haven't posted here in a while, although I've been reading 'most

everything-- but I'm back with a question for you wise people.

A little background- my Lydia was diagnosed last October and has since

been on Zoloft with very good results. Her OCD monster is " the size of

a bug " now, though she's got some tic-y sort of habits that come and

go. She was also on Risperdal, to help control the rages and

inflexibility that came with the package, which was working wonderfully

for her. She did gain quite a bit of weight on the medication - 18

pounds or so in about 5 months. She started out skinny as a rail, so

it isn't a concern just yet, but clearly would be a worrisome trend if

it continued. Also, the pdoc was concerned about the long-term

possibility for side effects with the atypical antipsychotics.

So a few weeks ago we reduced the Risperdal and replaced it with Tenex

- a blood pressure medication apparently also used for these issues.

Rages and inflexibility immediately returned, and my sunny little girl

who even in her worst struggles with OCD was never depressed suddenly

is telling me " I'm always either sad or mad right now. "

We go see the pdoc on Wednesday, and I'd really just like to see her

get back on the Risperdal, as it worked so wonderfully for her and the

weight gain is a managable side effect. Clearly we'll talk to the

doctor about this, but I was wondering if any of you here had children

who were on long-term doses of risperdal or other atypical

antipsychotics. I guess it would make me feel better to hear " oh yes

our child was on it for 2 years with no problem. " or something. Or

alternately make me reconsider.

It breaks my heart to see her struggle so.

Anyone with similar experiences? Thanks in advance.

lisa near Chicago

[Guest guest]

Hi, . Yes, my child has been on Risperdal for at least two years with no

problems. She is eleven now and has not experienced the weight gain either.

was also on Zyprexa for two years with no side effects. My oldest

daughter, Hannah, has been on Abilify for over two years and has suffered no

side

effects. Prior to that, she took Geodon which did not work for her. All but

the Geodon have calmed my kids considerably and taken away those nasty fits

that sometimes happen with the OCD. I hope your appointment goes well. Kelley

in NV

[Guest guest]

Hi, . Yes, my child has been on Risperdal for at least two years with no

problems. She is eleven now and has not experienced the weight gain either.

was also on Zyprexa for two years with no side effects. My oldest

daughter, Hannah, has been on Abilify for over two years and has suffered no

side

effects. Prior to that, she took Geodon which did not work for her. All but

the Geodon have calmed my kids considerably and taken away those nasty fits

that sometimes happen with the OCD. I hope your appointment goes well. Kelley

in NV

[Guest guest]

Hi Audrey,

My 12 y.o. daughter has been on risperdal for about a

year. It has been a lifesaver for her; it's by far the

most effective med she takes. However, her pdoc wants

her to switch to something else this summer - she is

talking about Neurontin. The pdoc says that the risk

of side effects (particularly tardive dyskinesia) adds

up over time and she doesn't like to leave kids on it

for long term treatment. I'm not that happy about the

neurontin because there's evidence to suggest that it

can induce seizure disorders and because the risperdal

works so well, but I'm not sure what else might be

better. Please let us know what you decide.

PJ

--- audrey@... wrote:

> Hi all-

>

> I haven't posted here in a while, although I've been

> reading 'most

> everything-- but I'm back with a question for you

> wise people.

>

> A little background- my Lydia was diagnosed last

> October and has since

> been on Zoloft with very good results. Her OCD

> monster is " the size of

> a bug " now, though she's got some tic-y sort of

> habits that come and

> go. She was also on Risperdal, to help control the

> rages and

> inflexibility that came with the package, which was

> working wonderfully

> for her. She did gain quite a bit of weight on the

> medication - 18

> pounds or so in about 5 months. She started out

> skinny as a rail, so

> it isn't a concern just yet, but clearly would be a

> worrisome trend if

> it continued. Also, the pdoc was concerned about

> the long-term

> possibility for side effects with the atypical

> antipsychotics.

>

> So a few weeks ago we reduced the Risperdal and

> replaced it with Tenex

> - a blood pressure medication apparently also used

> for these issues.

> Rages and inflexibility immediately returned, and my

> sunny little girl

> who even in her worst struggles with OCD was never

> depressed suddenly

> is telling me " I'm always either sad or mad right

> now. "

>

> We go see the pdoc on Wednesday, and I'd really just

> like to see her

> get back on the Risperdal, as it worked so

> wonderfully for her and the

> weight gain is a managable side effect. Clearly

> we'll talk to the

> doctor about this, but I was wondering if any of you

> here had children

> who were on long-term doses of risperdal or other

> atypical

> antipsychotics. I guess it would make me feel better

> to hear " oh yes

> our child was on it for 2 years with no problem. " or

> something. Or

> alternately make me reconsider.

>

> It breaks my heart to see her struggle so.

>

> Anyone with similar experiences? Thanks in advance.

>

> lisa near Chicago

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Audrey,

My 12 y.o. daughter has been on risperdal for about a

year. It has been a lifesaver for her; it's by far the

most effective med she takes. However, her pdoc wants

her to switch to something else this summer - she is

talking about Neurontin. The pdoc says that the risk

of side effects (particularly tardive dyskinesia) adds

up over time and she doesn't like to leave kids on it

for long term treatment. I'm not that happy about the

neurontin because there's evidence to suggest that it

can induce seizure disorders and because the risperdal

works so well, but I'm not sure what else might be

better. Please let us know what you decide.

PJ

--- audrey@... wrote:

> Hi all-

>

> I haven't posted here in a while, although I've been

> reading 'most

> everything-- but I'm back with a question for you

> wise people.

>

> A little background- my Lydia was diagnosed last

> October and has since

> been on Zoloft with very good results. Her OCD

> monster is " the size of

> a bug " now, though she's got some tic-y sort of

> habits that come and

> go. She was also on Risperdal, to help control the

> rages and

> inflexibility that came with the package, which was

> working wonderfully

> for her. She did gain quite a bit of weight on the

> medication - 18

> pounds or so in about 5 months. She started out

> skinny as a rail, so

> it isn't a concern just yet, but clearly would be a

> worrisome trend if

> it continued. Also, the pdoc was concerned about

> the long-term

> possibility for side effects with the atypical

> antipsychotics.

>

> So a few weeks ago we reduced the Risperdal and

> replaced it with Tenex

> - a blood pressure medication apparently also used

> for these issues.

> Rages and inflexibility immediately returned, and my

> sunny little girl

> who even in her worst struggles with OCD was never

> depressed suddenly

> is telling me " I'm always either sad or mad right

> now. "

>

> We go see the pdoc on Wednesday, and I'd really just

> like to see her

> get back on the Risperdal, as it worked so

> wonderfully for her and the

> weight gain is a managable side effect. Clearly

> we'll talk to the

> doctor about this, but I was wondering if any of you

> here had children

> who were on long-term doses of risperdal or other

> atypical

> antipsychotics. I guess it would make me feel better

> to hear " oh yes

> our child was on it for 2 years with no problem. " or

> something. Or

> alternately make me reconsider.

>

> It breaks my heart to see her struggle so.

>

> Anyone with similar experiences? Thanks in advance.

>

> lisa near Chicago

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

My daughter was on respirdal for two years (age 7-9) and did well on

it. after two years it lost some of its effectiveness and all we

mostly saw was oversleeping and weight gain. She has since returned

to respirdal briefly (age 16) and it worked well, but her current

psychiatrist only used it as an intervention when she was in the

middle of a psychotic crisis. If it works well for your daughter i

would encourage you to consider continuing with it.

jay in md

> Hi all-

>

> I haven't posted here in a while, although I've been reading 'most

> everything-- but I'm back with a question for you wise people.

>

> A little background- my Lydia was diagnosed last October and has

since

> been on Zoloft with very good results. Her OCD monster is " the size

of

> a bug " now, though she's got some tic-y sort of habits that come

and

> go. She was also on Risperdal, to help control the rages and

> inflexibility that came with the package, which was working

wonderfully

> for her. She did gain quite a bit of weight on the medication - 18

> pounds or so in about 5 months. She started out skinny as a rail,

so

> it isn't a concern just yet, but clearly would be a worrisome trend

if

> it continued. Also, the pdoc was concerned about the long-term

> possibility for side effects with the atypical antipsychotics.

>

> So a few weeks ago we reduced the Risperdal and replaced it with

Tenex

> - a blood pressure medication apparently also used for these

issues.

> Rages and inflexibility immediately returned, and my sunny little

girl

> who even in her worst struggles with OCD was never depressed

suddenly

> is telling me " I'm always either sad or mad right now. "

>

> We go see the pdoc on Wednesday, and I'd really just like to see

her

> get back on the Risperdal, as it worked so wonderfully for her and

the

> weight gain is a managable side effect. Clearly we'll talk to the

> doctor about this, but I was wondering if any of you here had

children

> who were on long-term doses of risperdal or other atypical

> antipsychotics. I guess it would make me feel better to hear " oh

yes

> our child was on it for 2 years with no problem. " or something. Or

> alternately make me reconsider.

>

> It breaks my heart to see her struggle so.

>

> Anyone with similar experiences? Thanks in advance.

>

> lisa near Chicago

[Guest guest]

My daughter was on respirdal for two years (age 7-9) and did well on

it. after two years it lost some of its effectiveness and all we

mostly saw was oversleeping and weight gain. She has since returned

to respirdal briefly (age 16) and it worked well, but her current

psychiatrist only used it as an intervention when she was in the

middle of a psychotic crisis. If it works well for your daughter i

would encourage you to consider continuing with it.

jay in md

> Hi all-

>

> I haven't posted here in a while, although I've been reading 'most

> everything-- but I'm back with a question for you wise people.

>

> A little background- my Lydia was diagnosed last October and has

since

> been on Zoloft with very good results. Her OCD monster is " the size

of

> a bug " now, though she's got some tic-y sort of habits that come

and

> go. She was also on Risperdal, to help control the rages and

> inflexibility that came with the package, which was working

wonderfully

> for her. She did gain quite a bit of weight on the medication - 18

> pounds or so in about 5 months. She started out skinny as a rail,

so

> it isn't a concern just yet, but clearly would be a worrisome trend

if

> it continued. Also, the pdoc was concerned about the long-term

> possibility for side effects with the atypical antipsychotics.

>

> So a few weeks ago we reduced the Risperdal and replaced it with

Tenex

> - a blood pressure medication apparently also used for these

issues.

> Rages and inflexibility immediately returned, and my sunny little

girl

> who even in her worst struggles with OCD was never depressed

suddenly

> is telling me " I'm always either sad or mad right now. "

>

> We go see the pdoc on Wednesday, and I'd really just like to see

her

> get back on the Risperdal, as it worked so wonderfully for her and

the

> weight gain is a managable side effect. Clearly we'll talk to the

> doctor about this, but I was wondering if any of you here had

children

> who were on long-term doses of risperdal or other atypical

> antipsychotics. I guess it would make me feel better to hear " oh

yes

> our child was on it for 2 years with no problem. " or something. Or

> alternately make me reconsider.

>

> It breaks my heart to see her struggle so.

>

> Anyone with similar experiences? Thanks in advance.

>

> lisa near Chicago

[Guest guest]

,

My son has been on Zoloft and Risperdal for almost a year, and weight

gain is his only side effect that we have seen, which is ok because

during the onset of OCD and until he was diagnosed he was classified as

anorexic. He is getting rather chunky now, but I'd rather have him

chunky and functioning than skinny and in the fetal position in bed. I

am hoping they will do bloodwork in May, as it will be one year, so we

can see if his internal organs are doing ok with the drugs.

Kim in IA ( 15, OCD)

[Guest guest]

,

My son has been on Zoloft and Risperdal for almost a year, and weight

gain is his only side effect that we have seen, which is ok because

during the onset of OCD and until he was diagnosed he was classified as

anorexic. He is getting rather chunky now, but I'd rather have him

chunky and functioning than skinny and in the fetal position in bed. I

am hoping they will do bloodwork in May, as it will be one year, so we

can see if his internal organs are doing ok with the drugs.

Kim in IA ( 15, OCD)