Risperdal side effects - please help

Ivannia - posted on 05/07/2013

My going 14 daughter and 12 year old boy have been diagnosed Asperger and more, my boy was prescribed Risperdal and I even bought it, but when I looked up the product ... well the closest garbage can was enough!!
But I had to help him somehow ... we started homeopathic and natural treatment and we assisted to Dianetics auditing for children, that´s the best plan I could come up with without the horrible side effects.... In the process we discover he needs extra protein to concentrate better and we avoid the products that give him allergies according to his blood test, we are also carefull with the food he´s only sensitive to.
Long story short, he just turned 12 and had to choose among his closest friends in order to go to the movies and celebrate his BD watching Iron Man 3 ... just like a any other kid would love to do ... no diagnosis would have seen that coming.....
My daughter didn´t have that many issues but she had the same thing going on for her...... and she´s a well adjusted and even happy teenager... you heard it!!! happy.
Both of my kids homeschool and participate of a social life under they own terms by taking courses.... smaller groups at first helped a lot... now they deal with groups of all sizes!!! It was hard work but it was worth it!!!!

Vickielynne - posted on 06/25/2009

My daughter was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome (the most dibilitating disorder on the autism spectrum) at age 6 prior to to the diagnosis she was beating on me hitting herself biting people slapping everyone screaming non-stop We didnt go out in public over her out of control behavior . Then Risperdol! now she goes to school doesnt hit or scream , we were only told she might gain weight in fact we were okay with that she is very skinny , she has great appetite and sleeps through the night. We tried Seroguel and we ended up in the ER. she takes 3ml a day it changed her quality of life..

Lindsey - posted on 06/25/2009

Hi, my son has been on Risperidone (or rispredol) for 8 months now. His mood swings and and violence has decreased dramatically. I know the doctor said that the medicine could increase his appetite but since oct he has only gain 4 lbs. It appears that his metabolism is insanely high. He's even metabolizing the drug at a fast rate. We are now up to 1.5mg a day and still hours before his next dose it's like he hasn't taken anything and is bouncing and violent. I am worried about the side affects that he may see with taking such a high dose... Idk what I should do. They want to start secondary medication for ADHD (the won't diagnose him because he's only 6 now they say he just has mood disorder but we know it's more than that) but she said she can't until his modd is stablized.


Anyone have any advice? Am I doing the righ tthing with letting them up the medication. Should I worry about the weight gain or lack thereof. Also when he's not on the medication he only sleeps for about 5 or so hours at a time. nowhere near enough sleep..

Please Help

Alisha - posted on 06/24/2009

my daughter was on risperdal for 4 months and gained 17 pounds and started exeperiencing night terrors, and what she described as a wobbely feeling at bedtime. She complained nightly that she could not see straight and begged me not to give the pill to her. I had the doctor discontinue the med and she is now taking seroquel and clonadine instead...

Ashley - posted on 06/17/2009

My son has been on Risperdal for almost 2yrs. The year prior to his starting it, he was seen at a clinic for preschool eval and was said to have very strong teeth. A year later, he had rotten pre molars. I began to research it and a new study came out that in young children an unexpected side effect was tooth decay and depression. My son brushed his teeth but he had rotten teeth. I was in shock. I had not seen the usual side effects-i.e. weight gain b/c he is also on meds for ADHD; those two meds seem to balance each other out in regards to his eating. I talked with the dentist and the psych. They both agreed that Risperdal does decrease the saliva in the mouth and as a result you may see tooth decay. So I make my son carry around and drink all the time and brush all the time. For the time being, we have not taken him off b/c his aggression is so bad. We are talking with the doc about what we could put him on but she said with all meds there are side effects.

Barb - posted on 06/15/2009

My boy was on Concerta and Abilify, and ended up extremely aggitated - ended up setting a fire in my home. Thank God we put it out before it was major. He ended up in a Psychiatric facility, where they put him on Risperdal, and he continually eats and is gaining alot of weight. I sometimes wonder if he would be better off without it. I don't know.

Candice - posted on 06/14/2009

I was on Risperdol. I started taking it when I was in 9th grade. I was only on it for around 1 year. My Dr. didn't tell my mom or myself that it wasn't approved for use in children. In fact that video is the first time that I heard of that (I'm 24). I didn't have breast growth but I did start producing a milk like substance. I wish that my mom & I had known about this when I was younger.

Kristal - posted on 06/14/2009

what side effects?

My son has been taking the meds for 2 years going on 3.

His irritability has def improved with meds, but dr is still considering putting him on a prozac as well. Meds have worried me from get go, felt like a bad mom putting him on it, then after seeing the effect it gave him felt like a bad mom i had not done it sooner.

IDK what the right thing to do is.... But as a mom we know in our hearts whats the best for our kids.

OOO BTW when I talked or TRIED to talk to my dr about risperadal...... and its side effects... he told me non chilantly that chase( my son) would have seen side effects by now... I was agitated a bit and said what sexual disfunction? he is 7!

he quickly tryied to reassure me and change subject to the benefits being shown from the drug.

It is such a tough call. But the first sign of something you thought was not right....... I would eliminate the drug, well is my opinion

Mary - posted on 06/14/2009

i remember another side effect my son had he was sat on his bed and started feeling strange he said he could feel his heart beat banging he then started going blue i went to place my hand onto his chest and before i did i could actually feel his heart banging i took his blood pressure and that went really high it lasted for about half hour we got him to the hospital and they did a ecg and nothing showed but since taking him of this medicine he has been great

Lorraine - posted on 06/14/2009

My daughter was put on risperdol when she was diagnosed with PDD when she was 3, we pulled her off of it because she was like a zombie at times, she had siezures, and she was well under weight, she is now on Concerta her weight has gone up to what it should be at her age, don.t want to alarm you but these were the side effects we found with this drug.

Mary - posted on 06/04/2009

i have 3 children with adhd and autism my youngest lad was put on risperadol and the worst side affect my boy has is so much weight gain we are struggling to get his weight down . its such a shame because he gets picked on at school because of it

Melissa - posted on 06/03/2009

This is so interesting. I am glad you posted this. My son who is almost 15 was dx with ADHD in 1st grade and this last year was finally dx with Aspergers. Just recently the melt downs have grown aggressive and the drs and now discussing resperdol in liu of his daily dose of concerta. I have so many reservations since the teenage years are already times of confused feelings and emotions. I decided to forgo the Resperdol at this time and have requested further psychological testing and additional therapy. If this doesn't provide answers and the behavior increases I might then reconsider resperdol but I am leary about its side effects.

Cindy - posted on 06/01/2009

my son took risperdal for more than 5 yrs without any side effects except some weight gain, although he was never fat. we recently changed it to abilify on the advice of a psychiatrist who felt abilify had a cleaner side effect profile. he did, in fact, lose 12 lbs within 2 weeks of the change. we are still adjusting the dose on the new medication

Bec - posted on 05/28/2009

Hi, my son is 9 and diagnosed with autisim and has been taking resperdal for the past 6 months, before he started he was a very aggresive little boy, he would hit myself, his brothers, his teachers and other students, I had tried diets, fish oil tablets, but came to a dead end and had him put on medication, he is now alot calmer than before, and concentrates alot longer.

Barbara - posted on 05/27/2009

Our son is 32 years old now. He has severe autism. We also did the drugs during the teen years and I consider it the worst mistake I have ever made. A DAN doctor helped me get him drug free which took us three years. We still deal with some of the damage the drugs caused. When we got him drug free, we found a seaweed extract called Original Limu. He has been taking it for six years now. He sleeps extremely well, he eats well, his mind function has improved and his hyperactivity is very mild or non-existent. I am amazed at his recovery seeing as how he was 26 when we began the seaweed extract. We shall never go back to drugs of any kind and we shall never be without Original Limu.

Suelyn - posted on 05/27/2009

Thank you so much for the responses! My 10 1/2 yr old son has been on it for almost 4 yrs, 5mg per day. So far it has helped tremendously. He has been doing karate almost 5 yrs and that has been a big help. After seeing this, I am so worried about what could happen. I plan on speaking to the doctor on our next visit, and get her feedback. Now I wonder if I should try to seek alternative measures. I have never considered changing his diet. He is a very good eater. Meat, veggies, starches etc. I have been very blessed with his teachers, they are awesome. It is good to have a place like this to get other opinions. This was my first time posting and I feel so welcomed by you. Thank you so much!! My son was diagnosed at age 3 as PDD NOS. His doctor does do bloodwork to monitor but my question is, would that show up in bloodowork??? So many questions. Again, thanks for everything!

Shawn - posted on 05/27/2009

My daughter is 4 1/2 and has been on Risperdal for 2 years now. It has actually done wonders for her. Before the medicine she would have 5-6 melt downs a day that lasted any where from 1-2 hours each. Now, she hasn't had a meltdown since. I think it just depends the child though because I have heard others having problems. But for us so far so good.

Colleen - posted on 05/26/2009

I saw it too. My son was on it for maybe 2 weeks. He got extremely aggressive and it was too much to handle so I took him off it before even going back to the doctor. I called the doctor and said that I was taking him off of it. My son is now taking Focalin XR, Clonidine and Sertraline. It has worked wonders for him as well as having a wonderful teacher.

Suzanne - posted on 05/26/2009

My 10 years old son who as Asperger, adhd and dyspraxia is on Risperdal since he's 5 1/2. But he has blood test every 9 - 12 month to make sure everything is ok. He can't use any stimulant because it increase his anxiety... So let's hope he won't have that effect.

Suzanne - posted on 05/26/2009

My 10 years old son who as Asperger, adhd and dyspraxia is on Risperdal since he's 5 1/2. But he has blood test every 9 - 12 month to make sure everything is ok. He can't use any stimulant because it increase his anxiety... So let's hope he won't have that effect.