Any luck with Risperdal?

[jbmom]

Regrouping from a big week last week.

Family therapist suggested I 'clock out' for a few days while DH does the primary care of DD.  It works so-so. Reason being is that when I flip out, DD starts to behave again, temporarily.  So we see the psych without DD today. Followup to last weeks visits. She isn't happy with DD's progress (we are neither).  She is not sure we are on the right path(us neither). She is not sure we are the point to send her off to a therapeutic environment (us neither).

So we are all in agreement but have to find a new path. She is suggesting a med change. In her view DD is no longer depressed. We agree. She is just extremely impulsive -- and its overcoming the household. Also things DD has too much power in the house (we agree). So her point... lets see what we can do to control the impulsiveness and dis-inhibition. Rispedal comes up. Yikes-- is my take. That's heavy duty drug, but she thinks we may be there.

Anyonehave any experience with Risperdal in their pwBPD?

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[griz]

JbM:  I don't have any experience with thatbparticular medication but I will say I wish I was mor vigilant in research before just letting my daughter take what ever they prescribed.  I always operated under the impression that they no best, so I didn't question the P when he put her on lamictal.  About three months into it her hair started falling out in clumps. I didn't know if was the drug until about six months into it and I started researching it. You... hair loss is a major side effect.  DD has been off the lamictal for 9 months and her hair has never returned to normal.  Just this morning she was upset because her hair looks so bad. Not a good thing for a 17 year old girl.

My only advice is research.  Our pharmacist in our local drug store seems to know more than our P sometimes and he has been a great resource for us.

Griz

[cfh]

A couple of pdocs have put my ds on Riseperdal over the last 5 years.

What we noticed most was that he was very loopy while on it and had trouble keeping his eyes open, slurred speech even at a lowered dose.  He also gained quite a bit of weight.

This was just my ds experience.  Every person reacts differently to a particular drug.

[DogDancer]

jbmom hi,

Risperdal, according to an article that I believe came out in BMJ (or maybe Lancet) in 2010, is the single best drug for *stopping* acute manic episodes although it has a number of uses. I had a former SO who was bipolar/Aspergers/and udxNPD (or maybe dx but he refused to tell me). BTW, he was flaming brilliant and successful at an important organization. He put himself on Risperdal for about six months (self Rx-ing is a no, no, but... .  ) and that was the calmest, most centered, emotionally flexible/resilient and forgiving that I'd ever known him to be. Unfortunately, it has potential side-effects, some serious, and weight gain is one. He gained an inch of fat around his waist. I could not have cared less, but obviously he did. He went off Risperdal and became highly manic (mixed state) and unbearable... .  again.

So... .  I've seen it work really well in bipolar w/ Aspergers, and anecdotally, on the Internet, there are first person reports that it's the absolutely bomb for that unfortunate combination of conditions. Medlineplus.gov is a good source by the U.S. National Library of Medicine for official information about drugs/conditions/treatments. Unofficially, I've found Crazy Meds website to be a *great* source of information by a lot of laypeople - and they loudly and clearly say that that is who they are -- who have tons of experience with *many* psych meds and all their effects/side effects, with the emphasis being on the fact that it's by laypeople, not scientists or physicians. However... .  as a former medical librarian, I can tell you it does heavily cite many primary studies, and when I cross-check it with other primary sources, it seems to be darn accurate.

Good luck!

Peace and continued healing for us all,

DogDancer

[jellibeans]

My dd15 on it for a very short time... .  she said at the time it didn't help but at the time she also told us she didn't have any problems and it was us who needed help. Hard to tell... .  her T was very much for that drug.

she is on prozac 30mg and lamictal 200mg... .  I think she is at the most stable than she has been in a while... .  but still implusive... .  not always making the right choices but a little more stable emotionally... .  able to come down more quickly from her raging etc... .  

the drugs are something I think about a lot... .  if our kids are on drugs how do they learn to live and cope without them... .  am I robbing my daughter of the opportunity to learn skils now and what happens later in life when she is in control of her meds?

[peaceplease]

jbmom,

I know that anti-psychotics are used as mood stabilizers.   There are many side effects.  I would look at the benefits outweighing the risks   Research all of the side effects - Some involuntary movements of tongue, legs, eyes.   Scary, yes.  But, they also have meds to counteract the unwanted side effects. (Benadryl, Cogentin) They should educate you on signs to watch for, and clinical staff should be monitoring.

My late brother was schizophrenic and was stabilized on risperdal injections.  For my brother, Risperdal was a great drug.   

Maybe, someone may have some experience in their pwBPD being prescribed it.  Personally, IMHO, I would resort to anti-psychotics as a last resort.  Unless, there is a true psychosis.  I am not a doctor or pharmacist. I am a nurse.   

It is very individual - case by case.  I would seek a second opinion regarding the medication.  Is she a danger to herself or others with impulsive behaviors?  Is this the last resort?

I hope that you are able to make an informed decision.     

peaceplease

[simenora]

my son with tourettes was on risperdol, we like abilify much better.

[jbmom]

Thanks for your insight. She is just exhibiting very impulsive behaviours. She is already on Trileptal (like Lamictal) and Concerta for ADHD, trazodone for sleep, Naltrexone for cutting and yes the Depo-Provera for pregnancy prevention  . Yet she continues to be more impulsive than ever. Family T says this is her illness breaking through -- or something earthy like that. Like we are supposed to embrace this.

I am beginning to wonder if she is Bi-polar in nature, and if this intense impulsiveness that she shows could be a manic stage. Last year she was clearly depressed. Currently she does not seem depressed.  Our psych has been very hesitant to label her with anything other than mood disorder NOS, as it her behaviour is somewhat evolving. 

I am not sure our T is on the right path, says he working on DBT materials -- DBT light whatever mindfulness he can teach her, however we don't seem to be in any better place than last year nor does she seem to recall any skills when needed.

We made the group decision to wean her off her meds... .  was turning into quite a cocktail and we are not sure what is helping or not.  Naltrexone is off, as that did not seem to stop the cutting. I don't think she cuts for the euphoria but rather to manipulate.  Trazodone was reduced to 50 mg without any problems so far with sleep. She seems to be sleeping fine right now.  Also - all electronics have been removed.  Trileptal will be decreased by 150mg per week, as long as she can tolerate it. 

So we watch her behaviour now and then will make the decision about Risperdal.

[Speedracer]

Seems like a lot of med jbmom. I'm not judging, trust me. My middle one has to take 4 prescriptions, youngest 3, and dd16 also 3.

We are experienced Risperdal users. My son with Tourette's CANNOT function without it. It worked very well for dd: when given at bedtime helped her sleep, but at a very low dose, combined with her birth control, she was lactating and her prolactin was high - a very common problem. A Reproductive Endocrinologist monitored her and We had to stop to avoid a pitutitary tumor. Also a common problem: weight gain - but your concerta, a stimulant counteracts it. dd takes Abilify 2.5 mg at night now. It also helps her sleep.We cut the 5 mg one in half - it is crazy expensive. She has been on it before - it does not cause weight gain and is working very well.

(OMG - in the 7 months off Risperdal life was an absolute nightmare - judgement was totally off. Cautiously we waited & suffered 7 months before restarting abilify.) She also takes welbutrin & generess Fe bc pills in the morning - they dissolve on her tongue.

Risperdal works very well for impulsivity, as does abilify, another my friend uses for her daughter - Seroquel - also expensive.

Our psychiatrist - one of the oldest best doctors around - he ran an adolescent unit and trains all the new psychs in the area - does not think concerta works well for ADD/ADHD, regardless that it lasts 12 hours. Our middle one was on it & felt sick all the time. Our younger two use focalin. - just a thought. Eliminated stomach ache & headache - and works better for impulsivity than concerta. Focalin is actually a more purified form of concerta. Half of the molecule is removed - the half that causes headaches and stomach aches. The short acting focalin is available in generic form. Long acting capsule gives 6-8 hours and is not generic yet.

Don't know much abt trileptal. Trazadone is a good antidepressant and helps with sleep.

I do have a pharmaceutical background, was a clinical researcher on new med trials before the kiddos came.

Hope this helps some, I really feel for you, because this aspect alone can be maddening. It keeps me awake at night. I wish our kids did not need any medication, but I shudder to think where they would be without it!

[jbmom]

Thanks Speedracer!

We have been around the block with ADHD meds, and circled back to Concerta as it seemed to do the best job with focus.  She was miserable on Focalin -- which we were upset about cause we get it for free. Tried Strattera - that was a nightmare.

Our P thinks she can control herself more than she does on a daily basis.  I think the T's have set their bar for acceptable behavior too low. Family T empowered the craziness in our life.

She has a clear impulse issue, she also has a bit of badass teenage attitude. Sometimes she seems so typical and just trying to be too cool. Then there are the real moments of insanity - where nothing makes sense. Her impulses are just flying from extreme to extreme.

It might be time for abilify or risperal.