In this post I will share some of the research about an anti-psychotic medication called Risperdal. I will also share our personal experience in treating our son with this medication. In my previous post I had discussed the process of making the decision to medicate your child. For any parent who must make this decision, it is not an easy one. There are numerous factors which go into choosing whether or not to medicate your child and I would strongly encourage parents to read my article for some helpful guidelines to make the process easier.
A little disclaimer
I am going to preface my story by listing a few disclaimers. I am not advocating the use of medication for any child. I am not advocating the use of Risperidone. Any medication you use to treat the symptoms of ADHD or any co-existing or co-morbid disorders such as autism, Bipolar Disorder , Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder and so forth, will have side effects. As a parent you need to do your homework and research the particular medication you are thinking of giving your child. Medicating your child is a very personal decision and a very serious one. Our experience with Risperidone is but one case. What works for my son may not work for your child. I hope that by sharing this story, that you will feel more at ease talking about your own experiences here on ADHD Central.
The Research on Risperidone
Risperidone is an anti-psychotic medication. It has been used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar mania. In addition, Risperidone is currently the only drug the FDA has approved for use in the treatment of children with autism. There have been many studies which show the efficacy of using Risperdal for children with autism and serious behavior problems. For example, this 2002 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that: “Risperidone was effective and well tolerated for the treatment of tantrums, aggression, or self-injurious behavior in children with autistic disorder.” The National Institutes of Mental Health also state that: “Risperidone is also used to treat behavior problems such as aggression, self-injury, and sudden mood changes in teenagers and children 5-16 years of age who have autism.”
There are also studies which show that Risperidone has been used with some success in the treatment of children with ADHD and especially those with certain co-morbid conditions. In a 2004 study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, researchers found that: “Risperidone was a safe and effective treatment, with or without a combined psychostimulant, for both disruptive behavior disorders and comorbid ADHD in children.” This finding is consistent with a 2008 scientific review, Pharmacological Treatment of Pathologic Aggression in Children, published in the International Review of Psychiatry. The authors concluded that Risperdal has the most evidence of all the available medications for the safe and efficacious treatment of pathologic aggression in children who are between the ages of 5-17. It has been shown to decrease aggression, disruptive behaviors, and hyperactivity.
