sudden stop of Respridal

[springflowers2010]

My sister stopped Respridol sudden to her son 9 years old after 4 years 0.25 mg treating ADHD..she just wanted to stop it becoz her son didnt show any improvement plus huge gaining weight, she also was afraid from some stories of what respridal doing as side effects, she asked his psychologist and she said its ok to stop it and she did without any process of tapering!
now she is complaining of sever aggressive behavior from her son with so bad words he spoken and no attention at all at school..she is so worried that this med was a mistake from beginning becoz it didnt improve her son..please we need help for this issue, my Q is
the aggressive behavior and bad words at his talking coming from stoppage of resperidal? and can the side effects starts even after three months?
and second Q is there hallucinations with stopping it??

[MarkLakewood3367]

It is never advised that an individual stop taking prescribed medication without consulting with the prescribing physician.  Regarding side effects resulting from a quick stop in meds, you probably need to consult with an MD to determine if any of the behaviors you described in your post has any relationship with ending the medication against medical advice.

[kirk8]

I don't know much about Risperdal.  It's not typically used to tread ADD/ADHD.  I'm pretty sure it's not FDA approved for ADHD. It may have been prescribed to treat some behavioral problems, which may or may not have been caused by ADHD.  It's classified as an anti-psychotic and is a tranquilizer.

If your nephew's only diagnosis is ADHD I'm shocked that this drug was used at all.  I urge you to get the opinion of a different psychiatrist.  There have been many lawsuits pertaining to the over-proscription of this drug and there may be a liability issue.

I really don't know the answers to your specific questions.  However, (I don't mean to alarm you) the symptoms you described are symptoms of schizophrenia, which Risperdal is often used to treat.  Although, he's a little young for that.

I hope someone comes along with a better answer.

[Sandman2]

   It is always recommended to taper off Risperdal.  However, the tapering off is usually at 25 to 50 mgs per week.  Since he was on the lowest dose possible, the doc may have figured he couldn't go any lower.   But the clearance from your system is 4 to 6 days.  The doctor could have recommended skipping every other day, then every 3 days, they every 4th day over a period of several weeks.  The fact that the doctor did not do so is very worrisome to me!   And, of course, a psychologist cannot prescribe meds anyway.
   I am also bothered by a doctor (of any type) prescribing Risperdal to a 5 (if i read your post correctly) year old.  This just barely fits the off label use of, "The treatment of parent-embarrassing symptomsirritability associated with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents 5–16 years old."   And this is the only off labeled use for kids of this age group.
    So there is definitely some information missing here.
Dr.  Charles Parker says:
    Some Medication Solutions Discussed In Detail in Rules:
! 1. ADHD is best treated with stimulant medications, not SSRIs, - certainly not
tricyclic antidepressants such as desipramine.
! 2. SSRIs aggravate ADHD, and often increase impulsivity.
! 3. Phobias and cognitive anxiety, if secondary to ADHD, will respond poorly to the
national standard of treatment for OCD: SSRIs
! 4. Context for ADHD9 is important; ADHD is most frequently not a 24x7
diagnosis. Doing well with video games does not rule out ADHD.
! 5. Remember: Many with personality/character presentations often do suffer
with ADHD - avoidance and thinking often look too much like “personality problems.”
    His present symptoms could stem from his ADHD, but I would need to know more about how aggressive his behavior is.
    If his ADHD is being untreated, I would expect there to be problems.  So, I doubt that the symptoms are related to not tapering off after 3 months of being off the meds.  But, if he is having  hallucinations, that is a concern.  I would definitely find a child psychiatrist and get some help for the little guy.  Best wishes, and please post if you have any more questions.

[springflowers2010]

thank u so much...after i read the posts i feel really soo worry for my nephew and my sister..i dont know why the psychiatrist prescribed this for him from start!!! then she wanted to give him retaline i dont know why!!i am so far away from my sister since she is at another country but i have the information and i will ask her more, the boy is really so aggressive with her when i talk skype and see them i cant believe he is the same one i saw 6 months ago!! he got more aggressive hitting his mom and saying bad words..doesn't like to stay in class no home work doing..no obeying orders at the same time he loves video games and can watch movie to the end!!and can tell u the whole story of things..so he can do attention!! actually i am so frustrated..and i am now so much worry becoz i have very bad history with the same medication with my brother,he was 27 years old when he was feelings that there is somebody watching him all the days,,and he was at his room for days and days!!he is an engineer so much smart and genius , but he was always alone and never talk to much!! then one day he came from the work and he started to complain that his friends at the work want to hurt him ..then he started to say want to put poison at food to him..he doesnt like to ask help..so we asked help and the psychologist come in a visit at home but we didnt mention he is a psychologist to let him accept getting out from his room and meet the man and he did..after the meeting he told us that he knew that this man is a psychologist'!! and he got so mad..then the diagnosis came with paranoid schizophrenia and the doctor prescribed resperdal and mother put it in juice for him and he was so much better, really he improved and started to go work,till he returned again saying we r putting something to him at the juice and he stopped taking the juice!!! or any food,,and he was eating fast food or canned food..till his condition got worst and after two months he tried to suicide and he hurt my father......and he is now at hospital so we all are afraid from the same story since our family is under sever pressure, and nobody understand whats going on!! now my nephew started to be more aggressive...i dont understand..she is going to psychologist this week,but i need any advice any openinon i will appreciate, any help please!!

[springflowers2010]

thanks Mark for your answer..

[springflowers2010]

kirk u did alarm me but u r right, she should go to ask help and that what she is going to do this week,but i here so worried...schizophrenia ...ohh please he is just 9 years old...i pray not be that one ..thanks for your answer..