medication for teens

[Viviandez]

My son just recently started taking risperdal. I am discovering that good help is very difficult to find. He is currently taking 1.5 mg a day.   Last night he could not sleep at all and was afraid because he said the medication made him feel tired but his thoughts are still racing and he can't sleep. Is this something I should inform his doctor about or should I wait for his next week appointment. His doctor has stated that these things take time and that I should not bring him in once a week because that is putting to much pressure on weither or not the medication is working.

[Crystlas]

Risperdal really did not help me sleep either, just made me dizzy and tired.  What other medications is he on?  Risperdal is not typically used alone, but as a booster to help other meds.  I threw mine in the trash after three days, due to it making me so dizzy.  The doctor only gave me a sample to see if it would help me sleep so it is not a medication I had to continue.  I am already on an excellent combo of Lithium/Wellbutrin and quite stable.  So by no means am I recommending him to stop taking his Risperdal.  However, he needs good medication(s) to help balance both ends of the spectrum, mania and depression.  Bipolars are usually have chronic insomnia and I an not an exception to that rule.  I have always struggled to sleep since childhood.  I use a natural solution to help me sleep.  I have 5mg dissolving melatonin, approved by my doctor, and a sound machine.  It plays ocean waves and matches my breathing, which quiets my racing thoughts, which seem to be there no matter how stable I am.  They are under control now.  I usually only have two racing thoughts compared to 8-9 when I am very manic.  Anyhow, I have tried EVERYTHING for sleep and I mean that seriously!  I love to get good sleep.  My best solution yet is the melatonin and noise machine.  I did some research on melatonin and found that a lot of bipolars are depleated of natural melatonin compared to normal folk. Maybe this helps you?  Best of luck.

[DLA]

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