Risperdal and weight gain
Common Questions and Answers about Risperdal and weight gain
risperdal
for about 6 years after my last bout of medication (Risperdal and Zoloft) that I quit due to horrible weight gain. So, I am also looking to find the most weight neutral combination as well.
In the past 4 years, I have tried Luvox (increased my heart rate and I could not sleep), Prozac (gained weight), and now Effexor. I know others who take these same drugs and did not have these side effects, so I get it that it's different for everyone.
The atypical antipsychotics can often cause weight gain in both children and adults. Abilify, (aripiprazole) is less likely to cause weight gain or metabolic problems." (from - http://www.baltimorepsych.com/NonStimulants.htm).
Point being is that if all he is taking now is risperdal and he is not getting a help either med wise or behavioral therapy for his ADHD - then his ADHD is probably making both his and your life pretty miserable.
We were just prescribed this for my son who is 8. He spent the last 3 years fighting outbursts which included throwing things, hitting others, screaming, crying, and not being able to cope with things he didnt like the answer to. He started Trileptal in August and we saw huge improvement. but 2 months ago the doc added Guanfacine and Clonidine to help. then things became bad again. And guanfacine is not easy to come off of. We lately we have had outburts like previous to trileptal.
I am bipolar 2 with PTSD. I was on Geodon, risperdal and lithium. The geodon was added last, and the risperdal was weaning down. I took it when it was new. For a few months, I did okay with it and didn't really have any problems. It was stopped because it eventually caused perceptual,,, especially visual, disturbances all of a sudden, and I ended up misjudging the freeway and drove my car over the embankment.
My brother was put on this drug when he was younger and has suffered from extreme weight gain and facial tics. The tics never go away - even with stopping the drug. Risperdal is not usually used for PTSD or ADHD as it is an anti-psychotic. What symptoms is your son having that the Risperdal is supposed to be treating?
He is 10 and on Concerta 54 mg (for last almost 3 years) and Zoloft 100 mg and Intuniv 2 mg and recently Risperdal 0.25 mg every am and 0.5 mg q pm. The neurologist wanted to add another med Abilify on board as he was still having some outburst behavior. I find this troubling that he wants my child on 5 psychoactive meds. we sought a second opinion from a psychiatrist that our son's therapist recommended.
Cool , that's great new's them finding the right dose for you , sometime's that's all it take's instead of switching from med to med . Are you sleeping better now ? . As for Risperdal quiet a few people have problem's with weight gain from that drug i did also , but i found it more effective in smaller dose than higher because i got other side effect's at a higher dose simmilar to the Ziprasidone.
The most important variable to consider is the effectiveness of the medication. If it is addressing the goals but the side effect is a problem, talk with the prescriber about alternatives that might be less likely to result in weight gain. Your son's age limits the options. The first and second generation antipsychotic medications, like Risperdal, tend to promote weight gain (via increased appetite) in many patients.
In the past 4 months he has gained nearly 20 lbs, drinks and urinates constantly and craves carbs and sweets. He was always a normal weight before. The most recent fasting glucose registered extremely high and now the psychiatrist is recommending a glucose tolerance test. I am having a very difficult time controlling his fluid and carb intake, however the Risperdal is necessary to control psychotic episodes.
Abilify is somewhat different than Risperdal as it is a SDA (Serotonin Dopamine Agonist) and as well it is the least likely out of the antipsychotics to cause weight gain and diabetes and less sedating. If it has helped you better or caused less side effects for you than Risperdal your psychiatrist needs to write a letter documenting why. What you need to do is to call your insurance company and find out how to contest a denial of coverage.
1% of adult patients in clinical trials with Keppra did experience some weight gain. The weight gain is more likely the result of Risperdal, an anti-psychotic medication that often produces dramatic weight gain. That medication was likely prescribed to address the volatile behavior, not to address the seizure disorder. If his behavior is not under good control you can expect ongoing problems, and the fact that you are continuing to witness serious difficulties invites further evaluation.
I currently take Depakote, Risperdal and Cogentin (the latter to control the tremor from the Risperdal) and my doctor mentioned I could probably try Abilify instead. This regimen keeps my moods very stable (although a little bit unmotivated and depressed all the time) but I am concerned about what I feel is mental confusion, although it is hard to blame that on a particular drug, other health factors, advancing age, eating habits or something else.
I had some problem with weight gain from Seroquel and especially Risperdal. Abilify is less likely to do that but from what you say the Seroquel is tolerable except for the weight gain. Complex. It is important to keep the weight gain in check so I'd suggest having your psychiatrist refer you to a nutrionist and definitely get a test (at least once a year) for blood sugar levels and the like (on any antipsychotic).
We have used Risperdal with our 12 year old son in the past, 2nd and 3rd grade, but due to weight gain he had to be taken off it. We had major problems with sleep so when he went off the meds he went back to not sleeping. Then we found Melatonin, it is a god sent. It is a natural supplement that has helped a lot of children with atuism and other disorders that effect sleeping. As for the agression we have tried behavioral programs that help with it.
Good luck.
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