Adderall and Risperdol does it work for your child?

Question

Are they better? or nasty or irritated? My 9 yr. old can focus better but doesn't have that spunk in him like he did. Seems touchy, like don't touch me or I can't kid around with him. He takes 10mg of Adderall & 1mg of Risperdol. His psy dr. is a real B - - - -. We met 1 time. Then I called for Riperdol since she couldn't call it in & she wouldn't rearrange her schedule to meet me & give me the script or leave it at her office. She has 2 offices. My son had to miss a day of school cuz I couldn't send him w/o his meds. I told her this. After a nasty call to her, she left it in her business mailbox. Then Thursday I left an urgent msg. that the school wants his meds. re evaluated cuz he is back to having problems. I said it was urgent & if she could pls see us today. Her assistant said NO, wait til next Saturday. Today shopping at Walmart son flipped out, cuz he couldn't get his way (mouthing off) was hitting me & callin me names, I left a nasty msg w/ her & fired her!

Answer 1

My oldest took Adderall and it worked for him.   He doesn't take meds anymore though.    He's 16 now.

My other son took 10 mg of Adderall in elementary school but it made him more aggressive and angry.   He was that way with any of the stimulant meds and we tried them all (examples would be Ritalin, Dexedrine, Concerta as well).    He just can't tolerate stimulants but he takes other types of meds now.  

He takes .5 mg Risperdal at night.   It does work for him.   He also has .20 mg Clonidine (half tablet in the morning and 1 1/2 bedtime).     He also has 150 mg Wellbutrin SR in the morning and that helps with focusing his attention.    It did take a while to come up with that combination.   He was a horrible sleeper for many years but that changed dramatically with the Clonidine and Risperdal.   He's 14 now and I could relate to those behaviors that you are describing  but he's more manageable in his teen years.

Answer 2

I personally wouldn't put my child on these drugs. Adderall tends to lead to drug dependence. It can also cause loss of appetite and sleep. The problem may seem hard to deal with without the drug, and it may be an easy way out, but in the long run, the best medicine is for your child to learn self control. Of course it will take some time....

Answer 3

My son is on Vyvanse. He is the same little boy without the hyperness. It's great. If you want to switch meds and the doctor won't get a different doctor. My son's first doctor only gave him meds he had to swallow whole and I told her he couldn't but she refused to change his meds so I got a different doctor. He has had to up the dosage because the first dosage wasn't working but now he is doing great. Vyvanse is a capsule you can open and put in a drink, yogurt, pudding, ice cream.

Answer 4

Sounds like you need a different psychologist. My brother has taken those before. Follow what the doctor says, becasue different things work for different kids. It took a while to find the right meds for my brother....

Answer 5

It sounds like you need a better psychiatrist, for sure. One that cares about your son and his needs.

Adderall made my son VERY emotional, he over-reacted to everything.

He's on Concerta and Risperdal now, I guess they are working because he's not having any trouble.

Every child is so different in what will work for them. Find a better psychiatrist, and good luck to you.

Answer 6

get  a new doctor

just a thought: if you have your child take a medication to make him sit still, and be more focused and serious....why would you think he'd still be play-full and rambuncious?

I don't know if its possible for you, but perhaps unschooling may be a better option? You could control the flow of the day, and the flow of the curriculum, and maybe you could find away to teach without him being on drugs..... Wouldn't that make it worth everything?

Course, I don't know the whole situation, nor am I a doctor, but talk to one. Also research all the possible alternatives LIKE unschooling.

Answer 7

may i ask what his diagnosis is?