re: those of you using Risperdal

[Guest guest]

Another reason why it's important to have meds prescribed by someone

who is conservative and knowledgeable--not someone who just throws

meds at people without working on behavior first. I know that's what

we have--someone who helped us examine what we were doing (OT,

therapeutic riding, behaviorist, etc) vs. where we were at with him

behaviorally despite interventions. I can't speak for everyone but

I know in our case meds were only tried after everything else we

possibly could.

And it makes an absolutely HUGE difference in our lives and our son's

life. Meds should never be a first choice but if they benefit the

child and other interventions have been tried, they can make people's

lives happier and liveable. I know our lives were less than enjoyable

(to put it lightly) before meds and we're ALL so much happier now.

[Guest guest]

Thank you .

J

[Guest guest]

-

I agree with and her remarks about the

professional guiding us and prescribing meds.

We have a 16 and 14 yr old(s) and have gone this

far w/o meds. It was not easy, but I kept with

Behavior Modification Therapy, Exercise, Speech

Therapy, etc, hoping to teach just one more " life

skill " before I entered the unknown and scary

world of meds. My 16 yr. old is non verbal, and

since puberty, has been increasingly more difficult

to handle. Even though I resisted meds for him,

I was afraid everyday I might get a call from school

that he hit someone. Finally the agression, obsessive

behaviors were interfering with his quality of life,

and we started Risperdal(after months of homopathy

and natural supplements that didn't work) He takes

1mg and is much improved. Our Dr. does not want to

increase, because the core autistic behavior will not

be cured by this med, but the overall anxiety leading

to the problems should be diminished greatly. The

Dr. prefers to go with a small dose, so there is room

to increase if necessary, rather than give a high dose

and then have no where to go.....

Also we have OCD issues and our Dr said Prozac will

end it, but does not recommend because of Agression

side effects.

So we understand that our son is autistic, and we have

accepted that, we are using meds to help him manage

himself and maintain peace and positive energy at home.

Meds are not a cure, and that's an important thing

to remember to remind us not to over prescribe...........

-- In AutismBehaviorProblems ,

wrote:

>

> Another reason why it's important to have meds prescribed by

someone

> who is conservative and knowledgeable--not someone who just throws

> meds at people without working on behavior first. I know that's

what

> we have--someone who helped us examine what we were doing (OT,

> therapeutic riding, behaviorist, etc) vs. where we were at with him

> behaviorally despite interventions. I can't speak for everyone

but

> I know in our case meds were only tried after everything else we

> possibly could.

> And it makes an absolutely HUGE difference in our lives and our

son's

> life. Meds should never be a first choice but if they benefit the

> child and other interventions have been tried, they can make

people's

> lives happier and liveable. I know our lives were less than

enjoyable

> (to put it lightly) before meds and we're ALL so much happier now.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I second what says. Our lives are much better with med's.

Not 100% of course, but a ton better than it was.

>

> Another reason why it's important to have meds prescribed by someone

> who is conservative and knowledgeable--not someone who just throws

> meds at people without working on behavior first. I know that's what

> we have--someone who helped us examine what we were doing (OT,

> therapeutic riding, behaviorist, etc) vs. where we were at with him

> behaviorally despite interventions. I can't speak for everyone but

> I know in our case meds were only tried after everything else we

> possibly could.

> And it makes an absolutely HUGE difference in our lives and our son's

> life. Meds should never be a first choice but if they benefit the

> child and other interventions have been tried, they can make people's

> lives happier and liveable. I know our lives were less than enjoyable

> (to put it lightly) before meds and we're ALL so much happier now.

>

>