Alternatives to Risperdal

[dasu]

My daughter was diagnosed with a sudden onset Pandas one year ago. We also began to notice traits in our son, age 6, too. This started with really extreme and odd silliness and laughter, potty talk, defiance, anger and very impulsive behavior. Car trips were always the worst. The severity was cyclical and looking back has gone on since age 3.

 

My daughter just had a regression and this timed perfectly with an increase in my son's issues. Additionally he has stated that he think about hurting himself and he has been hurting other kids (pinching, kicking). He has been showing various mild OCD traits (chewing sleeve, asking repetitve questions) and his school work has declined. So we took him last fall to see Dr L and she prescribed rifamin with no follow up. This latest flare has gotten worse and on visit two she has put him on Risperdal and recommended removal of tonsils and prescribed penecillin. I've always been an anti-drug person and am not that comfortable, but then don't want to risk my sons health either. Are there any options here?

 

Also I have read some about Lyme and MTFTHR, should we look into that immediately or wait this out? The sudden onset on harmful thoughts have scared me.

Edited March 13, 2014 by dasu

[pr40]

Risperdal is a schizophrenia drug, I just read. why not a standard protocol long term abx or IVIG? i am bit surprised that this was dr L's prescription for PANDAS. you may want to see someone else!?

are there any positive effects of Risperdal?

Lyme test you may want to do to figure out if that is a part of the problem. and I would do 23 and me the bigger part of gense not just MTFHR.

If I were you, however, long term abx prescription would be my priority.

[dasu]

I am not sure who else to go see in VA. Long car trips are difficult and devolve into mayhem. Considering a LLMD now though.

 

He has only been on Risperdal for a couple days, perhaps he needs more time?

 

Didnt 23andMe stop doing health testing?

[pr40]

why don't you make a post with that question, who to see in VA? there are a few families in DC area that might be able to help you. NIH is in DC too

[Hrosenkrantz]

I live in DC. My understanding is that there is a LLMD at NIHA named Dr. McCabe who usees natural remedies for some of this stuff

[ibcdbwc]

Curious if strep is an identified trigger in him? or is he more PANS?

[LNN]

23andMe did not stop testing. They had to stop providing some "risk assessments" because they used to say "you have a 1.6x greater chance of developing xyz where another company was saying you have a 1.2 greater risk for xyz - and the company couldn't provide data to validate its 1.6 risk number. It's just too new of a field and there's too little research to make those claims. The FDA wants to "protect us" by making sure we don't get our undies in a bunch and worry about a risk that hasn't been verified.

 

But the company still provides raw data that can tell you - fairly accurately I believe - that you have one mutation on your MTHFR gene, two mutations on your CBS gene, etc. It's the raw data that's useful, not the mildly interesting health assessments. For my kids, treating methylation issues made a big difference, as did lyme treatment. But not everyone has lyme and not everyone has seen the big impact from methylation that I've seen. Everyone has their own journey.

 

Follow your gut on risperdal. If you aren't comfortable, don't do it. Have you tried using motrin 3x/day?

[dasu]

strep was the trigger for my daughter, and rifampin and clindamycin cleared that initial flare. i dont know if strep is the trigger for my son. he has tested negative lately, but tested postive when my daughter had her initial outbreak, and a couple of times previously (and was treated). is there a test for what is causing the antibodies?

 

we have tried motrin 2x day, quercetin and curcumin. this latest flare has been the worst, and as we are now seeing harmful behavior decided to try resperdal at least for now, until a more natural alternative is identified or he is over the flare.

 

thanks for the tip on Dr McCabe. i will contact the office.

 

thanks for clearing up the misconception on 23andme. thats good to know, so now we can order the test.

[tu4four]

Just have to add in my 2 cents....I hate, hate, hate psych drugs---and we have used a boatload of them--but at times, it has been the only thing to give my family some relief. Risperdal was rough on my girl and actually ramped up her OCD.....we took her off of this ASAP, but abilify has been a lifesaver for us at times. Without abx or other apps to trear the underlying issue, we always ended up having to increase the med and/or add other heavy meds. So not treating the real issue is not an option, but psych meds have certainly helped us through some dark times.

[tu4four]

Just have to add in my 2 cents....I hate, hate, hate psych drugs---and we have used a boatload of them--but at times, it has been the only thing to give my family some relief. Risperdal was rough on my girl and actually ramped up her OCD.....we took her off of this ASAP, but abilify has been a lifesaver for us at times. Without abx or other apps to trear the underlying issue, we always ended up having to increase the med and/or add other heavy meds. So not treating the real issue is not an option, but psych meds have certainly helped us through some dark times.