Hi @A MyAutismTeam Member. We tried the risperdal for a couple of years. He isn't taking it any more. He got too aggressive taking it, verbally and physically. We switched from a pediatric neurologist tI a psychiatrist who put him on abilify. So far it's helping. He's been on it for 6 months now. Risperdal was good, until it wasn't anymore. Focalin and abilify seem to be working. Fingers crossed it stays this way as we are in the throes of puberty.

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A MyAutis...

Psychologist can be a good 2nd opinion, but I like your idea of asking for the BTDT parents' opinions. BTW, clonidine is awesome, but there are time release pills that are better. Tenex is similar and has a time release pill called Intuniv, and Kapvay is the clonidine one.

The reason we switched to the Intuniv is that it was less sedating than the tenex/clonidine meds were, and redosing in the middle of the day wasn't needed. It simplified things, which we were greatly in need of! Risperdal can be sedating, too. The thing we worked on most was the timing of taking the pills. We experimented a little with which ones were taken at night and in the morning.

Also, as Risperdal is a once-a-day dosed pill, you might consider breaking the dose in half and taking it twice a day. Some people metabolize the meds at different rates and the blood serum levels drop off. If you take it more often it can stabilize better.

As for focalin and risperdal, not so much. Sorry.

Hi JenniD...I suggest you see a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist when it comes to rx meds re behavior...I work in a nursing home and Clonidine 0.1 mg is usually given for a very high BP around 160/90 as needed...I don't think your son have issues re high blood pressure? And psychiatrist are the ones who prescribe meds and they work hand in hand with the psychologist.

My son takes risperidone, buspar, Zoloft. He only has side effects when he has grown or gain weight.

Clonidine also has the effect of managing OCD and ODD tendencies, which is why he takes it. It's an off label use to be sure, but it works. It also helps him sleep at night.