Bloomberg News reported, "In trials, 27 percent of those receiving the highest dosage of Risperdal had symptoms of neurological side effects that cause involuntary jerking or movements, compared with 5 percent of patients on placebos."
According to Risperdal's FDA package insert, in two 8-week clinical trials of pediatric patients 46% of the kids on Risperdal suffered movement disorders including tremor, dystonia, automatism (tics), dyskenisia or parkinsonism, vs. 8% on placebo. That's a 475% greater risk for movement disorders in children on Risperdal!
The pediatric trial results are copied below.
http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/safety/2006/Oct_PIs/RisperdalTabs_PI.pdf
RISPERDAL (risperidone)
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events in Two 8-Week, Placebo-Controlled Trials in Pediatric Patients with Autistic Disorder
Adverse Event RISPERDAL Placebo
Somnolence 67% 23%
Appetite increased 49% 19%
Confusion 5% 0%
Saliva increased 22% 6%
Constipation 21% 8%
Dry mouth 13% 6%
Fatigue 42% 13%
Tremor 12% 1%
Dystonia 12% 6%
Dizziness 9% 3%
Automatism 7% 1%
Dyskinesia 7% 0%
Parkinsonism 8% 0%
Respiratory infection 34% 15%
Weight increase 5% 0%
Tachycardia 7% 0%
Ben Hansen
Traverse City, Michigan
Posted by: Ben Hansen at August 23, 2007 8:17 AM
This means that once they approved it for bipolar disorder, they approved it as a treatment for schizophrenia too, isn’t it so? But as far as I know, the limit age is not 10 as you say. It’s 13. I remember reading that on a flyer in a Canadian pharmacy. So… how is it, in the end?
Posted by: Ada at May 19, 2008 3:42 PM
Risperdal was a wonder drug for me, when I first started taking it as a teenager. That was, until I was diagnosed with dystonia, caused by risperdal. I couldn't walk, or sit up. I was forced to quit wrestling, stop working out, minimize my social life to such a low level, that hanging out with my friends was something I was not able to do for a long time. Before, I had been a very athletic and competitive teen. I had been working out consistantly for about 4 years prior to the onset of this dystonia. Being taken off the risperdal, I was put on a drug called artane (the dystonia drug with the least side effects). There is no cure for the dystonia, but the artane soon allowed me to walk (with a very weird posture). After upping the dose of the artane, I suffered a schizophrenic episode as a side effect, and was put on other meds to counter it. The symptoms that risperdal treats are very tolerable in comparison with the drug's side effects. No matter how large or small the percentage of people who develop side effects from risperdal, remember that these percentages are made up of people. Just think about how your life would be if you weren't able to walk? How many people want to see their children recieving their diploma on stage in a weelchair? You decide.
Posted by: Matt W. at August 18, 2008 7:15 PM
Bloomberg News reported, "In trials, 27 percent of those receiving the highest dosage of Risperdal had symptoms of neurological side effects that cause involuntary jerking or movements, compared with 5 percent of patients on placebos."
According to Risperdal's FDA package insert, in two 8-week clinical trials of pediatric patients 46% of the kids on Risperdal suffered movement disorders including tremor, dystonia, automatism (tics), dyskenisia or parkinsonism, vs. 8% on placebo. That's a 475% greater risk for movement disorders in children on Risperdal!
The pediatric trial results are copied below.
http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/safety/2006/Oct_PIs/RisperdalTabs_PI.pdf
RISPERDAL (risperidone)
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events in Two 8-Week, Placebo-Controlled Trials in Pediatric Patients with Autistic Disorder
Adverse Event RISPERDAL Placebo
Somnolence 67% 23%
Appetite increased 49% 19%
Confusion 5% 0%
Saliva increased 22% 6%
Constipation 21% 8%
Dry mouth 13% 6%
Fatigue 42% 13%
Tremor 12% 1%
Dystonia 12% 6%
Dizziness 9% 3%
Automatism 7% 1%
Dyskinesia 7% 0%
Parkinsonism 8% 0%
Respiratory infection 34% 15%
Weight increase 5% 0%
Tachycardia 7% 0%
Ben Hansen
Traverse City, Michigan
Posted by: Ben Hansen at August 23, 2007 8:17 AM
This means that once they approved it for bipolar disorder, they approved it as a treatment for schizophrenia too, isn’t it so? But as far as I know, the limit age is not 10 as you say. It’s 13. I remember reading that on a flyer in a Canadian pharmacy. So… how is it, in the end?
Posted by: Ada at May 19, 2008 3:42 PM
Risperdal was a wonder drug for me, when I first started taking it as a teenager. That was, until I was diagnosed with dystonia, caused by risperdal. I couldn't walk, or sit up. I was forced to quit wrestling, stop working out, minimize my social life to such a low level, that hanging out with my friends was something I was not able to do for a long time. Before, I had been a very athletic and competitive teen. I had been working out consistantly for about 4 years prior to the onset of this dystonia. Being taken off the risperdal, I was put on a drug called artane (the dystonia drug with the least side effects). There is no cure for the dystonia, but the artane soon allowed me to walk (with a very weird posture). After upping the dose of the artane, I suffered a schizophrenic episode as a side effect, and was put on other meds to counter it. The symptoms that risperdal treats are very tolerable in comparison with the drug's side effects. No matter how large or small the percentage of people who develop side effects from risperdal, remember that these percentages are made up of people. Just think about how your life would be if you weren't able to walk? How many people want to see their children recieving their diploma on stage in a weelchair? You decide.
Posted by: Matt W. at August 18, 2008 7:15 PM