Risperdal - The drug companies are coming for your kids!

I was speaking to my sister on the phone this morning. She and her two gorgeous children have been going through a tough patch since her husband upped one day and demanded a divorce. This was three years ago. At the same time he seemed to divorce the children . Stopped paying child maintenance and stopped wanting to see the children. When my sister took this scumball to court last week for back maintenance he sms-ed his daughter saying he doubted that she was his. Since then the daughter has been highly distraught and depressed. Paint me surprised!

This gorgeous fifteen year old is going through all this stress together with the normal boyfriend and school stresses. Isn't it pretty typical for teenagers to be depressed. In my practice it is. My sister says well I took her to the doctor because she is depressed and I think she will get better now he prescribed Risperdal for her.

"Risperdal is an antipsychotic medication. It is an "atypical antipsychotic". It works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.

Risperdal is used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression). It is also used in autistic children to treat symptoms of irritability."

The emphasis has to be on the fact that Risperdal is an anti-psychotic and meant for schizophrenics with delusions, the bipolar and autistic uses were added later when drug companies discovered that maybe it works for that too.

The question then becomes why is a dangerous drug like Risperdal being prescribed for a normal depressed teenager and how did it become the SEVENTH most used drug in the world?

"But most of Risperdal's success comes from the unsung doctors -- you know who you are -- who extolled the drug for unapproved use in pediatric bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression, "agitated, expansive, grandiose" "psychopathologies" [per Biederman], Alzheimer's, jealousy, "oppositional" disorder, borderline states, assorted neurological diseases, sleep and mood disorders and whatever else would stick to the wall."

"Like the doctors who upheld the "long-term safety and effectiveness of risperidone for severe disruptive behaviors in children," on the basis of a one-year study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2005."

"Nor did the FDA's why-hold-up-a-drug-just-because-it's-dangerous attitude hurt. In 2007, it approved Risperdal for adolescents 13-17 with schizophrenia, and children and adolescents 10-17 with "short-term treatment of bipolar mania associated with manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder" on the basis of two six- to eight-week studies. Barely long enough to need validated parking."

Risperdal

My opinion is that the drug companies have exhausted their potential client base for other drugs like Ritalin and Prozac and found this new cash cow Risperdal. Why not? America and the world don't mind their teenagers being strung out on mind controlling drugs.

My sister was horrified to discover that Risperdal was actually an anti-psychotic drug and has decided to discontinue use.



[edit on 4-2-2009 by Mynaeris]

My questions for members are these:

1) When will the world start saying this has to stop? Or will we wait for a whole generation to be hooked on one drug or another helping to make doctors and the pharmaceutical companies rich.
2) What will this new generation be like when they grow up? They have been drugged to become controllable.

If it weren't for my line of work and that Xenu thingy, and their intimidation tactics, I would so support Scientology . But NO! I think it's just time for parents to stop allowing drug companies to drug their kids.

Risperdal does help people too.

Not all drugs are bad mmkay?

reply to post by Telafree


No, not all drugs are bad.

But, it seems like anytime something is wrong with a kid, they are automatically put on some kind of medication and diagnosed as ADD, ADHD, depressed, etc.

I am in my early 30s and those things didn't happen when I was in school. Kids were kids....not poster-children for diseases and behavior modifying medications.

You are right Risperdal has been proven to help with Schizophrenics. I have not seen any autistic child helped by Risperdal, if this were the case the autism pandemic would be over.

reply to post by skeptic1



I couldn't agree with you more. Parents have quit the role of parenting and started medicating instead. I am currently busy with a study where parents are bringing in their children for treatment because of annoying habits, like cracking their knuckles, or clearing their throats and it has been labelled Tourettes. All we can do is wait for the Tourettes pandemic to strike. I am of the opinion parents are in search of Stepford Children with the least amount of work. And the drug companies are eager to assist.



[edit on 4-2-2009 by Mynaeris]

Its spread into the animal health world as well. My mom was talked into giving her cat a mild tricyclic anti-depresssant. Now her cat just lays around even more like a zombie all day.

Ridiculous.

Peace

S&F. This is SUCH an important issue! And not just with children. I'm so sorry for your sister's kid. What a blow!

Anyway, I agree with you that this push to get the kids on drugs early is all about controllability in the future. It's sick!

Resist, people! Get your kids some exercise, feed them good food, get them off video games and outside riding bikes and instill self-confidence in them. Don't let the government (oops, I mean the pharmaceutical corporations) raise your kids!

reply to post by TheRealDonPedros


I choked on my tea when I read your post. Thats hilarious. My cat insists on 3/4 of the bed at night and if I try and move her she bits. I should get Risperdal for her.

But seriously I think the hockey mom is a dying breed and she has been replaced by Rx-Mom. How often have you been with a mother and she proudly announces little Johnny is ADHD or some diagnosis. She makes it sound like he is on the school honor roll.

[edit on 4-2-2009 by Mynaeris]

Hey Ya'll! I have been a longtime lurker and this post I saw this morning has encouraged me to join!
I am in my mid twenties and for the last 10 years have been on over 5 different drugs similar to risperdal, effexor, etc. It all started when I had stomach pain that would not end. I could no longer eat and went from 135 pounds to about 90 in a matter of months. All of a sudden I was deemed anorexic and in need of these drugs. Despite my parents and my own protest that I did in fact have real pain, not psycosomatic (sorry for spelling) they refused to listen and desperate for any relief I went ahead and took the drugs to find out a year later I had a hiatal hernia with sever reflux disease. To make a long story short, I had the surger for the hernia, stomach pain stopped. I gained back my weight and was healthy again despite the fact I was now dependent on these drugs. It took me 6 months to be waned off of risperdal and now have been trying for 2 yrs to get off of Effexor, current circumstances are now forcing me to be weaned off faster than ever and am enduring withdrawals that are not listed.

I believe these types of drugs can work wonders for many people and have helped many lead functional, satisfying lives- however before these meds are administered I believe doctors need to do a more complete work up of their patients and not consider these meds to be an end all be all for people. Circumstances, chemical imbalances- they are all very real reasons to be treated. I just wish that the drug companies were more forthcoming with information.

We are a drug-happy nation that shells out prescription meds beyond necessity. It is one of the drawbacks towards the capitalistic motivations of our nation. Yes, some drugs help people however there's too much pressure all around (patients, drug companies, etc) to delve out meds when clinically uncalled for. All I can do is hope and pray that people can see this for what it is, do their research, and know fully what they're getting into before popping any pills into anyone's mouth. I have family and friends who had been jacked up on these kinds of 'medicines' and the scars are still with them to this day, decades after they'd stopped taking them. Please be aware, everyone.

Don't give your kids drugs, unless they really need it.
And you will need a stable mind and a good sense of reality, to know when that exactly is.
Most nutty people don't posses that, and just feed there kids some chemicals to satisfy themselves.

reply to post by saint4God


Capitalistic motivations??

How about complete lack of motivation??

Teachers don't want to deal with kids. Parents don't want to deal with kids. It is too hard, so let's just dope up little Johnny and Jane so that they are the perfect, easy to control zombie kids who cause no problems for Mommy and Daddy and their teacher.

It isn't capitalism.....it's pure laziness and/or frustration.

I've had problems related to what this one site here mentions:
www.coreynahman.com...

I've more recently been on lamictal which is for bipolar and seizures.
I've been on seroquel, which I don't like and now take a 25mg just to sleep at night.


People and children are under stress. Diet is a huge factor. Sensitivities to foods addictives etc. Good sleep in another issue. Keep a journal and look for signs and do research. MSG or glutamates seems related. Stress seems to cause the body to create more glutatmates? RLS muscle cramps etc. Body PH etc. It's been suggested that many people are actually undiagnosed with bipolar and are self medicators in some form. I think this includes foods and natural chemicals etc.

I've noticed since I started eating non fat yogurt more often, I've felt better. Look into celiac disease. I think this can be caused by stress also.

School work amd or home work I've heard are more stressful for kids and those who work and finances. Kids are most likely also picking up the stress a one parent support has also. There's so many contributing factors.

Originally posted by skeptic1
Capitalistic motivations??

Yep. I work at a medical diagnostics company. Even though we're pleased that our product helps hospitals and law enforcement, we wouldn't be doing it for free.

Originally posted by skeptic1
How about complete lack of motivation??

I don't know of anything that happens in this country without motivation.

Originally posted by skeptic1
Teachers don't want to deal with kids. Parents don't want to deal with kids. It is too hard, so let's just dope up little Johnny and Jane so that they are the perfect, easy to control zombie kids who cause no problems for Mommy and Daddy and their teacher.

It isn't capitalism.....it's pure laziness and/or frustration.

Even that is a motivation. The motivation is to make things easier, but I understand your point. Perhaps there are some/many people who find this an 'easy out' and it would be a great shame if this were the reason. Perhaps it is a combination of motives?

One has to ask yourself - with all these drugs that kids are taking prescribed and illegally are they happier or are they cleverer than the previous generation. I think the fact that they need these drugs implies they are more dysfunctional than before. So we probably should be looking at other reasons for this instead of drug them further. So often they start on one Rx drug and then a second is added.

An important question for members to consider is how is it that there are distinct criteria for a pyschological disease Dx to be determined as laid out in the DSM IV, yet medical doctors don't study psychology nor have I ever seen a DSM IV in any medical office. On what criteria then do these doctors prescribe anti-psychotics and ADHD and depression medications? On mother's saying that it is so? Or just it sounds like it might be that?

[edit on 4-2-2009 by Mynaeris]

reply to post by HBStar


That's the problem with our healthcare system. They really seem to be failing the younger generation. I had a similar experience where I was put on a drug as a teen, went from 155 lbs to 120 and since they couldn't find out what caused it, it was of course my doing. So many of these doctors are awful, yet we're told to trust them and give them authority, but they often times have no idea what they're doing and don't care if what they're doing is right or wrong.

I laughed at the post about the hockey mom turned Rx mom, its so true. Parents more than ever seem to place all their confidence and hope in drugs to help their children. They never try to change the environment to help these kids do they? Nope, because that would mean that adults would actually have to put forth an effort and adapt to what their kid needs.

Originally posted by Mynaeris
One has to ask yourself - with all these drugs that kids are taking prescribed and illegally are they happier or are they cleverer than the previous generation. I think the fact that they need these drugs implies they are more dysfunctional than before. So we probably should be looking at other reasons for this instead of drug them further. So often they start on one Rx drug and then a second is added.

An important question for members to consider is how is it that there are distinct criteria for a pyschological disease Dx to be determined as laid out in the DSM IV, yet medical doctors don't study psychology nor have I ever seen a DSM IV in any medical office. On what criteria then do these doctors prescribe anti-psychotics and ADHD and depression medications? On mother's saying that it is so? Or just it sounds like it might be that?

I'm thinking of printing this and framing it on my wall. Now to pick out one it'd look best in. What do you think of this one?

[edit on 4-2-2009 by saint4God]

I recall having leg problems in school and basically just wanted to be outside in the sunlight. Now I hear about vitamin D deficiencies. I was taking Calcet for awhile which has D3 and calcium and it helped with RLS type symptoms so I could sleep at night. Some say taking D3 is bad? idk

Some mental illnesses, like clinical depression, are not only emotional but often physical and result in oversleeping, nervous habits, over or under eating, etc.

Not all medications make people "zombies." Look into Wellbutrin and other medications that don't cause drowsiness or dysfunction. Also, chemical imbalances in the brain are real and sometimes can be changed and sometimes can't.

Weird, though, because in the cases that I'm aware of personally most psychological disorders show up in childhood. Not all of them though, and schizophrenia doesn't.

One of my best friends has mild schizophrenia. If you don't like anti-psychotics or anti-depressants, you don't have to take them. But they do save many, many lives and make people MORE functional. If you're on meds for a psychological disorder and you feel "emotionless" you need to try a different prescription. They should make you feel happier and more social. There are tons of different formulas out there. If someone needs it, it may take awhile to find the right one, but I think too many people just accept the prescriptions that they are given and don't ask about this "emotionless" feeling or side effects like drowsiness, loss of libido, weight loss/gain, insomnia, or whatever.

Really, I think unless you are in the shoes of someone with a severe psychological disorder that you shouldn't voice a negative opinion about these meds. It can make life a lot easier. I say this because a few people who are close to me have psychological disorders, and could not function at ALL without these meds. If you're just sad because of temporary depression, then meds aren't for you. But if you can't get out of bed in the morning, cry all the time, and feel generally miserable for weeks and months and years, they can make a world of a difference.

Antidepressants don't make people "happy." They allow them to feel and process emotions properly, and to be able to FEEL happiness.

I don't personally know about this specific medication. I also know that sometimes meds are doubled up (to counter side effects like libido loss, or insomnia, or whatever). Really, you all have chemicals in your brains. Sometimes they don't work right. Depression is kind of like IBS but for your brain instead of your intestines.

Meds can help, essentially. But of course if you don't think it's true, you probably never will unless you develop a disorder yourself.

/slash AAAACK NO! Family doctors shouldn't be prescribing stuff! Oh my gosh. No. If someone suspects a disorder, they should see a PSYCHIATRIST who may or may not prescribe medication.

Are these doctors nuts?

[edit on 2/4/2009 by ravenshadow13]

reply to post by saint4God


My point is that it is not capitalistic motivations by the parents and the schools....who are the leading factors in getting these kids on these medications for ADD, ADHD, depression, etc. It is laziness and/or not wanting to deal with the kids.

To me, that is a lack of motivation on the part of the parents and schools....just drug them up to make them easier to "control" and not put any work or effort into trying to do anything else.