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drug_recall risperdalRisperdal, or risperdione, is an anti-psychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, physicians have also had success using the drug to treat the aggressive behavior that often accompanies autism.
Autism is a developmental disorder of brain function that is characterized by three specific types of symptoms: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests. It has a number of causes, ranging from genetic to environmental, and affects 10 to 20 out of every 10,000 people. Although males are four times as likely as females to suffer from autism, the disorder affects all races throughout the world. Symptoms of autism are sometimes present at birth; if they develop during childhood, they will always appear by age three. People with autism have a normal life expectancy.
The severity of the autistic symptoms varies greatly from individual to individual. In some cases, the autism is so mild that the child can go on to lead a normal or semi-normal adult life. In other cases, autism is accompanied by mental retardation or other disorders that may make life a bit more difficult. In extreme cases, autism is marked by aggressive behavior that persists over time.
This aggressive behavior is marked by repetitive and self-injurious tendencies, such as biting or head banging. These aggressive symptoms are often the most difficult to treat and may continue and worsen as years go by. People who care for aggressive autistics often have a difficult time managing this challenging problem.
Although Risperdal has not been FDA approved to treat autism, a recent study by the National Institutes of Mental Health found that 69 percent of the 101 children studied saw much or very much improvement in their aggressive behavior while taking the drug.
Risperdal works by reducing dopamine in the brain and enhancing seratonin, which suppresses aggression and enhances social behavior.
The popularity of Risperdal exists partially because the drug has very few side effects. It is commonly used to treat schizophrenia because it has fewer neurological side effects than many other anti-psychotic medications. Classified as an atypical anti-psychotic, Risperdal appears to produce few side effects in autistic patients as well. The most common side effect of the drug is weight gain. In the child study, patients on Risperdal gained an average of six pounds during the eight-week study. A sedative effect, dizziness and muscular symptoms may also be side effects of Risperdal for autism.
Janssen Pharmaceutic Products, the makers of the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal, sent a letter to the health care community outlining the potential health risks associated with the medication.
This action is in compliance with the FDA''s re...
According to new data, once an effective dose has been reached Zyprexa and Risperdal have been shown to have inferior results in terms of anti-aggressive effects compared to cl...