Yes, I too have found this to be a miracle drug for ODD. My 10yo daughter is ADHD & ODD. However, you'll have to watch their cholesterol levels & weight gain.

Have you noticed any new behaviors since starting the risperdol? How old is your son? How have you learned to deal with his outbursts?

Lately, we've been having some issues with behavior and would like to compare "notes".

Glad to hear of someone else whose child is on Risperdol and is ODD that I can relate to.

Our son is just about to turn 11. Weight gain is not a bad thing for him, having just come out of eating disorder treatment. He's at a good weight now, but we'd rather swing the pendulum toward chubby than back to severely underweight and needing home hospitalization.

The only new behavior has been the affectionate behavior. He was never big on hugs, kisses or touch and now he's asking us to snuggle with him watching TV and gives kisses and hugs at bedtime. It makes me tear up! He even talks to his grandparents on the phone now, when he would crinkle his nose in disgust if asked to talk to them before.

The outburst have disappeared now. Prior to Risperdal, we tried a number of strategies, most importantly, maintaining a calm voice when he'd get out of control. When it was really bad, we'd take our daughter and dog upstairs and lock them in the bedroom with us until he wasn't a danger to us all. There are holes in our bedroom door from those experiences (he'd throw things at the door). We followed a lot of tips from the therapist over the years. We also took Love & Logic classes this fall, but haven't put that into practice just yet because our son's been so pleasant.

What are you doing about outbursts? Any good strategies? I worry the Risperdal will stop working at some point, like the ADHD medications eventually do when there's a growth spurt.

I don't know what Love & Logic is, but we had a family based in home therapy for a yr. and a half. That was when her outburst were really bad. Since the meds and individual therapy she has been doing better.

I haven't seen any decrease in the workings of the Risperdal and she has been on it for over a year.

Some tricks I've learned in dealing with an ODD child is keep a routine, and keep them in the loop of things. Don't talk about them when they are there, letting them know what is going on about them is a help too. At least for my daughter it is like this.

We still have our moments, but some above tricks work for us and of course taking things away and time out.
Hope that helps a little.

Hi, i have been thinking about Risperidol, but i have seen so many ads on TV about a class action suit going on with this med. Have any worries about this?
They are saying kids have died from this drug.
That gives me great pause.
I sure wish there was a magic pill to help my son, that is not dangerous! I am at my wit's end.
Do you think this drug is safe????

Yes. No concerns about Risperdal. I did before, when I heard death was a potential side effect (we put our feet down and said no way then), but then the psychiatrist explained the rare deaths are in people with dementia. Our son has a lot of conditions, but dementia isn't one of them.

I don't panic at lawsuits. I listen to the medical experts and make an informed decision from there.

I had huge success with this med with my daughter when she was about 6/7, the tantrums got much less severe, she started sleeping through the night! and just became much more relaxed and approachable. After maybe 2 years she started gaining weight on it (nothing up until that point) and after about 3,5 years she stopped taking it cause of the weight gain (doctors recommendation).
After that she had taken abilify (which I think is the newer better version, I actually recommend you ask the doctor about it) periodically when things are going out of hand, but she instantly starts gaining weight so its never for a long time (6 months aprox). Now shes 15 and rather big (though on strattera) so I would rather she not take it. Lucky for me shes been quite ok, at least not violent. Took a beating from her once last year but then she was actually on abilify...
Anywho, risperdal worked at the time and totally saved my mental health!