Drugs - for ASD/ ADHD - ones that reduce aggression?

[raspberryroop]

Going to CHAMS soon as teen DS1 asd/adhd having major impulse /anger control issues - anyone any idea of any drugs that help control this? we have tried counselling and has not really helped so just looking at other options

Ritalin or strattera can help just generally calming the child down , but I have heard good things about risperidone or calming teen aggression/anger

strattera helped DS with concentration and reducing hyperactivity, but actually made him more frustrated and angry and conversely quite sleepy at times.. so we stopped. However..everyone is different and it's worth a try. Ritalin may well work for you too.. Riserpidone is our next stop...

I'm going through the same, would be interested to know about people's experiences with the drugs, we've been referred to a pychiatrist, but not seen them yet.

I know another kid on Strattera, but she isn't aggressive like my DD, it's more for anxiety I think...

Risperidone has worked really well for ds1 aged 10. It has helped with aggression and anxiety.

DS took Risperidone for two years and it made a huge difference BUT apparently there haven't been proper trials on teenagers and they don't know if there might be long term effects on the brain. To be honest we were so desparate that even with this knowledge we went ahead with it. He came off it just before his 15th birthday and has been med free for 10 months now, so it not only worked for us, but he was able to stop taking it.
(We tried Ritalin and it made him even more anxious and he was totally unable to sleep).

Sorry 16th birthday.

I think without the medication our family would be split and ds might be in residential school. It has just made such a massive difference to him and to us. I didn't take the decision lightly but ds is regularly monitored by a child psychiatrist.

Pipinjo - I used to be wary about over using the echenacia but there comes a point for some children where the damage done by their behaviour to themselves and their family out-weights any as yet unproven side affects.

You have to think of the long term effects of the behaviour!