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Risperdal for Treatment of Night Terrors

Friday, October 23, 2009
Related Tags: risperdal | terrors | night | risperidone | ptsd
 

Instructions

Significance

  • Step 1:
    Treatment of night terrors is not one of the express uses for risperdal. Any prescription risperidone medications for night terrors are essentially "off label."

A Side Effect

  • Step 1:
    Many patients have reported the start of night terror episodes after they begin a regime of risperdal for other conditions. A reduction of risperdal has been known to diminish night terrors. However, night terrors are not on the list of adverse effects for risperdal.

Successful Function

  • Step 1:
    Risperidone has been found to reduce night terrors, nightmares and flashbacks in adult patients suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).

Misconceptions

  • Step 1:
    Because risperidone is used to treat a disorder like schizophrenia, it is believed that it will also work on night terrors in children. However, it only seems to work on night terrors in adults with PTSD and acute stress.

Warning

  • Step 1:
    Treating night terrors in children, especially those that aren't severe, with this drug can be the equivalent of using a shot gun for swatting a fly. It will expose the child to a host of other side effects that may be worse than the night terrors.

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