Can Risperdal And Solgar Be Taken Together?

Posted on Mon, 25 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 Answered on

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, my daughter is 9 years old with autism.her weight is 58kg and height 1.47cm.she is taking risperdal for 6 years now and the dose is 1.25ml per day.Recently I have tried 5-htp solgar supplement 1pill in the morning and noticed that she has better behavior, mood.Is it ok to take these medicines together?your answer will be appreciate a lot, thank you.sorry I didnt tell that at night she is taking melatonin 3mg I tablet also solgar.

Answered by Dr. Arun (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
better to avoid solgar

Detailed Answer:

Thanks for writing to us.Don’t use 5-HTP until more is known. 5-HTP might be UNSAFE. Some people who have taken it have come down with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a serious condition involving extreme muscle tenderness (myalgia) and blood abnormalities (eosinophilia). Some people think the EMS might be caused by an accidental ingredient (contaminant) in some 5-HTP products. But there is not enough scientific evidence to know if EMS is caused by 5-HTP, a contaminant, or some other factor. Until more is known, avoid taking 5-HT
Other drugs you mentioned can be safely taken..
Regards

Dr Arun

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Arun (30 hours later)

Is there any supplement that I can use because she is so aggressive and full of anxiety.?can you suggest something herbal that can make her calmer?SOmething that is ok taking it with the risperdal that she already takes?THank you so much for your advice, waiting for your next kund answer.

Answered by Dr. Arun (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
yes try iron and multivitamin

Detailed Answer:
Yes you can try iron and multivitamins supplements.
Iron deficiency can cause irritability.
They are commonly available as jellies or suspension
You can give along with the current medication.
No problem

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Arun (21 hours later)

Thank you for your quick reply, also thanks about your advice.i want to ask you something more .what about NAC?it will help?

Answered by Dr. Arun (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
maybe

Detailed Answer:
NAC or N acetyl.cysteine has been tried in few studies and has shown promising results in reducing irritability. This is because of the effects on glutamate pathway and it's anti oxidant properties.
But it is still not approved as supplement. Stanford university is working on a product based on NAC for patenting it. Until that is available , it is not advisable to use currently available nac supplements.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Arun (19 hours later)

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation.Please can you tell me about evening primrose oil and its relation with autism?my child does not take any omega fatty acids she does not eat any fish.Regards

Answered by Dr. Arun (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes

Detailed Answer:
Yes, you can give evening primrose oil, which has DHA and omega fatty acids. It does improve symptoms.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Arun (8 hours later)

Thank you again, now I would like to ask your opinion about autism and gut connection.Here the doctors do not accept this and every time I ask about the gf/cf diet or the candida diet, which many friends that have autistic children use and they saw remarkable improvement, they do not give any attention.But these friends have contact with doctors abroad.The only thing makes me wonder is that they give to their children too many supplements.vitamin c, omega 3 and 6, probiotics, antioxidants, digestive enzymes and so many others I cant remember.Is this all right?Regards, waiting for your kind answer

Answered by Dr. Arun (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
see below

Detailed Answer:
The effectiveness of a GFCF diet for autism has not been supported by medical research; in fact, a review of recent and past studies concluded there is a lack of scientific evidence to say whether this diet can be helpful or not.
Other supplements you mentioned can be given safely

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Arun (13 hours later)

Thanks doctor, another question is if there is something to give for better sllep.I am giving melatonin 3mg and although she sleeps in 30min she wakes up in the night-early morning.Can you suggest something to give along with it.?Best Regards,

Answered by Dr. Arun (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
medications not advisale

Detailed Answer:
Apart from melatonin, other medicines for sleep are not advisable for kids.
If really troublesome, you can give some antihistamine at night, but not regularly eg. Cetrizine

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Arun (35 hours later)

Thank you, can I ask you also about risperdal, I read for weight gain.Is there a way to avoid this, because from my experience giving it to my child, she is overweighted, and always terrible hungry.Another thing I would like to ask you is, what other new medicines or new treatments are common to the US for autism? And from statistics what is working better? I will appreciate very much your answer, thank you, Regards

Answered by Dr. Arun (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
abilify or risperidone

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Only two drugs are approved for autism.
Risperidone and aripiprazole ( abilify) .
Both are equally effective with similar weight gain as side effect , as per latest study published in child psychiatry.
No statistical difference between two.
All you can do is decrease fatty foods and increase vegetables and fruits to satisfy your childs appetite. This can restrict the weight gain.
Regards
Dr Arun

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Arun (14 hours later)

Thank you for your answer, what is your opinion for valeriana root extract for calming? Also I read in the past about Herbalife relax now,a supplement, that is very effective in autism, it is controlling their stress.Have you heard about it? Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Arun (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
valerian root extract is safe

Detailed Answer:
Valerian root extract is safe if used for 4 to 8 weeks. It does calm down.
Long term use safety is not known.
The other supplement you mentioned, I am not aware of it. You can ask in alternative medicine topic in our forum for more help.
Regards
Dr Arun

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju