Risperdal for Treatment of Night Terrors

Risperdal is a brand name for the drug risperidone. It is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar mania and some symptoms of autism. Risperidone is used in both children and adults. Night terrors are thought to affect children between the ages of 3 and 12. They also affect people well into adulthood.

Significance

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

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

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

Misconceptions

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

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.

References

• Information on Night Terrors
• Information on Risperdal
• Risperidone and Acute Stress, PTSD