how common/normal is it these days for medical professionals (paediatric neurologist in this case) to prescribe Risperdal to "correct behaviour" for a "terrible 2"? the medication pamphlet says its an antipsychotic and is used to treat things like schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder! In our case it was prescribed because the 2 jr old was "difficult" - hyper, screaming at a very high pitch, uncooperative - in the consulting room, when we went to see the neurologist about febrile seizures. In my daughter's defence, we sat waiting for 3 hours for the dr to see us, and by then she was totally strung out and over tired. But also have to admit that she has a very low muscle tone and frequently hurts herself by trying to do dangerous things. She doesn’t seem to "get" consequences, so she doesn’t learn from previous mistakes and want to climb on the same table where she fell off moments ago. We consulted a paediatrician, who has treated our daughter before, about the Risperdal prescription, and he, very diplomatically, said that he only prescribes it in EXTREEM cases, for instance mentally retarded kids who hurts themselves. On the other hand, our daughter's occupational therapist says a LOT of "her babies" are on Risperal, and that these days it's usually prescribed for ADD/ADHD kids, who are too young for Ritalin or Concerta. And that its no big deal. Would appreciate any feedback PLEASE! I am too scared to give her this medication!

OMG.
Please don't do this. I was given Risperdal when I was 32. It messed up my life. All I needed was 6 months rest. Please let you child just be.

Impluse control problems in a 2 year old? I don't understand this, as EVERY 2 year old has impulse control problems - it is normal, as they do not have the emotional maturity to control their impulses. Medicate this and you will put your kid through hell later on in life...

As a psychologist, I would not recommend starting her on any medication until you have received a diagnosis from a mental health practitioner. Anti-psychotics can be safely prescribed for children and can be of great value, but in this delicate stage of brain development, I would rather recommend waiting until you are sure it is indicated, and not trying it as an experiment in modifying your child's behaviour.
In addition to the Occupational Therapist you are already seeing, I STRONGLY recommend you consult a Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist with extensive experience in Child Psychiatry. The golden rule : no diagnosis, no meds.

I wouldn't put my son on it. All the behavior you described sounds like a typical 2 year old to me.

So you consulted a professional, and a specialist at that, and now doubt his/her diagnosis. This is normal. I too am a clinical psychologist and I disagree with the previous psychologist - you don't have to be a mental helath professional to prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilisers or antipsychotic medication. Many medications have multiple uses; some antidepressants are used to treat pain, another antidepressant is used to stop bed wetting, anticonvulsant medications also act as mood stabilizers for bipolar mood disorders, antipsychotic medications can help to manage aggression, while others are used to sedate patients.

I do however agree with the psychologist and suggest that you shoud only medicate an acurate diagnosis. I am not sure what all you have had done for your child. Have you ruled out hormonal problems, liver and kidney problems, neurological problems, developmental problems etc? Could it be a chromosomal? It may be due to severe ear ache or some other "innocent" cause.

You mentioned febral convultions. These can affect thought processes as well as behaviour. The child can act erratically and often dangerously. Another golden rule for psychology and psychiatry is to never make a diagnosis until medical conditions have been ruled out, and further more, that the condition is not due to a chemical, drug or other substance. I would focus on these areas first. A physician may not be a bad person to consult next.

Ruling out all of these possible causes/problems can be costly. You can (will) be shunted from pillar to post and can be exposed to psychologists, psychiatrists, neuorologists, paediatricians, physicians. physiotherapists, occupational therapsits and more, often with conflicting advice and diagnoses. And apart from the expenses it can take a huge emotional toll on you and the rest of your family.

My advice, for what it's worth:
Surround yourself with a good network of support
Get educated - read, ask questions, and consult widely
Not all medication is indicated, not every person reacts the same to medications (often have to rely on trial and error)
Not all medication is evil. There comes a time to medicate.
You may find that you are faced with more difficult choices and tough news - you may hear a diagnosis that is "harder" or "more serious" than others. Sometimes the truth is difficult to cope with. In which case, refer to my first point of advice.

Most importantly, good luck.

I'm not a doctor but have a 5 yr old with Sensory Integration disorder. He's impulsive, fearless, can't see consequences eg falling out of a tree and then climbing again. You could be writing about my son when he was 2. He was diagnosed by an Occupational Therapist and has been treated since he was 2. His diet makes a big difference - no additives, colourants, flavourants, dairy (he's on Soya), no preservatives.

He has Biostrath and Flaxseed (omega 3;6;9) every day. Rather try a natural way before you medicate your child. No-one knows what the long term effects will be.

If you want to utlise a professional then you must at least try to adhere to their advice. If you want to go and see second neurosurgeon go ahead.
You are not a professional with regard to medication and its effects. I have often been on treatment for which the medication prescibed was not its primary purpose (remeber Viagra started as treatment for heart disease) and so far all medication has worked as intended.
You need to make a decision. Every medication has side effects. The whole purpose of taking medication is that the side effect is less detrimental then not taking the medication.
All i can say is trust modern medicine.

When you've got a hammer, everything looks like a nail...
What is the worst possible outcome of putting your your child on the medication? Can the professional say, with accuracy, etc? Are those odds acceptable to you?
What is the worst possible outcome of NOT putting your child on the medication? You may find you have to adjust your lifestyle, diet, etc, to make sure your child isn't over stimulated, or exposed to stimulants, or possibly dangerous situations.
As an aside, after 3 hours in a waiting room - to which I'd arrived at the correct time - I would've been livid. In fact, I would've left already. 45 minutes is my max for waiting for a doctor. Really, they might be the specialist, but you're their customer - you absolutely deserve to be treated better. If they're completely overrun everyday, they need to re-evaluate their process, or performance, and reschedule accordingly. If they're just packing them in there so they can afford an extravagant lifestyle, well, they don't deserve it. To the professionals reading this, sure we the patient can't tell what you're treatment philosophy really is, but if you leave us waiting for an eternity, you give us a clear indication of your attitude. Professional is being on time too.

Well said.=