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Medication for explosive anger and severe aggression for conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

Some evidence – there is enough evidence to indicate that this can be a helpful treatment option.

Medication should not be offered as your first treatment option for conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder.

However, if you experience severe aggression or explosive anger which has not been helped by other treatment options then you might be offered a medication called risperidone. If you start taking risperidone then your doctor should monitor whether it is helping (including how frequently the problem behaviour occurs and how severe it is). They should review the medication after 3 to 4 weeks and suggest that you stop taking it if it’s not helping after 6 weeks.

It’s important to know that risperidone should not be taken for a long time. It is intended to help for a short amount of time alongside other psychosocial treatments which can help to make longer term changes.

Treatments outlined on these webpages may not be available in every local area. It’s important that you discuss with your GP or mental health professional the treatment options available to you. You can also search for services near you on our Youth Wellbeing Directory and find out more about referral processes here.

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