Risperdal was pretty much a miracle drug for my family. Wiz took it for years, only stopping when we reached the absolute maximum dose and it was not helping any longer. Similar medications did NOT help much, and he had awful side effects from abilify. Wiz did have an almost crazy-making, ravenous hunger at times while on risperdal. I don't think it was all the risperdal though. My side of the family tends to hit a point where hunger suddenly spikes and it is very hard o function unless you can eat NOW. I do think the risperdal combined with that and that was why he struggled so with it.
Mostly the risperdal allowed Wiz to keep his violence in check far more than he could without it. When the hunger spiked, that all went out the window. I leared which of the meal bars with a substantial amount of protein he liked/would eat. I kept those in my purse, locked up at home (he would eat every one he could get his hands on because they were candy but he got away wtih saying they were a 'meal' if his gma was around - and we lived with her.Sigh.) and if I didn't have one and that hunger hit? We either did a fast food burger, popcorn chicken if we were in Walmart, or we got one of the protein bars at a gas station or convenience store.
Please know that MOST of th 'meal' and 'nutrition' bars are basically candy bars. You have to pay attention to the amount of protein, fat and carbs because so many of them have three to six grams protein to thirty or more grams carbs. That is outrageous in something sold as a 'meal' bar. Fyi, according to the website for Snickers, one bar has 4 g protein and 35 g carbs. I don't look at the fat so much because for my kids, esp Wiz, it is having too much sugar and not enough protein that makes them downright MEAN. (My brother an only male cousin both do this also.) I check the labels, usually going for a 40-30-30 balance of carb-protein-fat, each time I look at one of those bars, or at the breakfast bars, etc... It may cost a bit more if you don't find good bargains, but it makes a world of difference. Balance Bars and Zone Bars are always at that ratio, and for other bars it pays to check the labels. Oddly enough, even my pickiest eater kid LOVES these bars. Took some trial and error though.
Anyway, nuff rambling. I am glad risperdal is helping. It was a blessing for us.