Autism and the Benefits of Medications
Although my son does not have traditional autism he has many of the symptoms of a child who has autism; developmental delays such as receptive and expressive communication delays, gross and fine motor delays, echolalia, sensory processing disorder, and even biomedical markers like a leaky gut and mercury toxins.
Currently, my son is on Clonidine for sleep, Risperdal for aggression and behavior, and miralax for chronic constipation. Additionally, he is taking numerous vitamins and minerals to help him with his nutrition and digestion of nutrients (because of his leaky gut).
Currently, there are many different medications used used for children on the autism spectrum because every child on the spectrum is different. A child on the spectrum may not respond the same way as a typically developing child, nor will a child on the spectrum respond the same way as another child on the spectrum.
That said, medications CAN be very beneficial to help children with aggression, irritability, anger, frustration, hyperactivity, sleep, and impulsiveness. Unfortunately, there is not one cure-all medication for children on the autism spectrum so although one medication may help one symptom it may not alleviate another one (or it may make it worse).
Therefore, it is important that parents work with a doctor who has experience with children with autism. A child should be monitored closely while taking a medication.
Medications used for sleep:
Trazodone
Melatonin- hormone that has a role in the immune system and helps control the sleep cycle.
Clonidine - This is normally used to regulate blood pressure but helps children fall asleep.
Depression:
Prozac
Zoloft
Luvox
Paxil
Celexa
Seizures and Mood Instability:
Dilantin
Toprimate
Lithium Carbonate
Carbamazepine
Valproic Acid or Depakote
Lamotrigine
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin
Antispychotics
Olanzepine
Risperdal-*The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Risperdal as autism medication to treat irritability in autistic children and adolescents. This is the first time the FDA approved a drug to treat behavior-related problems associated with autism in children. The drug can be used to treat aggression, deliberate self-injury and temper tantrums. Risperdal is considered an atypical antipsychotic drug manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. in Beerse, Belgium.
CNS Stimulants
Concerta
Amantadine
Buproprion
Desipramine
Buspirone
Adderall
Ritalin
Anxiety
Allegron
Ativan
BuSpar
Centrax
Xanax
See this site for a list of medications and when they should be used (after a particular age).
April 19th, 2008 at 12:02 am
As a mom of a 10 year old with ASD who has been on combinations of all sorts of these drugs over the past 5 years I feel compelled to share my new perspective on these meds.
My son was on different combinations of two or three at a time and I was never really sure they helped. He had meltdowns where he would become aggressive. When I would tell the doctor the meds didn’t seem to be helping, we sometimes would phase him off all of them to start from square one (after trying adjusting doses). When he was off all the meds, he would seem so hyper and out of control. So I’d call the doctor and say “help! he needs something to calm him”. or something to that affect.
At the end of last year we ended up at a new psychologist he didn’t like and I wasn’t very impressed with. This was after my son became suicidal and was hospitalized three times that year (yes, bad year). He had been placed on anti-depressants. So, again, with the advice of a more experienced psych, we weened him off everything.
He has not had a single meltdown or not been able to self-calm since this change. He is doing excellent in school and cold a fairly interactive conversation again. It’s like I have my son back, he’s not sleepy, hungry, and blah anymore! He does take Clonidine before bed to get to sleep. I think I was seeing him as “ADD” when he came off the meds before, but it was his MAJOR sensory integration problems. So, my theory is, for us some combination of the following have made all the difference:
1. off meds so he can have a clear head
2. ot, pt, and staying very active (bike, skateboard, trampoline, climbing trees, etc)
3. a friendship with a “normal” boy - he has maintained this for a long time
I know all these kids re-act differently, but I have to say I get a little upset with myself and wonder if I could have had my “real” son back earlier if I hadn’t resorted to all these drugs. Just want to share!
April 19th, 2008 at 12:04 am
oh one more thing. His meltdowns would often lead to him being in a therapeutic restraint hold - which is actually a sensory release for him. I always said it seemed like after being restrained, he felt so calm and he’d often fall asleep. He needed the deep pressure for his sensory problems.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Yes, it is tough to know which combinations, if any.
We’ve gone through a variety of different meds, but like Erin found that less is better. For some kids who are extra sensitive, just a *tiny* amount of a medication can make a big difference, whereas too much medication can cause a real problem. Many psychiatrists tend to over-medicate.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
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