1. Evaluate the Risks Versus the Benefits of Medications
While behavioral and communication therapies are the main treatments for autism spectrum disorders, there are some psychotropic medications that are used to treat certain symptoms of these disorders. These symptoms include depression, irritability, aggression, self-injury, tantrums and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Unfortunately, these drugs also have the potential to cause harmful side effects both physically and psychologically, particularly in very young children. Consequently, you should be very cautious when electing to use medication and choosing which medication to try.
When deciding whether medication is right for your child, weigh the potential risks and benefits. If your child has a severe behavior that is destructive or seriously counter-productive to his treatment, such as self-injury, it may be worth the risk of side effects to use medication to treat it. Likewise, when dramatic results are apparent from drug therapy, the benefits can outweigh the risks. If, on the other hand, you do not see a significant change after using a drug long enough for it to be effective or if your child's symptoms are not severe, drug therapy may not be worth the risk.
2. Address One Symptom at a Time
As of yet, there is no one drug that is used to treat autism. In fact, only one drug is approved by the FDA specifically for use in autism treatment. That drug is risperidone (sold under the brand name Risperdal), and it is used to treat behavioral problems in autistic children between the ages of 5 and 16 years old. Other drugs are used "off-label" to treat certain symptoms in children with autism as well. Antipsychotic drugs like olanzapine (sold under the brand name Zyprexa), for example, are used to treat severe behavior disturbances like aggression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine (sold as Prozac) and sertraline (sold as Zoloft), are used to treat OCD and depression. Each of these drugs has specific age limitations for safety set by the FDA.
When beginning a new medication, it's important to address only one symptom at a time and to change only one aspect of treatment at a time. This will allow you to judge the effect of the medication more accurately and determine whether it is worth continuing. If you do not notice a dramatic change in the symptom you are treating, it's probably not worth using the medication.
3. Use Drugs Only Under Medical Supervision
While psychotropic drugs can complement other therapeutic approaches for autism treatment, they can have harmful effects on the central nervous system and other parts of the body. These drugs should only be used under close medical supervision. People with autism can require lower doses of these medications than other people, because of their more sensitive nervous systems. Finding the right dosage to produce the desired effect without triggering dangerous side effects is often a matter of trial and error. Your child's dosage may be altered repeatedly before the proper one is found.
Monitoring your child's behavior for side effects is a very important part of drug therapies. If you notice increases in symptoms such as insomnia, aggression or irritability, that could be a sign that the dosage is off or that your child cannot tolerate that drug. These side effects may be apparent when beginning a new drug or may take several weeks to emerge. SSRIs carry a "black box" warning about the potential risk of increases in depression and suicidal thoughts and attempts. Consequently, if your child starts taking an SSRI, you should strictly monitor him for these dangerous side effects.
