Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychotropic Medications in Autism: Practical Considerations for Parents

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Medications are widely prescribed in children with autism spectrum disorders. Most commonly these medications are used to decrease symptoms that fall under three main clusters: irritability, ADHD-like symptoms, and repetitive behaviors. In this guide we introduce basic approaches to medications in children with autism and review the scientific evidence in each symptom cluster.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aman, M. G., McDougle, C. J., Scahill, L., Handen, B., Arnold, L. E., Johnson, C., Wagner, A. (2009). Medication and parent training in children with pervasive developmental disorders and serious behavior problems: Results from a randomized clinical trial. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

  • Belsito, K. M., Law, P. A., Kirk, K. S., Landa, R. J., & Zimmerman, A. W. (2001). Lamotrigine therapy for autistic disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(2), 175–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Correll, C. U., Manu, P., Olshanskiy, V., Napolitano, B., Kane, J. M., & Malhotra, A. K. (2009). Cardiometabolic risk of second-generation antipsychotic medications during first-time use in children and adolescents. Journal of American Medical Association, 302(16), 1765–1773.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hellings, J. A., Weckbaugh, M., Nickel, E. J., Cain, S. E., Zarcone, J. R., Reese, R. M., et al. (2005). A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of valproate for aggression in youth with pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 15(4), 682–692.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollander, E., Chaplin, W., Soorya, L., Wasserman, S., Novotny, S., Rusoff, J., Anagnostou, E. (2009). Divalproex sodium vs placebo for the treatment of irritability in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology. Advance online publication, December 9, 2009.

  • King, B. H., Hollander, E., Sikich, L., McCracken, J. T., Scahill, L., Bregman, J. D., et al. (2009). Lack of efficacy of citalopram in children with autism spectrum disorders and high levels of repetitive behavior: Citalopram ineffective in children with autism. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66(6), 583–590.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marcus, R. N., Owen, R., Kamen, L., Manos, G., McQuade, R. D., Carson, W. H., et al. (2009). A placebo-controlled, fixed-dose study of aripiprazole in children and adolescents with irritability associated with autistic disorder. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48(11), 1110–1119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCracken, J. T., McGough, J., Shah, B., Cronin, P., Hong, D., Aman, M. G., et al. (2002). Risperidone in children with autism and serious behavioral problems. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(5), 314–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDougle, C. J., Stigler, K. A., & Posey, D. J. (2003). Treatment of aggression in children and adolescents with autism and conduct disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64(Suppl 4), 16–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, R., Sikich, L., Marcus, R. N., Corey-Lisle, P., Manos, G., McQuade, R. D., et al. (2009). Aripiprazole in the treatment of irritability in children and adolescents with autistic disorder. Pediatricsm, 124(6), 1533–1540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology Autism Network. (2005). Randomized, controlled, crossover trial of methylphenidate in pervasive developmental disorders with hyperactivity. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(11), 1266–1274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scahill, L., Aman, M. G., McDougle, C. J., McCracken, J. T., Tierney, E., Dziura, J., et al. (2006). A prospective open trial of guanfacine in children with pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 16(5), 589–598.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J., Illes, J., Lazzeroni, L., & Hallmayer, J. (2009). Trends in US autism research funding. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(5), 788–795.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stigler, K. A., Desmond, L. A., Posey, D. J., Wiegand, R. E., & McDougle, C. J. (2004). A naturalistic retrospective analysis of psychostimulants in pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 14, 49–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, K. W., Wray, J. J., & Wheeler, D. M. (2005). Intravenous secretion for autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews, 3, CD003495.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Edwin D. Williamson

  2. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Andres Martin

Authors
  1. Edwin D. Williamson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andres Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edwin D. Williamson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williamson, E.D., Martin, A. Psychotropic Medications in Autism: Practical Considerations for Parents. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1249–1255 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1144-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1144-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation