What
Medications are Available?
No medication can correct the brain
structures or impaired nerve connections
that seem to underlie autism.
Scientists have found, however, that
drugs developed to treat other disorders
with similar symptoms are sometimes
effective in treating the symptoms
and behaviors that make it hard for
people with autism to function at
home, school, or work. It is important
to note that none of the medications
described in this section has been
approved for autism by the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA
is the Federal agency that authorizes
the use of drugs for specific disorders.
Medications
used to treat anxiety and depression
are being explored as a way to relieve
certain symptoms
of autism. These drugs include
fluoxetine (Prozac™), fluvoxamine
(Luvox™), sertraline (Zoloft™),
and clomipramine (Anafranil™).
Some scientists believe that autism
and these disorders may share a problem
in the functioning of the neurotransmitter
serotonin, which these medications
apparently help.
One
study found that about 60 percent
of patients with autism who used fluoxetine
became less distraught and aggressive.
They became calmer and better able
to handle changes in their routine
or environment. However, fenfluramine,
another medication that affects serotonin
levels, has not proven to be helpful.
People
with an anxiety disorder called obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), like people with autism,
are plagued by repetitive actions
they can't control. Based on the premise
that the two disorders may be related,
one NIMH research study found that
clomipramine, a medication used to
treat OCD, does appear to be effective
in reducing obsessive, repetitive
behavior in some people with autism.
Children with autism who were given
the medication also seemed less withdrawn,
angry, and anxious. But more research
needs to be done to see if the findings
of this study can be repeated.
Some
children with autism experience hyperactivity,
the frenzied activity that is seen
in people with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). Since stimulant drugs
like Ritalin™ are helpful in
treating many people with ADHD, doctors
have tried them to reduce the hyperactivity
sometimes seen in autism. The drugs
seem to be most effective when given
to higher-functioning children with
autism who do not have seizures or
other neurological problems.
Because
many children
with autism have sensory disturbances
and often seem impervious to pain,
scientists are also looking for medications
that increase or decrease the transmission
of physical sensations. Endorphins
are natural painkillers produced by
the body. But in certain people with
autism, the endorphins seem to go
too far in suppressing feeling. Scientists
are exploring substances that block
the effects of endorphins, to see
if they can bring the sense of touch
to a more normal range. Such drugs
may be helpful to children who experience
too little sensation. And once they
can sense pain, such children could
be less likely to bite themselves,
bang their heads, or hurt themselves
in other ways.
Chlorpromazine,
theoridazine, and haloperidol have
also been used. Although these powerful
drugs are typically used to treat
adults with severe psychiatric disorders,
they are sometimes given to people
with autism to temporarily reduce
agitation, aggression, and repetitive
behaviors. However, since major tranquilizers
are powerful medications that can
produce serious and sometimes permanent
side effects, they should be prescribed
and used with extreme caution.
Vitamin
B6, taken with magnesium, is also
being explored as a way to stimulate
brain activity. Because vitamin B6
plays an important role in creating
enzymes needed by the brain, some
experts predict that large doses might
foster greater brain activity in people
with autism. However, clinical studies
of the vitamin have been inconclusive
and further study is needed.
Like
drugs, vitamins change the balance
of chemicals in the body and may cause
unwanted side effects. For this reason,
large doses of vitamins should only
be given under the supervision of
a doctor. This is true of all vitamins
and medications.
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