A new study from the journal Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, indicated that while medication is often used to treat children with autism, “strikingly little evidence” exists to support the approach. That conclusion stems from an analysis of 10 years worth of studies on the use of antipsychotics and other drugs in treating children with autism.“Most of the medical interventions that are currently being applied for children with ASDs have insufficient strength of evidence to evaluate either their potential benefit or adverse effects,” wrote researchers from Vanderbilt University.
The strongest evidence in support of the use of medication for kids who have autism comes from studies funded by pharmaceutical companies who stand to profit, the review found. However, two drugs did stand out in the analysis. Studies suggest that risperidone and aripiprazole, both help to counteract challenging behaviors. But, it must also be noted that the drugs carried significant side effects — such as weight gain and drowsiness — making them useful to only those with the most extreme symptoms. Also, a look at the the use of secretin to treat autism-related gastrointestinal issues suggests the approach is ineffective and does not warrant further research.
This study sheds more light on the companies and medical personnel who are trying to sell a simple solution for the complex problem that is autism. As has been mentioned in prior posts much like the autism spectrum with its many facets and caveats, the treatments that work for any individual child and the ways in which they work are always different.
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