( ers were only able to look at how well ...)Antipsychotic Drug Controls Some Symptoms in Autism Disorder,Health

ers were only able to look at how well the patients responded for the three specific symptoms of irritability, repetitive movement and social withdrawal.

In addition to weight gain, significant side effects included involuntary muscle movements. As the studies were of short duration, long-term side effects and usefulness remain unknown. Since risperidone does not cure the disorder and may have to be continued for a long period of time, this is an important missing piece.

Susan Levy, M.D., director of the Regional Autism Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said that the authors’ weak support for the medication in the conclusion surprised her.

“The researchers seemed to be lukewarm towards their positive findings,” said Levy, who was not involved with the study. “From my personal experience, this medication can be quite helpful for behavioral difficulties.”

The Cochrane reviewers and Levy stress that parents and caregivers should be careful about expecting too much from the medication when talking about this treatment with their doctors. Not all behavioral problems can be helped with risperidone and both side effects and improvements from the drug should be considered.

“As ASD is diagnosed at a young age and these short trials lack long-term data, parents or caregivers need to be aware it is not known how long the medication needs to be continued — potentially for a lifetime,” the researchers said. “This is particularly important given the side effects.”

Levy termed risperidone “a more serious medication” that she would reserve for more serious difficulties.

“It needs to be stressed to the parents and others that this is not a cure for autism or for the core symptoms of ASD,” Levy said. “But it works well for some of the associated problems.” Source-Newswise
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