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Medications for Asperger's Syndrome

No specific treatment for the core symptoms of Aspergers is available, and no cure exists for the disorder. Educational and behavioral supports are the primary treatments used for chidlren with Aspergers. Psychopharmacology and other treatments may also be used to manage some of the problem behaviors associated with Aspergers. Some Aspergers children are on no medication.

In other cases, we treat specific target symptoms. One might use a stimulant for inattention and hyperactivity. An SSRI such as Paxil, Prozac or Zoloft might help with obsessions or perseveration. The SSRIs can also help associated depression and anxiety. In individuals with stereotyped movements, agitation and idiosyncratic thinking, we may use a low dose antipsychotic such as risperidone.


Comments—

We tried Abilify for my Aspergers son when he was about 16. Although it did make him a bit more comfortable and appropriate socially, it made him very groggy. The right balance of meds is very dependent on the individual. I chose to forego the social gains in favor of keeping him aware more of his involved in life. Tough call.

I've heard both from the Autism Center at the University of Washington and from our meds management PhD that Risperdal (Risperidone) is one of the few meds consistently proven effective in treating autism. It works for my son, although he must take it at bedtime to avoid the sleepiness it otherwise causes. He also takes another mood stabilizer, an SSRI antidepressant, and Straterra (a time-release form of methylphenidate) to aid in concentration. This "cocktail" doesn't resolve all his issues, but he's made tremendous progress while taking it. He's 19 now.

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My son is 8 now and has always been very unique. He has been and continues to be a very challenging child. As in the prior post my son rarely cries if at all and his emotions are typically expressed in angry outbursts. He is an avid reader and loves his computer and video games. He is extremely bright scoring in the 99th percentile nationwide. He hates homework, however and while accepted into an accelerated program at school does not exhibit the typical traits of a "gifted" child. He likes to be alone and will often complain about noise but sometimes noise seems not to bother him in the least. He speaks to others as if he were a 13 or 14 year old boy. He is often disrespectful and seems not to realize that he is offending others.


He has been prescribed Buspar and after only one day's worth of doses, was a completely different child. The medication seemed to work wonders but he complained of muscle spasms and the physician took him off and put him on Clonazepam, which seems to have done absolutely nothing at all. In fact, he complains of frequent headaches and begs not to take the medication. He prefers the Buspar despite the muscle spasms.

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While I was in the hospital for a week the doctors started me on Anafranil and Welbutran. I am curious as to how often doctors prescribe medication for Aspergers Syndrome. According to my doctor the Anafranil is used to help me think less obsessively, and the welbutran is to help cope with the depression that comes along with the social isolation. I think I can cope with Aspergers just fine, but recent circumstances caused me to get way overwhelmed with a lot of stuff causing very severe anxiety.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

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txpeach5507 said...

I can relate to the parent of the 8 year old! It sounds so much like my 7 yr old son. He has a real problem with perserveration (blaming),name calling, extreme impulsivity, and hurting feelings. He has never had a problem with empathy and know right from wrong but can't seem to stop..and we have tried everything: time out, counsiling, spanking, ABA,pos. And neg. Consequences and numerous behavior charts. What gets me is, he is a perfect student and has no problems at school! If he can control himself in school, why can't he do it at home?? I am very reluctant to put him on meds. But I also want to do whatever it takes to help him

My child has been rejected by his peers, ridiculed and bullied !!!

Social rejection has devastating effects in many areas of functioning. Because the ASD child tends to internalize how others treat him, rejection damages self-esteem and often causes anxiety and depression. As the child feels worse about himself and becomes more anxious and depressed – he performs worse, socially and intellectually.

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How to Prevent Meltdowns in Children on the Spectrum

Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's or HFA child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and your child are totally exhausted. But... don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next - the meltdown can return in full force.

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Parenting Defiant Teens on the Spectrum

Although Aspergers [high-functioning autism] is at the milder end of the autism spectrum, the challenges parents face when disciplining a teenager on the spectrum are more difficult than they would be with an average teen. Complicated by defiant behavior, the teen is at risk for even greater difficulties on multiple levels – unless the parents’ disciplinary techniques are tailored to their child's special needs.

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Older Teens and Young Adult Children with ASD Still Living At Home

Your older teenager or young “adult child” isn’t sure what to do, and he is asking you for money every few days. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent? Parents of teens with ASD face many problems that other parents do not. Time is running out for teaching their adolescent how to become an independent adult. As one mother put it, "There's so little time, yet so much left to do."

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Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism

Two traits often found in kids with High-Functioning Autism are “mind-blindness” (i.e., the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and “alexithymia” (i.e., the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in others). These two traits reduce the youngster’s ability to empathize with peers. As a result, he or she may be perceived by adults and other children as selfish, insensitive and uncaring.

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to read the full article...

Highly Effective Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children with Asperger's and HFA

Become an expert in helping your child cope with his or her “out-of-control” emotions, inability to make and keep friends, stress, anger, thinking errors, and resistance to change.

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