Autism Treatments.

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

ATTENTION MODS:
I am not
asking for medical advice!!

Are there any medication-based treatments or cures for autism?

[picunurse]

The simple answer is, no. There is a ton of valid research being done. Check Med-Line, especially the research being done at NIH.

[Schuyler]

@picunurse

The simple answer is, no. There is a ton of valid research being done. Check Med-Line, especially the research being done at NIH.

The less-simple answer is also no.

I am not a doctor, so the stuff quoted below is from a book geared to lay-people - “A Parent’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism.” From pages 97-98 (emphasis mine):

Although there are no medications that can “cure” autism, appropriate use of medication can often increase the quality of life for both the child and the family. Medications can improve the child’s ability to benefit from other forms of treatment and releive significant distress for the affected person and those around him or her. For example, appropriate medical management of hyperactivity can help a child focus better at school and thus enhanve the positive effects of the educational help provided. Similarly, easing social anxiety or reducing negative feelings about the self through medication can permit someone with AS-HFA [Asperger Syndrome - High-Functioning Autism] to participate in and benefit from a social skills group.

A couple of pages later, on page 100 (again, emphasis mine):

In no case (referring to double-blind randomized studies), however, did these medications “cure” or even significantly improve the core symptoms of autism, such as social difficulties or communication oddities. Typically, they addressed other problems, such as severe aggression, compulsive behaviors, or mood problems.

The point of the above is that autism is sometimes found with other conditions - and the other conditions can be improved with medication. Hope that helps.

[35340]

No, but there are a lot of quacks out there trying to ‘cure’ it with chelation therapy.

autismdiva.blogspot.com

search the blog for ‘chelation’.

[MissGypsy]

While there are no medications that have been proven to cure autism, one was approved by the FDA last month to treat some symptoms of autism. Here’s the link: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01485.html