Medications and ASD

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological developmental condition affecting social interaction, communication, behavior, and learning. There are currently no medications approved by the FDA to specifically treat autism, meaning physicians rely on medications approved to treat other conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For individuals with ASD who exhibit sudden behavioral dysregulation and outbursts, antipsychotics such risperidone  (Risperdal) and aripiprazole (Abilify) may be prescribed. For anxiety and restrictive repetitive behaviors, fluoxetine (Prozac), may be prescribed. For attention deficit behaviors, stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) or dextroamphetamine (Adderall) may be prescribed. So why aren’t there any new and inventive medications being developed that specifically treat ASD?

The answer to that is multifaceted and complex, however, it is based on the concept that ASD is highly heterogenous, which means it lacks a single, unified biological cause. Additionally, ASD seems to affect social functioning and communication in a way we aren’t able to treat pharmacologically the way we are for other pathologies. For example, one symptom of autism related to social communication deficits may be the way someone engages in highly literal, or “black and white” thinking. For this person, learning figurative language such as idioms and metaphors may not be intuitive for them the way it is for other people. Or, they may not intuitively pick up on something like facial expressions or other social cues as easily as their typically developing peers. This prompts the questions—  what can be done from a pharmacological perspective to help alleviate these, and other, types of durable and persistent deficits associated with autism if there is no unified biological cause?

Currently, medication intervention methods focus on treating behavioral challenges that arise due to irritability, frustration, confusion, and despair that stems from the social and developmental challenges people on the autism spectrum experience. This may manifest behaviorally as verbal or physical aggression, socially unacceptable behaviors, withdrawal due to depression, refusal behaviors, or impulsive behaviors, to name a few. In this way, medication is meant to treat the challenging symptoms associated with having autism, not autism itself.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Miren Behavior does not recommend or prescribe any specific medications.