Medication Treatment of ADHD Symptoms in Autistic Children

Autistics often have symptoms of ADHD. These symptoms are often treated with medication. About 15% of autistic children take psychostimulants or atomoxetine (Rosenberg et al, 2010). Stimulants are proven to be effective for ADHD in non-autistic children. Whether the same holds true for autistics, however, had not been systematically researched until now. Reichow, Volkmar & Bloch (2013) examined seven randomized, double=blind, placebo-controlled studies comparing methylphenidate, clonidine or atomoxetine to placebo in children with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD symptoms. Four trials were found for methylphenidate, two for atomoxetine and one for clonidine.

According to Reichow et al. (2013), methylphenidate was found to be effective for ADHD symptoms in autistic children. The effectiveness was slightly lower than it is for typically developing children with ADHD but still statistically significant. There was a greater risk of side effects in autistics, particularly for irritability, depression and withdrawal. The risk for common side effects such as insomnia and decreased appetite was similar to that found in typically developing children. One of the studies involved preschool children, and it was recommended by Reichow et al. after reviewing this study that methylphenidate-taking preschoolers with autis be closely monitored due to increased adverse events.

Clonidine and atomoxetine both showed moderate but not statistically significant effectiveness in autistic children (Reichow et al., 2013). These medications warrant further study, also given the fact that only one or two studies were found that met the inclusion criteria for a systematic review.

References

Reichow B, Volkmar FR, & Bloch MH (2013), Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Pharmacological Treatment of the Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children with Pervasive Developmenetal Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(10):2435-2441. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1793-z.

Rosenberg R, Mandell BS, Farmer JE, Law JK, Marvin AR, & Law PA (2010). Psychotropic Medication Use among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Enrolled in a National Registry, 2007-2008. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(3):342-351. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-009-0878-1.

Autism, Special Interests, and Elevated Moods

Many years ago, I read an article on Suite101 or About.com or the like that discussed similarities between Asperger's Syndrome and bipolar disorder. The parent who wrote the article described her son's mood swings from elated to depressed. However, she realized that these mood swings were related to whether the son could engage in some special interest.

I find the same thing happen to me, but in my case, it also ties in with the dissociative or emotion dysregulation symptoms. I find that when I'm in a particular personality state, I engage in a certain special interest a lot more than when I'm in another state. For example, Clarissa is my blogger part, who is behind most of the posts on this blog. Annemiek is my crafter. And I at this point can't think of anyone else.

Getting back to mood swings, I must say that I get very elated when I engage in a particular interest for a certain period of time. I uttered the phrase that I would've been manic if I experienced this (mania) at all. In a way, this is extremely inappropriate and comparable to when a currently mentally healthy person talks about "going all OCD". I in no way want to say I suffer from bipolar (hypo)mania, but these mood swings do get problematic at times.

For example, last night I didn't sleep at all. I spent around $80 on useless online services without even bothering to read the not-so-fine print that clearly said these services would not be working for me. I actually took a PRN Phenergan at 2:00 AM, before I went ont he shopping spree, but swung right through it. Phenergan, for those not familiar with it, is a strong tranquilizer or low-potency neuroleptic. I'm now relatively calm again, so again I in no way mean to compare myself to people who have these experiences for weeks on end, but I do see actually how this could become a problem.

So, should autism parents limit their children's special interests in order to prvent this from happening. I don't think this is universally the case, but parents must teach their children about time and money management. I, having been pretty stingy as a child and teen, never really had to learn about this. I always had enough money on my hands anyway. I actually must say I have no clue about budgeting, and really don't know whether I need to learn it yet. I guess so.

To Medicate or Not to Medicate?

Yesterday, I was searching for autism bblogs and stumbled across Pam Byrne's blog. In one of her latest posts, she writes about her son's increasing and then decreasing behavior problems. One of the things that stuck out to me was the tough choice Pam made to medicate Alex.

Back when I first learned aobut autism, it was through Autistics.org and other autistic advocacy sites. I was a firm opponent of medicating for behavioral control, believing that an autistic child or adult should be helped with proper supports, not dulling meds. Particularly neuroleptics (antipsychotics) can cause severe cognitive dulling and other side effects with autistics, so I reasoned one should stay away from those especially.

That was in like 2006 to early 2007. In July of 2007, however, I was about to move to a new city and into independent living. I was having terrible meltdowns related to this. My community psychiatric nurse suggested a psychiatrist's consulttion, and I agreed. The psychiatirst listened to my story and thought for a bit. Then she started to describe what she thought medication should do for me, and I paged my inner pharma encyclopedia to find out what she might be thinking of prescribing. She suggested Risperdal, an antypical antipsychotic. I had little opportunity to change my situation in any other way - the move, that was one of the worst moves in my life, had already been scheduled for the next week -, so I felt I had no other choice but to consent to the medication.

This was a bad choice: I had quite serious side effects that weren't being taken seriously, and the med was used to dull me into submission when in fact living on my own was not suitable for me. I tapered myself off the Risperdal two months into my new living situation. Three weeks later, I landed in a psychiatric crisis tht led to hospitalization.

The psychiatrist who admitted me into the hospital recognized the need for better supports rather than medication. I agreed and was med-free apart from a PRN tranqilizer now and then for over two years.

However, supports have their limits. Especially in a society that relies on massive budget cuts, it's not like you can actually get perfect supports. I at least can't. Also, I have always wondered whether medication could somehow help me reduce the overlaod that is actually quite inherent in my experience of autism. Medication should not be used to manage behavior in an unsuitable situation, but what if one's support situation is as suitable as can be? Could meds actually calm the autistic mind when it is nonsituationally unquiet?

I asked to be put back on meds in early 2010. The medication suggested by my psychiatrist this time was Abilify, another atypical antipsychotic. And to be quite honest, I like it. I started at a very lwo dose, which had to be increased three times. Not always did I agree to this, in the sense that on occasion I've felt that supports could've been improved, but they won't whether I'm on meds or not. I have minimal side effects even on a pretty high dose of Abilify, and I can tell, three weeks after my l ast increase, that I'm happier this way. So is Pam's Alex. Of course, with a child or non-communicative or intellectualy disabled adult, it's harder to tell whether the person is truly happier than with a person like myself, who can communicate reasonably well. This is why I still advocate taking proper care when thinking of putting a child or communicatively impaired or intellectually disabled adult on an antipsychotic. These meds do dull cognition, and it can't be known in these cases whether the person is truly less irritable. I strongly oppose the idea that this is not important, except when a person is severely aggressive or self-destructive. In cases other than this, a person should only be put on meds if they'll actually be feeling better. I do, and going on Abilify was therefore one of the better decisions I've made in my life.