Pharmacology Notes from Stanford Autism Conference

I've been meaning to post this...now seems like a good time.  This is a list of well researched medications used to manage autism.  The list includes benefits and adverse effects.  I think the Naltrexone looks interesting now that they have a patch available.  Apparently, there was a huge difficulty getting anyone to take Naltrexone because it tasted so horrible.

From a lecture titled: 

"Medical Management of Autism:  What Works?" which was presented by Heidi M. Feldman, MD, PhD and Lynn C. Huffman, MD of the Stanford University Department of Pediatrics

*RISPERDONE and other atypical antispychotics

-Acceptable evidence of benefit

    *Improving core symptoms

    *Decreasing behavior problems (hyperactivity, aggression)

    *Decreasing regulatory problems (irritability)

-Adverse effects very common and limiting

    *Somnolence

    *Rhinitis, respiratory symptoms, dry mouth

    *Increased appetite, unacceptable weight gain

*NALTREXONE 

-Acceptable evidence of benefit

    *Improving core symptoms (general)

    *Decreasing behavior problems (hyperactivity)

    *Decreasing regulatory problems (irritability)

-Adverse effects

    *Sedation

    *Bitter taste, but patch now available untested

*ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (SSRI)

-Acceptable evidence of benefit

    *Improving core symptoms (repetitive behavior) 

-Adverse effects

    *Sedation

    *Dry mouth, constipation

    *Black box notice - suicidality

*ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (OTHER - ATOMOXETINE, TIANEPETINE)

-Acceptable evidence of benefit

    *Improving core symptoms (impaired social interaction)

    *Decreasing behavior problems (hyperactivity)

-Adverse effects

    *Sedation

    *Loss of appetite

    *Black box notice - suicidality

*METHYLPHENIDATE

-Acceptable evidence of benefit

    *Decreasing behavior problems (hyperactivity, aggression)

    *Decreasing regulatory problems (irritability)

-Adverse effects

    *Nervousness, insomnia

    *Increased heart rate and blood pressure

    *Loss of appetite