Autism Science Foundation blog on Risperdal

Autism Science Foundation co-founder Alison Singer posted yesterday on the organization's blog about an "outrageous" story on CBS News that was heavily critical of Risperdal, an anti-psychotic medication approved by the FDA to treat aggression, irritability and deliberate self-injury in autistic children. Singer writes that her middle-school age daughter has taken Risperdal for years and that

......it has been truly life changing for her. Prior to starting risperdal, she had multiple violent tantrums each day during which she would thrash on the floor and bang her head and body. We would try to hold her and calm her, but the only way these episodes would eventually end would be that she would fall asleep from exhaustion. Risperdal significantly reduced both the frequency and intensity of her outbursts. For the first time, she was able to participate in learning activities, including ABA therapy, from which she has made (and continues to make) tremendous cognitive and behavioral improvement. With risperdal, she can attend to what’s happening in school, and she can participate in age-appropriate activities, like assisting in the middle school store. Risperdal does not cure autism, but it can enable children to be physically and emotionally available to participate in therapy and other activities from which they can achieve long term benefit.

I appreciate Singer's candor in this, and that of the other parents who have commented. As I've noted before, my son has also been taking Risperdal for some years for "aggression, irritability and deliberate self-injury." The medication has not been quite as helpful for Charlie; careful teaching (primarily ABA) has also been very much of use. There are currently no studies on the long-term effects of Risperdal on children and we have been looking into other medications for Charlie (so far with not so great results, though).

Someday, we'd like for Charlie not to be on any meds, though I don't know how realistic that view is and especially while he's making his way through adolescence. Lately he's had a lot to contend with, from constant growth spurts that result in familiar clothes not fitting him anymore (and seemingly overnight) to surges of hormones and unexpected "outbursts." For a child who adapts very gradually to change and who has limited verbal ability, explaining what all these changes feel like must be a serious challenge for Charlie. It certainly is for Jim and me: We are just catching up to how quickly Charlie's feet are growing---I just ordered him a new pair of size 9 1/2 shoes. (Jim is size 10 1/2.)

And that's the point of the meds, we hope, to help Charlie be (as Singer writes) a bit more able to learn and make his days a bit easier. They're neither a cure nor magic pill but they can help some.