Risperidone & Aripiprazole Effectively Reduce Challenging Behaviors Among Children With Autism

Children diagnosed with autism who displayed challenging behaviors experienced short-term behavior improvement after taking risperidone and aripiprazole. The evidence base is strong that the medications reduce the challenging behaviors in the short term (less than six months). However, the medications have a high risk of side effects, such as weight gain and extrapyramidal symptoms. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine improved hyperactivity; although the strength of evidence is low. Side effects of these two medications include behavior and appetite changes.

Little evidence currently exists to support the use of nutritional supplements, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, N-acetylcysteine, and tetrahydrobiopterin, or . . .