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Pharmacological Management
of Autism Spectrum
Disorders
Lightin the Way 2018
David Ermer Md
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Pharmacotherapy common in
Autism Spectrum iIlnesses (ASDs)
◼ 45% of children and adolescents with ASDs
treated with psychotropic medications
◼ 75% of adults with ASDs treated with
psychotropic medications
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Research into Psychotropic
Medications in ASD’s is Relatively
New◼ Before 2006 there were no FDA approved
medications for use in Autism
◼ With the increased incidence of ASDs being
reported, there is increased interest from the
pharmaceutical industry
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Treatment Strategies for
Pharmacologic Intervention
◼ Pharmacologic treatments are available and
significantly beneficial
◼ Educational and behavioral supports are the
mainstays of treatment
◼ It is essential to integrate behavioral and
pharmacologic treatments
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Realistic Expectations Must be Set
◼ Expectation that symptoms remit more quickly
with pharmacologic treatment over behavioral
treatments
◼ Expectation that response will be more
complete with pharmacologic treatments
◼ “magic bullets”
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Must Optimize Environment
◼ Evaluate school setting
◼ Work with caregivers on home environment
◼ Pharmacologic strategies ineffective in
unsupportive and inadequate environments
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Parental Collaboration is Essential
◼ Monitor patient and provide information to
provider
◼ Administer medication
◼ Observe side effects
◼ Note emotional and behavioral effects
◼ Collaborate their information with school
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Focus on Symptom Clusters
◼ Most of the core symptoms are likely to remain
◼ Must focus on specific measurable symptoms
◼ The clinician’s goal is a reduction in the specific symptoms that interfere with functioning
◼ Unlikely that medications will improve skills
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Side Effects
◼ Side effects are more likely for all medicines
used in autism spectrum disorders; greater
variety and rate due to atypical sensory world
◼ May find even minor side effects impossible to
tolerate
◼ They may be less likely to report side effects
◼ Highly concrete patients may need to be asked
about specific side effects
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Data Collection is Essential
◼ First must pick realistic measurable target
symptoms
◼ Must then collect baseline data for target
symptoms
◼ Then collect data
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Target Symptoms for Psychotropic
Medications in ASDs
◼ ADHD-Like Symptoms
◼ Aggression, irritability, and self-injurious
behaviors
◼ Repetitive Behaviors
◼ Deficits in Social Behaviors
◼ Sleep Issues
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Medications For ADHD Like
Symptoms
◼ Stimulants
◼ Atomoxetine
◼ Alpha 2 Adrenergic Agonists
◼ Tricyclic antidepressants
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Stimulants
Methylphenidate
◼ Ritalin: short acting lasting 3-5 hours
◼ Concerta: longer acting lasting 10-12 hours,
capsules cannot be broken
◼ Ritalin LA, Metadate CD: Longer acting 8-10
hours, capsules can be broken and ingrediants
sprinkled
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Stimulants
Dexmethylphenidate
◼ Focalin: Short acting 4-6 hours
◼ Focalin XR: 8-10 hours, can be sprinkled
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Stimulants
Amphetamines
◼ Dextroamphetamine: Dexedrine lasts about 4-6
hours
◼ Amphetamine salts: Adderall lasts 4-6 hours,
Adderall XR lasts 10-12 hours and can be
sprinkled
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Stimulants
Lisdexamfetamine
◼ Vyvanse: lasts 10-12 hours, can be sprinkled,
possible less abuse potential
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Stimulants
◼ Benefits within an hour of administration
◼ Schedule II drug so have abuse potential
◼ Dosed based on response versus side effects
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Stimulants
Side Effects
◼ Appetite suppression: most frequent side effect
◼ Insomnia
◼ Irritability
◼ Worsening tics
◼ Social withdrawal
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Atomoxetine (Strattera)
◼ Takes several weeks for maximum benefit
◼ Dosing up to 1.4mg per kg
◼ Side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms,
fatigue, decreased appetite
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Alpha II Adrenergic Agonists
◼ Clonidine: May take several weeks for maximum
benefit, 2 to 4 times/day dosing, side effects
include sedation, dizziness
◼ Guanfacine: Tenex less sedating, 2x day dosing
◼ Intuniv: new sustained release form of
guanfacine, once a day, benefits measureable
until next morning
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Tricyclic Antidepressants
◼ Imipramine, Nortriptyline: effective but have
fallen out of favor due to side effects and need
for Blood level monitoring and cardiac
monitoring
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Medication for Irritability,
Aggression
◼ Atypical Antipsychotics
◼ Risperidone (Risperdal) and Aripiprazole
(Abilify) FDA approved for use in autism
◼ Side effect include significant weight gain,
sedation, Increased prolactin for risperdal,
abnormal movements
◼ Must monitor serum lipids and blood sugars
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Other Atypical Antipsychotics not
FDA Approved
◼ Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Quetiapine (Seroquel),
Ziprasadone (Geodon)
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Medications for Repetitive Behaviors
◼ Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors:
fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft),
citalopram (Celexa), fluvoxamine (Luvox),
escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil)
◼ Clomipramine (Anafranil): tricyclic
antidepressant effective but with more side
effects
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors
◼ Potential Improvements in anxiety, repetitive
behaviors, irritability, depression, transition
difficulties
◼ Potential adverse effects: nausea, drowsiness,
agitation, abdominal discomfort, behavioral
activation, sexual dysfunction, suicidal thinking
◼ Take several weeks for maximum benefit
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Newer Medications?
◼ Many neurotrasmitters being studied
◼ 2 Drugs designated FDA “Fast Track” status for
core symptoms: Balovaptan (vasopressin
receptor blocker) and L-79 (tyrosine hydroxylase
inhibitor)
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Neurotransmitter Targets
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Deficits in Social Behavior
New Study Area
◼ Preliminary studies suggest that medication that
impact glutamate neurotransmitter system may
help core communication and social deficits
◼ D-Cycloserine: well tolerated, minimal response
◼ Memantine (Namenda): Preliminary studies
suggest some behavior side effects,
improvement in social withdrawal and
communication
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Insomnia
◼ Clonidine 20 minutes before bedtime, .05 to 0.2
mg
◼ Melatonin 20 minutes before bedtime, 1-6 mg
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Other Medication
◼ Lithium for mood instability, bipolar disorder
◼ Antiepileptics, valproic acid, carbamezapine,
lamotragine etc for bipolar disorder
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Complimentary or Alternative
Medicine (CAM)
◼ 50-75% children with autism treated with CAM
◼ Very little research on efficacy or side effects
◼ Secretin is most studied and found to be ineffective
◼ Naltrexone ineffective
◼ Vitamins or nutrional supplements well tolerated but
unstudied
◼ Melatonin has moved from CAM to mainstream
medicine due to improvement demonstrated on well
designed studies
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With CAM, Seek More Information
In the Following Situations
◼ Treatments that are based on overly simplified scientific theories
◼ Therapies that claimed to be effective for multiple different unrelated conditions or symptoms
◼ Claims that children will respond dramatically and some will be cured
◼ Use of case reports or anecdotal data
◼ Lack of peer reviewed references
◼ Treatments that are said to have no potential or reported adverse effects
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Challenges in using Medication
◼ Unclear Diagnosis
◼ Symptoms that span a range of diagnoses
◼ Comorbid medical diagnosis
◼ Limited research
◼ Higher rates of side effects
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First, DO NO HARM
◼ Weigh risks and benefits
◼ Closely monitor for side effects
◼ Discontinue if no clear benefit
◼ Periodically attempt a taper