Health Buzz: An Ineffective Autism Treatment and Other Health News

Health Buzz: An Ineffective Autism Treatment and Other Health News

June 2nd, 2009 by Valerie Chavez

Trial Shows Autism Treatment Ineffective

The antidepressant Celexa, often prescribed for children with autism, doesn't lessen the repetitive behaviors that are characteristic of the disorder, the Wall Street Journal reports. A government-funded study of 149 children with autism and similar disorders, published in Monday's Archives of General Psychiatry, found participants who received Celexa had no more benefit than children who received a placebo. A good autism treatment should improve behavior significantly in more than 50 percent of kids, study author Lawrence Scahill told the Journal. Antidepressants,
shown to be effective in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder
who repeat behaviors, haven't been thoroughly researched in children
with autism. This study is the first to show the drugs do not help
relieve repetitive behaviors of autism, which can include movement
symptoms like rocking, swaying, or arm-flapping.














In April, U.S. News's Nancy Shute reported on 4 promising autism treatments, from vitamin B12 to the Alzheimer's drug Namenda. Research released a few months ago found a genetic link to autism; learn what that finding means for parents of autistic children.

LINK: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2009/06/02/health-buzz-an-ineffective-autism-treatment-and-other-health-news.html

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  • Samantha

    i take 10mg of lexapro, i've been told by a psychologist that celexa has side effects. I think that you should definitely get your child checked out by both medical physician and mental health professional before going into any drug studies with anyone with any type of autism. I take lexapro for depression and anxiety, not for handflapping or obsessive compulsive disorders.

    15 months ago

  • Margaret

    I was on and off Celexa from fall of 2001 until around spring of 2006. I was initially perscribed it for depression.  I kept going off it because it caused weight gain. Then in November of 2006 I was hospitalized for two weeks when I had my first, and hopefully last, bipolar episode. I am now on Seroquel, Apo-Divalproex and Apo-Ranitidine. Unfortunately these too cause weight gain. But going without them is not an option for me anymore because I'm absolutely terrified by the thought of having another episode and going back into the hospital.

    15 months ago

  • Allyson

    very helpful!

    12 months ago

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