There is currently no medication for autism that can cure this mental disorder. Still, certain medications can help mitigate some of the symptoms that prohibit the development of physical and mental skills that many teens living with autism require to lead a happy and productive life. Medication management can mitigate the symptoms and allow your child to focus on their development.
At Camp Worth, we understand the benefits that treating autism with medication and behavior therapy can have on your teen’s development. The proper medication management will complement their therapy, not replace it. If you have questions about which medications are suitable for your teen, call 855.915.2545 to speak with one of our caring therapists about medication for autism.
Medication Management for Autism
Certain medications help ease some of the symptoms associated with autism, like irritability, depression, and bipolar disorder. At Camp Worth, we value real change that starts with autism behavior therapy and will only use medication to assist in your teen’s development.
Medication management can be instrumental in controlling some of the more disruptive and harmful behaviors that get in the way of your teen’s therapy. During your child’s time with us, medication therapy may be necessary to help with their behavior. We only use the best-known medication treatment available for autism.
ADHD Medications
Nearly half of all children with autism have some form of ADHD, making these medications useful in treating some teens. There are two types of ADHD medications to help children with autism: stimulants, like Ritalin and Adderall, and non-stimulants, like Strattera and Intuniv. These medications have been shown to help with concentration and decreased hyperactivity.
Antidepressants and Anti-Anxiety Medications
Negative behavior can hinder your teen’s chances of learning the functional skills needed for a happy and healthy life. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help with depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Zoloft and Prozac are SSRIs that are useful in treating teens with autism.
Atypical Antipsychotic Medications
These drugs can help reduce autism-related irritability, decrease anxiety, improve impulse control, and limit mood swings. Risperidone and Abilify are the only FDA-approved drugs to treat autism.
At Camp Worth, our method of finding the right medication therapy for your teen is through pharmacogenomics testing. It is a simple mouth swab and allows us to effectively prescribe medication that will best help your teen the first time. Our medical staff is on-site and will continuously monitor your child’s medication and update as needed to support your child better.
Benefits of Treating Autism with Medication Therapy
With the proper medication management for your teen, they can thrive under medication therapy. They can begin to learn the functional skills and social skills they need now that they can focus on their therapy with the intent of no longer needing the medication once they can handle their symptoms on their own.
Medication therapy can be beneficial in multiple areas, such as:
- Improved mood
- Fewer irrational outbursts
- Better mental focus
- Decreased hyperactivity
- Fewer harmful thoughts
- Decreased anger
Also, if your child has seizures, we use anti-epileptic drugs such as valproate, lamotrigine, and levetiracetam to reduce the risks of seizures which are tolerable for most teens living with autism.
Learn More About Medication Management for Autism at Camp Worth
Medical staff is on-site to help support your teen’s medication therapy. It can be a tough task to properly manage your child’s medication and knowing which ones will benefit them the most.
At Camp Worth, our medical staff uses your child’s DNA to help determine which medications will benefit them the most and allows for more accurate dosage. If your teen can benefit from medication therapy to help ease some of their symptoms of autism, call 855.915.2545 today to learn more about our medication therapy and how it can help your teen.
