Knowing which medication to give your teen living with autism can significantly improve their lives by reducing their autism symptoms. If you are not giving them the right medication or dosage, it can hinder their progress and negatively affect their health. To better understand the relationship between stimulants, ADHD, and autism, a medication management program can help with your teen son or daughter’s medication requirements.
At Camp Worth, our medical staff will work with your teen’s behavioral therapists to provide the right medication for your child’s unique symptoms and severity of autism. There are many options for medication that include stimulants that are typical for treating ADHD, and incorrect dosage can make their lives more difficult. If you need help with your teen’s medication, fill out our online form or call 855.915.2545 today to learn more about the relationship between stimulants, ADHD, and autism and our medication management program.
How Do Stimulants Affect Teens with Autism?
Stimulants can improve a teen’s autism symptoms by 80% when administered in the correct dosages. They substantially improve core autism symptoms that can affect concentration, help complete tasks on time, and curb impulsive behavior. By reducing ADHD symptoms, your teen living with autism will see improvements in several areas, such as:
- Improved reading and writing skills
- Enhanced concentration at home and school
- Increased confidence in social situations
- Greater chance at living an independent life
A medication management program can benefit you and your teen by helping to find the right amounts through trial and error. You can rely on a medical management program to safely find the right combination of medications with fewer risks of adverse side effects. The goal is to find the right mix that has the best results for your child with minimal to zero side effects.
At Camp Worth, we understand the delicate balance between stimulants, ADHD, and autism. Our medication management program can help find your teen’s right mix of stimulant and non-stimulant medications. The more effective your child’s medication is for their unique symptoms, the better their chances of leading an independent life.
Stimulant Medication for Your Teen Living with Autism
The Federal Drug and Food Administration (FDA) has approved several types of stimulant and non-stimulant medication for children with autism. Since autism has so many unique symptoms, not all medications will act the same for your teen. It is vital for your child’s well-being that you work with medical professionals to find the right medication and dosage to receive the maximum benefit with minimal side effects.
Stimulants used to treat autism and ADHD include:
- Adderall
- Dexedrine
- Focalin
- Vyvanse
- Ritalin
These drugs help improve attention, memory, self-control, motor skills, decrease impulsive behavior, and much more.
Getting the proper dosage will help minimize any side effects from stimulants that include:
- Decrease in appetite
- Headaches
- Weight loss
- Anxiety
- Agitation and moodiness
Non-stimulant medications to treat autism include:
- Strattera
- Kapvay
- Intuniv
Non-stimulant medication will help decrease impulsivity and aggression, reduce Tourette’s disorder symptoms, improve behavior at home and in social settings, and increase attention span.
Negative side effects of the non-stimulant medication include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Rash
- Changes in blood pressure
Programs at Camp Worth
At Camp Worth, we help teen boys and girls aged 11-17 living with autism. Our medication management program will help improve your child’s life and give them the greatest chances at leading an independent life.
We include a wide range of therapy options that include:
- Recreational therapy
- Family counseling
- Social skills group
- Functional skills training
- Functional communication training
- Individual therapy
Understand the Relationship Between Stimulants, ADHD, and Autism at Camp Worth
On top of our medication management program, our Camp Worth team provides education programs, parent training, and food and nutrition programs. To learn more about stimulants, ADHD, and autism, call 855.915.2545 or complete our online form today to see how we can enhance your child’s life.