Antipsychotics have not yet been proven to be effective in children with autism.
Antipsychotics such as chlorpromazine, thioridazine, haloperidol, and risperidone are occasionally used to treat pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) such as autism. The authors reviewed the scientific literature to determine whether these drugs are safe and effective for children with autism. In general, they found that anti-psychotics were ineffective in treating autism. They suggest that non-pharmacological interventions such as behavior modification and applied behavior analysis (ABA) be used to manage disruptive behavior instead of drugs. Moreover, risperidone should only be used in extreme situations as it can cause weight gain. They recommend that the physician consider prescribing anti-anxiety medications fluoxetine and fluvoxamine if the childâs aggression appears to be the result of anxiety.
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