Research summaries for autism therapy: Catapres - Duraclon (clonidine)

definition of Catapres - Duraclon (clonidine): Catapres® (generic name clonidine) is usually prescribed to treat high blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and reducing cardiac output. It has also been used to help alcohol withdrawal, tobacco smoking withdrawal, and diabetic diarrhea. It has been prescribed off-label in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Tourette’s Syndrome. Catapres is available as tablets and transdermal patches. Duraclon® is in the form of epidural injections, which are made directly into the nervous system through the spine. It is primarily limited to relief of severe pain, as in cancer patients.

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Children with autism often have sleep problems, and therapies such as behavior therapy (applied behavior analysis [ABA]) and melatonin may be helpful in treating these sleep problems.

The goals of this study were to see what types of children with autism also have sleep problems and to see how often parents of children with autism reported sleep problems. More than half of children with autism have parents who reported sleep problems. The study showed that many children with autism have sleep problems and that sleep problems are worse in children with more severe autism. Children who were on drugs (melatonin, clonidine, and diphenhydramine) to treat sleep problems had greater sleep problems than children who did not seek treatment.... Read more...

Some medications may improve attention spans and decrease hyperactivity in people with autism.

The author describes clinical trials of drug therapies in autism. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are both used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These drugs may also help treat ADHD-like symptoms in people with autism. In autism, methylphenidate may work better for hyperactivity, and atomoxetine may work better for attention deficits. Other drug therapies may be helpful for ADHD-like symptoms in autism. Haloperidol, risperidone, clonidine, guanfacine, amntadine, and naltrexone have been researched. All of these drugs have shown improved behaviors in at least one study. However, other studies showed little or no effect of these drugs in autism.

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This paper reviews the different drug therapies for autism.

For example, antipsychotics have been used as an autism treatment to decrease aggression and help with impulse control. Lithium has been shown to help with mood in adults with autism and manic problems. Propranolol (a beta blocker drug) has been shown to help severe aggression. Clonidine may help with hyperactivity and irritability in patients with autism. The authors conclude by stating that drug therapy should only be used to help with behavior and treat certain symptoms that are common in people with autism. Read more...

Clonidine may help with sleep and mood problems in children with autism.

Clonidine acts on the brainstem and decreases heart rate and blood pressure. Clonidine also seems to help with sleep problems and behavior problems such as aggression, mood problems, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More and more doctors are giving clonidine to children. This open label study was designed to see if the drug clonidine was able to help with sleep and behavior problems in 19 children with autism. The study results were based largely on parent reports. Read more...


Synonyms for Catapres - Duraclon (clonidine) include: Catapres, Catapres®, clonidine, Duraclon, Duraclon®
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