Children who have Asperger's disorder combined with other problems may need a mixture of drug therapies.

Many people with autism also have bipolar disorder (a type of depression). Treatment with risperidone and lithium can help address mood problems and anger in children with autism. The down side is that risperidone plus lithium can cause severe weight gain. Weight gain happens even if parents are very careful about diet and exercise. The drug metformin (used to treat diabetes) may be able to help with the weight gain. The authors describe a boy with Asperger's Disorder and bipolar disorder who was given all three of these drugs and who had better self-esteem, less anxious parents, and a better family life. Read more...