"Treatment" for Asperger's

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Medication in moderation as a last resort. However, it seems last resorts come too frequently. I am for trying all other healthier avenues first, including ensuring a change in environmental triggers of things like depression and anxiety. If nothing else works, then medications in moderation.

I voted for "extreme circumstances." If there are co-morbid conditions, like depression, then I can see why medication might be a good thing. I don't feel that AS kids should be medicated to reduce the appearance of AS traits just to make other people happy. Medicating AS simply because it exists is immoral. In some ways I'm glad I wasn't diagnosed with AS as a child, because the pressure to chemically lobotomize me would have probably have been strong.

Nothing cures AS! You can improve your skills, teach yourself how to cope, and learn to manage in the NT world, but the AS doesn't go away. The brain is wired differently and pills won't change that. People need to learn this.

Definitely. AS and Autism are not curable. They aren't necessarily disorders, just differences.

Sure there may be a greater likelyhood of certain <b>actual disorders</b> (like mental retardation, depression, etc), but it doesn't make sense to treat the AS/Autism itself. Never would this make sense.

It seems we are in an era of "medical cure-alls".

Yeah, a valid point has been raised here, exactly which medication are we talking about and with what aims?

Hey, to the medication side of things.

I'm a very mild Aspie, I'm more ADD mostly. I take Ritalin and LA Concerta, and I daresay I can't survive without it. There are medication horror stories, indeed, I've had my own, (In a nutshell, Strattera = suicidal, 35kg, (I was 13) gaunt, very unwell) but if you find one that makes your daughter's life easier, then yes, use it. Medication does not TREAT AS as such, it simply aids other areas that may need help, and will make her life easier. If the school is 'hyperventilating' over her, perhaps compromise is the answer.

Yes, mostly for major ADHD and depression, but various other things as well. I don't think medicating AS just because it's AS is okay, but, for example, when I get a little too OCDish, extra meds help me deal with that.




sorry to hear that, but I don't think Strattera is all bad-It's been a huge lifesaver for me, especially recently. Different people react different ways to dofferent meds, and what one person has a reaction to, will greatly help another.

I think it depends more on the person, but always only in extreme circumstances. But for some (or most) people, never. I can't take medication, all it'll do is lessen one issue and worsen another. One Adderal-ish medication made me focus better, but turned my face red and heightened my Tourette's. Prozac, heart problems. I could go on, but I don't exactly won't to relive my childhood right now. And I'm completely against medicating for any kind of depression, I recently got myself out of what would be considered clinical depression that I had had for at least a year. Strengthen yopur mind and your will, don't weaken it with pill dependency.

I used to take some medicne I forgot the name off, then Zoloft, gained self-awareness over it, then went back on it due to problems, now I'm off of medicine.

I voted 'sometimes'. It all depends on the individual, and the individual's needs. I have really mild AS, and I take medication. There is no medication for AS itself, but many people with AS take medication for certain symptoms that might cause them the most difficulties. I take Adderall, which is a type of medication for ADHD.

Since medication often does more harm than good, expecially in growing children, I would err on the side of caution.
No one should be medicated for Asperger's.
On the other hand, humans forget that they medicate themselves on a regular basis. They smoke, drink alcohol, and drink coffee and tea. And let's not forget sugar, which is actually an acid and a poison. Then if they have a cold or allergies there is more medication. If there is no other solution, then medication on a temporary basis might help.
I avoid medication unless I am unable to breathe or walk.

who pescriped u ritalin cuse it progresses the autistic side

There Is No Way Anybody Will Make Me Take Medication
I Am An Aspie In 8th Grade HomeSchooled I Have Some Friende Who
Are Aspie's And Used Medication They Are Not The Same They Never Will Be
The Only Medication I Will Take Is My Migrane Meds Cause So Far I Have Spent My Whole
Life With A Migrane The Florecent Lights Dont Help Much For Me Being Hyper Sensitive But Still
If Anybody Gets Close To Me With Aspie Meds Then I Would Be Gone In A Flash

I think it depends on what the medication is aimed at doing. I think the idea of trying medication 'for the Aspergers' is a bad idea, but I think medication to help some of the negative effects of it can be a good idea. I'm quite comfortable to be on drugs that help alleviate anxiety, but I was very frustrated when on Ritalin (concentration and behaviour management) and I don't like being on Epilim (mood stabiliser), and I most CERTAINLY did not approve of Respiradal (err... anti-psychotic?). I also heavily dislike the idea of tranquilisers or anything that tones down personality. Ultimately it's up to you to decide what is best for your child, but I would caution you against jumping to medication as the answer, bearing in mind that it doesn't work well or reliably, it often has nasty side effects (yay for being a 7 year old who stays awake to midnight and spends 2 hours at the tea table because she's not hungry), and there are other alternatives that I think have better results. Personally I have found neurofeedback/biofeedback to be really good! And for God's sake, DON'T try chelatin!! !

Most (if not all) psychotropic drugs shut or slow down various brain processes.

I only suggest using a drug if there is a specific mental state you wish to attain which is different than the usual. Anxiety is probably the most common problem among us.

I get anxiety a lot, but I'm trying to deal with it without so-called "medication."

Don't forget depression, too. The two common colds of psychiatry (and Aspergers).

I voted that medication should be used only in extreme circumstances, such as depression or anxiety. I'm a relatively recently diganosed Aspie, and in a way I'm glad that nobody knew about Asperger's while I was growing up, as the only time I was on any medication was several years ago when I had clinical depression, which runs in my family. Since I got help, the depression went away and I was able to go off the antidepressant. I was only formally diagnosed with Asperger's last year as an adult.

Now, I have anxiety that is handled without medication for now. If I decide that the anxiety isn't being controlled without medication, I'll make sure I get a different psychiatrist as the last guy only saw me long enough to write a new prescription, and gave me something I didn't need at the time. I made the mistake of telling him that I have relatives with bipolar disorder, but I have never had any other symptom besides depression.