Medication and therapy

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I want to hear some input from people who have tried to medicate their aspergers/autism either with drugs or therapy. Legal drugs, illegal drugs, over the counter, prescription, group therapy, one on one, whatever.

What works and what doesn't ?

Yuo can't really treat asperger's; only comorbid conditions...

Yes you can't treat AS. I have ADHD and have taken a drug that works like Strattera but not sure if its the right one. Another switch may be in order. I am still just as forgetful and disorganized.

I've been given everything from antidepressants to antipsychotics--and I got way better when I got off them. Not that they don't help some people, but overmedication never does.

An antidepressant was the only thing that helped, because I actually did have depression.

ReGi's right; there's no meds for autism.

I was given medications for my anxity and mood swings... Maby this emptiness I feel right now is only the side effect?

It could be--antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications tend to produce calmness at the expense of intense feelings either positive or negative. If it's that, and not any of the other fifty causes of "emptiness" feelings (:P), then maybe you could talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose?

As you have mostly heard, and probably read, Asperger's on its own has no cure---so medications won't take care of it in that respect. I am no expert on Asperger's---even though I have been diagnosed with it---but I do know a fair amount about it. I would be open to the possibility that some medications can help it---especially with the co-morbid conditions that often exist alongside it.

With that aside, I am trying to help myself lately. I have currently begun a series of therapy, "coaching skills" sessions to help me. The areas I am working on include being able to be a better husband and father to my family. I am very confident in the effectiveness of these sessions. Even though I have only been to the clinic twice, I am feeling better already.

I am hesitant about medications when dealing with issues like the autism spectrum and the ADHD areas. My oldest son took Strattera for possible ADHD issues and it made him literally a zombie. He sat staring at the wall and cried. It was pitiful. My wife and I said "no more of that." We have since dealt with his needs through other means. We got him tutoring for school subjects he was struggling in, got him interested in the band (he enjoys the clarinet immensely), and we moved him to another school which has proven positive for him (better grades, etc.) It is also the school where I teach.

Again I say though, I am no expert. I think the best thing to do would be to get a formal diagnosis and go from there if you are truly passionate about this. But---please do not take any illegal drugs. I have been a public school teacher for 21 years, and I have seen students ruined by illegal drugs. Good luck to you, and I wish you the best.

I've recently stopped taking them... I have no doctor at the moment. I was prescribed the meds before, but since I have lost contact with my doctor (because I have moved) than I stopped taking medications I was prescribed earlier.

There is absolutely no reason to drug people with AS any more than there is a reason, for example, to drug people with left wing political views. Drugs are totally inappropriate.

A long term programme of personal development that is tailored to the individual and is followed by the individual is what works.


Magliabechi.

well if i had endless amounts of money i'd get into some psycotherapy. i could always get on AHCCCS, http://www.ahcccs.state.az.us/site/ but im really over my food stamp era, i try to buy my own food and i usually dont get sick. so i dont need doctors visits. and the one place that will accept AHCCCS here is called the guidance center and they usually provide poor care that isnt individualized because most of the people they serve have AHCCCS

A gluten/casein free diet seems to help a lot of AS folks.

A "life coach" can help with practical stuff like getting organized, navigating social situations, etc.--you can use Google to find ones who specialize in coaching people with AS.

I have comorbid issues - severe anxiety and depression. For these i take an antidepressant - citalopram - and have a really good result. I have a lot of sensory integration problems on some days. The anxiety associated with this is massive. as is the depression. when i am on anti-d's i still have the sensory integration issues BUT i DO NOT have Meltdowns anywhere near as severe, because the comorbids are being addressed by the medication. If i am not on medication i cannot go outside. If i am on medication i can have a quality of life. I still find emotions difficult to regulate, but because the anxiety in my case is lessened by medication, i do not go into the rages i can go into off medication.

I might add that I am a parent. If i were on my own, i might not choose medication and see how i went. As a parent, the way i see it is that i am accountable for my behaviour in relation to my son - whether I am AS or not. I have massive meltdowns - the street has heard them - and anything i can do to reduce the impact of these on my son, i do with willingness and with an awareness that i choose that with full knowledge of what i am doing.

If i am off medication and a passenger in a car...because of sensory/spatial issues - 5 metres behind the car infront and i start arm flapping and worrying that our car is too close. I can explode. The anxiety is unbearable. If i am on medication - I will experience the same worry and I can sense i am too close, but i have a window of choice about how i react BECAUSE the comorbid anxiety and depression is not present to the same degree. That also means i can cognitively self-talk more easitly, which is also soemthing i choose to do.

It doesn't change who i am. it just brings ME more peace.

the choice is different for each. Temple Grandin responds well to meds. so do I. For someone else it has no impact on their comorbids. it is all so individualised and i believe each of us must find our own ways that suit us.

Last edited by millie on 15 Dec 2008, 7:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

im on ritalin to prevent my meltdowns and been also in pressure therapy ,people saying i shouldnt take meds but its way beter then getting restrained to bed or someting

both drugs and therapies affect people very differently,never base something for self, on it working or not working for someone else because may find have the opposite effect.

as for therapy,it depends on what are looking for help with,as there are many different forms.

though there is not a medication that affects the whole of aspergers or autism,there are meds that help sides of as and autism,such as the speech side [some meds can bring on or improve speech in some people], the social side,the self injury side,meltdowns,the sensory side etc. the comorbid side- anxiety,mood,hyperacusis,adhd,seizures etc and there are different therapies available but it depends a lot on what are after.

am would recommend speech therapist with an autism specialised ST if have speech and/or language difficulties-though they can help with other things on the side as well,the one am used to have till he changed boroughs,had a special interest in visual processing in autistics.

though this is not a therapy,developmental audiologists [will find these at big hospitals] are worth going to if have hearing difficulties and want a test or find some ways of coping with sound-not meaning traditional hearing difficulties [HI/deaf/HoH] but those such as part of sensory processing, hyperacusis, APD etc.
in the UK,they charge for any aids as they class it as private,stupid as it should be as free/nhs as hearing aids,wheel chairs,walking frames etc are.

horse riding therapy.
its got a different name in the US,its zoo something,or hippo something.
am used to ride with the RDA here [riding for the disabled] until moving home and area messed up routines and head long term,the effect off horse riding therapy differs for everyone-some dont get much out of it,and others get a lot,am always came back a lot calmer,less likely to meltdown as fast as usual in the day and was more interactive with staff,would recommend it to anyone whether on the spectrum or not.

pet therapy.
if do not have a pet,but like animals-think about trying pet therapy,ways of getting this may be helping out a animal sanctuary as a attention giver-as both would then get something out of it,but there are charities such as PAT who do pet therapy as a service.


Music therapy.
this is one am havent tried,so cant reccomend,but it is commonly used for people with ASDs and other conditions,nordoff robbins is the mst obvious charity am can think of,as radio one did a dj back to back fundraiser comp a few years ago for them:
http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/music ... index.html though not sure about other countries.

I have a number of comorbids and take meds for them.

Strattera - ADHD (may not work for ALL ADHD, there are about a dozen different ADHD meds and they react differently with each person)

Luvox - OCD

Haldol - Tourettes

Neurontin - this is complicated but I tend to "freeze" when presented with a sudden situation change, like while driving, so it's really to help me drive better

Risperdal - antipsychotic commonly given to autistics, it makes me calmer

And two sleeping pills so I'm not so wired, Rozerem and Restoril. I also use Motrin to help me sleep. I also take stool softener, typical Wal Mart stuff, for gut issues leading to constipation.

That's a lot, but my doctor really knows what he's doing. The various comorbids were making my life hell, but with meds I can focus on being me and not be consumed by comorbids. I agree not to take street narcotics, they don't treat anything, they just dope you up so you're too smashed to notice your comorbids which is different from treatment. Marijuana may have treatment effects, but quality varies greatly, it's not something I'd like to risk.

I have depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I've been on amitryptiline, a tricyclic antidepressant, for over 20 years. It's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. For one thing, I can sleep. For another, I have just a little bit of distance from my most intense emotions, which allows me to work with them, rather than the emotions working on me. I don't feel doped or medicated or sedated in any way. I feel like the medication works with my brain really well to keep me in balance.

I also take Lorazepam for anxiety. I started taking it a few years ago when the anxiety became really unbearable. I have not had any major panic attacks since I started on the medication. The panic attacks were so bad that everything in my body hurt and I could hardy breathe. I don't mind leaving that experience behind.

I have not had any side effects with either medication, although this varies greatly from person to person.

Other than that, I take vitamins and herbs and drink 48-64 oz of water a day. I've found that drinking enough water can really help me feel healthier. I also try to stay away from gluten and dairy and a host of other foods that I'm sensitive or allergic to. I have a rather short list of foods I can eat, which keeps life simple.