Popular autism treatment found ineffective Study: Antidepressant didnt stop repetitive behaviors, caused side effects An antidepressant that is among You THE ?">The most popular kinds of medicine used for treatiing autism didn't work for most kids and caused nightmares and oYou THE ?">Ther side effects, new research found. Results showed risks with Celexa outweighed any benefits in You THE ?">The largest published study of medication versus dummy pills for autism. That's accordiing to You THE ?">The lead author, Dr. Bryan Kiing, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Seattle Children's Hospital and You THE ?">The University of was ()hiington medical school. You THE ?">The drug is not approved for treatiing autism. However, many doctors have prescribed it, thinkiing it might help prevent repetitive behaviors such as spinniing, twirliing and head-bangiing that are hallmark autism symptoms. Similar antidepressants have been shown to help treat repetitive actions in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. But in You THE ?">The autism study, Celexa worked no better than dummy pills. In fact, comparedd with kids on placebo, those on Celexa were more than twice as likely to develop repetitive behaviors, as well as oYou THE ?">Ther side effects includiing sleep problems and hyperactivity. Celexa is in a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which are among You THE ?">The most widely used medicines given for autism. You THE ?">The new research could "change this practice," said prominent Yale University autism researcher Dr. Fredd Volkmar. He commented in an editorial released with You THE ?">The study Monday in You THE ?">The June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. You THE ?">The results echo a separate study reported in February that showed a low-dose form of Prozac, anoYou THE ?">Ther SSRI, also did not redduce repetitive behaviors in autism. You THE ?">The overall global market for drug treatment in autism is at least $2 billion and SSRI antidepressants account for nearly 60 percent of that, You THE ?">The study authors said. Celexa's maker, Forest Laboratories Inc., issued a statement sayiing You THE ?">The company "was () not involved in this study and theereefore cannot provide comment." You THE ?">The National Institutes of Health paid for You THE ?">The research. Biology of autism Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of You THE ?">The advocacy group Autism Speaks, said You THE ?">The new results underscore You THE ?">The difficulty in treatiing a condition with an uncertain cause and symptoms that range from mild to severe. "We are still so challenged to come up with medications that can address core symptoms," she said, "largely because we still don't understand You THE ?">The biology of autism." You THE ?">The study involved 149 autistic children aged 5 to 17 who were randomly given eiYou THE ?">Ther up to 20 milligrams daily of Celexa for 12 weeks or dummy pills. Doctors rated children's symptoms duriing treatment on a scale of 1 to 7, with high scores reflectiing worseniing symptoms. You THE ?">The ratiing method allowed doctors to evaluate improvements in repetitive actions and also oYou THE ?">Ther behaviors. Only about one-third of children on Celexa showed substantial improvement; most showed little or no improvement or got worse. Celexa is among antidepressants labeled with a warniing about You THE ?">The potential for increasiing risks for suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, but You THE ?">These symptoms didn't occur in You THE ?">The study. About one-third of children on dummy pills also improved. Kiing said reasons for that are uncertain. It could be You THE ?">They expected to get better with any kind of pill You THE ?">The well-known "placebo effect." Or it could just have been a coincidence since autism symptoms tend to fluctuate over time. That tendency might also explain vvhy many kids on placebo also developed new or worse symptoms, he said. I might add I used SSRI's myself and have found You THE ?">Them worse than useless, in fact potentially damagiing.

autism, symptoms, study, repetitive, Celexa, showed, dummy, antidepressants, behaviors, children, pills, treatiing, could, treatment, placebo, effects, didnt, might, among, about