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Concerning the use of antidepressants in the control and/or improvement of Autism symptoms, it is important to note that these types of medications are mostly recommended for teenagers or adults rather than the younger demographic of Autistic patients. While an adult or teenager's brain is fully formed, the brain of a young child is still developing making the risk much greater.
There are exceptions, however, where antidepressants would indeed be prescribed to a younger child, such as a young child who needed antidepressants to prevent severe self-injurious behaviors.
There are many categories of antidepressant medications, but the most commonly used are SSRI's, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Celexa, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft are all common brand names that are often prescribed to treat depression and anxiety disorders which are both common Autism symptoms.
Most of the antidepressant drugs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which in turn, elevates the patient's mood. These drugs are not meant as a "cure" for depression and/or anxiety, however, they are useful in addition to other treatments and therapies.
The most common side effects of antidepressant medications are nausea, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, dry mouth, and changes in sex drive/satisfaction. Despite these side effects, however, it is notable that very few patients end their treatment early due to side effects because of the potential and obvious benefits.
Similar to starting an Autism patient on any new medical treatment, antidepressants should be thoroughly researched and familiarized by parents and/or caregivers before the treatment begins. Parents, caregivers, and doctors should also work together to set a "baseline" of the patient's Autism symptoms before beginning the medication to which they may later compare any improvements in symptoms and decide if the medication has been effective in alleviating certain behaviors or symptoms associated with Autism Disorder.
It is recommended that only one prescription medication be used at a time, however, if one's doctor feels it would be beneficial to take two or more medications concurrently be sure to introduce them on at a time to insure that connections can be easily distinguished of which medication causes which improvements and/or side effects in the patient.
There are many more resources and information about autism signs, symptoms, treatments, and cutting edge medical research in, Autism: Everything Parents And Caregivers Should Know About The Disorder
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