| It is notable that Autism affects each patient | | | | The way that stimulants help to control |
| differently than the next, and therefore, each | | | | symptoms of Autism Disorder is by increasing |
| patient is approached differently concerning their | | | | focus and decreasing hyperactivity and |
| treatments and therapies. Besides the non-medical | | | | impulsiveness, however, this is not without |
| interventions, such as music, listening, speech, | | | | potential side effects. As we are well aware, |
| language, and vision training, medications are also | | | | prolonged use of stimulants may lead to drug |
| prescribed in certain cases to lessen certain | | | | dependence, and therefore should be used only if |
| Autism symptoms which are not lessened | | | | there is a noticeable improvement in the patient's |
| through the non-medicinal training offered to | | | | behavior or intermittently with other therapies. |
| parents and care givers or special diet changes. | | | | As with any set of circumstances that may lead |
| One type of medication that is frequently used to | | | | to drug dependency, expert consultation and |
| control the Autism symptoms of aggressive and | | | | advice should be sought on a regular basis. |
| violent behaviors, as well as epilepsy, is stimulants, | | | | Other side effects include insomnia, loss of |
| such as the commonly prescribed Ritalin and | | | | appetite, high blood pressure, and abdominal pain. |
| Adderall. | | | | If a parent or caregiver notices any of these side |
| Out of the approximately 58% of Autistic | | | | effects, the health provider should be notified |
| patients prescribed a pharmaceutical treatment, | | | | immediately. Other treatments may be prescribed |
| only around 17% are prescribed stimulants. This | | | | by the health provider instead in order to avoid |
| low percentage is mainly due to the efficacy of | | | | any invasive symptoms that are affecting the |
| antipsychotics and antidepressants, which also | | | | patient's daily life functioning more than necessary. |
| cause less dependability. | | | | |