| When a child with Autism takes medication | | | | make sure of the type and dosage. Just like it is |
| parents will run into many well meaning friends | | | | important to focus on one doctor to keep track |
| and professionals with questions. At times people | | | | of all medication, it is helpful to have one |
| will vehemently question the wisdom of using | | | | pharmacist to keep track of medication. |
| medication. | | | | After this the parent should be alert to several |
| Of course the parents want to be careful of how | | | | things. For a start they want to give the first few |
| much medication they are using as well. | | | | dosages of medication on a weekend or a holiday. |
| There are two people who will be critical to a | | | | Doing this will let the parent keep a watchful eye |
| parent's efforts to regulate medication. The first | | | | over their child and any changes. |
| one is the doctor. The second one is a | | | | They may also want to keep a diary of different |
| pharmacist. | | | | medications. In the diary they can keep |
| Although a child with Autism will probably see | | | | information about possible side effects. More |
| several doctors, a parent should decide which | | | | importantly they can keep track of how it |
| doctor they will use to manage medication. | | | | affected their child. Children with Autism will, at |
| Typically the doctor to look for is one skilled in | | | | times, react differently to a particular medication |
| mixing medications and in Autism Spectrum | | | | than a typical child. |
| Disorders. | | | | Parents can also request assistance from the |
| The next person who can help a parent with | | | | school. Teachers and therapists can give good |
| medication issues is the pharmacist. Many times a | | | | information about a child being sleepy at school. |
| skilled pharmacist will realize when there is too | | | | They can report on the child's ability to focus or |
| much of one type of medication or another. | | | | anything else that might come along. |
| They will even check with the doctor's office to | | | | |