Autism Spectrum Disorders are prescribed with psychotropic drugs to children

The data from 2001 -2009 was expressed by Donna Spencer, Ph.D, of OptumInsight in Eden Prairie Minn., and his colleague’s claims that rates and predictors of psychotropic use were evaluated for 33,565 children with ASD. It is found that ASD in 64% children has packed a prescription of one psychotropic medicine.

Poly pharmacy was clear over the medication fills of two drug classes in 35 % and 15 % in least three classes. Greater risk factors are related with psychotropic use and multiclass poly pharmacy which includes visit to psychiatrist, older age and evidence of comorbid situations like attention- insufficiency disorders, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. Authors mentioned that “Despite minimal evidence of the effectiveness or appropriateness of multidrug treatment of ASD, psychotropic medications are commonly used, singly and in combination, for ASD and its co-occurring conditions.”