Second generation antipsychotics are in the news yet again: Just weeks after quetiapine was found to aid recovering anorexics, risperidone has been shown helpful in treating some symptoms of autism spectrum disorders according to a review of three randomized trials published in The Cochrane Library.
The drug was found to reduce irritability, repetition and hyperactivity in autistic patients, reviewers found. However, improvements were often accompanied by side effects including weight gain and involuntary movements, leaving researchers hesitant to promote the drug except in extreme cases.
Read more: Antipsychotic Drug Controls Some Symptoms In Autism Disorder
ABSTRACT: Risperidone for autism spectrum disorder