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Medication for Autistic Meltdowns?

Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:33 am
Posted by Friedbrie
Abita Springs
Member since Jun 2018
1609 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:33 am
My 8 year old autistic boy has meltdowns. He had a pretty bad one this morning that lasted about an hour. When it happens it's pure hell. While they seem relatively spread out, when he does have them he becomes a threat to himself, everyone around them, including my 3 year old boy, and property. We've had him in ABA therapy for years and has transitioned to elementary with some success. Indeed, he has made great progress. However, the meltdowns are still an issue.

I am interested possible medications to calm him, possibly on an as needed basis. Is anyone in a similar situation and has used medication? Any doctors or psychiatrists on this board?

This post was edited on 11/13/21 at 8:36 am
Posted by The Torch
DFW The Dub
Member since Aug 2014
27237 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:38 am to
I'm just an amateur gynecologist but you could try marijuana.
Posted by Scruffy
Kansas City
Member since Jul 2011
76464 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:40 am to
That is a very tough situation.

I can only speak from an emergency standpoint, but the majority of medications available are preemptive/preventative.

It becomes increasingly difficult during an active bout of agitation due to the difficulty of convincing or giving the child medication.

I would speak in depth to his therapist/psychiatrist for their advice.

I deal primarily in intramuscular injections in these situations and that isn’t something that can be done at home.

He may need a medication adjustment.

Posted by Seuqnoc
Lafayette
Member since Jul 2020
562 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:41 am to
Man there’s no miracle med. been through this before. Best thing to do is just pour love onto the child and dig deep to find the patience to work with him. It’s hard. It’s real hard. It’ll make you rethink the whole parenting course. My late wife had a son who is high functioning autistic, now, but early on it was tough for little man. His teachers were legit scared of him and his meltdowns in class. My advice is to be as involved as possible and try to find a good counselor/therapist. Godspeed.
Posted by Lawyered
The Sip
Member since Oct 2016
36856 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:41 am to
Is he on any mood stabilizers at the moment ? Or anti-psychotics ?

Maybe you go try like an ODT clonazepam for breakthrough meltdowns to try to calm him down
Posted by Scruffy
Kansas City
Member since Jul 2011
76464 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:44 am to
quote:

Maybe you go try like an ODT clonazepam for breakthrough meltdowns to try to calm him down
ODTs have made things easier, but it simply becomes hard to convince an autistic child to take something orally when they are agitated.

Environmental control and calming techniques can be successful, but can be limited, especially outside of their most comfortable environment.
Posted by Friedbrie
Abita Springs
Member since Jun 2018
1609 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:44 am to
Currently he isn't on anything and never has been. We'd like to try to prevent putting him on anything but there are times, especially when it becomes a dangerous situation, that I'm open to anything that would help.
Posted by Friedbrie
Abita Springs
Member since Jun 2018
1609 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:45 am to
quote:

but you could try marijuana.


I have thought about this.
Posted by pecanridge
South
Member since Apr 2009
1303 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:46 am to
ODT???

On Da Tongue?
Posted by Scruffy
Kansas City
Member since Jul 2011
76464 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:47 am to
quote:

Currently he isn't on anything and never has been. We'd like to try to prevent putting him on anything but there are times, especially when it becomes a dangerous situation, that I'm open to anything that would help.
Yea, I understand.

There just aren’t really options available for treatment during a bout of agitation that don’t come with significant risks, essentially relegating them to medical settings.

The majority of the autistic children I see tend to be on a mood stabilizer of some kind.

If there are any psychiatrists on this board, I would love to know of any home options for this, because I don’t know any.
This post was edited on 11/13/21 at 8:48 am
Posted by PhillyTiger90
Member since Dec 2015
11603 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:47 am to
Don’t they have CBD for children nowadays?

Maybe worth a shot?
Posted by Scruffy
Kansas City
Member since Jul 2011
76464 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:47 am to
quote:

ODT???

On Da Tongue?


Basically.

Orally Disintegrating Tablet
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
175411 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:50 am to
quote:

My 8 year old autistic boy has meltdowns.

What’s his TD username?
Posted by Jake88
Member since Apr 2005
77640 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:50 am to
quote:

ODT???

On Da Tongue?
Yeah sort of. Orally disintegrating tablet...on da tongue.
Posted by WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot
in the transfer portal
Member since Dec 2009
2396 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:51 am to
quote:

I deal primarily in intramuscular injections in these situations and that isn’t something that can be done at home.




Scruffy sounded knowledgeable up until this point.
Posted by upgrayedd
Lifting at Tobin's house
Member since Mar 2013
138008 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:53 am to
Just turn on Wapner. It helps Raymond.
Posted by Scruffy
Kansas City
Member since Jul 2011
76464 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:54 am to
quote:

Scruffy sounded knowledgeable up until this point.
Again, I’ll claim ignorance, but I have never met a family that has been discharged with Ativan, Xyprexa, Benadryl, Haldol, or Thorazine IM for management of their child’s behavioral issues at home.

Is there another medication IM that they prescribe these families?

Oral? Yes.

Never seen IM before.

Have you?

That is nuts, IMO.
This post was edited on 11/13/21 at 8:55 am
Posted by BluegrassBelle
RIP Hefty Lefty - 1981-2019
Member since Nov 2010
105929 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:54 am to
quote:

f there are any psychiatrists on this board, I would love to know of any home options for this, because I don’t know any.


Unfortunately there’s really not outside of an ODT like you described that might get your fingers chomped off mid-meltdown. Like you said, most are on some kind of mood stabilizer and the recommendation (outside of a facility) is providing structure and comfort in combination with medication to try to reduce outbursts.

I know of some folks, who have the space and the financing, who have created things like a sensory room at home to help give the kiddo a place to process especially if they have major sensory issues. Sometimes that can help as well get that “energy” out when they’re potentially building up to an outburst. But I know this isn’t feasible for everyone.
Posted by BluegrassBelle
RIP Hefty Lefty - 1981-2019
Member since Nov 2010
105929 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:57 am to
quote:

Scruffy sounded knowledgeable up until this point.


He’s not talking about someone being given some allergy shots to administer at home. Or insulin. Or run of the mill IM that an adult can administer to someone (or themselves) when they’re able to receive it.

He’s talking about medications to sedate someone in a full-on psychiatric meltdown. Parents aren’t being given that to use on their kids at home.
Posted by Sao
East Texas Piney Woods
Member since Jun 2009
68469 posts
Posted on 11/13/21 at 8:59 am to

This is the type of situation I would be very curious how psilocybin microdosing would fare. For a child, say, .33g in capsule form per day.
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