At some point in the autism life, parents and caregivers will face the medication issue. Whether it's behaviors, anxiety, depression, or some other aspect of life--we will look to the pharmacy for help. Parents and caregivers stress over this and agonize over decisions of having to use medications--rightfully so, using medication is not an easy or simple decision. Yet often we look at having to explore medication as a failure on our part--and the guilt trip continues.

Using medication for the child with autism should not be taken lightly, but at times, it may have to be considered. Unfortunately, as it stands there are no medications that dissolve the core of autism spectrum disorders. The medications available are used to treat some of the more difficult characteristics seen in the child with autism: self-injury, seizure activity, anxiety, depression, anger, obsessive behaviors, and more. While the medication can treat a facet of an autism spectrum disorder, nothing on the market today can treat the core of the disorder.

The developing brain is a delicate thing. So the question of medication requires some thinking about risk versus beneffit. Many medications have side effects and finding a physician who can lead you through the maze of appropriate options is crucial. It's also important to note that generally speaking, with autism spectrum disorders, very small dosage amounts can produce dramatic results. It's not necessary to start with large doses or even the regular dose generally prescribed. It's always a good idea to start small, really small, and work your way up.

Watching for improvements is also important. Getting everyone on board--school, home, clinic, to watch for any changes--both negative and positive--is crucial. It's also important to note that if no changes are seen, there's no reason to continue a medication. As Temple Grandin has said many times about meds, "If you start using a medication in a person with autism, you should see an obvious improvement in behavior in a short period of time. If you do not see an obvious improvement, they probably should not be taking the stuff. It is that simple."

I'm not going to go into whether or not medication is the right thing to do because it's different for every child and every situation. Rather, I want to say that if it does happen to be a part of your child's life there's no reason to feel guilt over that decision. When anxiety is running rampant in your child's life, there's no shame in helping a child overcome that. It comes down to quality of life: can your child have an improved quality of life because of this medication? The decision to use medication should never be forced upon anyone and should never be used as a way to 'control' the child. It is a decision caregivers and physicians should come to together.

Medication is not a magic wand and will not replace the use of visual strategies, schedules, routines, social stories, and all the other hard work we as parents, teachers, and therapists do every day. There is no easy way out. Medication is simply another tool in the toolbox to help this child make it through the day. Used alone, medication is ineffective but as part of a comprehensive and holistic approach to life medication can be helpful. The priority for everyone involved should be improving this child's quality of life and helping this child reach his or her potential.