Autism and Irritability
October 13, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Treating “irritability” in autistic children and adults is what Risperdal has won FDA approval for. As reported in FDA approves drug for autism irritability (UPI), “aggression, deliberate self-injury and temper tantrums” are all classified as “irritability.”
While a medical definition of “irritability” is that it is “abnormal or excessive sensitivity of a body organ or part to a stimulus,” many of us will first think of the more common meaning of irritability, namely, “the quality or state of being irritable; testiness or petulance.”
Pardon me if I exaggerate, but I can see people reading articles like that in UPI and coming to the (very mistaken conclusion) that just giving an anti-psychotic drug that is used to treat schizophrenic adults to an autistic child is called for simply because a child is “testy” or in a state of “petulance”; because a child is “irritable.”
Such assumptions make me feel rather irritable myself.
Heh.
Irritability.
I like my well developed sense of annoyance with the world, thanks. It’s a good trait for people who are going to be treated like crap by 99% of people to have. Irritable, you betcha.
THAT isn’t a problem. Out of control FRUSTRATION tantrums (next person who calls one a TEMPER tantrum in my hearing is going to see the difference between a temper and frustration) that scare even the person having them are a problem. Self injurious stuff that the person can’t stop is a problem. Attacking other people physically without good reason (if I swipe your Legos then i’m asking for it) is a problem.
But I’m all for good old fashioned irritability, even in kids. What gives adults a right to be cranky if kids can’t be too?
I’m all right with a right to irritability—-I found the suggestion that Risperdal could be used to “treat” this in particular of concern. Medicating away irritability does not seem the best way to “treat” it.
Often irritability has a root cause that needs to be treated. With Sam, irritability can mean he’s not feeling well, and rather than just medicate the irritability away, we medicate appropriate to the CAUSE of the irritability.
We treat irritability with TLC, Tylenol, antihistimines and decongestants, as appropriate.
I am now irritable after reading these posts! What?? I have a 5 year old sweet, beautiful, girl who has out of control terroristic abusive tantrums several times a day. She is smart, and knows that it is not a good idea to do this, but she cannot control it. WHY would I even consider denying her medication for this? And, what is the difference between medicating with an FDA approved medication for autism spectrum irritability and tylenol or antihistamines! “TLC?” Omg, if we try to give our daughter some TLC while she is attacking us, we will get hurt. I have had a black eye from my then 4 year old. She is strong, tall, and when she is pissed and in a rage, someone WILL get hurt. Since on Risperdal, her sensory integration symptoms are tolerable for her and for us. Her fits are fewer and farther inbetween and she feels better. She tells us so! It has been a miracle…no it is not the full answer…or a magic pill..we have to keep increasing the dose for the benefit…but we also do bio-med and are treating her gut at the same time. No kid should have to suffer without meds because some idiot who has a kid that can be consoled thinks that all kids are the same. And, btw we are excellent parents and have every parenting book you can mention on our shelves and have spent the last 5 years researching autism spectrum. Please DO NOT give us parents with SN kids any more grief. If we chose meds, it was not an easy decision and we should be supported! It took us a long time to decide that meds were OK.
Hi,
Actually my little sister is been acting very weirdly these days. She has been connected into some people who calls them followers of god but dont preach it. She fights with us sleep with holy bible does not worship any god as well. She even tried to hurt herself once she was not allowed to go to some camp.
Please me and all my family members are very scared. Is she alright ? Can anything thing be done to help her plzzzzzzz help