Pills and drugs

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Hi folks,you guys and gals all know that I'm an Aspie.I'm TOTALLY anti-cure but I won't explain you the reasons since it isn't this topic purpose.Anyway,when I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrom a few years ago,the doctor gave me some pills.At that time I was ashamed of my Asperger syndrom and honestly,wanted to be cured(I changed my mind since then).My mom said those pills were good for me and I didn't have much of an opinion at the time so I took them.Now I'm starting to question myself.Are pills part of the curing autism crap?I said to my mom that I didn't wanted to take them anymore and she was angry she said stuff like ''Don't you see how better you've been behaving since you've started taking these pills?''.Then I changed my mind,I will continue taking pills for all my teen years and when I'll get adult I'll stop taking them,because adults are more open-minded than teens.Did I made the right choice?I was feeling like pills are some sort of cure...Was I right?Should we take pills?I mean,it would be awesome to have a pill that could make all the negative traits of autism go away while the postive one stay there,so we would be superior,but I feel that taking pills is like saying that being an Aspie is wrong and unnormal and you have to hide that and change it to normal or something...

I'd like to have some other opinions on this...

I would only take medication if it would improve the quality of my life.

You don't specify what medication you're taking, but there is no medication currently marketed that has any effect whatsoever on Autism or Asperger Syndrome. What you could be medicated for are Anxiety, Depression or ADHD, but most of those drugs are not much more than stimulant placebos with a list of negative side effects longer than the list of benefits.

Unless you were self-harming before and stopped that behavior after being medicated, it's likely any 'change' in your behavior is in your Mom's imagination. The decision you have to make is whether or not you're getting any real benefit from medication. Do you feel that your life has changed for the better since you started on them? If so, did the improvements occur because of the meds, or for other reasons?

Long term use of any chemical makes permanent changes in your neural pathways. Unless you feel significantly worse without them, then you're probably better off not taking them.

I take pills for Depression, but not for autism, nor would I want to.

I take Paxil for anxiety but everything else is handled holisticaly and autism is not one of those things.

I take something like 9-10 different medications (4 of them psych meds) and I absolutely couldn't survive without them. I would be unable to leave the house, maybe even my bed, due to anxiety; ticcing so much I couldn't focus on anything else; and having melt downs left and right, every time something unexpected happened. It's no way to live; trust me, I've tried it. I'll keep my meds.

My meds mostly affect my concentration.Before I took them,I would get OVERconcentrated...I also get them to stabilize my mood and against depressions.I also take other meds,but they aren't behavior-related so I won't talk about it.With reading all this,I guess I'll ask my doctor to stop taking the Biphentin and Stratera,wich stabilize my mood.But I'll keep the Selexa,since I don't get depressed with them.

I've never heard of a pill that was made specifically for Asperger's/autism, but the pills you're taking could be to relieve depression or anxiety or concentration or hyperactivity or mood swings, etc. all of which can be seen in people who are on the spectrum. As long as the medication is helping you with those symptoms, take them. There is no need to be ashamed. I take medication for anxiety & also for depression/mood swings & they've helped me greatly. If you feel that the meds are of no benefit to you & you do better without them, don't take them, but as long as they are helping, don't stop. You will probably end up regretting it in the long run. Meds are not meant to cure autism, as there is no cure. If there was a cure, I would not take it either. But they can help with some of the negative side effects/traits/symptoms associated with ASD's. So there is no shame in taking them if you need to.

I read in Gillberg (2002) that although there are no well-controlled studies specifically for individuals with Asperger syndrome clinical experience suggests that SSRIs have been successful in reducing ritualistic or compulsive behaviour in individuals with AS. Also clinicians have the impression that SSRI may ameliorate the social defits of individuals with AS. The author of the book says that this impression is strong. Neuroleptics are used to treat agression in autistic individuals as usual. He says that in the case of the old neuroleptics there are documented effects of reduction of social withdraw but they should not be used because of the side-effects. He says that stimulants are effective in treating attention deficits, hyperactivity or impusivity in individuals with AS.

Maybe some people might not like my post because they are against the use of meds in individuals with autism but I felt that I needed to inform other people about different viewpoints.

I pretty much have to take meds for the rest of my life. I am permanently damaged from the first psyche meds I was prescribed 4 years ago- Effexor being the most damaging. I have permanent withdrawal syndrome. I can never stop taking my meds now. I am off Effexor but I am barely functioning right now. I just started Wellbutrin again, but I still have my brain shocks. I don't think the Wellbutrin will help that as it works on different receptors. I see my doc on Wednesday so I may have to go back on some of the old meds to try to function again. This sucks so bad but the Va has to take care of me, and so I will deal with it. Being yanked off 300 mg of Effexor due to losing insurance just about killed me 2 years ago, but I never have to worry about that again.

So my point (finally) is that you have to be careful with these meds. If they are keeping you alive by all means take them, never stop them on your own, and keep in mind you may never be able to stop them. I am told that permanent withdrawal is very rare, but I sure got it.

Hate the thought of going back on Celexa have been off the prescript about a year and a half. I was on it about nine years but think I'll get in trouble if I don't
what can I say? I Hate it Hate it Hate it
I feel alive again
The wife does not what me to start taking it again which is another problem

Just have one question... I get what you are saying for the most part, but you mentioned that we are superior... how so??? I am just like anyone else, with different areas of interest, different things that I know about... but I am no more intelligent or less intelligent than anybody else, at least, I don't think I am. I just know... different things. I'm surely not superior... heck, I can't go grocery shopping without someone there to help out due to anxiety. I can't talk to my neighbor without stumbling over my words. I don't focus on anything long enough to make a career out of it, and when I do, it's not anything worth doing anything with... Superior? no.

I don't want a cure, but it's not because I think I'm better than anyone else... I just don't think I'm broken to begin with, so I don't need "fixing".

I have run the gamet of the drugs I have taken many via doc's most did not work or did for a while. They where SSRI's for the most part. However I am now on NSRI and feel great almost every day.

I don't take pharmaceuticals. Too dangerous, too much risk of more damage to my delicately wired self. I do experiment with lots of natural remedies, homeopathic, and supplements. (Its my special interest!) I have found some really helpful things for my anxiety and attention issues. My AS won't be cured, I understand that.

There is no such thing as a "pill that cures autism". Its not like you take a certain brand of pills and then you will have no problems with social communication.