Amisulpride versus bromocriptine in infantile autism: a controlled crossover comparative study of two drugs with opposite effects on dopaminergic function.

Twenty autistic kids tried two pills in a row. One pill blocks dopamine (amisulpride). The other boosts it (bromocriptine).

Each child took one drug for four weeks, had a wash-out, then took the other. Teachers and parents filled out behavior checklists after each round.

Amisulpride cut core autism signs like rocking and withdrawal. Bromocriptine did not help those core signs.

Yet bromocriptine lowered hyperactivity and boosted attention. Same brain chemical, opposite targets.

Two years earlier Durand et al. (1990) saw autistic kids release growth hormone at odd times after dopamine and noradrenaline probes. The new trial shows those timing quirks matter: block the signal and social skills inch up; boost the signal and sitting still gets easier.

Hudson et al. (2012) later swept up 33 drug trials and said only a few pills have solid proof. This 1992 study is inside their list, but they warn evidence is still thin. If you only read Matthew, you might skip both drugs; if you only read S et al., you might pick one. Together they say 'try with caution and track data.'

A 2014 mouse study by A et al. extends the idea: blocking a serotonin receptor (5-HT2A) also improved flexibility. The thread is 'antagonists can sharpen autistic cognition,' but the 2014 paper swaps dopamine for serotonin and uses mice, showing the principle crosses systems and species.

Match the med to the main problem. If the child flaps and avoids eye contact, a dopamine blocker may help. If the bigger issue is constant motion, a dopamine booster might calm the body. Either way, run a brief A-B trial, graph daily counts, and stop if you see no change in two weeks.