Psychopharmacology of autism spectrum disorders: a selective review.

Parsons et al. (2013) read 24 randomized trials on pills for kids with autism. They looked at studies on hyperactivity, tantrums, and aggression.

The team wrote a story-style review. They did not pool numbers; they summed up what each trial said.

Risperidone and aripiprazole calm tantrums best. Stimulants help some kids focus, but fewer respond than in typical ADHD.

Sleep pills, antidepressants, and antiseizure drugs each had one or two tiny trials. No study ran longer than six months.

Hirota et al. (2014) did a meta-analysis of antiepileptic drugs for irritability. They found no benefit over placebo. Sarah’s review had already flagged those same trials as too small and short.

Farmer et al. (2012) showed parent training plus risperidone beats medication alone. Sarah’s paper lists the drug trials; Cristan’s adds the behavioral boost.

Breider et al. (2024) later proved face-to-face parent training beats waitlist for disruptive behaviors. This fills the long-term evidence gap Sarah called for, but with a behavioral instead of pharmacologic fix.

You now know the pill cupboard is half-bare. Use risperidone or aripiprazole only for severe tantrums, monitor weight, and plan to taper. For milder irritability or hyperactivity, try parent training first and track data. Document why you chose the order; the field still lacks long RCTs to back most drug choices.