Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of risperidone for the management of autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is often accompanied by psychiatric comorbidity. Although there is no medication currently available to treat the core symptoms of ASD, risperidone was the first drug to be approved for use in ASD and is still the best established psychopharmacological option for the treatment of irritability and behavioral problems in ASD.

Areas covered: This article gives an overview of the pharmacokinetic profile of risperidone and a comprehensive review of treatment studies regarding the use of risperidone in ASD.

Expert opinion: Ample evidence supports the short-term use of risperidone for treating irritability and behavioral problems in ASD. Risperidone also shows promise in treating symptoms often associated with ASD, such as stereotypical behavior, social difficulties, hyperactivity and cognitive problems. However, several adverse effects have been identified; most are mild or moderate and well manageable, but weight gain and metabolic changes are a considerable concern. Therefore, risperidone should in our view be seen as ‘a last resort’, only justified for the short-term treatment of serious behavioral problems, which have failed to respond sufficiently to behavioral interventions. Future studies should investigate long-term effects of risperidone and factors that facilitate individual risk–benefit analyses before treatment.

Keywords:

• antipsychotic
• autism spectrum disorder
• efficacy
• pharmacokinetics
• predictors
• risperidone
• tolerability

Declaration of interest

This work was funded by ZonMW Grant No. 836021020 to PJ Hoekstra. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.