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Haloperidol withdrawal and weight changes in autistic children
R R Silva1, R P Malone, L T Anderson
1Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
Psychopharmacology Bulletin
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Long-term haloperidol treatment in children with autistic disorder did not significantly alter weight. Weight changes observed during drug withdrawal suggest transient fluctuations rather than sustained effects on body mass.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Autistic disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interaction and communication.
- Haloperidol, a typical antipsychotic, is sometimes used off-label to manage behavioral symptoms in autistic children.
- Concerns exist regarding the long-term metabolic effects, particularly weight changes, associated with antipsychotic use in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term effects of haloperidol on body weight in children diagnosed with autistic disorder.
- To assess weight changes during a haloperidol treatment period and subsequent drug withdrawal phase.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 30 children (ages 3.08-8.42 years) with autistic disorder received haloperidol (0.25-3.50 mg/day) for 6 months.
- Body weight was measured at the end of the 6-month treatment and after a 4-week drug withdrawal period.
- Weight was monitored monthly in a subsample (n=8) during treatment and withdrawal.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was found between mean weights at the end of haloperidol treatment (24.799 ± 9.741 kg) and after 4 weeks of withdrawal (24.644 ± 9.833 kg).
- Weight briefly increased in the first week of discontinuation but subsequently decreased during the following weeks of withdrawal.
- In the subsample, weight gain was more pronounced during the month following the resumption of haloperidol treatment compared to the period before drug withdrawal.
Conclusions:
- Long-term haloperidol treatment for autistic disorder in this pediatric cohort did not result in significant sustained weight gain.
- Observed weight fluctuations during drug withdrawal appear transient.
- Further research is warranted to fully understand the complex relationship between haloperidol, autistic disorder, and metabolic changes in children.