Purpose The pharmacological management of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children remains a challenge due to limited effective management options and the absence of approved drugs to manage the core symptoms. This review aims to describe and highlight effective pharmacological management options employed in managing the core symptoms and comorbidities of ASD from eligible studies over the past decade. Methods A search of databases; PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and PsychInfo for pharmacotherapeutic options for ASD was conducted in this systematic review. Duplicate studies were removed by utilizing the EndNote citation manager. The studies were subsequently screened independently by two authors. Eligible studies from 01 January 2012 to 01 January 2022 were included based on established eligibility criteria. A narrative synthesis was used for data analysis. Results The systematic review provides a comprehensive list of effective management options for ASD comorbidities and core symptoms from 33 included studies. The management options for ASD comorbidities; insomnia, hyperactivity, irritability and aggression, gastrointestinal disturbances, and subclinical epileptiform discharges, were reviewed. Risperidone, aripiprazole, methylphenidate, guanfacine, levetiracetam, and atomoxetine are examples of effective pharmacological drugs against ASD comorbidities. Additionally, this review identified various drugs that improve the core symptoms of ASD and include but are not limited to, bumetanide, buspirone, intranasal oxytocin, intranasal vasopressin, and prednisolone. Conclusion This review has successfully summarized the pharmacological advancements made in the past decade to manage ASD. Although there is still no pharmacological cure for ASD core symptoms or additional drugs that have obtained regulatory approval for use in ASD, the availability of promising pharmacological agents are under evaluation and study.

Background The pharmacological management of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains a challenge due to limited effective treatment options, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of only two drugs, and the absence of drugs that can cure the core symptoms. In South Africa, little is known about the role of pharmacotherapy in the management of children diagnosed with ASD. This study presents an overview of prescribing patterns and provides insight into the current management practice for the core symptoms and comorbidities of ASD in children. Method A quantitative retrospective study was conducted at a public hospital in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa by reviewing patient files of children diagnosed with ASD and meeting the inclusion criteria for the study. A descriptive analysis of data was done to identify treatment trends and patient therapeutic outcomes. Results A total of 181 children met the inclusion criteria of the study. Risperidone was the most frequently prescribed drug (88%) for the management of comorbidities and/or core symptoms of ASD. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (54%), irritability or aggression (25%), and sleep dysregulation (22%) were frequent ASD comorbidities that warranted pharmacotherapy. Drugs prescribed to manage ASD comorbidities included methylphenidate, melatonin, sodium valproate, risperidone, oxybutynin, carbamazepine, and others. Except for risperidone, there were no additional drugs that targeted the core symptoms of ASD. Non-pharmacological therapies were often used collaboratively with medication to manage ASD symptoms. The use of psychotropic drug combinations was influenced by the age and gender of a child. In 41% of patients, there were improvements in their symptoms (comorbidities and/or core symptoms) which indicated a positive response to the treatment plan. Conclusion Drugs played a prominent role in managing the comorbidities of ASD, however, pharmaco-therapeutic options for the management of ASD core symptoms are limited. As the availability and use of additional effective drugs (including vitamin, mineral, and dietary supplements) for the management of ASD increases, improved therapeutic outcomes for children with ASD in South Africa could be achievable.

This study presents an overview of prescribing patterns and provides insight into the current management practice for the core symptoms and comorbidities of ASD in children. A quantitative retrospective study was conducted at a public hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa by reviewing patient files of children diagnosed with ASD and meeting the inclusion criteria for the study. A descriptive analysis of data was done to identify treatment trends and patient therapeutic outcomes. A total of 181 children met the inclusion criteria of the study. Risperidone was the most frequently prescribed drug (88%) for the management of comorbidities and/or core symptoms of ASD. Drugs prescribed to manage ASD comorbidities included methylphenidate, melatonin, sodium valproate, risperidone, oxybutynin, carbamazepine, and others. Except for risperidone, there were no additional drugs that targeted the core symptoms of ASD. Non-pharmacological therapies were often used collaboratively with medication to manage ASD symptoms. In 41% of patients, there were improvements in their symptoms.