Low-dose venlafaxine in three adolescents and young adults with autistic disorder improves self-injurious behavior and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)-like symptoms

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Mar;30(2):312-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2005.10.002. Epub 2005 Nov 22.

Abstract

In our clinical practice, we have had good experiences with venlafaxine in the treatment of self-injurious behavior (SIB) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)-like symptoms in patients with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and we report here three cases of possible therapeutic response: (A) a 17-year-old boy with autism and severe behavioral symptoms, including aggression toward self or property, SIB and hyperactivity, who appeared to respond to low-dose venlafaxine (18.75 mg/day); (B) a 23-year-old woman with autism hyperactivity who appeared to respond to low-dose venlafaxine (18.75 mg/day); (C) a 17-year-old girl with autism hyperactivity who appeared to respond to low-dose venlafaxine (18.75 mg/day). Follow-ups occurred respectively 18, 36 and 6 months after treatment initiation, making it possible to observe the stability of the clinical improvement in these cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / etiology
  • Autistic Disorder / complications
  • Cyclohexanols / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / drug therapy*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / etiology
  • Time Factors
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Cyclohexanols
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride