Posted by Jolly | Posted in Celexa | Posted on 29-06-2011
Celexa is ineffective in autism in children
A new research has shown that the antidepressant Celexa is not effective in the treatment of autism.
Antidepressants – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors – are the usual treatment of autism.
Celexa, or generic citalopram, is less common than similar antidepressants such as Prozac or Paxil. But Celexa is easier to use as the drug is made in liquid form, said Dr. King, the head of the department of psychiatry at Seattle Children’s Hospital at Washington University.
In addition, the drug is rapidly excreted from the body, making it easier to control the dosage.
The study involved 149 children from 5 to 17 years old diagnosed with autism. Children received either 6.5 ml of Celexa or placebo for three months. The condition improved in about a third of children in both groups. Thus, the effectiveness of Celexa did not differ from placebo. In addition, Celexa causes side effects such as diarrhea, insomnia, hyperactivity.
The findings put into question the effectiveness of other similar antidepressants, says Dr. King.