Brief report: retrospective case series of oxcarbazepine for irritability/agitation symptoms in autism spectrum disorder

J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 May;43(5):1243-7. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1661-2.

Abstract

We examined response to oxcarbazepine prescribed for irritability/agitation symptoms in a retrospective case series of 30 patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The average patient was 12.0 years old (range 5-21) and taking two other psychotropic medications (range 0-4). Fourteen patients (47 %) had a clinical global impression of improvement score of 'much improved' during treatment. Ten patients (33 %) showed an improvement on their clinical global impression of severity score. Seven patients (23 %) had a clinically significant adverse event or side effect leading to oxcarbazepine discontinuation. Without a placebo group, it is not possible to evaluate whether oxcarbazepine provides benefit for irritability/agitation symptoms in ASD. The high rate of adverse events suggests its use should be accompanied by caution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Carbamazepine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Carbamazepine / pharmacology
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / complications
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / drug therapy*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Irritable Mood / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Agitation / complications
  • Psychomotor Agitation / drug therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • oxcarbamazepine
  • Carbamazepine