Fluoxetine X risperidone: the drug treatment of RRB in pediatric patients with ASD

*Correspondence: [e-mail].

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the second of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. This disorder is defined by persistent deficits in social functioning and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). Research on pediatric autistic patients who progress with worst symptoms of RRB and receive efficient drug therapy to improve their quality of life is scarce. Furthermore, these types of drug treatments are difficult adherence in children. In this hypothesis, the patient and the family's insertion is important for resolving the framework.

Objective: To differentiate the quality and effectiveness of drug treatment between risperidone and fluoxetine in ASD pediatric patients with RRB.

Methods: This is a systematic review, quantitative studies that examined RRB in autistic children birth age 0 through age 18. From the published literature, 52 journal articles were identified and included in this review only 14 with 16 duplicates and 22 excluded. Eligible studies were located through a search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and LILACS using the following keywords and roots.

Results: After taking fluoxetine doses for varying lengths of time, the 568 patients experienced positive effects and side effects like disturbed sleep, diarrhea, vomiting, agitation and irritability, and activation symptoms. Soon, 2391 who used risperidone had good results and some of these children had adverse effects like weight gain, insomnia, and hypertension. During the long-term use of this medication, hyperprolactinemia and gynecomastia were noted. Furthermore, when compared with a placebo, risperidone improved social behaviors and non-verbal communication and decreased obsessive compulsion. Thus, patients using risperidone obtained better scores on assessment scales. Additionally, one of the studies involved 10 children, 3 of whom showed no changes when risperidone withdrawal was indicated, and 7 of whom showed no symptoms after stopping risperidone treatment. Researchers have not found that fluoxetine has completely remission patients' symptoms in studies.

Conclusion: Our synthesis of the literature suggests that differences in RRB treatment in ASD pediatric patients are evident. The findings of this study indicate that each individual requires a unique and personalized approach, emphasizing patient and family education, in order to achieve adherence and correct use of the first line of treatment, antipsychotics, preferable risperidone, for the shortest period of time and dose possible.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2025