Taking the Mystery Out of Medications in Autism/Asperger's Syndromes [Paperback]

Luke Tsai M.D. (Author), Gary B Mesibov PH.D. (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

Although medication should always be a last resort, many people on the autism spectrum claim that medication has improved their lives significantly. But how can a parent decide which meds to choose or which to stay away from? Written by a doctor and father to a child with autism, this book provides the answers that parents and non-medical professionals need. Dr. Luke Tsai explains what medication therapy is, and gives you the knowledge to make informed choices. Learn what different medications do in the body, their side effects, and how to properly assess the results. An extremely helpful appendix provides sample medical forms, diagnostic tools, and a detailed glossary that you will refer to time and time again.

 

Helpful chapters include:

• The Autism Spectrum
• Your Right to Make Informed Decisions About Medication Therapy
• Pre-Medication Treatment Assessment
• General Principles of Medication Therapy
• Monitoring Medication Therapy
• Monitoring Side Effects
• Development of New Medications
• Psychotherapeutic Medications
• Generic Drugs
• Selecting Medications for Neuropsychiatric Disorders

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Not only does this book reflect great clinical skills, but it also reflects the caring attitude Luke has always brought to his work. One feels throughout the book the deep concern and respect that this caring physician has for his clients. The human side o f medicine is part of every problem and solution, and parents and professionals in the field will especially appreciate this emphasis."

 

“The book is also extremely articulate and comprehensive, reflecting the intelligence, scholarship, and hard work that the author has always put into his professional activities. Many medical and scientific theories and practices will become much clearer as the reader progresses through this logically developed and clearly presented information. The amount of knowledge and detail that is contained in every page is indeed impressive.”

From the foreword by Gary Mesibov, PhD, Professor and Director of TEACCH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 

About the Author

Luke Tsai, MD is a scholar, researcher, teacher and, most importantly, a father of a young man with autism. He received his medical degree from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan and completed his residency training in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Iowa Hospitals. Dr. Tsai is currently a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School. He also is founder and director of developmental disorders at the University of Michigan Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Tsai is consultant editor of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, is on the editorial board of Focus on Autistic Behavior, and on the Autism Society of America’s Panel of Professional Advisors. Dr. Tsai has received awards and honors for his work with individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders. His publications include more than 80 articles and 40 books or chapters. He continues to be a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally.

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Future Horizons (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885477805
• ISBN-13: 978-1885477804
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very comprehensive guide to autism medications, August 30, 2002

By 

Lars E. Perner (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taking the Mystery Out of Medications in Autism/Asperger's Syndromes (Paperback)

Luke Tsai has provided a very comprehensive, yet concise and readable guide to medications used to treat autism. The book clearly acknowledges limitations of medications and its potential for misuse and goes on to discuss clearly where particular types of medications may be useful. Parents and individuals with autism in particular need to be informed about medications since general practitioners and psychiatrists specializing in areas other than the autistic spectrum are often not well informed about the medical needs of those on the spectrum (e.g., in many cases, individuals with autism will respond to relatively doses of medications much lower than those needed to be effective in the general population).

The book is very well organized and contains a great deal readily accessible information. Tradeoffs and the role of medications in treatment are discussed along with the issue of comorbidity--the tendency of autism to coexist with other conditions--is discussed. Subsequently, medications that may be useful in different situations are discussed. For those interested, an appendix discussing the "big picture" of psychopharmacology is available. Another appendix summarizes uses, dosages, and administation of specific medications. The book does mention a number of technical terms so that the reader will be familiar with those as they crop up in other reading, but the book is genuinely readable and a very nice balance has been struck between comprehensiveness and conciseness. The book certainly lives up to its title in demystifying autism medications!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Balanced Approach, October 9, 2005

By 

Keith D. Thompson Jr. "jayjaycub" (Kissimmee, FL, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Taking the Mystery Out of Medications in Autism/Asperger's Syndromes (Paperback)

I have really appreciated the author's approach to this subject. Dr. Tsai does not appear biased in either direction when it comes to using medications to manage the complex moods and behaviors that can accompany autism spectrum disorders, but instead presents facts about the use of psychotropic and other medications, and how they may affect the austistic brain. Dr. Tsai allows readers to draw their own conclusions about how effective a drug may or may not be. In addition, this book includes a great primer on the way medications work in the human body. It will be a standard work for us when doctors suggest or prescribe medications for our autistic child.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book on meds, March 14, 2006

By 

Alison H. Stein (Elk Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taking the Mystery Out of Medications in Autism/Asperger's Syndromes (Paperback)

This book was recommended to me by a behaviorist. It is definitely a requirement if you are considering putting your spectrum child on medication. It is pretty easy to read and the medications are divided by type. It is a good reference to have on hand, especially at doctor's appointments.