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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   3261 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 9, 2023

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I’m currently reading NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity. One thing the book mentions is that historically there were some people that thought certain supplements (specifically vitamins B and C) could help reduce the symptoms of Autism, but that the research was not done scientifically at all.

Are you aware of any research or clinical trials that use supplements/drugs to reduce autism symptoms?

In theory I think anxiolytic drugs would help a lot of the anxiety symptoms caused by having trouble with social cues, and the anxiety caused by uncertainty in the environment. However, my theory is that these drugs can’t be used routinely due to addiction/tolerance issues.

I could see how MDMA (or other entactogens) could cause autistic people to enjoy the company of people more and realize that they have social skills they aren’t usually aware of when sober.

I also think psychedelics combined with a guide could help. Someone could rewrite the story of themselves. They could come to accept that the downsides of autism are the price to pay for having very narrow extraordinary/special skills. Some inventors were likely on the autism spectrum and lived great lives despite being socially reclusive. Many people on the autism spectrum could be destined to make great discoveries or rise to the top of a profession if they focus on their special interests and overcome the disappointments that autism causes in other areas of their lives.

I also have a theory that some people on the autism spectrum do not feel many of the subjective effects of psychedelics.

Have you seen The Effectiveness of Cobalamin (B12) Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis?

The author of this blog https://www.epiphanyasd.com/ does a reasonable job keeping up with much of the published work in this area.

I know that Abilify is used to reduce feelings of irritation in Autistic people. But this is a general anti-psychotic drug and is also used by those with schizophrenia, BPD, depression, etc.

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