@Ferris - I respect your opinions and beliefs about using natural supplements. We have gone through EVERYTHING, with both our children some works, others don't. Currently he is taking about 8-10 different supplements (Zn, Mg, co-enzyme Q-10, Yeast-aid, multi-vitamins, pro-biotics, methacobolomine, etc, etc) Also he is Gluten/caesin/soy free, and we rub Emu oil on him twice a day (crazy as it sounds, this has helped both our children since it supplies them with Omegas 3&6). This should absolutely be the first step.... but what do you do when none of that works...

Remember, we're talking about a spectrum of children, and one size does not fit all. You of course are correct that there are dangers and possible side-effects to all medications, even over the counter meds that have been around for decades, which is why we need to ensure we try proven natural remedies first, and if there is still no significant improvement, slowly introduce new medications under careful supervision (once you've weighed the risks and decided it's what's right for you).

If you saw my son before the meds and after, it is the difference between a wild animal and a typical, maybe slightly over-active, 6 year-old. He is much more aware of what is around him, more communicative, has lost almost all of his rigidities and anxieties etc. I can not say enough how the right medications DRASTICALLY improved all aspects of him.

My 12 year old was diagnosed at age 6. He was on Clonodine for about 3 years to help with the hyperactivity. It is a light sedative used for heart patients and ADHD. (My son is not ADHD). It did help a lot, especially at bed time and with no side effects. However, as he got older and they couldn't increase the dosage any higher, they suggest stimulant medications. Well, having experienced the extreme end of bad things that can happen with my oldest, I opted to drop the meds. I will tell you that at 10 when we took him off of them he was actually okay. Now, at 12, he does have moments where he feels the need to run in circles and make funny noises, but for short moments. He does sit through school and through most other things and is manageable in public. He is also Bi-Polar, so most of these moments are manics, not hyperactive moments. Overall, it is possible that as he grows emotionally and has therapy, access to peer behaviors, and a larger group of teachers instructing behavior, he should have less of these moments. Also, at 4 years old a lot of what he is doing is typical for the age. Don't make the mistake of attributing everything to autism or anything other than age behaviors.

Your son may benefit from a personal trampoline. My son does the jumping and running and we were told to try one because he may crave deep tissue pressure,and sure enough he calmed down, no medications needed. He was 3 when we got it he is 4 1/2 now. He absolutely loves it. We love it because after a week of teaching him to use it, to calm down he could do it himself and he was happier which in turn calmed me.

I saw all the posts and they all mentioned medication but only a few what medications. I was against it, but I'm his mom,a and he can't sit still, hums, grunts, vocal stimiing, spitting, making up P words and he jumps and runs and crashes into things and I feel awful and can't imagine what he is feeling on the inside that he needs to do this and I can't make him feel better. I just want to help him feel better. I know nothing about medication, I can tell you that his tolerance is high and the cough syrup won't help him sleep and the dr out him on Resipridone and said it make him drowsy, no way! Never sleeps. What's Melatonin? What helps anxiety? Or to calm down and concentrate, I try the OT calming down activities they don't work, he hums and talks nonsense and I don't think he knows he does it, he spits out words I don't know and I ask him and he has no clue. I am thinking of switching Dr's she is supposed to be the best but I don't like her. She is on the money but idk. I want my son to feel better.

My son is the same way he is very hyper