I do not have an issue with meds if they are needed but if this was not something your child was doing before and they were happy leaving the house then I would be looking for the trigger to see if I could correct the issue.

If you know what it is you can slowly get your child to adapt by breaking the activity into small steps and use the reward system to back it up, that is classic ABA. Now if that does not work and there are other issues with behavior or self injuries then a combination of meds and ABA are required.

Trust me we avoided meds as long as we could with our daughter but she was hurting herself and us and was melting down a lot so by almost 4 she was on them. Now we did not drug her to be a zombie we just used what she needed and she has had a better quality of life since then.

One thing I will mention about the meds is that I understand people being resistant to them because of development but ASD children have developmental issues already that is why they are the way they are so there are not going to be NT anyway and taking meds us not going to stop a process that is broken anyway. Next is that if your child was diabetic and needed insulin or had a seizure disorder you would not hold off giving them meds for it. Our children have a medical condition that has to be helped and parents of children on the high side of the spectrum do not have to deal with the things a child on the low side put themselves or us through.

I am not saying they do not understand because they have an ASD child so they have struggles like the rest of us but it is not the same. I can tell you having a child on both sides I do different things for them and do not deal with them the same way

My concern with meds at 3 yrs. old? His brain is still growing/developing. Is your ABA therapist private duty? Does she know you started meds? If your ABA therapist is through the school your son may not be getting quality therapy. All schools want your kids on drugs. It's easier for them. A private duty ABA therapist would want to work on this with you. Drugs are a very last resort with qualified, certified, ABA therapist regardless of experience. That's the point of ABA THERAPY instead of drug therapy. With some children when ABA is started some things can get off track in the beginning.We had been having ABA in our home for a few months. I remember with my son almost 3 yrs. old. I opened the door one day for us to go out to the store. It was raining. Him standing in front of me. All of a sudden he stretched his hands out & grabbed both sides of the frame to the door, turned looked at me with such a scared look, grabbed my leg and screamed once which turned into crying immediately. Me not knowing what in the world happened. I picked him up and we headed back up the foyer. Got him clam down, did something's around the house and again. Opened the door & he did it again. I just picked him up covered him & to the car we went. He was okay until we got out of car in rain. Okay in store. Rain had stopped when we went back to car. He had been out in rain many times. Next time I opened door when it was raining. It happened again. I didn't connect it until later that night when it was time for his bath. God put it on my heart to put him in the shower. He didn't really care for it but didn't have meltdown either. Yes, I was worried he would slip & fall. He was so little. I just put my bathing suit on and we took a few showers that way. Then it was showers with me standing outside, curtain opened, holding on to him. Talking about the way he acted in the rain. He has been taking showers ever since. The behavior turned to just not liking to go out in the the rain but, willing. I had to talk him thur the rain for a few years. Tell him things like, the whole world is taking a shower, god is washing the trees. He also started to get anxious when people came over. There were a few things. Just gotta work thru them. Yes, I know it is a lot of work! My son is non verbal, doesn't sign or use a device. He is now 18. I know it's a long hard road without drugs. It is so worth it though. I didn't have any family or friends to help. I still don't.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
I am not saying your son doesn't need medicine. I am not saying anything negative here. Just wondering about your ABA because your son is three and my son is 18. I have been in your shoes kinda. I can't say in your shoes because everyone of our children are different. We here at MAT are all on your side. To help & support each-other in whatever way we can.
Your a good Mother! God gives special children to special mommies. I will be praying 4 U
.

@A MyAutismTeam Member
First let me say, you are his Mother and nobody knows him like you! Nobody loves him like you!
As for Tenex, I only know of one person where I live that has her 12 year old on it. He started it when he was 9 or 10. It has done wonders for him and there whole family life. They just have to check his blood on a regular basis. Some medicine require monitoring of the blood.
Here you will find a lot of support, information and love. Just go with God and your gut feelings. You can't go wrong there. :)
I never thought my son would be on medication myself. Boy was I wrong!! He was traumatized the first year in high school. Add puberty to that and bam! He is now 18 and taking Oxtellar. We went through a couple of meds last year that didn't work for him. This is a seizure medication that's time released. It's fairly new.

Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,
" This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
God Bless,
Needie

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A MyAutis...

@A MyAutismTeam Member
Here's something I noticed with trying the meds for Michael.
If I mentioned it to teachers or therapist, they would right away make comments about it.
Exp. He seemed more agitated or hyper. Or more focused. The meds hadn't had time to affect him. They were just looking for some excuse for his behavior being different that day. When meds were removed they didn't seem to notice because I didn't tell them. So I learned to keep it to myself unless, something was said to me first. Then I would tell them. I figured if they were noticing the same the thing I was. But didn't know about meds then it was probably on target.
Even when I changed the dose. Kept it to myself but, kept close tab on him. Calling the school to check on him. Other then school he's with me all the time. We have no family or friends in to get a break from one another. Outside of school 10:00 am - 3:00 4 days a week. It's okay for me . Maybe not for him being a teenager now.
Anyway just thought I'd mention the not mentioning of meds at first. See what kind of response
You get.
I remember the early years. Very time consuming!! No sleep. Lost to the world and family not on board. Hold on to God. You can and will get through this. Your son is going to do great things! The love that you and he share is like none other. The day is coming when he will walk up to you and out of the blue. Say, "I love you" no prompt. Totally independent! This happened to me. There are plenty of parent here at MAT that have experienced this too.
Come to MAT for support or just to vent. We all pray for you and want to help. We also want to hear about the mild stones. Nothing too small to share here.
Peace be yours and your little one.
Needie

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A MyAutis...

I hope so I didnt see this coming so abrubtly changes and added anxiety to everything even things he loves. Im scared of meds for young kid doesnt communicate well but i do want him to be comfortable and able to get most he can from his many therapies. Its early on who can say this will be right for him or not but atleast low dose dr monitoring closely with barely no side effects just unsure if it is helping in the areas we need help. Watch see pray for best! Thanks for your thoughts.