Antipsychotics and Autism Ranking:

Cost and Time

Cost

In the UK antipsychotics are available free of charge to patients within the NHS. In other countries the costs may be covered by some insurance policies.

For the latest information on costs please see BNF (British National Formulary) and BNF for Children.

Time

Some autistic people may be prescribed antipsychotics to help them at times of crisis or to help them overcome a particular challenging behaviour. Other people may be prescribed antipsychotics for longer periods.

NICE (2013) recommends that you should review the effectiveness and any side effects of the medication after 3–4 weeks and stop treatment if there is no indication of a clinically important response at 6 weeks.

Parental/carer involvement in the use of antipsychotics is minimal since the autistic person usually takes them once a day.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Nov 2016

Next Review

01 Mar 2023