June 4/Cleveland/eMaxHealth -- Behavior problems in children with autism are a frequent occurrence, and they can have a significant negative impact on a child's ability to adjust and function well at home, school, and in other social settings. Although treatment with drugs is one way to manage behavior problems in autism, another may be a common antioxidant.
The antioxidant is N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is used both as a prescription drug and as a dietary supplement. In the former category, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved NAC as a treatment of acetaminophen overdose. Clinical studies have shown that NAC can treat other toxic conditions as well, including drug-induced liver toxicity and toxicity from chemotherapy and radiation therapy.