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Comment by PaulHoule | Hacker News Reader

Anti-epilepsy drugs are frequently similar to benzodiazepines and other "downers" in that they tend to "switch off" all kinds of behaviors. I'm sure the average autist who took three Klonopin would be laying down appearing to be asleep and wouldn't be exhibiting "autistic behaviors" for a day or so.

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You should do some research on the drug they’re actually citing, Lamictal (lamotragine), if this is the impression you have/share with others.

It in no way is a “downer”, and is often given semi-offlabel interchangeably with standard SSRIs for depression. Also the article quotes $3/pill but is widely available as generic for < $.10/pill.

If this deeply studied—in humans—and readily accessible drug provides an option for those who seek treatment, wonderful.

You may be right. According to Wikipedia: "Lamotrigine is a member of the sodium channel blocking class of antiepileptic drugs" and "Lamotrigine does not have pronounced effects on any of the usual neurotransmitter receptors that anticonvulsants affect (adrenergic, dopamine D1 and D2, muscarinic, GABA, histaminergic H1, serotonin 5-HT2, and N-methyl-D-aspartate)"

Funny thing, it is probably not going to work in many people with autism anyway. Or work in a way where the side effects are worse than the "mild autism".

Hence, it needs to be actually phase 2 trialled properly for this indication.

If the indication requires a genetic test beforehand, that's a minor ethical problem right there, in terms of privacy.

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