As parents clamor for a treatment touted for autism, doctors hesitate to prescribe it

Link to the original NPR article

[...]

Mainstream medicine's reaction

Many doctors struggle with what to do about the demand for a drug once far outside the orbit of autism care, says Dr. Sarah Mohiuddin, who directs the Multidisciplinary Autism Program at Michigan Medicine.

Uncertainty has lingered after last fall's announcement, even after major medical associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Coalition of Autism Scientists said they do not recommend the drug for autism, citing insufficient evidence to support its use.

Most health systems issued similar guidance. Others like Kaiser Permanente and Oregon Health and Science University have stated that their providers will not prescribe the drug until more research is done on its safety and effectiveness.

Leucovorin is generally considered a safe medication. And Mohiuddin said if patients use it briefly, it "most likely" won't cause harm. But the drug's safety profile hasn't been established in children with autism. And no data exists on long-term use of the drug for longer than six months in that patient population, Mohiuddin noted.

[...]

Read the entire article on NPR's website.