Maya's parents state she becomes irritable and aggressive in response to sensory challenges and changes in routine. They are interested in learning about all of the available options to support her safety and well-being. The nurse anticipates providing education on which medications that are FDA-approved for irritability in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?

A. Administer Adderall to the child just prior to bedtime to reduce nausea: Giving Adderall at bedtime can cause insomnia and exacerbate sleep disturbances due to its stimulant properties. Timing should avoid interfering with nighttime sleep.

B. Adderall must be titrated to a therapeutic dose for it to work properly: While careful titration is important to find an effective dose with minimal side effects, the primary education point for parents involves proper timing and administration rather than dose adjustment alone. Titration is done under physician supervision.

C. Administer Adderall to the child after breakfast: Adderall should be given in the morning, preferably after breakfast, to reduce gastrointestinal upset and prevent insomnia. Morning administration aligns with the child’s active hours and supports attention and behavior during school or daytime activities.

D. If one dose of Adderall is missed, double the next dose: Doubling a missed dose increases the risk of adverse effects such as hypertension, tachycardia, and agitation. Missed doses should be skipped or taken as directed by the healthcare provider without doubling.

A. "This medication delays the destruction of dopamine, a chemical in the brain necessary for memory processes. Although most effective in the early stages, it serves to delay, but not stop, the progression of the AD.": Rivastigmine does not primarily affect dopamine; it targets acetylcholine, which is critical for memory and cognition. Dopamine modulation is more relevant to Parkinson’s disease treatments.

B. "This medication encourages production of NMDA, a chemical in the brain necessary for memory processes. It delays the progression of the disease.": NMDA receptors are involved in glutamate signaling, not directly increased by rivastigmine. This description more closely relates to NMDA antagonists like memantine rather than cholinesterase inhibitors.

C. "This medication encourages production of acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain necessary for memory processes. It delays the progression of the disease.": Rivastigmine inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine rather than stimulating its production. The mechanism preserves existing neurotransmitter levels to improve cognitive function.

D. "This medication delays the destruction of acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain necessary for memory processes. Although most effective in the early stages, it serves to delay, but not stop, the progression of the AD.": Rivastigmine is a cholinesterase inhibitor that prevents acetylcholine breakdown. This enhances cholinergic neurotransmission, helping maintain cognitive function temporarily, but it does not cure Alzheimer’s disease.