The secret’s out about a trendy autism treatment — now it may be impossible to find
Leucovorin, a supportive care drug, has gained popularity as a treatment for autism, leading to a significant increase in prescriptions. The drug, which may help improve communication and reduce hyperactivity in children with autism, has become difficult for parents to obtain due to high demand. Despite its popularity, leucovorin is not officially approved for autism spectrum disorder by the FDA.
- ▪Leucovorin prescriptions increased by over 2,000% in three years due to media attention and public endorsements.
- ▪A clinical trial found that one-third of young participants with autism showed significant improvements when taking leucovorin.
- ▪Doctors are struggling to meet the demand for leucovorin, with some unable to schedule new patients until 2028.
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Medicine The secret’s out about a trendy autism treatment — now it may be impossible to find By Rachel Sacks Published May 18, 2026, 4:52 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google It’s a dose of disappointment. A supportive care drug that may help ease hyperactivity and improve speech and communication in children with autism has become so popular that desperate parents may have trouble getting their hands on it. Leucovorin — a reduced form of folate or vitamin B9, an essential nutrient our bodies can’t make on their own — took center stage last fall when the White House touted it as an “amazing” treatment for autism. With autism affecting about 1 in 31 children, many parents are trying to get a treatment that’s recently spiked in popularity.
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