My nephew is an adorable10 year old who has Tourettes and is suffering horribly from tics. They are severe and constant. He has missed so much school because of his tics that he has chosen to repeat fifth grade next year. His self-esteem is really low and he has found it difficult to make and keep good friends. Could anyone please give me some advice on treatment, both conventional and alternative? I don't know what meds he is on currently but whatever they are they are not working. His parents (my brother and his wife) have found a therapist that my nephew sees regularly and also take him to a special massage therapist. I know that they have tried acupuncture. I'm not sure how effective that was (don't know if they only tried it once or if he is going regularly but his tics are still really bad so I'm assuming it didn't work immediately). I read one of the other threads about tourettes and meds and one person said,

"I went to a seminar on Tourettes In January 2003. One of the things that they talked about is that if a person as Tourettes and other conditions as well, it is important to treat the disorder that is worse before actually treating the TS. For example, if you have OCD and ADHD, and your OCD causes you more problems than your ADHD or your Tourettes, it is best to treat the OCD"

I'm almost certain my nephew has add and a mood disorder but his parents have been reluctant to accept this so he is not treated for either.

Is there something that has worked for you or someone you know with severe tics? PLEASE write to me and share. I am interested in finding anything that works, conventional or alternative.
Thank you!

Well the classic medication I read for tourettes syndrome is Haldol. Other medications that I've seen used for tourettes are Orap and Risperdal. These medications work by blocking action of dopamine in the brain. Most likely risperdal would be used (if possible) because of a lower side effect profile compared to haldol and orap. I've read somewhere of zyprexa being used for tic disorders but zyprexa can cause substantial weight gain. I've read few cases of the newer atypical antipsychotic abilify work in some cases, but that's a hit or miss.

Personally, when I got tics I started on clonidine, and it worked very well. I was on a low dose of 0.05mg twice a day. Clonodine is a high blood pressure medication but has been used for both tourettes and adhd with varying success.

The best bet would be to speak with a doctor about this as I'm not a qualified professional on psychiatry. If there is adhd in combination with tourettes stimulants can still be used but could aggervate tics.

Good Luck to you.

I have in the past used both orap and clonidine. They worked, but I was very drowsy. I think that the theory of stimulants causing more tics in Tourette patients is generally not as widely believed anymore. I certainly don't experience an increase in tics while using either adderall or ritalin.

I believe OCD and tourettes are often co-morbid if im not mistaken so yah it would make sense to treat the OCD and see if that has any positive effects on his TS. I have a good deal of OCD symptoms and frankly I feel like I have always been a hairs edge from having TS. JUST enough awareness to stop myself from shouting things out because of constant infuriating spikes of intense anxiety/impulses.
Get him involved in trying a musical instrument. For folks with TS music is often a great reliever of symptoms and can be a great confidence builder. I received the top honors every year I was in band.
Ironically, when I started adderall I felt a lot of my musical talent and 'natural feel for music' disappear. I still take adderall because it helps so much with my social anxiety disorder. Much like adderall sometimes reduces tics in those with TS the loss of creative energy I feel on adderall seems paradoxical due to adderall's tendency to raise dopamine levels. Clearly there is some deeper chemical processes taking place which we don't understand.

Thanks you guys for sharing all of this with me. If only my brother was more willing to discuss some of this with me he might take my suggestions and use them. But, unfortunately he is very guarded when it comes to issues about my nephew. I completely understand why, but it would be great if he would listen to some suggestions. I'm not a parent so I can only imagine having someone give you suggestions is like having someone saying to you hey dumb ***, don't you know how you should be raising your kid. Not my intention at all but there it is.

Anyway, thanks again.
Jackers

These are not in any particular order:

clonidine, tenex, risperdal, abilify , prozac (SSRI's in general) are all known to help people with tic disorders


Me :D

Thanks for that info. I don't mean to pry... well, yes I guess I do, but obviously you don't have to share...do you have Tourettes or a tic disorder? Is that how you know about these meds?

I noticed you are from Washinton DC. That's were I grew up and lived until 2 years ago when I moved to the west coast. I am very jealous of you for being there, I'm quite home sick these days. I miss my big, beautiful city (Olympia, Wa where I am now is like Mayberry). But I don't miss the humidity in the warmer months, that's for sure.

Thanks,
Jackers

Well, I talked to my brother with some success. He shared with me that my nephew is currently taking clonidine and tenex and I think something else but I can't remember. All I know is these are not working for him AT ALL! I took my nephew to the movies yesterday and his tics were so bad! He was convulsing violently and gasping for air every couple of minutes through the whole movie. It stressed me out so bad to see him suffering like that. But he is so brave, he didn't seem embarassed or anything. I asked him if he was ok at one point and he said he was. How he made it through the movie I have no idea, I would have wanted to leave if I was experiencing what he was. It was really bad and all I kept thinking is how can there not be a med out there, or a doctor for that matter, that can help him? I can't stand the idea that he will go through his life like this, it's so unfair!!