My 9 year old son just started Concerta 18mg, and the first day, he started blinking his eyes. He is aware of it, and it is upsetting to him. Is this something that is likely to get worse, as he continues the medicince, or is it possible that it will eventually fade, even if he continues the med? He has been prone to getting tics anyway, even before starting meds, and they usually go away in 1-2 weeks. Prior to starting Concerta he was on Strattera, which did not work at all. If he has to discontinue the Concerta, what other options does he have? Thanks.
My daughter gets tics also. They may go away, but I doubt it. There are many, many stimulant options so you will have lots of choices if this doesnt work. My daughter did not get tics while taking Adderrall, we stopped it for other side effects, but a lot of people do really well. They may also keep him on it and treat the tics.You could try focalin (dexmethylphenidate) or the amphetamine based stims. You can also go with guanfacine for the tics and some of the ADHD symptoms and a lower dose of stimulant. Also later this yearm Shire should be getting approval from the FDA for thier long acting guanfacine for ADHD. Check out the Tenex thread on the medication board for the most information.
The point is that there are options. With the tics, it will take some extra trial to get to the best treatment for your son.
vickie39202.372962963Thanks for the info. If we switch from Concerta to Aderall, doesn't take a few weeks for the tic to subside after changing meds? I feel so badly that my son is aware of the tic and feels like he wants to stop it. It is so hard to see your child go through this process of getting the right med and dose.
It can, you may not know right away. My daughter went from Focalin to a tricyclic antidepressant the first bout with tics. It did take a few weeks. This time, I added Clonidine and skipped her Rtialin a c ouple of days and she has stopped.