side effects? | ADHD Information

Hi, my son is ADHD. We switched to Adderall XR 10MG. Since we have switched last Nov., he does this thing with his eyes. He shuts them real tight for a second or two. He says that his eyes are dry. I asked his doctor about it and he said that it could be a tick. I don't know if the medicine could cause ticks. I don't know if his eyes are really dry from the medicine or what. Should I have him start using visine? Has anyone had this type of reaction to this medicine or ADHD? Please help me. Thank you. Brendahis eyes arent dry. My daughter had the same tic, she also said it was dry eyes and not knowing any better at the time, we tried visine. It wasnt dry eyes it was a tic. It continued to get worse and we stopped stims. Tics got better. We went back on stims last year, blinking started agian the very same day. They continued to worsen and in June I stopped stims again. Watch it, if it gets worse or is bothering him, ask to switch meds.Adderall, actually any stims can cause Tics. Sometimes it is necessary to change meds. Stims can cause tics; however, doctors are of differing opinions about whether medication-induced tics can become permanent or not. Ours gave us some malarkey about "the stims just uncover tendancies that were already there."  Well, the buried and unmanifested urge to grunt is a completely different thing than the manifested tic; I mean, it's like Mel Gibson's racism. If he had never gotten drunk and let it spill out, who would know it was there?  Anyway, if I were you I would watch the situation closely, consult with your doctor, and read, read, read about stim tics.

 

Thank you, I have not heard of that medicine. I will ask about it. Brenda

We had the same problem with tics while on Adderral (constantly blinking) and dd also had a problem with constant throat clearling - we had to stop using it.  Once we stopped, the tics went away.My son developed a crazy cough, throat-clearing tick after being on methylphenidate-based meds for several years.  Out of the blue, after 4 years.  He was taking a huge dose of Focalin XR (40 mg) in the morning and  10 mg. IR Focalin in the afternoon.  He needs the meds, though, we have to tolerate it.

Interestingly, he did NOT do it at school, or at church.  He would stifle it in public, but boy, when we got home he made up for lost time.

We tried Daytrana earlier this summer.  At first the tic went away totally.  Hooray!!  Then it started up, though not as severe.

Now we're trying Vyvanse (new doc) and the tic is still there but not quite as bad as it has been in the past, seems stable.

We may try adderall next, the vyvanse doesn't seem to give him great coverage and we have to give him Dexedrine in the afteroon, which isn't that effective, either. 

Since the tic doesn't show in public (meaning he can control it, always has) and we're the only ones who suffer, we just yell at him occasionally to stop it already and live with it.  The meds help him be successful in school, and somewhat help him control himself with 3 other siblings.  It's a trade off.  He has to take stimulant meds.  Strattera was an expensive 2 year experiment.  (paired with stims)  The Strattera did nothing for him.

Not a perfect situation but he could not live here without being on medication.
< ="text/">_popupControl(); It's really best not to yell at a child for tics.  Although many people w/ tics are able to suppress their tics for a period of time, eventually, they must come out...Just like blinking.  You can't stop your blinks forever.  Eventually, you have to blink.  No one has long term control over tics and suppression actually takes a lot of concentration & energy.  Stress (from being told to stop the tics) and fatigue can lead to an increase in tic symptoms.

[QUOTE=MamaBear]It's really best not to yell at a child for tics.  Although many people w/ tics are able to suppress their tics for a period of time, eventually, they must come out...Just like blinking.  You can't stop your blinks forever.  Eventually, you have to blink.  No one has long term control over tics and suppression actually takes a lot of concentration & energy.  Stress (from being told to stop the tics) and fatigue can lead to an increase in tic symptoms.[/QUOTE]

 

I totally agree, yelling at a child for a tic is like yelling at a dog for barking. They can control it at times, but then it's just got to come out. I know alot of adults with Tourettes, and they can control tics in public, at work etc, but when they get home...not a chance. Yelling at hime for Ticking could be detrimental to his overall mental health.

mamabears right, yelling at a child for tics will increase the tics. As anxiety increases, tics increase.Thank you very much for the info. We are going to his doctor this friday and I am having him switch his meds. I will keep a close eye on any new tics or activities that happen. I had no idea that tics could come from ADHD meds. Thank you!! BrendaJust a suggestion but Focalin (still a stim) has been known to cause less side effects including tics. Talk to your doc as this definatly sounds like a tic and there are many other options out there.my son, ADHD - impulsive and inattentive, developed throat clearing tic at one point. However, it only lasted a few months. He is on 54mg of concerta. As of right now I don't see anything in forms of a tic but he stills plays with his hands a lot - they seemed to have to be doing something productive but that is about it. He is a lot happier now on meds and which he has been on a little over a year. My theory is his anxiety has dimished and his self esteem has improved that tics are less of an issue now. He can focus on just being a kid!! Two of my sons have ADHD and are on medication. Both have done wonderful with meds as far as focusing and grades went from failing to A's and B's! Unfortunately one ended up with tics from Concerta and when it was discontinued the tics were so bad he couldn't sit still. He then was started on Adderral XR and now once again has begun with tics. I am calling the doctor to see if there is anything else we can do because seeing this on two different meds is scary. It makes me wonder what else this med is doing to the central nervous system.

my daughter had terrible tics from stimulant meds. Concerta being the worst for her. She has actually done very well the past two years on Strattera. It is non stimulant and less likely to increase tics. We add a low dose stimulant to it, but we are able to keep her dose at 10-20mg of Methylin ER and she has no tics.

How old is he? Tics tend to emerge around age 9 and if they are transient tics will probably start to disappear early-mid teens. He may have gotten tics with/or without the meds. I saw a dramatic decrease with my daughter when not on stimulants though.

I feel for you, we fought that battle for many years