Focalin XR and Tics? | ADHD Information
My son developed tics after a year on Focalin XR in the morning and a small dose of Focalin in the afternoon. We found it odd since he has been on it for a while and NOW these tics developed. He started shrugging his shoulders, shaking his head or moving his head from side to side, peering around the room for bugs since he has also developed an irrational fear of insects now, etc...Once school was over, we stopped the medication under the Psychiatrists' advice, and have noticed these tics have stopped but the fear of insects do remain, but not as much. He has a new appointment around the 19th so we definitely will need a change since we don't want him on Focalin and a mood stabilizer. It sucks since Focalin worked so well for him, but we just can't see him with these tics. He is almost 8 years old. He has been in almost every elementary school in his prior school district since once he became unbearable, he was shipped to a new school for a "better program"...yeah right. As of last year we moved to a totally new and better school district and what a change!! No switching schools, only to go to a temporary behavioral program which did not help, so he remained in his wonderful school, where they worked with him everyday and with us, maintaining the communication lines open. We are blessed with the people at this new school. During baseball season I enrolled my son in Challenger Baseball in Cherry Hill, NJ where any disabled child (no matter how severe or not) can play for free, no matter where they live. It was the best thing for him. He got to play with other children and learned that anyone can play no matter if you are in a wheelchair or not. It was a learning experience for him and he enjoyed every minute of it. I found out about this program through monthly meetings given by the school district for Special Education information.
My son had tics pre-medication. He was a sniffler. Possibility of Tourette's Syndrome (common ib boys, can emerge around 6-7) I was told that a tic has to present for a full year, as there is no definative test for TS. He was adopted at birth, so we have gaps in his medical history. We started him on Strattera, which is supposed NOT to cause tics. His became worse and new ones emerged (facial grimaces) Took him off it and tried focalin, now on focalin SX (just upped to 10mg after 5 months of 5mg) He has been on clonidine for a year, which works to suppress tics. We see some twirling, but that is it. Oddly enough I am the only one who seems to notice his tics. Ask others who spend time with your child if they notice anything. All meds work differently on different kids. not challening momsadhdboy, but a tic can occur only a few times a day. We've been dealing with tics for over 4 years now to different degrees. My daughter most common tics are an eye blink and an eye roll. Some meds cause her to tic constantly some only occasionally, like a few times a day and only for a few days. Tics wax and wane. If her tics were only occasional like that though, we left it alone, we only switched meds when they were significant. They are annoying to her when they happen all the time. She isnt suffering right now and I'm not sure if she's outgronw it or it's our med regimen or both. Transient tic disorders are not uncommon in kids, on or not on stimulant meds and will go away at a certain age.Thanks for everyone's responses! I think I was probably over-reacting. I've seen an occasional eye twitch (maybe 3 times total in 3 weeks.) So I think I'll stop worrying. He sees the Doc today. I'll see what she says...I wouldn't call doing something a tic if it's happening only once a day or it happened only on one day. If you're concerned, call the dr. IMO, I wouldn't worry about carefully watching for tics. If it's there, I think you'll notice it w/o looking for it.I had issues with my son on Concerta. He was developing tics: clearing throat, eye blinking, and sniffing. He was doing these more and more the longer he was on concerta to the point other kids in class were starting to complain about the noise.
I felt so bad for him. I had the dr switch him to Strattera, and he tics slowly went away. Its bad enough having ADHD issues but then having the other kids complain! I am SO glad I asked for the meds to be switched.
Jsquared, good luck to you and let us know the outcome!
[QUOTE=Diane V]not challening momsadhdboy, but a tic can occur only a few times a day. We've been dealing with tics for over 4 years now to different degrees. My daughter most common tics are an eye blink and an eye roll. Some meds cause her to tic constantly some only occasionally, like a few times a day and only for a few days. Tics wax and wane. If her tics were only occasional like that though, we left it alone, we only switched meds when they were significant. They are annoying to her when they happen all the time. She isnt suffering right now and I'm not sure if she's outgronw it or it's our med regimen or both. Transient tic disorders are not uncommon in kids, on or not on stimulant meds and will go away at a certain age.[/QUOTE]
I think we're agreeing w/ each other, and Diane, I never take anything you say as challenging me anyway. I have the utmost respect for you! In the op, she said that her child had eye blinking just one day and then said that he was making a gulping sound once per day. That's to what I was referring when I said, "I wouldn't call doing something a tic if it's happening only once a day or it happened only on one day." You know a lot more about tics than I do, Diane. Can it be a tic if it's just once a day?
I didn't think to bring up this point until now. People with ADHD sometimes make odd sounds. There's at least one thread on the Parenting Children With ADHD board about this. My child did this a lot before he started meds, and he still sometimes does it when the meds aren't in his system. So, when evaluating if there are tics, I'd also make sure you look when it's happening (when meds are in system vs. when they aren't).
Now that I think about it, the occasional eye twitch has happened when the meds had worn off in the evening. The gulping sound has been more random. But we all know that 5 year olds can make some different noises at times![QUOTE=Jsquared]But we all know that 5 year olds can make some different noises at times![/QUOTE]
LOL! My 8 year old is going through the burping, arm farts (that lovely armpit noise), etc. Yup, it's the age and has nothing to do w/ ADHD.
oh yes they all make noises....most of them unpleasant 
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I guess it doesnt matter all THAT much. I wouldnt get too worked up over an ocassional "tic" or non tic, you're probably not going to do anything about it anyway. I see your point of referring to the noises, but I think mostly tics caused by stimualtn meds are going to be motor tics not vocal. Of course a LOT of people are going to tell you stims dont cause tics 
........I'm going to leave that one alone, those of you that know or story....................
my daughter has had tics from some of the meds. If she had the occasional eye blink, who cares we did nothing, but some caused her to blink so hard her whole face scrunched up and it happened a LOT. Like off and on but every couple of minutes. That wasnt liveable for us. Other tics she's had were jumping, she'd just jump for no reason, compulsive scratching, rubbing her nose........Anyway only worry if it's bothersome.
We are now using Strattera and Metadate (ER) and no tics. The metadate is a stimulant. Other stims have mostly all casued tics to some degree, but for sure some are worse than others.