Need help with meds and tics | ADHD Information

I was also wondering about anxiety. It seems like they came on when school started.

Is everything ok for him at school, no teasing or anything?

My son uses tenex, going on 5 years now. he is successful with it/because of it, along with concerta. he needs both meds to help his day be successful.

I highly recommend it because of our experience. He only takes 1 mg, but we started at half of one (you can break them in half )

God bless his little soul, that is a lot of tics going on.

How is he when he has not adhd meds at school?

some have used just the tenex/guanfacine because of tics. If he is NOT of the H in ADHD type, then strattera may also work for him.

Our son is VERY HHHHHH and needs a stimulant. He didn't work out on straterra, the depression side effect effected him.

Let us know how he is doing, please!! 

*Posted also in the medication forum*

My 10yo son was diagnosed ADHD Combined type almost two years ago. This is his med history: Concerta 18mg- not enough, Concerta 27mg- very angry and dark, Adderall(can't remember dose-heart palpations/glassy eyed, Ritalin LA- metabolized too fast. We finally found Daytrana. He started at 20mg, but was exhibiting anxious behaviors after a few months(picking), also started clearing his nose all of the time. We lowered the dose to 15mg, and he didn't take it this past summer. We started it back when school started, and he has developed new tics. Still has the nose clearing, but then developed eye rolling. Now he has developed a head tic, which is very frequent, and he opens and closes his mouth alot like he is trying to pop his ears. It really seems to be getting worse, and Thursday was bad. I happened to notice this at an assembly at his school, it was heartbreaking to watch.  So, Friday he went without meds and I talked to his psychiatrist.  He was not thrilled that we decided to stop the Daytrana. His feeling is that if the tics are not bothering the kid then why stop the med. His eyes bother him the most, they feel dry all of the time, and he says he always feels like he needs to pop his neck, hence the head tic. The Dr. said about all we can do is add the Tenex or clonidine. I asked about the Strattera and he said we can try that also, but I don't think it is his first choice.

He had a hard day at school on Friday, so this morning we gave him 10mg Ritalin to help get him through the afternoon while we were out. The tics returned, but not near as many as I saw on Thursday.

So, I guess I have to decide whether to try adding the Tenex or clonidine and trying that first, or going straight to Strattera. Even though I hate the thought of adding another drug, he has to be on something. I am concerned because I have read that Strattera is a second line drug that doesn't treat ypteractivity/impulsivity as well as it treats inattentiveness. I would hate to wait two months to see if it works only to have to go back to Daytrana with Tenex.  I am unsure what would be best. 

Any experience/thoughts/opinions are greatly appreciated.  

Thanks, Heather
Also, have the child checked for allergies and asthma. All that nose clearing and sinus/ear thing makes me wonder.

Strattera for me was great for sleeping, gaining weight, underlying depressive symptoms general moodiness and such. Did nothing for my attention span. It was hard to get on, and easy to get off.
I was just happy to be happy

I sometimes wonder if I'd been able to get a correct dose [long story] or boosted it with ritalin if it wouldn't have been the greatest stuff since tandoori chickens.

I'm on ritalin SR now and it's utterly useless.

Anything with tics would be off my list. Permanently
We use tenex in conjunction with Concerta.   It has helped reduce my daughter's tics - though not totally make them go away.  She is also a little more even keel and a little less anxious.   The combo works well for my daughter. 

The tenex does take 6-8 weeks to build up in their system to become effect for tics/anxiety.   You start at a low dose and work your way up.    We started at .5 mg in the evening, then added .5 in the AM.    She currently takes 1 mg in AM and PM.

Clonidine is similar to tenex.  It is more sedating of the two.

 
HorseMom39789.0126273148If the child has anxiety--you might want to try the Strattera. It really does work on a great many of the "non-focus" aspects of ADHD. Which might lead to a bit more focus from less background noise.

I couldn't get a high enough dose because my doc was begging it from Eli Lily [bless him] and I needed 100mg after I had a weight gain. I don't know what would have happened if I'd been able to get the correct dosage. I just know it was really good before the weight gain.