Facial tics | ADHD Information

We raise our 8-year-old grandson, who has been on ADHD meds for years. But recently, within the last month, he has developed a facial tick - twitches between the lip and eye on his right side only. Nothing changed with respect to meds, except that we stopped the Wellbutrin for a brief period, then resumed. We had hoped he did not need it, but it appeared he did. He is also on Adderall XR 30 mg. This was not discontinued. I'm wondering if the tic was caused by the stoppage and reintroduction of the Wellbutrin. I've got zero experience with tics, and it seems very odd for a child to be on ADHD meds for 4-5 years, then suddently have a tic appear.

like you, my sons ticking came out of no where.

he has been on adderall xr for 1 year and seven months and suddenly out of the blue with no warm up period to speak of, he started ticking like nuts on new years day. he does this very exagerated frown where you can even see the muscles contracting in his neck.

we discontinued the meds for this week and glad to see its slowed down to a few times a day. i speak to our doctor on monday for follow-up advise. 

would that only happen with adderall XR? or could it happen with children with ADD taking regular adderal..?

i just started getting eye twitches, its kind of weird. only on the top of my eye though, its not like anyone can notice it.  and ive been on adderall since september i think..is that weird?? and also, i need some suggestions b/c my parents are worried b/c i am losing too much weight on the adderall, and on weekends i only eat one meal a day. i try to make it look like im eating or chew and then spit it out later...but if they think that i am eating and dont see any weight gain, then im worried im gona have to stop adderall. and i dont want to!! i also dont want to gain any weight. help!

o and doesnt every ADD and ADHD medication cause increased metabolism and decreased appitite/weight loss/anorexia? or it says it in the side effects??

i asked that because we we so happy with the results he had on the adderall xr.

i asked if since the ticking stopped, could he go back on it? could he go back on at the 5mg dose (he was on 10mg) - maybe that would help. what if he took a longer break from it, would that help? but the answer was no to everything. the only time the dr. would consider letting him try adderall again would be several years down the road when he was older/heavier/puberty and we'd have to watch him carefully.

i even went so far as to ask if we could just stay on adderall and live with the ticks (only because someone in our adhd training class did just that cause she was desperate and at wits end. he boy was so hyper he was hurting himself in the process).

the nurse very gently explained that the last thing they would want is for him to have to live with ticks when they can be avoided and the stigma attached to a facial tick when he would be around other kids. i completely understood what she was saying and agreed.

he starts stratera tomorrow and we'll see if that causes ticking down the road too.

i hope i was able to answer your question.

u mean it would happen when u are on it and then once u get off of it it would happen again?

when i spoke to the nurse at our psychiatrists office, i purposely mentioned adderall vs adderall xr in causing tics and she said they are both the same, just a matter of dosing. she, as well as the doctor, said that it was surprising to have that long of a good run with a medication before tics started - but yes, it does happen from time to time. 

ive been on concerta for a while but my psycologist said that ticks are mild side effects so im  not worried about it.. its kinda weird i didnt even know that there were mucles in some of the places i get ticks..  but i have gotten facial ticks before.. i dont care ..friends think its funny so i dont mind.