Just because one stimulant causes tics doesn't necessarily mean that they all will. And like HorseMom said, the Tenex takes several weeks to really kick in but it can do a very good job of helping the side effects of stimulants.
I would recommend seeing a specialist if possible, like a psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist etc. They know these meds much better than the pediatricians and usually you'll find the solution much faster if you go with them! Good luck!
Hi..I am new to the message board. My son has been on concerta since about sept. Was doing great ..then in dec it did not have much effect so the dr uped the dose to 27mg. I noticed just about before we uped it he devolped a blinking eye tic. Thought it was noting and it continued so we saw the dr. She switched him to vyvanse which made it worse and he was just a mess on it and a zombie. So now since he did well on concerta beside eye tic we are back on it. Now he is taking tenex 2 times a day to help control it. Which it is not. I noticed now that it is not just the eye but like a crick in his neck as he is blinking.
I have an appt with another peditrician on tues to discuss what is going on. He never had it before taking meds. Any suggestions on what I should ask the dr or request? Or anything suggestions for me? I am not sure what to do at this point and the medicine has helped him 100% in school and was doing awesome on it. I am assuming that since he had a reaction to both those meds he pretty much cant take any stimulant med right? Thank you for any advice!!
How long has he bee on Tenex? It takes 6-8 weeks to build up in their system. It could also be that he needs a slight increase in the tenex as well.Several of the stimulants caused tics in my daughter. Tenex made her an angry child. I had to give up on meds and am working with various natural solutions. However, the tics my daughter had were worse than what you describe. It isn't easy, but I have a much happier and nicer little girl back.
When my daughter's tenex dosage was too high, she was more irritable. It seems to be a medication that you need to find the right balance in terms of amount and dosage schedule.
This question hits very close to home here.
Our son is now 11 and when he started concerta he developed tics. At least that is when the onset was. He was 8 then. I tood a while for the tics to develop but one day he started knocking his head. Within a week it was so bad that he could hardly read because it happened so much. We took him off the concerta and tryed adderall. That worked froe a few months then I noticed the tics coming back. Though not as bad. we went to the ped neurologist and she put him on clonidine. That helped but the tics started up again a few months later. I took him off all stimulants and let me tell you it is very difficult for him to concentrate but I can't allow these tics to control his life. The tics went away after we took him off the meds but lately he had done it a little bit. It seems like when he hasn't gotten enough sleep and or he hasn't aken all his vitamins that I notice it.
He takes krill oil, 1000mg fish oil, megafood multivitamin and b complex, 500 mg magnessssuim (becasue he was deficient in it). We did nutrition def testing through spectra labs. I also give him a pill called stress-free energy from one life. I also try to limit the junk he eats. Giving him more protein and water instead of sugury drinks.
It isn't easy but we are surviving. Close contact with his teachers is a must. He wouldn't do his work if he knew he could get away with it.
Good luck.
My son is on Concerta and constantly bites his nail and the