tic disorders and meds | ADHD Information

Okay. We had or first dose last night. I was all prepped for her to be tired
because that seems to be a common side effect when they start the Intuniv.
Nothing. She wasn't tired at all. In fact, she was a little more wound up than
ususual. I don't know if I should be relieved or worried. I have noticed the
tics are a little less today but we always have variations in frequency. She
hasn't had many verbal tics today which is nice. She said she could "feel it hit
her stomach" when she took the medicine last night. I'm glad she had it with
food or it might have made her sick. I've a read a few things online that say
the effect only last 17 hours. I'm going to ask about changing the dose time
when we go up to the next dose as long as it isn't making her tired. We're
hopeful! Hi. New to boards so all advice is appreciated. Our 8 yr old daughter has
inattentive ADHD and made dramatic improvements at school on just 5mg
of Adderall XR. The first week of summer she started to have several tics
and we took her off meds. She has developed new tics off of meds and
they are getting progressively worse. The doctor says no stimulant meds.
Basically she has a tic disorder but the ADHD was diagnosed first.
Stimulants would only make the tics worse. Now we are faced with a
school year without medication and trying to deal with all the tics as well.
What I've read on the boards about the non-stimulant medications is
scary. It sounds like a lot of side effects without really getting much help
in the focus department. We're very frustrated knowing the academic
struggles in store and concerned about the tics. We see a new
psychiatrist this week and will see what she recommends. Has anyone
seen a noticeable improvement in focus on Stratterra or Tenex? The
information sheets warn of a sedative side effect. We don't need that.
Thanks!

My daughter gets tics on the stimulants.  She was on Tenex for over a year.  It seemed to help, but the she got progressively angry and hostile.  I was at my wits end.  The doctors told me it wasn't the Tenex, but as soon as she got off of it, she was a different child.  This is an unual response to Tenex, but just something to be aware of.  The Tenex did help with her focus at school.

I have had to move to natural treatments too.  And although not perfect, I have a happy kid again.  Check out the threas on Phosphotodyl Serine.  This has had a huge impact for us. 

The natural route is hard too.  It is hard or impossible to get real medical help and you feel weird sometimes, but with patience it worked for us, without the side effects. 

Good luck.  I know what you are feeling. 

I'm new to this forum and appreciate others' feedback. Has anyone found a
medication used for ADD that supposedly does not cause tics?? My son was
on Straterra and after a couple of weeks developed eye blinking tics, almost
constantly. He's off if it now, the tics are slightly decreasing in their
frequency and now wonder, along with the doctor, what to try next. Any
suggestions?

DS meets the criteria for tourettes...tics became a problem while on Ritalin.  He is off the stimulants and on Tenex only.  I do not find that the tenex helps DS with concentration..unfortunately.  He is coming off of Tenex today (tapering off) due to severe weight gain (20lbs this year)..

FYI: we tried strattera...poor little guy was pale with black circles under his eyes and had an increase in tics (shoulder shrug). Dr says not from the meds..but stopped when we stopped the strattera. 

Thanks everyone. We saw the doctor today and were talked into giving the
Tenex (Intuniv) a try. She said it should really help the tics and felt relatively
certain we should expect improvements with focus and concentration too.
I'm going to try and be positive about it for now but am also keeping a sharp
eye out for side effects. I read the info packet and it repeats several times
that the trial was only for 8-9 weeks and that they don't know what happens
if you use it longer than that. Really ?! Last time a checked the school year
was a smidge longer than 9 weeks and kids don't outgrow ADHD. The pych.
said that she has had good results in her practice and some patients on for a
year or more. I've come across several parents warning about incontinence
after extended time on Intuniv. Fun. We'll just have to see how our girlie
tolerates it. Fingers crossed!

Both my son and daughter were on Intuniv for way longer than that.  The only side effect DS had was extreme irritability.  It really hasn't worked for DD, but she didn't have any side effects. 

My son gets tics as a side effect from his stimulant, so he takes Tenex with his stim and that helps alot.

My DD(15) has OCD and can not take stims because they worsen her anxiety.  She was on Intuniv for awhile, but I don't think it made that much of a difference in her inattentive ADD.  She has not tried Strattera, but that is the next non stim med.  Is she on meds for her tic disorder?  DD stated taking Luvox CR about a month ago to try to get the OCD in check, and then we will revisit ADD meds.