Tourettes syndrome??

Question

My 13yr old son has been diagnosed with a mild form of tourettes. My question is, should we put him on medication? He does not swear but has numerous facial ticks etc and his mates are starting to notice. He is a confident, well liked child and is handling it well - so do we leave it up to him to decide?

Answer 1

I'm glad to hear that he has established himself with his friends. Sounds like he could handle that decision. Medications for Tourettes, however, are hit and miss. You'll have to try and see what works for him.


Blessings and prayers for a good outcome.

Answer 2

Treatment Of Tourette Syndrome
The decision about whether to treat and, if so, what form the treatment should take, will depend on the degree to which the tics or TS is interfering with the child's normal development or the adult patient's ability to function productively. When treating a child, the primary emphasis must be on helping the youngster to navigate the normal developmental tasks - to feel competent in school, develop friendships, experience trust in his or her parents, and enjoy life's adventures. Many children with multiple tics and TS do well in moving onward with their lives. For them, treatment to ameliorate the tics generally is not indicated. Natural parental upset about the tics requires lengthy, calm discussion and education about available treatments. If treatment is decided upon by the child, family, and physician, developmental issues must constantly be reassessed.

There are several approaches to treatment.

Treatment Of Tourette Syndrome
Monitoring
Reassurance
Pharmacologic Treatment of Tourette Syndrome
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Family Treatment
Genetic Counseling
Academic and Occupational Interventions

Answer 3

I would sit down with his doctor and your son and go over what the side effects will be for the medication. Sometimes the side effects are worse then the ticks themselves.

And praise your son for handling it so well. If he is a well like child then he should have no trouble with this even if his friends are starting to notice. All he has to do is explain the condition to them and I doubt it will ever make a difference.

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

I reckon you should have a conversation with him about whether he wants to go on medication. I don't know if he's anything like my brother (also has very mild tourettes) and he doesn't like talking about it but as he's 13 ultimately its his decision. It won't cure it though, make sure he knows that and also take into considerations any side effects of the medication.

Answer 5

The treatment of Tourette's focuses on identifying and helping the individual manage the most troubling or impairing symptoms.[4] Most cases of Tourette's are mild, and do not require pharmacological treatment;[10] instead, psychobehavioral therapy, education, and reassurance may be sufficient.[41] Treatments, where warranted, can be divided into those that target tics and comorbid conditions, which, when present, are often a larger source of impairment than the tics themselves.[35] Not all people with tics have comorbid conditions,[25] but when those conditions are present, they often take treatment priority.

There is no cure for Tourette's and no medication that works universally for all individuals without significant adverse effects. Knowledge, education and understanding are uppermost in management plans for tic disorders.[4] The management of the symptoms of Tourette's may include pharmacological, behavioral and psychological therapies. While pharmacological intervention is reserved for more severe symptoms, other treatments (such as supportive psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy) may help to avoid or ameliorate depression and social isolation, and to improve family support. Educating a patient, family, and surrounding community (such as friends, school, and church) is a key treatment strategy.[4]
Space-filling representation of a haloperidol molecule. Haloperidol is an antipsychotic medication sometimes used to treat severe cases of Tourette's.
Enlarge
Space-filling representation of a haloperidol molecule. Haloperidol is an antipsychotic medication sometimes used to treat severe cases of Tourette's.

Medication is available to help when symptoms interfere with functioning.[13] The classes of medication with the most proven efficacy in treating tics—typical and atypical neuroleptics including risperidone (trade name[42] Risperdal), ziprasidone (Geodon), haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap) and fluphenazine (Prolixin)—can have long-term and short-term adverse effects.[35] The antihypertensive agents clonidine (trade name Catapres) and guanfacine (Tenex) are also used to treat tics; studies show variable efficacy, but a lower side effect profile than the neuroleptics.[1] Stimulants and other medications may be useful in treating ADHD when it co-occurs with tic disorders. Drugs from several other classes of medications can be used when stimulant trials fail, including guanfacine (trade name Tenex), atomoxetine (Strattera) and tricyclics. Clomipramine (Anafranil), a tricyclic antidepressant, and SSRIs—a class of antidepressants including fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and fluvoxamine (Luvox)—may be prescribed when a Tourette's patient also has symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder.[35]

Because children with tics often present to physicians when their tics are most severe, and because of the waxing and waning nature of tics, it is recommended that medication not be started immediately or changed often.[4] Frequently, the tics subside with explanation, reassurance, understanding of the condition and a supportive environment.[4] When medication is used, the goal is not to eliminate symptoms: it should be used at the lowest possible dose that manages symptoms without adverse effects, given that these may be more disturbing than the symptoms for which they were prescribed.[4]

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a useful treatment when OCD is present,[43] and there is increasing evidence supporting the use of habit reversal in the treatment of tics.[44] Relaxation techniques, such as exercise, yoga or meditation, may be useful in relieving the stress that may aggravate tics, but the majority of behavioral interventions (such as relaxation training and biofeedback, with the exception of habit reversal) have not been systematically evaluated and are not empirically supported therapies for Tourette's.[45]

Answer 6

My brother has TS and he is taking medication. You need to weigh the facts and have a discussion with your doctor and your son. At that age kids are really self concious of everything so you might want to. You should also get him tested to see if he has anything else. Most kids with TS have OCD, ADD, and/or ADHD. It si also common for kids with TS to have an iron deficency. Bascially you should get him tested for those, talk to his doctor with him, and talk to him
Good Luck and God Bless!

Answer 7

WOW well done to him for coping so well. You should have a discussion with him and see what you all think, he may/not need it if he is coping at the moment, but if his friends are starting to notice then i would definatly ask him. You can only see and find out if the meds work.

Good luck with it i hope he continues to cope well.

Answer 8

Good for him..for coping so well.Try and spare the medication - as long as he is not in pain or discomfort... He is getting older and should be able to let you know when he needs it.. I think his friends should be ok! with it - you will - no doubt get a stupid comment now & then ..ignore it

Answer 9

It must be understood that drug treatment is not always needed especially in mild cases and any improvement or deterioration with or without therapy may be purely coincidental. Please visit http://www.emedicine.com for taking a more informed decision. Good luck.

Answer 10

Ask him!!! x