Add and anxiety/tics

I think it is a good idea to not tell the school about the medication. Hopefully he won’t have the extra tics. You may be able to tell a difference in his handwriting and his graded papers.
As far as the anxiety, my child is on zoloft. It has been wonderful. He is also on dexedrine.

Stimulants can be used with children who have tics, but you have to be more cautious because, in rare instances, the tics can be exacerbated by the medication. Any increase in tics caused by medication can be fixed by discontinuing the medication. Stimulants do not cause tics in children who do not already have a tendency toward them, although medication may unmask that tendency. Often children with tics take adderall because it takes effect more slowly, which seems to reduce the possibility of tics. Perhaps dexedrine works the same way. My own child had various mild tics, all of which actually went away when he began adderall. I do think that it is a good idea to try the medications without telling the school so that you can get an idea of whether it is working without having to factor in any bias caused by the teacher knowing he is taking it. One way you may be able to tell it is working is if you see more completed work coming home.

Andrea

As a generalization, the single classification of meds which temporarily reduce ADHD symptoms in some people (not all) is the central nervous system stimulants/alerting agents. Caffeine/coffee is the weakest stimulant; one of the strongest is Adderall. The ADHD meds do not work for everyone.

There is a separate condition called Tourette’s (tics). For those who have Tourette’s (not ADHD), they are cautioned that ADHD meds will tend to change the ticcing in those with classic Tourette’s; the meds used to treat Tourette’s are different than the meds used to treat ADHD. That’s my understanding.

As a generalization, the ADHD meds tend to lower the seizure threshold for some of those (not all) who have epilepsy and the ADHD meds tend to increase tics for some of those (not all) who have Tourette’s.

I have read on other bulletin boards of cases in which tics were “unmasked” by ADHD medication and did not disappear when the medication was stopped. This is one of the reasons my son doesn’t take meds. I’d be very interested to hear how things go for your child. Good luck.

PGD is right, Tourette’s Syndrome has special considerations. As a follow up to this good advice, you might take a look at the following sites:

http://lib-sh.lsumc.edu/fammed/pted/adhdho.html

www.tourettesyndrome.net/adhd_treatment.htm

www.chadd.org/faq.htm

www.chadd.org/add_facts05.htm

Andrea

Hi
Thank you for all your help. He took his first med today and I received no phone calls. He said the medicine has helped him focus on what he is doing, and I have observed no tics, I am taking things one day at a time, I will wait two weeks before I ask the teachers about his improvement. Thanks for all the information and the web sites. I needed more info. Darlene

My oldest is on Dexedrine. When he first started on medication he was prescribed Ritalin. When he would focus on TV/Video Games he would do the forceful blinking that you described. When anxious he would chew on the collar of his shirts. We were told that he might be predisposed to Tics,and that ritalin was the med of choice for tourettes.. We investigated the possiblity of seizures with a video survilence week long EEG. Although he would present with the blinking no seizure activity was noted. His medication was changed to dexedrine and he has experience no blinking episodes,and no collar chewing ever since. I am not saying that dexedrine will keep the Tics from presenting itself,but I am saying that a simple med change corrected it for my child. Not every med is okay,or without side effects,find the one that is.

I believe my son is ADD. I believed his blinking was a result of stress. I have never heard of a video surveillance EEG, but would be interested to investigate the possibility of seizures. Is this through the neurologist?
The dexedrine did not work, he was very hyperactive and emotional and when he would blink it was stronger. We are switching to ?Metadine? the doc said it was all day ritalin. But my pharmacy wouldn’t provide it without the actual prescription(no phone calls). Do you have any experience with this? Thanks for your input- glad you were able to find the right med. It is sad, but I feel like my son is a human guinea pig. I just keep hoping we will find something to help. Thanks for your help.