Parents of Children with ADHD Support Group

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At what point do you just accept tics?

CAWriterMom
CAWriterMom
I know tics are a common problem among kids with ADHD. Our son had a mild one for a while years ago and it went away. When we upped his Concerta to the max dosage, he ended up with severe tics that made it hard for him to even talk. He was put on Tenex and that helped for a bit in stopping the tics, but then stopped working.

Long story short, we had to take him off Concerta and he's now on Vyvanse with the Tenex. After a few good days on that med, he's developed a tic where he keeps looking over his shoulder.

The psychiatrist has been big on adding in Risperdal to control the tics but we refuse that med because of its serious potential side effects. I don't know what in the world we do now.

My husband is fine keeping things as-is with the tics (he feels it's better than having the Satan Son we had when our son was on Adderall briefly), but the tics bother our son.

Has anyone decided to just keep moving on with the tics as they are? If so, do you have any regrets about the decision?
CAWriterMom
CAWriterMom
Well, he came home from school flapping his arms like a chicken, so it looks like we can't just keep things as they are. Some sort of change ahead, whether ADHD or tic med. :(
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am so sorry. This is why I am so scared to start the adhd meds, but I guess you gotta way out the benefits and risks. If I can ask you a question, are tics usually a side effect from meds or do Adhd children have tendencies to develop tics? I have seen quite a few parents post about tics. I know it is frustrating for you and i will keep you in mind in my prayers. Take care of yourself.
CAWriterMom
CAWriterMom
The medications don't cause tics but bring them out in kids who are prone to them. Our son was on medication for years without severe tics (just had a throat-clearing one that was there during allergy season and would go away). It seems to be an issue now that he needs bigger dosages of the medication.

Even with the tics, I still recommend ADHD medication. Our son wouldn't be functional without it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My son is starting Stattera to treat his ADHD which the doctor thought may not worsen his facial tics and mild OCD. I don't have experience with it yet, but that was what he's been prescribed.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My son has had ticks off of just about all the meds - we normally go back to ridlin to clear out the med he had the reaction to - we did not add any medication for the tick - we just changed his meds. The type and the dose will affect him so he may not tollerate the dose. Try going back to the prev. dose and see if they clear up or talk to the doctor about a new medication.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My son was on Strattera and it gave him headache and stomache so he started using the Daytrana patch. And I noticed that he would spit when outside an extraordinary amount of times. When he tried out for the football team, he spat about a 100 times while I sat there and watched him. I was so embarassed for him. But, I don't think he knew he was doing it. He didn't make the team. And when he and I were out walking one day I talked to him about it and asked him to try to stop. I felt bad about making him self-conscious but didn't know what else to do. Since then I haven't noticed him doing it but then he's not wearing his patches regularly either. So, I don't know if it was the patches or not. He was wearing them when he tried out for football. He did it so many times that it was an obvious tic. I am just glad he stopped. I know guys spit sometimes but he did it too much.