Life's a Twitch - Dr. B. Duncan McKinlay (Archives

Question 102: Good Morning. This past Thursday ...I heard you speak about your life history as well as your thoughts about Tourrette, ADHD etc....To me, it sounded like you were not a fan of medicine. I have sat on the fence about the medicine issue for a long time. I have seem the effects of meds on students. Some being visably positive, some not. Personally, I have a son who is 10 and for many reasons, I beleive he could be ADHD/PI. His behaviour is not an issue at all but focusing is. He required the quiet space to accomplish alot. I also don't believe that he is at Grade level and this concernes me as the years go on. To have the assessment done, there is a 2 year waiting list. I am afraid to make the decision of meds. I beleive that Ritalin is a methenfedamine (I am sure that that is spelt wrong) and therefore am concerned about giving it to him but on the other hand, am I not being a good mom if I don't try? Sometimes these decisions seem easier as a teacher... Any thoughts? Thank you so very much. C.M., ON, Canada.

Question 96: My son was diagnosed with full blown TS and symptoms of ADHD and OCD when he was 6 yrs old (now 7). He also experiences bouts of rage and when he is emotionally "hurt" he will verbalize the desire to do violent things. I don't really believe he would ever do what he comes up with but...he is currently on Luvox and with the more recent light shed on the possible conection with odd behaviors and SSRI's I'm seriously reconsidering giving him the med. His rages have greatly decreased since his diagnosis but I think that has more to do with our acceptance of him and his natural developement than any med (in the last 11 months he has been on Clonidine, Respiradol, Serequel (2 wks), and now Luvox (in that order). We fired the first psychiatrist we were with as we by this point had more knowledge of TS than he did and now find ourselves on at least 3 different waiting list to get our son some help. In the mean time I can no longer tell if the medication he is on is doing anything or if it simply the wax and wanning of the disorder and seriously the more I read about the medications he is/has been on the more confused and frightened I get. The next suggested med (via the pediatrition) is concerta in combination with luvox. But not one physician has ever talked to my son about what he feels/experiences so how do they know what is the disorder and what is his lack of understanding and frustration with the disorder?

Please send me some feedback on the direction I should take now...I feel like I'm drowning in confusion. Meds or no meds? that is the question. Sincerely, D.R.

Question 64: This is my first time writing to you. I was diagnosed with Tourette's when I was seven years old. It used to be real bad. I am now 12 and everything is under control. I'm taking nine mg of orap a day. But the problem is that I get tired really easily. Do you have any suggestions? My e-mail address is protege5rulz..............(As you can see, I'm in love with the Mazda Protege 5.) Thanks, N.W., ON, Canada.

Question 62: My question is this, my son is most often a very sweet and loving child, and as you understand he has his moments that include the rages, however I am wonder(ing) if TS has some effect on the ability to make the choice between right and wrong. Some times the choices my son makes are very poor even though I know he knows he shouldn't have made that choice....I am worried because for the last eight months his choices are for a lack of a better word ridiculously wrong and inappropriate, I will also let you know he is on risperidol 1.5.mg per day and when he goes to his fathers every other weekend he is not always getting this medication, then when he gets home by Sunday evening he is a handful and very very angry and hurtful to his siblings and me. Is it a possibility that the constant interruption of medication causing this inability to make good choices or does it have to due directly with his TS. S.H., ON, Canada.

Question 51: I'm a cardiologist and recently realized my 7yo sons ticks are due to TS. His case is mild, exaggerated startle, throat clearing, humming, and scratching, no ADHD or OCD Sx. (He's well adjusted and a good student). There is no [family history] of tics just the usual mild nuerotics and OCD's. At 10day old he had a bad case of RSV pneumonia and received Ribavirin. Have you heard of any association there? (medline search=0).

Second do Clonidine and Guanafacine really suppress ticks (one article said not)? or only ADHD and sleep disorders neither of which he has. D.

Question 44: I am a 31 year female living in the UK.... my main question to you is regarding fluoxetine. I am currently taking this drug to help with PMT but various T.S. sites state this may help with attention problems but can make tics worsen. Is there a connection, or is it just a coincidence. D.F., Lancashire, U.K.

Question 43: My questions is do you know anything about treating TS with the amino acid Tryptophan? If there's anything I could contribute to your site in terms of info or just keeping it updated I'd be glad to volunteer to help. Keep up the great work...and maybe someday I can get you to come to Costa Rica and do some lecturing...well it never hurts to dream LOL! B.M., Costa Rica

Question 40: ONE OF MY MAJOR CONCERNS....HAS BEEN MEDICATION. C. HAS BEEN ON MEDICATION SINCE HE WAS DIAGNOSED...ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT ONES AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, LATELY I AM THINKING THAT I DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW MY "TRUE" SON ...ONLY THE MEDICATED ONE. AFTER LISTENING TO YOU ALL DAY SATURDAY....I FEEL LIKE I AM GIVING C. A DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN I SAY "BE YOURSELF AND BE PROUD OF YOUR TOURETTE SYNDROME...BUT HERE TAKE YOUR PILLS SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OF IT " ! I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE CASES WHERE MEDICATION IS A MUST AND IF IT IS WORKING GREAT...BUT THINGS ARE PRETTY BAD FOR C. RIGHT NOW AND HIS SELF ESTEEM IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW . I SPOKE WITH HIM THIS MORNING AND TOLD HIM HOW YOU FELT WHEN YOU WERE ON MEDICATION AND HE SAID HE FEELS THE SAME WAY....I AM GOING TO TRY AND GO DRUG FREE AND SEE WHERE IT TAKES US....WHO KNOWS, I MAY BE BACK HERE SOME DAY BUT FOR NOW I THINK IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT TO SEE MY "TRUE" CHILD AND NOT THE ONE I HAVE MEDICATED TO SUIT SOCIETY!! T.D., NS, Canada.

Question 36: Our 8 year old son has ADHD and his doctor suggested Concerta but my wife's brother has TS. The manufacturer of Concerta warns against giving Concerta to people with a history of TS but our pediatrician is not concerned. Have you have any knowledge of this issue or do you known anyone who would? Thanks. M.G., New Hampshire, USA

Question 31: My son is on clonidine and has been for almost two years. It seems to me he is becoming more and more irritable and prone to tantrums over trivialities (brushing teeth, foods, etc.) He is almost twelve. Is there much evidence that this drug exacerbates irritability? We are already familiar with the drowsiness and weight gain side effects. It's mostly at home that he becomes nasty and irascible. Thank you for the help and inspiration. You have helped me and K. more than any doctor we have seen.

Question 24: I am a female from Singapore and I am 29 years old. I have been diagnosed with TS since I was 8 years old. Since then I have been on Haloperidol, now about 4.5mg per day. What are the side effects of taking Haloperidol for life in the long run? What is the link between Parkinson's disease and TS? Please help because in Singapore there is so little knowledge and awareness of TS. I saw ten doctors before I was fianlly diagnosed. C.G., Singapore.

Question 11: Thank-you Duncan for your response to my question concerning our son's sleep disorder. You mentioned quite a few useful things. I had wondered about behavior modification for TS. But the pediatric neurologist that Chase our son sees says that there really is no way to turn the motor off in Chase's brain so easily. I had mentioned to the doctor the idea of getting an aquarium for our son's bedroom in hopes to help relax him at bedtime. He said that we could try but not to hang our hopes on it.

Are the sleep clinics familiar with treating a sleep disorder associated with TS? [Our neurologist] has had to remind me of the physialogical nature of this disorder on more than one occassion. Reminding me of an actual problem with neurotransmitters and the tics not being emotionally induced.....[Our neurologist] is also very conservative with the meds. He doesn't want Chase treated for his tics unless he is hurting himself or unable to be productive. And none of those have occurred so presently he only takes something for bedtime. We too would like to keep him on little meds as possible or none at all.

God Bless you and the ministry that you offer to us folks. You have a gift. Don't give it up. Sincerely, S.H., Texas, USA.

Question 9: I read your article and response to the question of meds. I found it very informative. My question is: What about meds. for something like a sleep disorder. The inability to sleep through the whole night or not all on some nights. My husband and I are going through these night wakenings with our 8 year old son. It just wouldn't seem to stop. Our neurologist, a pediatric neurologist prescribed clonidine for him. One quarter at first and now we are up to a half tablet. Have we seen any benifits? I don't know. The frequency of the night wakenings has lessened. But I find myself going to sleep at night praying that the med. won't have an adverse affect on him while we are asleep and unable to notice. Hope you can help us out? S.H., Texas, USA.

Question 5: I really enjoyed your web site. I have not been diagnosed with TS but feel that I may have it. I do a small tick (like a head jerk) ,eye blinking and I find that I tap my teeth alot along with a couple of other things. I have requested a physicans list from TSA but have not received it yet. Do you or have you ever heard of anyone having a yawn? Is this a form of a tick? Also do you take any drugs to help you with TS? If you do are they worth the side affects? If you could please respond as you are the only person I know with TS. Thanks L, Alabama, USA

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