Diet And Drug Treatments For Tourette Syndrome

What vitamins are good for treating people with Tourette syndrome?

Of course, have a healthy diet and avoid excessive stimulants in the form of caffeine, for example, which may in some cases provoke tic, at least transiently. But otherwise, dietary changes are not, I don't believe, going to have a huge impact on either increasing or decreasing tic. There aren't any known supplements either that are clearly beneficial in the Hickman study that have been proven to be beneficial in alleviating tic or Tourette Syndrome.

How are anti-depressants used in treatment of Tourette syndrome?

Anti-depressants are a fine use in people with Tourettes syndrome for the treatment of depression, because that does occur in some people with Tourettes. Coping with their symptoms and the kind of stress that it may create in their life. Being taunted by classmates or getting negative attention from teachers or, just the stress of coping with this can lead to depression. People with Tourettes and anti-depressants medication may be indicated in that setting. There are some other serotonin active drugs that are used moreso to treat the obsessive-compulsive component of Tourettes when it's present. These would include things like Clomipramine or Phluvoximin. But then again that, those medications would be directed mostly toward the obsessive compulsive symptoms and not necessarily towards depression.

What are side effects of anti-depressants used for Tourette syndrome?

Antidepressant medications, particularly in children, need to be used with some caution, if there is a concern about depression. Although they're intended to treat depression, there has been a warning about use of antidepressant medications in children, that it may, at least transiently, worsen or exacerbate depression. So that is one caution right there. Some of these medications may have gastro-intestinal side effects, some of the antidepressant medications. Otherwise they're generally pretty well tolerated. Some people may feel a sense of drowsiness or, with fluoxetine (also called Prozac), a sense of alertness. But generally, that class of medications is pretty well tolerated.

How are neuroleptic drugs used in treatment of Tourette syndrome?

Neuroleptics have long been used in the treatment of the symptoms of Tourette's, specifically to address both motor and vocal tics. An older medication that has been used for a long time is Haldal. Another older medication, which is, in this country, specifically approved for the treatment of tics is a medication called pimozide, or its trade name is Orap. Other medications: Fluphenazine, which goes by the name of Prolixin, is also found used. These are all older neuroleptic medications. Some newer neuroleptic medications, like Risperdal or Zyprexa, these medications have also found some applications in the treatment of tic.

What are some side effects of neuroleptic medicine for Tourette syndrome?

Neuroleptic medications which are probably among the most potent in terms of their ability to suppress motor and vocal tic are often unfavorably received by patients because they do cause sedation, or a sense of feeling medicated, which can be problematic. So I am cautious about using this at a very low dose and slowly increasing it over time after a discussion with the patient, it because clear that it is a reasonable choice for that particular person. Neuroleptic medications, including older ones, may carry some risk of actually inducing involuntary movements. Although that is not likely to occur, that is a caution that I do advise my patients about. Neuroleptic medications can also produce drowsiness and the sense of being in a fog in one's thinking and decrease clarity or alertness of thought. For that reason they're not well received by some people, well tolerated by some people.

How are alpha-agonists used in treatment of Tourette syndrome?

Alpha-agonist medications include things like Catapres, also called catapraz, which come as a tablet and also a patch form. These are advocated by many as being a first line agent when medication is required for the treatment of tick. Because there relatively benign in terms of side affects and are helpful to some people with tick. Another alpha-angonist medication is being used more recently is called Guanafacine. Which may be beneficial for some people with tick. There not very potent medications, there not as potent in terms of suppressing or reducing tick, as the neuroleptic medications are.

How are benzodiazepines used in the treatment of Tourette syndrome?

Benzodiazepine medications, these are medications from the same class as say, Valium or Xanax, these medications, especially kloniazapine also known as Klonapin,have found some application in treatment of tic.

What are side effects of benzodiazepines for Tourette syndrome?

The mechanism of action of benzodiazepine in terms of their treatment of tics is not entirely clear. It is not going to be effective for all people with tics either. With this class of medication, what we do is we usually start with a low dose and slowly try to increase upward until we are getting improvement of symptoms. For side effects such as drowsiness, these medications are thought perhaps to affect inhibitory neurotransmitters; medications that try to quiet down some of these brain signals to reduce the tics. The exact mechanism is not entirely understood. Benzodiazepine medications and again, these are things like valium or Xanax, can have a side effect of drowsiness and one would caution adults who are going to be driving with this type of medication. It could have an effect on attention in school, being sleepy in school for kids who are using these medications.