Have any of these meds caused bad effects in Tourettes??

[DsMom]

Do any of these sound like bad reactions to meds or has my sons Tourettes just gotten extremly worse in the last month. Here is all the meds he has taken.

He has been doing so well for the last few years. He just turned 15. One month ago we finally had to do something about his bad teeth grinding. Which I heard may have been a side effect to the Risperidone or even the Prozac he was taking. We had recently upped the Risperidone to 2 mgs a day just 3 months earlier.

Anyway His teeth grinding was in the day time only not at night and pretty much an all day thing, It was causing him to not be able to go to school or even function. So the Psy put him on a few different things.

*First BUSPAR, didn't help at all and gave him stomach upset all day long.

*Second, BENZTROPINE- Worst thing ever. After the second day it was like he was on speed. Had a bad reaction for sure. Was talking crazy, hallucinating, couldn't sleep, was totally confused and had blurry vision. Obviously that med was stopped asap. It was very scary.

*Third med tried was LEXAPRO. He had been on a low dose of Prozac for a few OCD behaviors already, so the Lexapro replaced this med. His teeth grinding went away in a few days. We were so happy. And then here came the tics that he hadn't had in years. And worse then ever. Everything plus ones I have never seen or heard. He was starting to get full body stiffening and tic at the same time. Hum, I started to get worried.

So thought Lexapro is like Prozac and if given to much his tics got worse.

Anybody this happen to??? But it gets even worse.

*Went back told the Psy, we didn't want Lexapro anymore and that his tics were getting really bad. Still the teeth grinding was Gone. So now he is given TENEX for the bad tics. Along with the Risperidone. Well a few days after being on that they were full blown and worse then ever. Scary bad. Full body flexing, tongue, mouth, arms, sounds like crazy, muttering, he had no control what so ever of himself. Even stiffened his neck so far in the air it cut his air off for a few minutes and then he said his hear hurt. He was sucking in air.

The next day i called the Psy. because that scared us so bad. Again I have never seen anything like this. And remember all this has taken place in about a month and a half time.

He was then given just yesterday KLONOPIN. To relax and help him with the terrible tics. He took it last night, This morning, mid day and then tonight. Never got tired like the Dr said, Hasn't relaxed him so far.

And still the major muscle tensing, tongue and face movements. hands extended, legs extended, just terrible movements all at once with terrible muttering all at once.

Please if anyone can give me any thoughts that would be great.

It is so hard to tell what is what anymore. I am thinking of taking him off all his meds. But am so afraid. All he does is cry and ask for it to please stop. Wants to not be alive at this point. And I feel so helpless.

Another odd thing Is, he seams to get a little better right in the middle of the day. Mornings and night are just horrid when it seams that that should be the least stressful time of day.

This has gotten so bad the last 3 weeks I had to get his work from school and not send him to class. No one has Tourettes in our family at all that we know of so we have no one to compare him to. My daughter showed some signs in 5th or 6th grade but that was all.

Anyway i need to get some sleep. It has been my only quiet time.

My son says he hates for mornings to come. It is so sad. He has never been this way.

Heres another question to add: Does Tourettes get so bad that they do act this way and look like they have just lost it?

I will check back tomorrow as soon as I am able to get a few minutes.

Thanks

[David Baxter]

Some of those medications I've never heard of...

Our resident pharmaceutical and Tourette guru, TSOW, should be logging in tomorrow (if he isn't too distracted by American Thanksgiving and Black Friday). He'll more than likely have some answers for you.

[Daniel]

He was then given just yesterday KLONOPIN. To relax and help him with the terrible tics. He took it last night, This morning, mid day and then tonight. Never got tired like the Dr said, Hasn't relaxed him so far.

If it doesn't seem to help, the doctor may be willing to increase the dose, especially if it was a low starting dose. I know Klonopin, a.k.a. clonazepam, can help with teeth clenching and grinding at night.

[TSOW]

DsMoM,

Thank you for your query.

Please give me a day to get back to you, as we are on our way out for Thanksgiving dinner.

..for your patience.

[Xelebes]

I had a bad reaction to Clonazepam (I think it was that, it began with a Clo-, I'm sure of that.) Made me lose control of my tics and most of them went to my neck (which really hurt.)

[STP]

I had a bad reaction to Clonazepam (I think it was that, it began with a Clo-, I'm sure of that.) Made me lose control of my tics and most of them went to my neck (which really hurt.)

I'm thinking it might have been something else maybe because Clonazepam would relax you. I don't no what other one it would be though because I know nothing about Tourettes medications.

[Xelebes]

I'm thinking it might have been something else maybe because Clonazepam would relax you. I don't no what other one it would be though because I know nothing about Tourettes medications.

As I explained it to my psychiatrist at the time, just like Paxil, it relaxed me but it also relaxed all of my controls of the tics I had.

[STP]

As I explained it to my psychiatrist at the time, just like Paxil, it relaxed me but it also relaxed all of my controls of the tics I had.

Oh, I see. I didn't think of it that way. Like I said I am ignorant about Tourettes. My apologies.

[TSOW]

Which I heard may have been a side effect to the Risperidone or even the Prozac he was taking.

Has this side effect been confirmed by your son's doctor or is it from your research?

If you suspect your son may be experiencing the side effect I believe you are referring to, called tardive dyskinesia, it would be prudent to have your son's doctor evaluate him without delay.

It would be unlikely that Prozac would cause tardive dyskinesia, but the Risperidone might be considered.

Does the doctor treating your son have extensive clinical experience in dealing with Tourette Syndrome? Effective treatment of Tourette really does require some research to locate a physician with clinical experience and a professional interest in movement disorders and specifically Tourette.

These physicians can usually be located with the help of your local chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Association

Have you looked into whether there may be a clinic specializing in Tourette in a hospital within traveling distance from your home? It may be something to look into if your son is not getting relief with the courses of therapy he has been receiving.

Does Tourettes get so bad that they do act this way and look like they have just lost it?

Many people with Tourette experience rage reactions when stressed, especially when the stress comes from several sources at the same time. It is not unusual, and as you say, the person just seems to lose it.

I can just imagine your son's frustration with what might be medication side effects, plus the usual things a fifteen year old young man has to deal with, that could be provoking these reactions.

Looking forward to reading your comments.

[DsMom]

Thanks for the reply.

The Psy my son sees is not a specialist at all in Tourettes. When i have concerns over the meds causing anything he says it isn't the meds. Always he says this. No it wouldn't be the meds.

The Clonazepam made him more hyper and his heart beat really fast. Total opposite of what it should do.

I have no idea what anything is caused from what. It is only my guess and my research. His movements are just so different from ever before. Lots of tension and finger movements along with the tensed body.

We are waiting to see a new Dr next Friday which is a long wait. I am not giving the clonazepam to him anymore and things have gotten a little better.

I am not sure if i should call his Psy today and have anything changed again or try to wait until Friday to see the new Psy. I think there may be a Tourettes clinic in LA Ca about 2 hours from us. I guess it is time to check into it.

Does anyone know if the Risperidone could be not working as well after a few years?

Thanks