Tourette's Syndrome
Treatment
Your Guide to
Tourette's Syndrome
- What Is Tourette's Syndrome?
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Getting a Diagnosis
- Questions for Your Doctor
- Treatment
- Taking Care of Yourself
- What to Expect
- Getting Support
Many times, tics are mild and don't need to be treated. If they become a problem, your doctor may prescribe medicine to help them. It can take a while to find the right dose that helps control tics but avoids side effects, so be patient as you and your doctor work through it.
Medications can include:
- Haldol (haloperidol), Orap (pimozide), and Prolixin (fluphenazine), which work on a brain chemical called dopamine to control tics.
- Catapres (clonidine) and Tenex (guanfacine), high blood pressure drugs that can also treat tics.
- Concerta and Ritalin (methylphenidate), as well as Adderall XR (dextroamphetamine), which is used to treat ADHD. They can help if you have trouble concentrating or paying attention.
- Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and other antidepressants, which can relieve anxiety, sadness, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Along with medicine, you may want to consider talk therapy. A psychologist or counselor can help you learn how to deal with the social issues your tics and other symptoms may cause.
Behavior therapy may also help. A specific kind, called habit-reversal training, teaches you how to recognize that a tic is coming and then move in a way that stops it.
Taking Care of Yourself
Often the hardest part of living with Tourette's is dealing with the embarrassment or frustration of having tics you can't control. While you're getting help from your doctor, you can do a few other things to feel better:
Get support. Your family, friends, health care team, or a support group can help you meet the challenges of Tourette's.
Stay active. Play sports, paint, or volunteer. These activities will take your mind off your symptoms.
Relax. Read a book, listen to music, meditate, or do yoga. Low-key activities you enjoy can combat the stress that can lead to tics.
Educate yourself. Learn everything you can about your condition so you'll know what to do when you have symptoms.
If your child has Tourette’s, talk to his school about it. You can give staff the facts about the condition and see what kind of support they can give him, like extra tutoring or smaller classes.
Fitting in socially also can be hard for a child with the disease. Help him practice ways to handle teasing or comments from other kids.