Tourette Syndrome Treatment Options - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Other

Tourette Syndrome

Treatment Options

The majority of TS patients with tics can live a normal life as it does not interfere with normal life functions. For those patient's whose tics interfere with normal life functions, there are several kinds of tic suppression medications available. One class of medicines is called neuroleptics. However, even with this medication, it will only reduce tics and not completely eliminate them.

Neuroleptics also have side effects which include: sedation, weight gain, cognitive dulling, tremors, dystonic reactions (twisting movements or postures), parkinsonian-like symptoms, and other dyskinetic (involuntary) movements. These side effects can be managed by adjusting the dosage.

Other medication options for tics include: halopedirol, pimozide, fluphenazine, and risperidone.

Another treatment option, but less studied and not having the same consistent results like neuroleptics, is treatment with alpha-adrenergic agonists (clonidine and guanfacine). Alpha-adrenergic agonists are normally used in the treatment of hypertension problems, but are also used in treating tics. The most common side effect of this drugs is sedation.

When it comes to the associated neurobehavioral disorders that can occur in patients with TS, effective treatment options are available. Recent research shows that TS patients who display ADHD symptoms can be effectively treated with stimulant medications like methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine. These medications can reduce the ADHD symptoms without causing tics to become more severe. However, this research is quite new and more proof is needed to determine the risks and benefits of these medicaitons for TS patients.

For those TS patients that display obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms that impair daily functioning, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (clomipramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline) have proven to be an effective treatment option.

One other option that can be useful for the TS patient is psychotherapy. Although Tourette Syndrome is not cause by psychological problems, this disorder can cause psychological problems. The role of psychotherapy in this disorder is:

To help the patient to better cope with the symptoms and the discomfort caused by the disorder.
To better deal with the social and emotional problems caused by the disorder.
To help the patient learn specific behavior skills through awareness training and competing response training, such as voluntarily moving in response to a premonitory urge.
Teach patient relaxation methods and behavioral techniques to cope with stressful situations.

Tourrette's is sometimes mistakenly spelled Turrets Syndrome, or Turretts Syndrome.

Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources:

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/tourette.html
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.htm
http://www.wemove.org/ts/
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=tourettesyndrome