How to Select a Tourette's Syndrome Medication

While many Tourette's Syndrome sufferers are able to control this neurological disorder through simple behavior-modification techniques and diet, more severe cases may require prescription medication. By consulting with your doctor or health care professional, you should be able to select the right Tourette's Syndrome medication to fit your lifestyle. Read on to learn more about how to select a Tourette's Syndrome medication.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Prescription medication
• Physician or health-care professional

1. Keep a journal documenting all motor and vocal tics exhibited by the person with Tourette's Syndrome, taking care to note the time of day, frequency and intensity of the tics, as well as the food consumed that day. This will help your doctor to determine any possible triggers for your behavior that might be eliminated without the use of medication.
2. Consult with your physician or health care professional to discuss the right treatment plan for you. Most doctors will try to avoid using prescribed medication to treat Tourette's Syndrome, unless all behavioral-modification programs have been ineffective. Your physician will also be able to determine whether your Tourette's Syndrome may be connected to other medical conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, that will alter the treatment plan.
3. Select a neuroleptic or antipsychotic medication for treatment of the most severe forms of Tourette's Syndrome. Effective neuroleptic medications include Risperdal, Geodone, Haldol and Prolixin. Note that dosages should be kept as low as possible to avoid the possibility of severe side effects.
4. Try clonidine, which is a prescribed medication for hypertension that has been fairly successful in treating patients with Tourette's Syndrome. Clonidine is available in either a pill or patch form. Note that clonidine does have some side effects, including dizziness, lightheadedness, constipation, dry mouth and drowsiness, but they are much less severe than those associated with the use of neuroleptic medications.
5. Continue to monitor the frequency and intensity of behaviors associated with Tourette's Syndrome after the medication has been prescribed. Note any changes in vocal or motor tics, and notate the specific medications and dosages, as well as the time of day these medications are taken, in relation to the behavior.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider natural alternatives to prescribed medication by trying some of the herbal or vitamin supplements reputed to be helpful in suppressing the symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome. These supplements use vitamins and herbs known for their calming effects, such as evening-primrose oil, flaxseed oil and B-complex vitamins.