Tics and Strattera? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

allisok · 10-18-2004, 10:38 AM

My son used to be on Adderall but took him off because the stimulants gave him tics. All summer he had no tics, now on Strattera they are back.
They say Strattera does not cause tics being they are not a stimulant. Has anyone else seen this?

allisok · 10-20-2004, 10:49 AM

Please someone help. Has anyone that used Strattera develop tics?

weez · 10-20-2004, 10:53 AM

My son develped tics from all the different stimulants that we tried. Actually he's a bit prone to ticky behavior as it is (nothing major that would be a separate diagnosis according to his doc). But when we tried the stimulants they became really noticable. We switched him to Strattera and they immediately went away (or back to what they were before meds). His ADHD doc says that having mild tics often goes hand-in-hand with having ADHD in the first place.

Good luck!

sawbuck44 · 10-20-2004, 12:21 PM

When my son was 6 years old, he was on Ritalin for a few months and then Dexedrine (total 5 or 6 months). He developed tics. He would roll the bottom of his shirt continuously and if he didn't have a shirt on he would go for his shorts or whatever. He also had some throat noises. Once he was off all meds, it took him a few months to get rid of the tics. What you are seeing may be the residules of Adderall. Can I ask if it was regular Adderall or XR? Keep going with Straterra if that's all you can see of side effects. If it doesn't go away, then I'd look into it. How long was he on Adderall - that could also be indicative of how much longer he'll experience the tics.

My son just started regular Adderall 10mg yesterday. He is supposed to work his way up to 20 (add 5mg a week). I am closely watching him - as we all do - to see how it is affecting him. My niece who lives in another state has her younger son (my son is 12, hers is 6) on Adderall XR. She has stopped giving him the meds and is going to see the doctor because of how angry he's become. That is why there are so many of us out there still searching because what works for one does not work the same for another. Good luck!

allisok · 10-21-2004, 10:47 AM

Thank you for your reply's. My son starting having tics before he was on meds. He was adderall xr with tenex for the tics. He was on Straterra during the last school year without noticible tics, during the summer no meds, no tics. Back on Straterra and the tics came back. Took him off Strattera about a week ago and now the tics are gone again. I think maybe stress from school combined with Meds and perhaps caffiene soda don't help.
Thanks again for your help, will see what happens now that he's off....