Ritilin and clonodine - anyone??

[Karon]

My 7 year old grandson has suddenly (4 days ago) developed a tick (not too severe) and we have just returned from seeing the Paediatrician with him. He has ADHD and has been on Ritilan for about 1 and a half years. He is super hyper (at the top the doc says). We are to watch for the next week and half to find if the Ritilan makes the tick worse (he only gets the Ritilan for school and special occations) and the doctor said he may have to combine Clonodine with it. He said it would also help his impulsiveness and slow him down (he vibrates!) Is anyone out there familiar with this. We thought at first he was having little seizures and have lost sleep and stressed totally over this, even thinking he had a tumor. The doctor today spent over an hour with us and has put our minds to rest (somewhat)... I know you all know the worries these little children we love so much give us. I'd appreciate any input on this subject. Thanks so much. Karon

[html]

If your doctor does choose to use clonidine, talk to him about using the patch form. Some children don't tolerate the patch because of skin irritation. In addition to reducing tics, clonidine helped with the hyperactivity, negative persistance, and emotional lability. The oral form requires fairly frequent dosing and children tend to experience more sleepiness with it followed by rebound hyperactivity as it wears off. The downside of the clonidine patch for our son was extreme constipation.

A word about tics. Tics are extremely common at your son's age and the vast majority disappear on their own. It is true that stimulants like ritalin can "unmask" a tendency toward tics and can worsen existing tics. It's for this reason that your ped wants you to keep a close eye on him. Interestingly, some recent research has found that in *some* children stimulants decrease, rather than increase, tics. So, contrary to popular opinion, the fact that he has a tic does NOT necessarily mean that the ritalin must be stopped immediately.

I hope your doc reassured you about combining these 2 medications before you start reading horror stories about it on the internet. For those of you who don't know, four deaths were reported in 1995 in children on this combination. Since then, it has been established that each of these children had underlying pathologies. The 2 drugs are now increasingly being prescribed together.

Hope this is useful to you.

[vrie]

My 10 yo daughter has been on clonidine and stimulants for about two years now. The lowest dose of clonidine has been very effective for her. She has Tourette's Syndrome and had tics before she was ever medicated for ADHD. Our doctor believes clonidine to be one of the safest drugs for tics and has the added advantage of helping the ADHD and sleeping problems as well. Clonidine does need to be taken regularly, but at a low dose it's no problem to restart if something interferes with the regularity.

[Karon]

Thank you both so much for your input. The tick seems to worsen when he is tired or under any stress. It's quite difficult because we cannot give him his own way to prevent this. Anyone else familiar with this?? Or any secrets or suggestions on getting along with hyper active children. We' have had some help along with read books on it but still take advise from anyone who can offer it. Thanks again Karon

[WendyMae]

I would like more info (personal) I hope you know what I mean, on the Clonidine patch. My son has been going thru meds for 2 years and we are have not got him on something good yet. Long story short, he is 9 with anxiety, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder. Its been heck! We just got back into counseling, we quit last year cause its so expensive. But his grades drastically dropped this year so the pediatrician put him on Concerta back in Sept. ever since then we have beem lucky to get him to go to sleep before 1AM! then get up at 6:45AM and I just found out last Monday from the counselor that the Conserta was probably keeping him up, so I called the Dr. he says could be so I didnt give it to him and that night he went to sleep within 5 min. of his light going off. He also has night terrors and takes 1/2 0.1 mg Clonodine at bedtime the Dr. may increase and give the other half in the AM but it makes him so drowsy when he takes it. How much does your child take, how long does a patch last,may I ask what he takes it for Ive never really fiqured out what the medication does. Any info would be a God send right now. Thank You.