There is no one medication that is best for all people. Most medications prescribed for TS have not been approved by the U. Medications affect each person differently. One person might do well with one medication, but not another. When deciding the best treatment, a doctor might try different medications and doses, and it may take time to find the treatment plan that works best. The doctor will want to find the medication and dose that have the best results and the fewest side effects.
Doctors often start with small doses and slowly increase as needed. As with all medications, those used to treat tics can have side effects. Side effects can include weight gain, stiff muscles, tiredness, restlessness, and social withdrawal.
The side effects need to be considered carefully when deciding whether or not to use any medication to treat tics. In some cases, the side effects can be worse than the tics. Even though medications often are used to treat the symptoms of TS, they might not be helpful for everyone. Two common reasons for not using medications to treat TS are unpleasant side effects and failure of the medications to work as well as expected. Learn more about medications » external icon.
Behavioral therapy is a treatment that teaches people with TS ways to manage their tics. Behavioral therapy is not a cure for tics. However, it can help reduce the number of tics, the severity of tics, the impact of tics, or a combination of all of these. It is important to understand that even though behavioral therapies might help reduce the severity of tics, this does not mean that tics are just psychological or that anyone with tics should be able to control them.
Habit reversal is one of the most studied behavioral interventions for people with tics 1. It has two main parts: awareness training and competing response training. The most common co-occurring conditions include:. Educational Settings. Although students with TS often function well in the regular classroom, ADHD, learning disabilities, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and frequent tics can greatly interfere with academic performance or social adjustment.
After a comprehensive assessment, students should be placed in an educational setting that meets their individual needs. Students may require tutoring, smaller or special classes, private study areas, exams outside the regular classroom, other individual performance accommodations, and in some cases special schools. To diagnose TS, a doctor looks for the following:.
Common tics are often diagnosed by knowledgeable clinicians. However, atypical symptoms different from classical symptoms or atypical presentations for example, symptoms that begin in adulthood may require specific specialty expertise for diagnosis. There are no blood, laboratory, or imaging tests needed for diagnosis. In rare cases, neuroimaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging MRI or computerized tomography CT , electroencephalogram EEG studies, or certain blood tests may be used to rule out other conditions that might be confused with TS.
It may take some time to receive a formal diagnosis of TS. Families and physicians unfamiliar with the disorder might think mild and even moderate tic symptoms may be negligible or unimportant, a part of a developmental phase, or the result of another condition.
For example, some parents may think that eye blinking is related to vision problems or that sniffing is related to seasonal allergies. Because tic symptoms often are mild and do not cause impairment, some people with TS require no treatment.
There are effective medications and other treatments for people whose symptoms interfere with daily functioning. Unfortunately, there is no one medication that is helpful to all people with TS, nor does any medication completely eliminate symptoms. Other therapies and treatments can include:. Most cases of TS involve the interaction of multiple gene variations and environmental factors. Although the cause of TS is unknown, current research points to abnormalities in certain brain regions including the basal ganglia, frontal lobes, and cortex , the circuits that connect these regions, and the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine responsible for communication between nerve cells called neurons.
TS Inheritance. Evidence from twin and family studies suggests that TS is an inherited disorder. A small number of people with Tourette syndrome have mutations involving the SLITRK1 gene, which affects how neurons grow and connect with one another, and scientists continue to look for other genes involved with TS.
Although there may be a few genes with substantial effects, it is also possible that many genes with smaller effects and environmental factors may play a role in the development of TS. It is important for families to understand that genetic tendency may not necessarily result in TS; instead, it may express itself as a milder tic disorder or as obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
It is also possible that children who inherit the gene abnormality will not develop any TS symptoms. There's no cure for Tourette syndrome. Treatment is aimed at controlling tics that interfere with everyday activities and functioning. When tics aren't severe, treatment might not be necessary. Your self-esteem may suffer as a result of Tourette syndrome. You may be embarrassed about your tics and hesitate to engage in social activities, such as dating or going out in public.
As a result, you're at increased risk of depression and substance abuse. If you or your child has been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, you may be referred to specialists, such as:. It's a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help ensure the best use of time. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.
For Tourette syndrome, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:. Don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment anytime you don't understand something or need more information.
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may allow time later to cover other points you want to address. Your doctor may ask:. A number of dietary factors have been suggested , such as a higher intake of vitamin B or vitamin D , but these have not been supported by research.
However, exercise and a healthful diet can help reduce stress and enhance a sense of wellbeing, which may help reduce the severity and frequency of tics. Surgery is usually only considered for adult patients with severe symptoms who have not responded well to other treatments. Limbic leucotomy : An electric current or pulse of radiation is used to burn away a small part of the limbic system, which is responsible for some emotions, behavior and memory.
This may resolve the problem partially or fully. They are connected to small generators that are implanted inside the body. An electronic pulse passes from the generator to the electrodes, stimulating different parts of the brain. Activities that may help include engaging in competitive sports, playing an enjoyable computer game, or reading an interesting book.
However, overexcitement can be a trigger for some people, so some activities can have the opposite effect. Many people learn how to control the tics when at work or school, for example, but suppressing tics may increase tension, until the tic can be expressed.
Over time, the types, frequency, and severity of tics may change. Tics tend to be most severe during the teenage years, but they often improve during early adulthood. A child with or without these additional conditions may also experience bullying at school, and this can make schooling harder, both socially and academically.
This may affect skills such as writing, reading, or arithmetic. In this article, learn about functional neurological symptom disorder. What are the causes, what are the symptoms, and is it commonly misdiagnosed? Researchers have discovered that cognitive behavioral therapy used to reduce tics in people with Tourette syndrome also alters brain functioning in…. A person with body dysmorphic disorder becomes overly anxious about a minor or imagined physical imperfection.
They may believe that there is…. Tics are involuntary, repetitive sounds or movements, and some disorders trigger repeated noises and motions.
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