naturopath vs environmental Dr.

[mojo]

My 9 yo daughter has started vocal tics. Per the school's request, we took her to see a doctor (neurologist) who prescribed Clonidine. The clonidine has made the tics worse (I think) Doctor just says it's not working so let's try Orap. After researching, there is no way I am putting her on Orap. In fact, we are weaning her off Clonidine now. After reading this board, we are going to try the natural approach.

 

My question is should I take her to a Naturopathic physician or an Environmental physician? I want her to be tested for allergies and vitamin deficienies.

 

Also, has anyone ever tried Clonidine and the tics got worse instead of better? Just curious. It's made her behavior out of control as well. A lot more irritable, etc.

 

Thanks,

Melissa

[Chemar]

Hi Melissa

 

although my son was never on clonodine...the medications we tried ALL made things worse for him!!

 

as far as doctors go...different people have varied views on which are best. I personally like a general Integrative doctor (conventionally trained as well as specialised in alternative/complementary medicine)

 

It is important, whether you decide on an Integrative, naturopathic, environmental or DAN doctor, to FIRST ask if they have had any experience treating TS/tics.

 

 

I am SO longing for the day when neurologists will realise that the prescription meds that they seem to continuously see as the only treatment option are frequently doing far more harm than good!

 

Congrats on being a mom who has taken the trouble to educate yourself!

 

Keep us posted on progress...

[kim]

Melisssa,

 

Both of my son's took clonidine. I felt it helped decrease tics at first, and definitley helped my oldest son get to sleep easier. The effects just didn't last for them. I can't say that it increased tics, or that we noticed any negative behavior associated with it's use though.

 

It was kind of interesting, I had to have a kidney xray recently. The guy doing the test started telling me that he has had high blood pressure since he was in his early 20's. He said he had just lost a lot of weight from one of his blood pressure meds causing anorexia symptoms. I told him I had no idea a blood pressure med could do that. He said "yea, it's a calcium channel blocker." He said the next one caused severe depression after about 3 mos. Don't know if these remarks have anything to do with clonidine, all I know is that it is used to treat high blood pressure sometimes.

 

I have also read reports of clonidine causing nigtmares, which my youngest son did have after starting it. As usual, I was not informed that could be a side effect and didn't have a clue, until I started searching the web, trying to figure out how to get my sons off of it safely. We had parted the company of our Neuro at that time, and he was the only Ped. Neuro around.

 

I sure know how you feel about Orap. I'm glad we dodged that bullet. I do want to say though, if either of my sons would have been bad enough, I probably wouldn't have had such a strong conviction back then, and I never would want to appear judgemental of the parents/people who have used this type of med.

My biggest problem is, I don't think we're given enough information to make informed choices, by a lot of these Drs.

 

Kim

[mojo]

I appreciate your responses. I am going to start my physician research. I've been checking websites and it seems like a lot of doctors just don't have tics/tourettes experience. I've never known a child to have this problem so it's hard to find support from other people so I'm glad I found this board.

 

Anyway, I know they say Clonidine is mild and I did read up on it before I gave it to my daughter and I felt comfortable giving it to her. But after 4 weeks on it, it just did not agree with her system. She did tell me she had weird dreams while on it. Several nights after she had been asleep for 2-3 hours she would just burst into my room in a sleep walk. It scared me. I knew it was something with her medicine.

 

Also, one tic she never had before Clonidine was the diaphram tic. Does anyone know about that one? That has been the scariest ever. Every time she talked you could hear it in her voice. It's hard to explain. It's like she just couldn't talk right anymore. Her voice just kept getting stronger and softer. Now that we have stopped the meds, it just went away. Of course, the doctor said it wasn't from the med, but I know it was.

 

I'm anxious to have her examined by a Naturopath or other doctor that does a more comprehensive exam, etc. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for your support!!

 

Melissa