Tourettes Medication that doesn't have sedation effect

[HateTS]

Hi all,

I was wondering if there is any medication that doesn't have side affect as drowsiness. Does such medication exist for Tourettes? I used to be on Risperidone for over 10 years, but my new doctor when I moved to different province changed me into Haldol because risperidone was no longer working and my tics were really bad. Haldol is working somewhat. maybe 50 to 60 percent I think. However, I would still like to have more benefit out of medication, more like 80 to 90 percent. And I hope to find one that doesn't make me drowsy, so that I can also take it in the morning. Right now I'm only taking it before bed time, and it makes me fall a sleep right away, and I don't think it's as effective in the morning, afternoon, and early evening.

My doctor is not very experienced in tourettes. I couldn't find a doctor in this "smaller" city that has significant experience in this area, and the association here only accepts patients who are not adults. I'm 25.

I've tried to change food intake, but I don't think I can live my life with eating only those "natural" and "clean" food all my life. It's very depressing. I also tried medical cannabis. In order for it to be "somewhat" helpful, I had to take almost 2mL per day (still within recommended dose from the special doctor I saw), but it was way too expensive, as cannabis is not covered by most of the medical insurance in Canada. For regular prescription medication, with my coverage from work, I have to pay only very little per month.

I also tried Natural Calm but doesn't seem to help much, and it's too much hassle for me to boil water every evening to make it. If it helped tremendously, then I can do it, but not really.

I also recently bought Magnesium cream to apply directly on my face and other parts of the body that I have tics. I'm not 100% sure if it works or not, but I'm not sure if buying a specific Epsom Salt cream would work better. This magnesium cream I bought claims it helps with pain in the body. Review seems positive on Amazon. I also have chronic sinusitis, and in the winter, when my nose is stuffy, my tic gets much worse, and when my face is dry, same thing. So keeping my face moisturized is definitely a thing I need to do. But even then, I still have facial tics. Anyone find Epsom salt cream helpful?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[HateTS]

Didn't realize I posted a similar question a month ago here. Didn't get any response though.

[Jason_DFW]

Here is what is working pretty well in managing my 14 year old son's (5'9 and 180lbs so adult size) tics.

• 1mg guanfacine tablet in AM and 1mg in PM before bed.  With his size he is authorized to take up to 4mg per day, however the tics are controlled enough with 2mg that we want to avoid potential drowsiness and weight gain that can be a side effect.
• 100mg B6 tablet in AM
• 200mg magnesium citrate tablet in AM and 200mg in PM before bed.  We used Natural Calm for a while with good success, however my son hates the taste of the powder and the Natural Calm gummies became non-existent due to some kind of manufacturing issue by Natural Calm.  The tablets seem to be doing the trick, so will not return to Natural Calm.  We tried other magnesium types, however citrate appears to be the correct type of mag, as the other types had limited to no impact.  

We try to avoid artificial colors and flavors when possible, but otherwise he pretty much eats what he wishes.  He is very active in sports and tics big time when playing sports, but that's when the dopamine is really flowing, so it's expected.  Otherwise, the tics are very slight with this routine.

Edited October 18, 2018 by jason_dfw

[HateTS]

1 hour ago, jason_dfw said:

Here is what is working pretty well in managing my 14 year old son's (5'9 and 180lbs so adult size) tics.

• 1mg guanfacine tablet in AM and 1mg in PM before bed.  With his size he is authorized to take up to 4mg per day, however the tics are controlled enough with 2mg that we want to avoid potential drowsiness and weight gain that can be a side effect.
• 100mg B6 tablet in AM
• 200mg magnesium citrate tablet in AM and 200mg in PM before bed.  We used Natural Calm for a while with good success, however my son hates the taste of the powder and the Natural Calm gummies became non-existent due to some kind of manufacturing issue by Natural Calm.  The tablets seem to be doing the trick, so will not return to Natural Calm.  We tried other magnesium types, however citrate appears to be the correct type of mag, as the other types had limited to no impact.  

We try to avoid artificial colors and flavors when possible, but otherwise he pretty much eats what he wishes.  He is very active in sports and tics big time when playing sports, but that's when the dopamine is really flowing, so it's expected.  Otherwise, the tics are very slight with this routine.

Thanks for your response. Would you mind sharing the brand of B6 and magensium citrate with me? Thanks. 

[Jason_DFW]

Sorry for the delay.  The B6 is the Nature Made brand and the Mag Citrate is some brand I found at Whole Foods.  I'm sure any mag citrate will be fine.