My 8 year old started Ticing

[Notokay29]

So my 8 year old started having tics about 2 weeks ago. He was on asthma medication for cough variant asthma, he was taking singular, albuteral, and fluticasone nasel spray. He took all 3 daily for a month straight because of seasonal allergies and his cough. I first noticed his facial tics about 2 weeks ago when he was sitting watching tv and they were scary! My first thought was it must be the singular so I stopped giving it to him. A few days later his tics were still there but more mild. So I began reading online about some of the medication he’s been taking and there have been a few cases that those meds cause tics. So I stopped giving him everything, cold turkey. No more meds, I started him on magnesium, as I’ve seen on forums, it helps people with tics, and a daily vitamin. His tics decreased a few days later and I thought omg he’s getting better. Nope. So today we went to the fair and he’s an anxious kid so first ride he goes on, he gets kinda nervous, comes off ticking like crazy, from his mouth open and close, to his arms to his chest puffing out. And then the remainder of the time we were there it was mostly open mouth tics. Idk what to do, his tics mostly show up after he gets nervous. I don’t think it’s diet or anything he ate. Any advice on what I can do to help! Also I took him to his pediatrician, she said they’re tics he’ll either out grow them or learn to control them. She also advised me to stop the singular. 

[Sheila]

Hi Notokay29, Welcome to the Forums -- although I'm sorry that your son's recent tics have brought you here. 

It sounds like you have been doing a lot of helpful reading. That's great. You are correct that allergy/asthma medications can worsen or trigger some people's tics, but there are not studies on this as far as what percentage might experience tics and for which meds. You saw an improvement after stopping them, and that's encouraging. But it's all so recent that it's hard to know exactly what has been involved. At the same time, he may need some kind of asthma treatment. 

As you know, stress and anxiety can aggravate many people's tics. He could be in an overly sensitive state right now. What exactly did he eat or drink at the fair, even if foods don't normally seem to bother him? And how is he doing tonight? 

 

 

 

 

[Notokay29]

2 hours ago, Sheila said:

Hi Notokay29, Welcome to the Forums -- although I'm sorry that your son's recent tics have brought you here. 

It sounds like you have been doing a lot of helpful reading. That's great. You are correct that allergy/asthma medications can worsen or trigger some people's tics, but there are not studies on this as far as what percentage might experience tics and for which meds. You saw an improvement after stopping them, and that's encouraging. But it's all so recent that it's hard to know exactly what has been involved. At the same time, he may need some kind of asthma treatment. 

As you know, stress and anxiety can aggravate many people's tics. He could be in an overly sensitive state right now. What exactly did he eat or drink at the fair, even if foods don't normally seem to bother him? And how is he doing tonight? 

 

 

 

 

Hi Sheila, thank you for replying! His doctor actually agreed with me that the singular, if it did not cause his tics could’ve triggered or worded them. And she advised me to stop giving it to him, I did think that his tics got a bit better but honestly after the fair I’m thinking maybe not. He ate pizza and drank lemonade, and whatever he had eaten for lunch yesterday at school. Foods he has been eating for years now. As for today since he’s came home from school I did not notice any tics, it has been 2 hours since he came home. I noticed his tics always come out when he’s either nervous or watching tv. Do you have any advice on natural remedies I can give him to help tame the tics? 

[Notokay29]

*worsened*

[Chemar]

Hi Notokay

I just wanted to mention that both good and bad "excitement" seemed to be tic triggers for my son when he was in what we called "sensitive mode" - when his responses to triggers seemed heightened.

It is possible that the medications may have been a trigger, and that your child is still somewhat sensitive as a result? Is the pediatrician recommending anything else for the asthmatic issues? Did you notice any tics prior to the medications?

There are a number of natural ways to try to calm tics, but it really is dependent on what is causing them, along with other factors.

 

[Notokay29]

40 minutes ago, Chemar said:

Hi Notokay

I just wanted to mention that both good and bad "excitement" seemed to be tic triggers for my son when he was in what we called "sensitive mode" - when his responses to triggers seemed heightened.

It is possible that the medications may have been a trigger, and that your child is still somewhat sensitive as a result? Is the pediatrician recommending anything else for the asthmatic issues? Did you notice any tics prior to the medications?

There are a number of natural ways to try to calm tics, but it really is dependent on what is causing them, along with other factors.

 

Hi, I think he may have had a blinking tic before the meds but I’m not entirely sure, because honestly I never noticed anything. Today he came home from school excited because he won an award. Started ticking in the car, from his face to his body jerking to the point where his leg jerked a few times. I gave him a good healthy gluten free sugar free lunch to school so I don’t think it was something he ate. Honestly I’m in a bad state right now I feel awful, and helpless. Idk what to do. I’m desperate to help him, I have zero support system and idk what to do.

[Notokay29]

Like when I think it might be getting better he developes a new tic along with the facial tics. 

[Notokay29]

I honestly don’t know! What if his cough hasn’t been allergies/asthma. What if it’s been a tic all these years! Idk anything anymore!

[Atex]

Yes, we had the eye blinking thing for years that the doctor was chalking up to dry eye and needing drops.  We came to our tic realization around 8yrs old which sounds similar to you.  I would really start exploring the foods more. Gluten and sugar free is a good start but there is so many more offenders.  I would strip out all dyes and processing. A big one for us is MSG and all of its various names.

[Chemar]

My son's tics manifest with eye blinking and then continuous throat clearing sounds.

So @Notokay29 it seems you are saying your child doesn't have an actual asthma diagnosis, and the doctor was just giving those meds to see if they worked? I know there have been some posts here in the past of those kinds of meds triggering tics for some people.

Many people with tics do have vocals that sound like throat clearing, coughing, sniffing etc

[Notokay29]

2 hours ago, Chemar said:

My son's tics manifest with eye blinking and then continuous throat clearing sounds.

So @Notokay29 it seems you are saying your child doesn't have an actual asthma diagnosis, and the doctor was just giving those meds to see if they worked? I know there have been some posts here in the past of those kinds of meds triggering tics for some people.

Many people with tics do have vocals that sound like throat clearing, coughing, sniffing etc

His cough tho only happens this time of year, and it’s like the kind of cough you can tell there is something bothering him. My daughter has a habit cough and it sounds nothing like his cough, her cough sounds fake. The doctor said he has post nasel drip, and swelling in his eyes and nose. So she said any cough, throat clearing, sniffing, is for sure his allergies. What can I start doing to help tame his tics? What types of vitamins, how much dosage? 

[Notokay29]

7 hours ago, Atex said:

Yes, we had the eye blinking thing for years that the doctor was chalking up to dry eye and needing drops.  We came to our tic realization around 8yrs old which sounds similar to you.  I would really start exploring the foods more. Gluten and sugar free is a good start but there is so many more offenders.  I would strip out all dyes and processing. A big one for us is MSG and all of its various names.

This sounds so hard! But I’m willing to try, I will try to talk to him about the candy and food they give out in school and monitor what he eats at home. How long do you think it would take until we start to see a difference, if there will be a difference?

[Chemar]

@Notokay29 None of us can give specific advice on what you should do, and especially not re the specific supplements & doses.

All we can suggest are the things that have helped our children

As Sheila mentioned, allergies can be a major tic trigger and the best way to start treating that is with a good allergist who can do testing. We used someone here who has a more holistic view on allergies as well, rather than just prescribing meds to treat symptoms

[Irene123]

I also noticed that allergy medication like Claritin makes my daughter's tics worse. Maybe try some natural allergy relief stuff like Boiron allergy calms tablets (I have not tried them yet so can't speak to their efficacy). In terms of food, we have been completely sugar and artificial colors/flavors free for years and have not seen any results. A lot of people say to go gluten free, it is very hard to do, but if your son can do it, then definitely try it. Since he has anxiety and is sensitive, I would look into craniosacral therapy which is very relaxing and might help him with tension in his body. We just started it and we like it so far. I am just as desperate as you but we have been dealing with this for 6 years since my daughter was 8, and it is very hard to have a child who tics and you can't help him, I know. Calming the body and mind in my view is the best thing for him 

[Irene123]

Chemar, who did you use for holistic allergy treatment?