section name header

Evidence summaries

Drug Treatment for ADHD in Children with Comorbid Tic Disorders

Methylphenidate, clonidine, guanfacine, desipramine and atomoxetine may reduce ADHD symptoms in children with tics. Level of evidence: "C"

The quality of evidence is downgraded by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes) and by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 8 studies with a total of 510 children. Combining these studies in meta-analysis was not possible. Three of these trials assessed multiple agents. Agents assessed included methylphenidate, clonidine, desipramine, dextroamphetamine, guanfacine, atomoxetine, and deprenyl. All treatments, with the exception of deprenyl, were efficacious in treating symptoms of ADHD. Tic symptoms improved in children treated with guanfacine, desipramine, methylphenidate, clonidine, and the combination of methylphenidate and clonidine. Fear of worsening tics limited dose increases of methylphenidate in one study. High dose dextroamphetamine appeared to worsen tics in one study, although the length of this study was only three weeks.

Clinical comments

Although stimulants have not been shown to worsen tics in most people with tic disorders, they may nonetheless exacerbate tics in individual cases. In these instances, treatment with alpha agonists or atomoxetine may be an alternative. Although there is evidence that desipramine is effective for both tics and ADHD in children, safety concerns of cardiac toxicity will likely continue to limit its use in this population.

Note

Date of latest search:

Primary/Secondary Keywords