Side Effects of Medication
Some medical professionals have expressed worry in recent years about the likelihood that some ADHD drugs can exacerbate or trigger tics. Several studies have tracked the frequency and intensity of any tics people had while using ADHD medications to assess the adverse effects of these drugs.
Stimulant Medications and the Chance of Tics
Certain stimulants have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [4] to treat the symptoms of ADHD in children. For those with tic disorders like Tourette syndrome or those who have a family history of tic disorders, the FDA currently advises against using stimulant drugs.
However, after the review of several studies carried out over decades, researchers concluded that it is unlikely that stimulant drugs aggravate or induce tics in children with ADHD.
In the 1970s, the FDA cautioned patients against using methylphenidate, a stimulant frequently recommended for symptoms of ADHD, out of concern that the medication might result in tics. Ever since, scientists have conducted in-depth research on the medication’s effects and come to the conclusion that any rise in tics is unrelated to methylphenidate. Methylphenidate is one of the drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD.