Nutritional Supplements for Tics and Tourette Syndrome

Feature: Ask Dr. Albert Robbins

Question:

My boys, ages 14 and 10, were diagnosed with tic disorders several years ago. One has motor tics and the other one has vocal tics. After extensive lab tests through a natural-oriented physician we detoxed their bodies and started them on supplements that are all are natural.

They have been taking the supplements listed below for two years now. I want to know if these nutrients, in these doses, can be harmful when taken for an extended time. My husband lost his job and we can’t afford to go back to the original doctor.

 

Detoxifying and the supplements stopped my oldest boy’s tics completely. The younger boy has been helped somewhat; he is now on 50mg of Imipramine (the antidepressant Tofranil) because social issues were difficult.

• 1000mg of Omega-3: marine lipid concentrate/EPA 300mg/DHA 200mg

• B-complex 100

• Ultimate 10 Probiotic: 13 billion organisms

• Taurine 500:  Vit B6 10mg, L-Taurine 500mg

• Magnesium Citrate Complex

• Nature's Plus Children's Vita-Gels

I am afraid to take them off the supplements out of fear the tics will return. I have Sheila Rogers’ book on Tics and Tourette’s and love it.

A worried mom in Atlanta

 

Dr. Albert Robbins: The question of which nutrients to take, and in what dose, is an important consideration for tic disorders including Tourette syndrome. It is a difficult question to answer for a number of reasons.

First, there is no correct answer. Each person requires an individualized nutritional evaluation which is done by clinical evaluation, blood testing, and other lab tests if needed, to come up with an objective determination of what nutrients are medically necessary. Otherwise we are just guessing.

Second, if the child is known to be allergic to certain foods, you want to be sure that the nutrients are hypoallergenic. For example, some nutrients or vitamins are made from soy; some children are allergic to soy.

The nutrients you are giving appear to be helping your children. This is an observation that is important to consider. Generally all the nutrients in the doses you mention are safe over a long period of time; but children should ideally be monitored by their physician for adverse reactions to any medications or nutrients. Some physicians would question such a high dose of B complex (100).

Nutrients may be helpful in some children with Tourette's or other tic disorders, but they are only one consideration in evaluating and treating the condition. Other factors requiring evaluation include environmental exposures, hidden allergies, hidden infections, undetected immune problems, stress factors, lifestyle habits and hormonal considerations.
Dr. Albert Robbins  AllergyCenter.com

Comments

[ATP]

Hello Dr. Robbins,

My son is almost 8 years old and he had a terrible fever and flu like symptoms for a week and a half. High Fever (104), cough, runnny nose. He seems to have recovered from that, however now he has developed ticks. Neck shrughs, blinking eyes, flickering of the hands, shrugging his shoulders.

I have given him Magnesium, Iron and Omega-3 anad it seems to be helping. I told his MD and he thinks it must be a Placebo effect. On to a Neurologist for an appointment tomorrow. Looking for answers.

A

[Erin]

If your child has Tourette Syndrome, flu's and other conditons effecting his physical well being can greatly effect tics and make them worse. Once the flu is over symptoms should settle down. There are great natural alternatives out there to help...the most important being diet and keeping chemicals and sugars low in the foods he is consuming. My son has Tics and OCD but has been free of his symptoms for 3 years now due to diet and a few key supplements like Omega 3-6-9 and calcium/magnesium 3:1 ratio. Diet however is key! Good luck, visit www.smallchanges.info for more information.

[Supplements from Foods]

Hello everyone,
I'm a newbie to website design and being a this site. I'm stopping by a few sites to pick up tips and get answers from people who know a lot more about this that I do!
A Canadian company, Naturally Nova Scotia, makes supplements from foods instead of synthetics. The have vitamin C from fruit, herbal tinctures, green drinks, vitamin D3, and others.

[Rosie]

What are general supplements i can give my brother who is 42 Tourettes Syndrome, disabled. Hardly any money, eats like a horse "literally". What could be causing these veracious appetite? Need a practical suppplement program
Thank you~

[Heather Vereecken]

I have a 6 year old son who was diagnosed with tourette syndrome 8 months ago. He is currently taking .125mg clonidine before bed. We are also seeing a holistic dr. who has prescribed vitamins and a probiotic. We ran a food analysis test which came back that he was sensitive to wheat, gluten, milk, eggs, spelt, peanuts. We have eliminated most of those from his diet along with food colorings and sodium benzoate.
My question is about the probiotics. He did not react well. His behavior got far worse and he has been hallucinating at night that there are bugs in his bed, things flying in the air, etc... He has also hallucinated during the day that people are following him in the house. Does anyone have any experience with giving these to a 6 year old?

[Barb]

Heather
I seriously doubt it's the probiotics causing it. I would say it is clonidine!! Unless his tics are bad,I would take him off the clonidine. Go on google and type in clonidine side effects. That might help you.My son is 9 years old and has tourettes.Stress and worry makes it worse.