Abstract OBJECTIVE: Children with Tourette's syndrome (TS) have a poor treatment compliance due to side effects and inconvenient administration of oral drugs. This study explored the efficacy and safety of clonidine transdermal patch for treating TS in children. METHODS: A total of 119 children with TS were randomly treated with the clonidine transdermal patch (n=65) or with oral haloperidol (n=54). The therapeutic efficacy was assessed based on the results of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The clonidine transdermal patch group showed a higher reduction in the overall tic symptom scores (61.5±7.5%) than that in the haloperidol group (41.0±6.3%; P<0.05). Clonidine transdermal patch treatment was effective in 53 patients (81.5%) and 36 patients (67.5%) showed effective to oral haloperidol (P>0.05). Mild side effects (decrease of blood pressure and dizziness) were observed in 1 patient in the clonidine transdermal patch group. Mild hypermyotonia, drowsiness or lassitude as side effects occurred in 6 patients in the haloperidol group. CONCLUSIONS: Clonidine transdermal patch is effective for the treatment of TS in children and its side effects are mild and rare.[Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2009, 11 (7):537-539]
KANG Hua,ZHANG Yue-Fang,JIAO Fu-Yong et al. Efficacy of clonidine transdermal patch for treatment of Tourette's syndrome in children[J]. 中国当代儿科杂志, 2009, 11(07): 537-539.
KANG Hua,ZHANG Yue-Fang,JIAO Fu-Yong et al. Efficacy of clonidine transdermal patch for treatment of Tourette's syndrome in children[J]. CJCP, 2009, 11(07): 537-539.
[7]Pringsheim TA, Davenport WJ, Lang AC. Tics movement disorders[J]. Curr Opin Neurol, 2003, 16(4):523-527.
[8]Lichter DG, Jackson LA. Predictors of clonidine response in Tourette syndrome: implications and inferences[J]. J Child Neurol, 1996, 11(2):93-97.
[9]Gaffney GR, Perry PJ, Lund BC, Bever-Stille KA, Arndt S, Kuperman S. Risperidone versus clonidine in the treatment of children and adolescents with Tourette′s syndrome[J]. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2002, 41(3): 330-336.
[10]Singer HS, Gammon K, Quaskey S. Haloperidol, fluphenazine and clonidine in Tourette syndrome: controversies in treatment[J]. Pediatr Neurosci, 19851986, 12(2):71-74.
[11]Behrman A, Goertemoeller S. A sticky situation: toxicity of clonidine and fentanyl transdermal patches in pediatrics[J]. J Emerg Nurs, 2007, 33(3):290-293.