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solution to adhd/symptom tics, medicine to help?

I wrote a few days ago about my son.  He is 8, down syndrome, very cute and bright and lovely, a joy!  He does seem acurately diagnosed with adhd, 18 months ago, and put on adderall, first 10 then 15 mg.  All was very good, till tics appeared 1 1/2 weeks ago.  Pediatrician out of town, and us and partner, decided to wait for doc to get back, and i researched, and wrote to you.  Good answer to get off, and maybe try strattera.  Problem is kid will not take a pill/capsule.  We even tried the stratta broken into food, though not studied, but alas it turns out to be very bitter, as bad as meds can get, and even on recommendation to try compound pharmacy to remake it to taste better or maybe liguid, turned in to brick wall.  Their research said it is not possible.  Very bad tasting.  I have tried to hide it in foods...this will not work for us.  He hates sweets, and tonight tried to hide in ravioli, but alas he does chew, and Yucko!  

Alternates to Adderall I know of are all not possible to put into food or drink , per info I have read on internet.  Will talk with doc/nurse again on Monday, but am losing hope that ther is a solution.  No meds for Adhd in our case, leave my son very disabled in a sense.  He is very inattentive, and impulsive.  He is near non verbal to begin with , but uses sign and an augmentative comm. device.  So, with meds he is near typical functioning, and a delight, and with out is more animal like and unable to understand why.  

Put him back on meds for two days, and for short time in future, as per doc, to wait for strattera to take some affect, but since we cant get strattera in him, ..?/  tics are getting noticibly worse quickly. Shaking head up/down, sideways. This had greatly diminished when he was off adderall for the past 4 days.  

So, question is now, what do we do.  I think we need meds still for quality of life with his adhd, but can not do pills, capsules, and not adderall.  stimulants pose threat to a tic returning....but will try if we could get in him, just in case another wouldn't.  Anything else out there that could help my son?  His quality of life is on the line.  Thank you so very much.  Mom.
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Avatar universal
ndj
My son has trouble swallowing pills and would separate the pill from the food if mixed with it until I tried Jello. He swallows it all together without chewing. Its worth a try.
Helpful - 0
242606 tn?1243782648
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You might discuss with your son's doctor a couple of possibilities: clonidine or quanfacine; pemoline. The first two are antihypertensives which can be employed as treatments for ADHD; the latter is a stimulant medication and is sometimes used with children who cannot tolerate the usual psychostimulants.
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