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What Causes Stiffening Of Body After Taking Clonidine?
Question: My 10 years old, 140lbs autism son is taking 3 quater of 0.1 mg clonidine at night and the same amount in the morning, but still having the Tourette tics, and lately having a body stiffening like seizure. When i up the dose to 1 whole pill 0.1 mg in the morning and at night, the tics decrease but the body stiffening like seizure increase. Please let me know what's going on, and if this stiffening is the clonidine side effects? What other medication would you suggest with fewer side effects instead of clonidine.
Brief Answer:
Change to risperidone
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to the HCM
The stiffening of body in your child can be due to clonidine or it can be due to seizures. So, I would recommend you to go for evaluation by a neurologist and EEG to rule out seizure disorder. If present, then antiepileptic drugs will be useful.
Also, hold clonidine and start him on Risperidone (0.5 mg twice daily). It is better tolerated by kids and help in symptomatic relief. The dose may be adjusted gradually over a month as per response. Do not try to increase dose for harmless tics. Seek help of a psychotherapist for behavioural therapy. Once the symptoms improve, risperidone can be tapered and stopped. It can be used for future relapses.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Change to risperidone
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to the HCM
The stiffening of body in your child can be due to clonidine or it can be due to seizures. So, I would recommend you to go for evaluation by a neurologist and EEG to rule out seizure disorder. If present, then antiepileptic drugs will be useful.
Also, hold clonidine and start him on Risperidone (0.5 mg twice daily). It is better tolerated by kids and help in symptomatic relief. The dose may be adjusted gradually over a month as per response. Do not try to increase dose for harmless tics. Seek help of a psychotherapist for behavioural therapy. Once the symptoms improve, risperidone can be tapered and stopped. It can be used for future relapses.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your helpful response, today is the 3rd day he's taking the up dose of clonidine and doing better with the tics, and the body stiffening as well. The body stiffening seems to occur less when he's less excited. Anyway,
1- he's taking a very small dose of clonidine per his weight, and it's not likely that the stiffening is due to the clonidine. But If it is then I should try the risperidone to help it right?
2- If the stiffening is due to the seizure disorder, then antiepileptic drug like Depakote? or some other drug? But I don't think this is the case. 20 months ago he was having this body stiffening due to the side effects of the Abilify, he had the EEG and even MRI scan of his brain and seizure was ruled out
3- I think this stiffening is due to that Abilify, that started to come back as well as some other behavior like clapping hands, hitting the sofa, floor, pounding his chest.. These things not as bad as they were 20 months ago. If I am right, should these behavior go away shortly by themself ? Or What medications should I use to treat it Cogentin ? Risperidone ? Clonidine ? Is Clonidine supposed to suppress these withrawal behaviors?
Please, in your professional opinion , which of the 3 above would likely be the case that cause the body stiffening ? What should I do? If this stiffening not getting better, I'm going to take my son to the ER, and going through this not worthy, painful process to find out. (We took him to the Cook Children Med ER Ft Worth, did EEG and was given Cogentin 20 months ago.). Thank you very much Madam, I really appreciate your help, your answer was the best so far, worth a lot more than all the trips that I have taken my son to the psychiatrists.
1- he's taking a very small dose of clonidine per his weight, and it's not likely that the stiffening is due to the clonidine. But If it is then I should try the risperidone to help it right?
2- If the stiffening is due to the seizure disorder, then antiepileptic drug like Depakote? or some other drug? But I don't think this is the case. 20 months ago he was having this body stiffening due to the side effects of the Abilify, he had the EEG and even MRI scan of his brain and seizure was ruled out
3- I think this stiffening is due to that Abilify, that started to come back as well as some other behavior like clapping hands, hitting the sofa, floor, pounding his chest.. These things not as bad as they were 20 months ago. If I am right, should these behavior go away shortly by themself ? Or What medications should I use to treat it Cogentin ? Risperidone ? Clonidine ? Is Clonidine supposed to suppress these withrawal behaviors?
Please, in your professional opinion , which of the 3 above would likely be the case that cause the body stiffening ? What should I do? If this stiffening not getting better, I'm going to take my son to the ER, and going through this not worthy, painful process to find out. (We took him to the Cook Children Med ER Ft Worth, did EEG and was given Cogentin 20 months ago.). Thank you very much Madam, I really appreciate your help, your answer was the best so far, worth a lot more than all the trips that I have taken my son to the psychiatrists.
Brief Answer:
Start him on Risperidone and stop Clonidine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Your evaluation of the condition is quite right. I would recommend you to go for Risperidone as suggested earlier because it's response in such cases is good. Stop clonidine for the time being because it seems to be the cause for stiffening seen in your child. Since EEG was done more than a year age, so repeat EEG is advisable. Untreated seizures are more harmful than repeating an investigation.
Also, the main therapy for autism with taurette is behavioural therapy. The abnormal behaviour will surely improve after good behavioural therapy and risperidone. Risperidone and clonidine only help in symptomatic relief and should be gradually decreased once symptoms improve. Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Start him on Risperidone and stop Clonidine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Your evaluation of the condition is quite right. I would recommend you to go for Risperidone as suggested earlier because it's response in such cases is good. Stop clonidine for the time being because it seems to be the cause for stiffening seen in your child. Since EEG was done more than a year age, so repeat EEG is advisable. Untreated seizures are more harmful than repeating an investigation.
Also, the main therapy for autism with taurette is behavioural therapy. The abnormal behaviour will surely improve after good behavioural therapy and risperidone. Risperidone and clonidine only help in symptomatic relief and should be gradually decreased once symptoms improve. Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much Dr XXXXXXX so you think the Clonidine seems to be the cause?
and it is not the Abilify withdrawal side effects that started to come back after I took him off 20 months ago? By the way, for the last three days I have observed that the body stiffening tends to occur more often when he's being too excited, or stressful. Do you have any idea why? Again, I really appreciate your all your help, and I'm going to take him to the ER tomorrow .
Sincerely Your,
XXXX
and it is not the Abilify withdrawal side effects that started to come back after I took him off 20 months ago? By the way, for the last three days I have observed that the body stiffening tends to occur more often when he's being too excited, or stressful. Do you have any idea why? Again, I really appreciate your all your help, and I'm going to take him to the ER tomorrow .
Sincerely Your,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Symptoms due to clonidine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
It's not likely due to abilify withdrawal. The symptoms are due to clonidine or disease.
You may let me know about the response to risperidone once started.
I would be happy to help you in any further child health related issues. You may post direct questions to me if required.
Take care
Symptoms due to clonidine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
It's not likely due to abilify withdrawal. The symptoms are due to clonidine or disease.
You may let me know about the response to risperidone once started.
I would be happy to help you in any further child health related issues. You may post direct questions to me if required.
Take care
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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