Tics with Metadate CD

[hygienehollie]

Just curious if anyone else’s child has experienced tics with Metadate CD. My son initially started taking Metadate CD last year and we noticed a tic that started where he shoves his fingers in his butt. Over time it subsided some and wasn’t as frequent. Now three weeks ago they replaced his afternoon and evening booster of Focalin ( due to an interaction we think with Lamotrigine) with Metadate CD 20mg And this tic has gotten sooooo much worse. I don’t think he can help it at all, but it is embarrassing and I’m afraid he will start getting made fun of.

[Alden10]

This may not be the answer you’re looking for, because I am not on either of those medications, but it could apply because I am a male as well. When I was younger, for a very long time until recently (20) I was unmedicated, and from around Kindergarten to about 2nd or 3rd grade I vividly remember having a tic, or stim, like this. I would even get in trouble for doing it in class in Kindergarten. No kids were looking because for some reason I would specifically do this during nap time and my cot was in a little cubby in the classroom between to shelves. The teacher, however, did notice and would scold me. I’m not a clinician, but my general idea around this was that this region is extremely sensitive with many nerve endings, therefore interaction with this area, especially during nap time when while everyone else was able to sleep, I would be wide awake, is simply a way for us to search for sensation and stimulation when what is being provided is non satisfactory for our brains. I would get it checked out, but also wouldn’t overreact over it. I’ll also mention that this stimming eventually faded and developed into hair-pulling, and scalp picking. This could be situational because I have Seborrheic Dermatitis and OCD as well, which could contribute to the hair-pulling and scalp picking. The hair pulling isn’t concerning as I only do so lightly to remove any loose hairs I could have on my head, which is very long and thick, but the scalp picking is extremely vigorous, excessive, and compulsive; I do not even realize I am doing it sometimes. I do it so much so that I develop major scabs across my scalp, specifically on the back of my head, around the hairline, and down my part. Adderall has helped me combat this, and I do not do it as much when I’m on it, but this is conditionally. If I am busy and occupied doing something I will not pick my scalp, but if I am just watching YouTube, I will continue to do so even more obsessively than before. Hope this provides insight or makes your son feel less alone.