Needing to know all I can about Citalopram Our Jacob and his bestfriend Tic will start it tomorrow along with his Orap

[ourjacob12]

Our son and his BF have been together about 5 yrs.He has done well on Orap but his dr wants him to start Citalopram tomorrow Any feed back please.Jacob is 12

[Shell]

My daughter went onto citalopram around 12, she is now 18. The results from the medication was positive regarding the tics. However there was also some weight gain. My daughter was on this medication for 4 years wen the tics returned with a vengeance, increasing the medication only increased the side effects, in the end my daughter decided to come of them altogether, the tics eventually lessened but I don't think this was in any way due to coming of the medication anymore than I now believe they even benefited her all along? I think with Tourettes the tics come and go, they heighten and they lessen and it is my believe that that's how Tourettes will always be. My daughter benefited from a series of sessions with a CBT therapist (cognitive behaviour therapy) who helped her to recognise the signals her body gave just before a tic came, she was then able to catch some of those tics and change it for something else, this was not easy for her to do and for a lot of the tics was impossible but she was able to catch a lot of them too, particularly during the day which made life a little easier for her when out with friends and at s hook and now at college, there will always be a release point tho and for my daughter that's generally in the evening at home. The Tourettes no longer totally rules her life because she now has an element of control of the Tourettes, not always successful I admit but she is definitely the "boss" now. She also has OCD who h is closely linked with the Tourettes and this has been a real issue recently, but again the CBT therapist has given her tools to help control those irrational thoughts and also some relaxation techniques which have been very helpful. See if you can get a referral to some of these agencies? I wish all the best for your son but also for you as Mum, I know first hand the effects Tourettes has on the whole family. X

[ourjacob12 in reply to Shell]

Thanks for reply....Jacob is on Orap for his tics.....We are very lucky that he only has the face movements.The Dr put him on Citalopram for OCD.Jacob has to do things in two's.If his leg moves and touches anything he has to do it twice.If his pencil falls on the floor he has to let it fall twice etc...Jacob took the citalopram half this AM.Brandy and I have aleady told DR we dont want to increase,increase and keep going up on the new pill.If a pill has to be increased that much then it isnt working.With you being a few yrs a head of us you can be a great tool for us as well as others.Things you have "been there done that" worked or didnt work kind of thing.We let Jacob let his hair down at home but at the same time we also talk about his Tic when it happens.Jacob is ok with his BF.Tic is a friend that is a part of our family and we do a lot of talking about his BF.If you dont mind I would like to know what your daughters tics are..have the tics changed over the yrs.What meds were good and bad.Would you do anything different......School things etc....................Thanks Tee-n-Brandy