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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffThere's no cure for Tourette syndrome. Treatment of Tourette syndrome is intended to help control bothersome tics and to help cope with psychosocial aspects of the condition. When tics aren't severe, treatment may be unnecessary.
Treatment options include:
- Medications. Some medications can be used to help control or minimize tics. These may include certain antipsychotic medications, antidepressants, stimulant medications and central adrenergic inhibitors. But none of the medications will completely eliminate the symptoms, and the side effects may outweigh any benefits gained.
- Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can be helpful for two reasons. It can help with accompanying problems, such as ADHD, obsessions, depression and anxiety. Therapy can also help people cope emotionally.
- Deep brain stimulation. For debilitating tics that don't respond to other treatment, early research suggests that deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be effective. DBS consists of implanting a battery-operated medical device (neurostimulator) in the brain to deliver electrical stimulation to targeted areas that control movement. Further research is needed to determine whether DBS is beneficial for those with Tourette syndrome.
