Intermittent medication cessation in the treatment of Tourette syndrome

Long-term use of neuroleptic medications has been associated with many undesirable effects. Intermittent medication cessation may reduce the risk of exposure to these side effects. Six school age male Tourette Syndrome (TS) patients who were on medication for TS (haloperidol) were monitored closely over a six-month period. Four patients withdrew from haloperidol for the middle two-month period then returned to medication use. Other subjects remained on medication throughout the study. Results indicated that withdrawal from haloperidol is likely to result in an increase in TS symptoms, particularly simple motor tics, which is quite dramatic but rarely lasts more than 4 weeks. Physical symptoms of withdrawal from haloperidol include irritability, nervousness, moodiness, oppositional behaviours, stomach pains, indigestion, skin irritations, diaphoresis, visual acuity problems, oculogyria, and symptom instability. Results of psychometric tests also indicated, however, that subjects were less depressed, experienced fewer obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and were less hyperactive and socially withdrawn when they were medication free as compared to on haloperidol.