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In children, tic disorders (including Tourette's syndrome) have high comorbidity with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Treatment decisions for comorbid tics and ADHD, however, are difficult; the use of stimulants is discouraged because of concern that they could worsen the tics. In a multicenter, double-blind, 16-week, clinical study, researchers randomized 136 children (mean age, 10 years) with tics and ADHD to treatment with the stimulant methylphenidate, the alpha noradrenergic agonist clonidine, a combination of methylphenidate and clonidine, or placebo. Doses were titrated if needed (maximum allowable dosages: methylphenidate, 60 mg/day; clonidine, 0.6 mg/day).
Teachers, parents, and investigators completed standardized …