The Clonidine Transdermal Patch In The Treatment Of Children With Tic Disorders:A Prospective,Open Study

Obgective:To evaluate the effcacy and tolerability of a clonidine transdermal patch in the treatment of children with tic disorders(TD)and to establish a predictive model for patients.Method:Forty-one patients who met the inclusion criteria entered into 12 weeks of prospective,open,single-group,self-controlled treatment with a clonidine transdermal patch.The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale(YGTSS)was employed before therapy(baseline)and at 4,8,and 12 weeks after therapy.Results:(1)The total effect rates of treatment with a clonidine transdermal patch were 29.27,53.66,and 63.41% at 4,8,and 12 weeks,respectively.Compared with the baseline,the differences were signifcant at three different observation periods.(2)Compared to the level of 25% reduction,there were signifcant decreases in the score-reducing rate of motor tic and total tic severities at 12 weeks.(3)If the disease course was ?24 months and the motor tic score was <16 at the baseline,there was an effective rate of 100% for treatment with the clonidine transdermal patch.If the disease course was ?24 months and the motor tic score was >16,there was an effective rate of 57.1%.If the disease course was >24 months and the clinical classifcation was chronic TD,there was an effective rate of 62.5%.If the disease course was >24 months and the clinical classifcation was Tourette's syndrome,90% of the patients were invalid.(4)The main adverse events were rash,slight dizziness,and headache.Conclusion:(1)When patients were pretreated with a D2-dopamine receptor antagonist that was ineffective or not tolerated well,switching to a clonidine transdermal patch treatment was effective and safe.(2)A clonidine transdermal patch could be a frst-line medication for mild and moderate TD cases that are characterized by motor tics.