Clonidine in Tourette's syndrome

Abstract

Tourette's syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by changing motor and phonic tics, compulsive actions, and other behavioural symptoms. Small doses of clonidine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist, improves the condition in some children unresponsive to haloperidol. Clonidine presumably acts by inhibiting central noradrenergic function. Metabolic and clinical findings suggest the involvement of monoamines, including noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin, in TS.