title: [Efficacy of clonidine transdermal patch for treatment of Tourette's syndrome in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with Tourette's syndrome (TS) have a poor treatment compliance due to side effects and inconvenient administration of oral drugs. This study explored the efficacy and safety of clonidine transdermal patch for treating TS in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 119 children with TS were randomly treated with the clonidine transdermal patch (n=65) or with oral haloperidol (n=54). The therapeutic efficacy was assessed based on the results of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) 4 weeks after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clonidine transdermal patch group showed a higher reduction in the overall tic symptom scores (61.5+/-7.5%) than that in the haloperidol group (41.0+/-6.3%; p<0.05). Clonidine transdermal patch treatment was effective in 53 patients (81.5%) and 36 patients (67.5%) showed effective to oral haloperidol (p>0.05). Mild side effects (decrease of blood pressure and dizziness) were observed in 1 patient in the clonidine transdermal patch group. Mild hypermyotonia, drowsiness or lassitude as side effects occurred in 6 patients in the haloperidol group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clonidine transdermal patch is effective for the treatment of TS in children and its side effects are mild and rare.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Shaanxi Province People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China.
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Kang
authors: Yue-Fang
authors: YF
authors: Zhang
authors: Fu-Yong
authors: FY
authors: Jiao
authors: Xiang-Yang
authors: XY
authors: Guo
authors: Xiao-Min
authors: XM
authors: Gao
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D006220:Haloperidol; D003000:Clonidine