title: The Efficacy and Tolerability of the Clonidine Transdermal Patch in the Treatment for Children with Tic Disorders: A Prospective, Open, Single-Group, Self-Controlled Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a clonidine transdermal patch in the treatment of children with tic disorders (TD) and to establish a predictive model for patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  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 significant at three different observation periods. (2) Compared to the level of 25% reduction, there were significant 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 classification was chronic TD, there was an effective rate of 62.5%. If the disease course was >24 months and the clinical classification was Tourette's syndrome, 90% of the patients were invalid. (4) The main adverse events were rash, slight dizziness, and headache.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (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 first-line medication for mild and moderate TD cases that are characterized by motor tics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009CA5002, Chongqing, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Pan-Pan
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009CA5002, Chongqing, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009CA5002, Chongqing, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009CA5002, Chongqing, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Si-Qi
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009CA5002, Chongqing, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Shuang-Zi
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, CSTC2009CA5002, Chongqing, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: children; clonidine transdermal patch; efficacy; prediction model; tic disorders