What Does It Mean to Have Drug-Induced Tourette’s?
Key takeaways:
Tourette syndrome (also called Tourette’s) is a condition that emerges during childhood. It is marked by unwanted movements or vocal tics that often change over time.
Substances may cause tics and tic disorders. But they cannot cause Tourette’s. Medications and drugs can increase symptoms of Tourette syndrome and make treatment more complicated.
Substance-induced movement disorders can result from drug use. They can create many forms of unwanted and uncontrollable movements.
Alcohol and other drugs can create many unwanted effects. These effects can match the symptoms of a mental or physical condition, like Tourette syndrome.
A drug-induced condition always deserves your time and attention. It may go away on its own, or it may need professional treatment.
Keep reading to learn more about substance-induced Tourette syndrome, its frequency, and ways to manage tics.
What is Tourette syndrome?
Tourette syndrome, often referred to as Tourette’s, is a neurological condition that creates tics. Tics are repetitive movements or sounds that are hard for the person to control. The tics may vary in type, location, and frequency over time.
Tourette syndrome primarily affects young children, with symptoms first appearing between the ages of 5 and 10. Symptoms may increase during the teen years and then decrease by early adulthood. Some people with Tourette’s may continue to experience symptoms into adulthood.
A person with mild symptoms of Tourette’s may not need treatment. If a person’s symptoms cause distress and affect their life, then they may benefit from a combination of medication and therapy.
What types of tics are associated with Tourette’s?
People with Tourette’s can have a variety of tics. Tics can be simple or complex:
Simple tics: Simple tics are the most common type. They tend to be short, sudden, and repetitive.
Complex tics: These are unique movements that require coordination of several muscle groups.
Tics can also be motor or vocal:
Motor: Motor tics involve physical movement.
Vocal: Vocal tics involve words or sounds coming from the mouth.
So you could have a simple motor tic, like an eye twitch or a specific mouth movement. Or you could have a complex vocal tic where you repeat certain words and phrases. You could even swear or use vulgar language as part of your tic.
What causes Tourette syndrome?
The exact causes of Tourette syndrome are unknown. Experts believe biological and environmental factors play a large role in the condition. Having a parent or other family member with Tourette’s can increase your risk for the condition. Abnormalities in certain parts of the brain are also believed to contribute to Tourette’s.
Biological sex seems to be an important factor with the condition as well. Male people are much more likely to have Tourette syndrome than female people. Female people who are at risk of Tourette’s are more likely to experience obsessive-compulsive symptoms rather than Tourette’s symptoms.
Can drug use cause Tourette’s?
No. Based on the way Tourette’s is defined and diagnosed, drug use cannot cause the condition.
The way professionals diagnose Tourette syndrome is important to note. They look for:
Vocal and motor tics
Tics lasting more than one year
Tics starting before age 18
Tics that aren’t caused by medication, substances, or medical conditions
Due to the final point, it is impossible to have drug-induced Tourette syndrome. If a substance brings on the symptoms, it is not Tourette’s. Experts will diagnose the symptoms as another condition.
Similarly, if you never had tics until age 20, it cannot be Tourette’s. Professionals will find another condition that more accurately fits your symptoms when drug use causes them.
Rather than calling the condition substance-induced Tourette’s, experts use the terms:
Drug-induced movement disorder
Substance-induced movement disorder
Drug-induced tic disorder
Drug-induced stereotyped movement disorder
These names better explain the impact of the substances while breaking the connection to Tourette’s. Tourette syndrome is largely caused by genetics. These conditions are caused by substance use.
Can drug use worsen Tourette’s?
Absolutely. Evidence supports the notion that tic disorders and Tourette’s symptoms worsen with certain drug use, especially with high doses of illicit substances.
Substance use can create new tics or worsen the ones that are already present. Alone, though, drugs cannot induce a new case of Tourette’s.
What are the symptoms of drug-induced movement disorder?
Drug-induced movement disorders can present with a wide variety of symptoms. Some symptoms may be tough to notice. Others could be obvious to you and anyone around you.
In general, substances can produce any number of movements. You could find yourself being incredibly tense, weak, and unable to move. Or you could be moving erratically, even when you are trying to be still. The movements may be simple or complex, motor or vocal.
There are also some specific movement problems that may develop. Some of the possible symptoms of a substance-induced movement disorder are:
Akathisia: a form of restlessness, irritability, and physical tension (usually an internal struggle, so others may not see it)
Tremor: shakiness or a rigid posture
Dystonic reactions: tense or spasming muscles
Parkinsonism: a combination of slowed movements, rigidity, and instability
The substances may create only one type of movement problem or many. They may target certain parts of your body, like your hands or mouth. Or they could influence more widespread movements across your body.
Which drugs can worsen Tourette’s or cause movement disorders?
There is a long list of medications, drugs, and toxins with the power to create substance-induced movement disorders in some people. These substances all interact with brain chemicals to produce these effects.
The often misused drugs that can create substance-induced movement disorders include:
Cocaine
MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy and molly
Amphetamine and methamphetamine
Opioids, like heroin and fentanyl (which can create symptoms during intoxication or withdrawal)
It seems that other stimulant drugs may create movement disorders as well. Even a substance like caffeine has been linked to tic disorders.
Medications for ADHD, like methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin), may also increase the chance of substance-induced movement disorders. Depending on the person, the benefits of these medications for someone with Tourette’s may outweigh the risk of increased tics.
What other substances can trigger a movement disorder?
Some of the other substances that can cause movement disorders and tics include:
Antihistamines
Antidepressants
Lithium
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Antiseizure medications like carbamazepine (Tegretol) and lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Exposure to any of these substances could trigger a sudden increase in tics. Or the movement disorder could arise slowly over time.
How do you treat drug-induced movement syndrome?
Any time you aim to reduce or end the effects of a drug-induced tic disorder, you should stop your exposure to the trigger. If your trigger is a prescribed medication, be sure to contact your healthcare provider to learn how to safely discontinue the medicine. In most situations, simply stopping use of the substance will end the tics.
If symptoms do not improve rapidly, contact your healthcare provider for additional care. They could offer support or medications to help relieve your condition. Sedatives, beta blockers, and antiseizure drugs may be helpful for your treatment.
You could see symptoms remain for 2 or 3 weeks before they improve. Stay patient, and stay away from these substances. If they created these symptoms once, the same symptoms could restart with future use.
The bottom line
Based on the way Tourette syndrome is diagnosed, it cannot be caused by a substance. But substances can produce tics and other unwanted movements. Substance-induced movement disorders create various effects on the body. Many will fade with time, but others will need professional treatment to ease.
Why trust our experts?
If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to learn about resources in your area.
References
Duma, S. R., et al. (2019). Drug-induced movement disorders.
Family Practice Notebook. (2022). Drug induced movement disorders.
Madruga-Garrido, M., et al. (2013). Tics and other stereotyped movements as side effects of pharmacological treatment. International Review of Neurobiology.
Moses, S. (2020). Drug induced movement disorders.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2022). Tourette syndrome fact sheet.
Shapiro, A. K, et al. (2004). Do stimulants provoke, cause, or exacerbate tics and tourette syndrome?. Comprehensive Psychiatry.
