Nicotine for Tourette's

[ktribe808]

My nephew has Tourette's syndrome which was diagnosed over 20 years ago. The only "medication" that has worked for him has been nicotine. Thus he has smoked for 20 years. He tried the patch and gum but did not like the side-effects. Perhaps the e-cig may be the ticket???

[leaford]

Could be. It would not only maintain his nicotine intake, if used carefully, it could even give better control over his dosage. It would also let him maintain many of the rituals involved with smokking he is used to.

[TropicalBob]

Nicotine does have medicinal uses, and treating Tourette's is one. Patches are now being used on patients with Attention Deficit Disorder, too. Some more serious mental conditions respond well to nicotine treatment. The e-cig could be a great tool for these people, if only medical science will allow it. But I can just see an insurance company now: "We have a bill here for something called an electronic cigarette. What's that?"

[jamie]

Originally Posted by ktribe808

He tried the patch and gum but did not like the side-effects.

I'm struggling to determine what those side effects might have been... do you know? There is also the prescription nicotine inhaler and prescription nicotine nasal spray. Might depend on what those side effects were though. Those I can think of are related to overuse of nicotine, which isn't really a side effect but more a matter of appropriate use. Maybe dermatitis with the patch and speech or tmj issues with gum chewing...