Short- and long-term treatment of Tourette's syndrome with clonidine: a clinical perspective.

Thirteen patients with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome were treated with clonidine (0.125 to 0.3 mg/d) for at least 60 weeks. In a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 6 of the 13 patients were judged to be unequivocal responders to clonidine, and 6 other patients had an equivocal response. There was significant improvement in motor and phonic tics, as well as in associated behavior problems, and there were no serious side effects. Tolerance to clonidine did not develop. Further placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind studies of clonidine in Tourette's syndrome are needed to establish the drug's efficacy.