This article discusses motor tics—their symptoms, potential causes, and treatment.
Symptoms of Motor Tics
Motor tics are unpredictable jerking movements, typically of the shoulders, neck, or face. However, they can occur anywhere in the body.
Symptoms of motor tics can include:
Blinking/eye twitchesSticking the tongue out/other tongue movementsShrugging the shouldersHoppingSquatting downHead twitchesFacial expressionsSexual gesturingSnapping fingersBiting the lipsTouching people or objectsHead banging
Causes of Motor Tics
Motor tics can occur without a known cause or may be part of an underlying health condition. Less commonly, they can be a side effect of certain medications.
Tic Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, or DSM-5, recognizes three types of tic disorders, as follows:
Tourette’s syndrome: Criteria for this disorder include two or more motor tics and a verbal tic for more than one year, with onset before age 18. Persistent (chronic) motor or verbal tic disorder: A person with this disorder has either motor or vocal tics; symptoms last more than one year, and onset is before age 18. Provisional tic disorder: Symptoms of this disorder—motor or vocal tics—have been present less than one year and begin before age 18.
Other Health Conditions
Motor tics can occur with other health conditions, such as:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Athetoid (dyskinetic) cerebral palsy Huntington’s disease Traumatic brain injury
What Medications Can Cause Motor Tics?
Motor tics in the face can develop as a side effect of medications. This condition—called tardive dyskinesia—can occur from antipsychotic drugs. Unfortunately, tics can be permanent for some, even after discontinuing the medication.
Tardive dyskinesia can also occur from other types of drugs, including medications that treat:
Nausea Acid reflux Seizures Allergies Cold and flu Malaria Parkinson’s disease Anxiety Mood disorders Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) Obsessive-compulsive disorder
How to Treat Motor Tics
Motor tics do not always require treatment, especially if they are mild or infrequent. However, motor tics can be embarrassing and significantly impact a person’s life. Treatment can include medications or comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT).
Medications
Medications do not cure tics, but they can help reduce the frequency and severity of these symptoms.
Examples include:
Catapres, Kapvay (clonidine)Tenex, Intuniv (guanfacine)Orap (pimozide)Prolixin (fluphenazine HCL)Haldol (haloperidol)Abilify (aripiprazole)Risperdal (risperidone)Geodon (ziprasidone HCL)Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Haldol, Orap, and Abilify are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of tics. Other medications, such as guanfacine and clonidine, are blood pressure drugs that are used off-label (used to treat something other than what the FDA approves it for) to treat tics.
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)
Comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT) is a specific type of therapy designed to help reduce frequency of tics.
CBIT helps an individual:
Recognize their tics and their urges to ticChoose a substitute behavior to replace a ticIdentify triggers and learn how to manage themDevelop coping strategies and stress management techniques
Summary
Motor tics are involuntary, jerky movements that can occur without a specific cause or as part of an underlying health condition. Tics can also occur as a side effect of certain medications. Motor tics are not usually harmful, but can cause pain. They can also significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Treatment can include medications and comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT).
If you observe other behavioral challenges—difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity—see a healthcare provider to rule out other conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, that can occur with tics.
A Word From Verywell
If you are experiencing motor tics, don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting help. Some causes of this symptom—such as a drug side effect—have a simple fix, such as switching medications. Even if the cause of your tics isn’t curable, treatment can reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms, which can be a big improvement in your quality of life.
