Self-Injurious Behavior Associated With Clonidine Withdrawal in a Child With Tourette’s Disorder

A 7-yr-old boy with Tourette’s disorder & a history of self-injurious behavior was treated for 21 months with clonidine transdermal patches at doses ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mg weekly. When withdrawn from clonidine over 4 weeks to assess the need for continued therapy, the patient developed multiple self-destructive behaviors. The importance of careful clinical monitoring of the behavior of patients undergoing withdrawal from prolonged treatment with high doses of clonidine is emphasized.