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Facial Tics

facial-tics
Alternative Names: 

Mimic spasm

Definition: 

A facial tic is a repetitive, involuntary muscle spasm that can occur in the eyes, mouth, or in the muscles of the face. Facial tics can be caused by some medications or can be a result of stress or fatigue. In children, especially boys, a condition known as transient tic disorder can cause facial tics that last for up to a year.

If facial tics last longer than a year and occur on a daily basis, they may be caused by chronic motor tic disorder or more serious conditions such as Tourette’s syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease.

Symptoms: 

Facial tics often look like nervous behavior, but the muscle movements are involuntary. Symptoms of facial tics include:

  • Excessive blinking
  • Flaring the nostrils
  • Grimacing
  • Lip smacking
  • Mouth twitching, puckering, or pursing
  • Nose wrinkling
  • Raising the eyebrows
  • Repetitive chewing
  • Squinting
Exams/Testing: 

Typically, a doctor can perform a physical examination to determine if facial tics are present. An electroencephalogram (EEG) test can be administered to test electrical activity in the brain and check for seizures as the cause of facial tics.

Outlook/Prognosis: 

Most cases of facial tics are not serious and cause no physical harm, though severe facial tics may lead to social problems. A tic disorder may be diagnosed if the tics occur every day for four weeks or more, or if the episodes are particularly serious or accompanied by other symptoms.Transient childhood tics are usually not treated and go away on their own after a few months. It may help to reduce stress and counseling may be recommended to cope with stress.

Medications such as risperdal (Risperidone) are often prescribed to help control persistent facial tics.

If side effects of facial tics are experienced as a result of certain medications, stopping the medication will most likely make the symptoms go away. Tardive dyskinesia, a serious side effect of some neuroleptic medications, can cause facial tics that become permanent and worsen over time if left untreated.

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