We have a very popular article on our site: “Finding Triggers for Tics and Tourette Syndrome: A Must Read.” This week a reader, Melissa, posted a comment for the article asking why vaccines were not included on the list as a tic trigger.
Melissa was right, and vaccines have now been added to the main list. Research has indicated a clear connection. Meanwhile, Melissa added this information: I have 11-year-old triplets. Two of them are ADHD and have had intermittent tics. One of these two did the Cunningham panel (while it was still being researched) and registered in the PANDAS/PANS range. She has always been terrified of shots. Maybe she has a reason to be. She always tics for weeks after vaccines. Nothing in particular, just all of them. I think it’s probably that they burden her (probably overactive) immune system, and tics are the result.
Studies have not been completed on specific vaccines and tics, with or without thimerosal, which has now been phased out of most, but not all, vaccines.
It seems to be a “well kept secret” that research links vaccines containing thimerosal to tics.
Have you seen any articles in the media emphasizing thimerosal in vaccines as a cause of tics? Me neither, but we should have. In fact we are waiting for the national Tourette Syndrome Association to bring this issue of tics and thimerosal to the attention of the media and public. To date (Septemeber 2014) they have not done so.
This article summarizes four studies on the use of thimerosal in vaccines and its effect on neurodevelopmental delays. The research was published between 2004 and 2008.
It is striking that the development of tics was the most common consequence of the thimerosal exposure based on the study of select conditions. We should point out that there is some controversy regarding the statistical approaches used in the different studies, particularly because some studies do not show a link to autism while others do.
To read the abstracts for each study, click on the links below. Our short summary is provided to show the consistent tic connection. As you will see, other neurological conditions were also found to be negatively affected by the thimerosal.
This discovery on the relationship between the toxin methylmercury and the development of tics is hugely important. First, it highlights the relationship between tics and neurotoxins. This should put families on alert that they should not only avoid all exposures to toxins but should also consider evaluation for toxic overload, with follow-up treatment plans developed as needed. Second, given the results of this research, thimerosal exposure should be avoided by those with tics and Tourette syndrome as well as pregnant women. It is currently standard in flu vaccines, but you can request to have the vaccine without the preservative thimerosal.
Don’t believe it? See for yourself
Thimerosal exposure in infants and neurodevelopmental disorders: an assessment of computerized medical records in the Vaccine Safety Datalink.
Summarized results: Consistent significantly increased rate ratios were observed for autism, autism spectrum disorders, tics, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disturbances with Hg exposure from TCVs. Geier & Geier J Neurol Sci. 2008 Aug 15;271(1-2):110-8. Epub 2008 May
A two-phased population epidemiological study of the safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines: a follow-up analysis.
. . . significant associations between cumulative exposures to thimerosal and the following types of NDs: unspecified developmental delay, tics, attention deficit disorder (ADD), language delay, speech delay, and neurodevelopmental delays in general. Geier & Geier Med Sci Monit. 2005 Apr;11(4):CR160-70. Epub 2005 Mar 24
Thimerosal exposure in infants and developmental disorders: a retrospective cohort study in the United kingdom does not support a causal association.
Thimerosal exposure in infants and developmental disorders: a retrospective cohort study in the United kingdom does not support a causal association. With the possible exception of tics, there was no evidence that thimerosal exposure via DTP/DT vaccines causes neurodevelopmental disorders. Andrews, Miller, Grant et al Pediatrics. 2004 Sep;114(3):584-91
Safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines: a two-phased study of computerized health maintenance organization databases.
Relative risks for neurodevelopmental disorders were calculated per increase of 12.5 micro g of estimated cumulative mercury exposure from TCVs in the first, third, and seventh months of life. Results: In phase I at HMO A, cumulative exposure at 3 months resulted in a significant positive association with tics. Verstraeten, Davis, DeStefano et al; Pediatrics. 2003 Nov;112(5):1039-48
