The primary medications prescribed for tics are antipsychotics, including haloperidol, pimozide, and aripiprazole. In fact, these drugs are the only ones approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of tics.  Talk to your doctor to determine if these drugs are right for you. Discuss using these medications as short-term options while working on behavioral changes. These drugs may make you constipated, give you dry mouth, cause vision blurriness, and make you gain weight. Even though only antipsychotics are approved to treat tics, many doctors turn to other medications to help with tics. Ask your doctor if one of these medications would be right for you. Once your tics are under control, speak to your doctor about reducing the dosage then fully stopping the medication.  Two options are clonidine or guanfacine. These drugs are typically prescribed for high blood pressure, but they can help with both tics and ADHD.  Another option is clonazepam, which is also used to treat anxiety. Tetrabenazine may help if you have a disease like Huntington's, though it can cause depression.  Some people respond to topiramate, an epilepsy medication. With these injections, the doctor will inject botulinum (Botox) into the muscle. Sometimes, the botulinum will help relax the muscle, reducing the tic. However, this only targets small, specific areas, so it should be used a s a last resort. In very few cases, deep brain stimulation surgery may be an option. With this surgery, small electrodes are placed in your brain. The electrodes are then connected to a pulse generator in your chest. The generator sends out small electrical currents to help regulate your tics.
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One-sentence summary -- Ask about antipsychotics. Talk about other medications. Discuss botulinum injections. Consider deep brain stimulation surgery.


A bedridden person may or may not be able to keep with their own hygiene tasks. If they can't, you or another caregiver will need to help them. Even if they can, you might need to provide them with reminders and the tools to take care of their hygiene. Bathing, dental care, nail care, hair care, and changing clothes are all tasks your parent may need help with.   For bathing, you may be able to help your parent into a shower chair (using a wheelchair), where they can mostly bathe themselves with some supervision. On the other hand, they may need a sponge bath. If your parent is completely bedridden, you'll need to bring items to them. For instance, you can bring a toothbrush, a cup with clean water, and a spitting cup over to the bed. Let the person brush their teeth or ask them to open their mouth so you can brush their teeth. Make sure you are helping them trim their nails regularly. They will likely need help with their toenails, even if they don't need help with their fingernails. You'll also need to help the person shave. An electric razor works best for this process, particularly if you've never shaved anyone else. Being bedridden comes with certain health risks that you need to help watch out for if you're providing care for your parent. For instance, bed sores are a common problem. They generally appear where the person's body touches the mattress, such as the bottom of the feet, the shoulders, the buttocks, and the back of the head.  To combat pressure sores, try to change your parent's position every 2 hours, and encourage them to move their body in the bed as much as possible. You can also find special mattresses and cushions that can help relieve pressure points. Pay attention to the sheets. They should be cotton or silk, and you should smooth them out before putting your parent on them, as wrinkled sheets can increase the chance of bed sores. Make sure your parent's skin is moisturized regularly. Also, avoid using scented soaps and talcum powder, as those can dry out the skin. Dry skin makes your parent more susceptible to bed sores. It can also help to make sure your parent is drinking at least 2 liters of fluid a day. On people with darker skin, you may see blue or purple patches, while the patches will be red or white on lighter-skinned people. Cracks, wrinkles, swelling, shiny areas, blisters, and dry areas are also indicators of bed sores. Talk to a nurse if you start noticing these signs. When laying in bed regularly, liquids can build up in the lungs, leading to congestion and even pneumonia. The best way to combat this problem is to make sure your parent is rotated to a new position regularly, preferably every 2 hours. The emotional side of an illness can be just as destructive as the physical side. When your parent becomes bedridden, they can't do the things they used to or visit with the people they enjoyed seeing regularly.  Encourage people to come over and visit with your parent, so they have regular interaction. Also, try to encourage your parent to still participate in activities they enjoy as much as possible. For instance, if your parent enjoys making art, get them a small set of art supplies they can use in bed with a table. It's also important to provide a safe place where your parent can talk about what's going on. They need a sounding board as much as you do. You can be this person some of the time, but make sure that your parent feels comfortable talking with other people as well. If you are their only source of support, then this can put a lot of pressure on you when you already have so much going on.
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One-sentence summary -- Help with basic hygiene. Watch for bed sores. Look for signs of chest problems. Provide emotional support.


Set the oven to “Bake,” or use “Convection” to decrease your overall cook time by 5-10 minutes. To make the best use of your time, allow the oven to begin heating up while you finish preparing the meat. If you decide to go with convection, reduce the temperature of the oven to 375 °F (191 °C) to account for the more efficient heating. That way, the outside of the steak won't get done before the inside. After draining the  marinade from the steak, place it in the middle of a large sheet of heavy-duty foil. Fold both sides over the top to seal it up. This will create a small packet to trap heat and prevent the flavorful juices from escaping as the meat cooks.  Make sure the packet is loosely bundled. While you want to lock in as much heat as possible, it’s important for air to be able to circulate inside the foil, as well. If desired, you can also add a small handful of chopped vegetables to the foil before closing it up. Sliced bell peppers, onions, and other veggies that cook relatively quickly make good choices. Slide the baking dish onto one of the oven’s center racks. Shut the door and set a timer so you’ll know how long the meat has been cooking.  Since the oven’s conventional settings heat more evenly than the broiler, there’s no need to turn the steak as it cooks. After cooking for 45-50 minutes, you London broil will be about medium. Knock off 12-15 minutes if you'd prefer your meat a little rare, or add an extra 10-15 to get it closer to well done. Carefully peel back one corner of the packet, lifting the foil towards you so that the steam escapes in the opposite direction. Once most of the steam has dissipated, finish unfolding the rest of the packet.  Be careful when unwrapping the foil packet—the steam that escapes will be very hot. If necessary, grab a pair of tongs or a thick oven mitt to protect your hands. At this point, you can cut into the steak to make sure it's done to your liking. Once it’s had time to cool, cut the meat into thin slices, making sure to run your knife against the grain. Drizzle the juices collected at the bottom of the foil packet over the meat for even more flavor. Store any uneaten portions of meat in an airtight container in your refrigerator and consume them within 3-4 days.
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One-sentence summary --
Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Wrap the marinated meat in aluminum foil and place it on a baking sheet. Cook the steak for 45-50 minutes. Remove the London broil from the oven and unwrap the foil packet. Let your London broil rest for 5-10 minutes before enjoying.