emma1

Background: 16 year old daughter with strep induced tics and ocd, for about a year. Tics mostly gone; ocd comes and goes. On 500 mg zith every five days. Have been using inositol, samE, probiotics, mag taurate, and most recently 5HTP. Within last two weeks, she was having stomach upset, lack of appetite, and now OCD is returning. Questnions: (1) I think that the 5 HTP is causing the stomach issues. She has been on 4 weeks. I am thinking of stopping -- opinions? (2) I have found several studies on OCD and St. John's Wort. Is anyone using this successfully? Can I keep the other supplements and use St. John's Wort. (3) I recently reduced the inositol (to 500 mg), and that is when the OCD came back. Literally, symptoms started back 3 days later, and became *bad* 6 days later. Is anyone using a *higher* dose? I was using 3 grams (studies had used up to 18 grams). If I raised that again, what should I not give her (5HTP? samE? St. John's Wort?) (4) My doctor doesn't seem well versed in this at all. He is recommending SRRIs, but I would like to avoid if I can. Any help would be so very, very appreciated!!!!!!!!! I am a mess again!

Definitely safer without contrast!

MRI procedures are not without risk if there is a contrast agent used. Go to the FDA website, and search "MRI contrast agent."

Does anyone know anything about this? Is it safe for our children to take? I was told it was a probiotic, but I read that it is a "good" yeast! Is there such a thing?

Cheri, I started with your link and kept going. 5HTP can be used to lose weight, so I am thinking that is our issue. Just don't know what to do now. She is naturally slim, but she needs to eat to keep healthy or she will be *too* slim. She is sometimes barely touching dinner, and I never see her with snacks anymore. I think the 5HTP is helping her OCD thoughts because she started telling me that she wasn't having the problems with the thoughts after we started it up. What do you all think? The SAMe helped but didn't really cut it on its own with the inositol (even at higher inositol doses). Should I try 5HTP every other day? I was thinking about adding St. John's Wort -- do you think that with the SAMe might work? Any other ideas? I hate to give up the benefit of the 5HTP, but she does need to eat!

My daughter has been taking 50 mg of 5HTP for about 4 weeks. It is the last supplement that I have added. Before that I added SAMe about 6-7 weeks ago. And about two weeks ago I reduced her inositol from 2 grams to 500 mgs. (She also takes zithromax, magnesium taurate, zyrtec and probiotics, but has been taking those for quite a while.) I am dealing with strep induced symptoms, with mostly only OCD "thoughts." About two weeks ago, her appetite dropped off dramatically. She says she feels sick to her stomach (mildly) and not hungry. Otherwise, she seems fine. I stopped the 5HTP for a couple of days and the appetite returned. I started it again, and with four days, the appetite was gone again. I *think* the 5HTP is helping with the OCD, but this appetite loss is concerning to me, as none of the other supplements were causing any side effects. Also, she is already slim, and I do not want her thinner. Anyone else experiencing anything like this with 5HTP? Do you think it is the 5HTP or its combo with something else I am giving? I guess it could also be the zithromax that is causing upset because of its long-term use (500 mgs every 5 days)?

www.nativeremedies.com/products/mindsoothe-emotional-wellness-info.html It has St. John's Wort and Passion Flower, I think, though I cannot find the doses, which isn't good. Does your son use SJW now? If so, how does he deal with the summer sun. (Teens aren't always the best about saying indoors during summer!) Do you have a favorite brand of SJW? The SAMe and 5HTP has helped -- though she hates the brand of 5HTP I bought as she says it smells (and she is right!). But we are still experiencing repetitive thoughts, and so I thought perhaps SJW would be better, either alone or in combo with the other two. She has been on SAMe about 6 weeks and 5HTP about 4 weeks. She has been experiencing some lack of appetite as well, which might be linked to the SAMe or 5HTP (or the combo)?

As I was searching the internet , I found this (Mindsoothe) from Native Remedies, I believe. Has anyone tried it? Trying to figure out if it is something special, or just St. John's Wort.

Has anyone tried St. John's Wort for OCD symptoms associated with either TS or PANDAS? Does anyone know any reason one could not take it with zithromax or 5HTP?

Peglem, What dose of zith are you using, and on what schedule? Do you do testing re: the build-up of zith? We have been using about 6-8 weeks now, but our doctor is concerned about long-term use, and would like us to go back to Pen VK.

Thanks Cheri! Just wasn't sure we were on the right track.

I did not get around to reading this whole thread until today. I must say it does sound like you are in good hands and I will keep your daughter in my prayers. I think I am dealing with the supplement/stomach issues right now -- but honestly none of the doctors I have consulted are sufficiently informed on natural supplements to give a professional opinion. And we've consulted with a lot of doctors!

For those with ocd issues, I would love to know what the therapist recommended re: these kind of thoughts. Our therapist is not telling our daughter to fight the thoughts, which I thought was pretty standard. He is telling her to confront the thought, and try to figure out why she is thinking the thought and/or why she is upset by the thought. This seems to have her spend more time on the thought, not less. What do you think?

Faith, I do give the probiotics away from the antibiotic -- and we only give antibiotic once every five days. Though the antibiotic does stay in the system, and she has been on antibiotics for a while, so that could be it. Faith, Usually she will just say she is tired or "just not hungry" -- she is eating something, just not nearly what she was eating. Unfortunately, unless she comes to me to talk, which she does sometimes, the information I get is minimal (probably because she is older). I haven't noticed her being edgy; she was on the Sam-E for about 3 weeks when he appetite decreased. Would that be about the time a therapeutic dose got in her system? Michele, I will follow the links you provided. (I had stopped googling everything as I found too much information, and began to drive myself a little crazy with all the possibilities!) I am hoping this is not a compulsion too!!! She did eat this morning so -- yea! Thanks to you all.

Hi Cheri, Thanks for the information. The doctor had recommended inositol (he said some go to 18 grams!), but I didn't speak with him about the sam-e or 5HTP (well I did, but he was not "familiar" with their "properties" or "indications for ocd." He said he had heard about sam-e for depression, but not ocd.). I did not feel comfortable going to 18 grams (I am using powder, but if I were using pills, that would be 32 pills!!!!), so decided to try the sam-e and 5 HTP. I will try lowering the inositol and see what happens.

I have my daughter (16) on the following: zithromax 500 mg every 5 days; probiotics every day; magnesium taurate 250 mg every day; zyrtec every day; 5HTP 50 mg every day; Sam-E 400 mg every day, and inositol (about 3 grams). (I just tried omitting the zyrtec, but it is definitely needed, and I had to add it back in.) Lately I notice that her appetite has decreased dramatically. She is eating about half what she used to, but isn't trying to diet. Do any of the above cause stomach upset/issues, either alone or in the combination I am giving them? I give Sam-E and inositol in the AM, and mag taurate, probiotics, and 5 HTP before bed. I give the zithromax late afternoon (but only every 5 days). Thanks for your help. She says she is just not hungry.

I was desperate when I started using, and it did really work. The confusing part is that all the chemicals you mentioned are "inactive ingredients." Why do they put that in meds?? I know there is something making the zithromax red too!

Can anyone tell me if they know anything about these two products. I was having some stress-related stomach issues, and the doctor recommended these. They did help my issues. Since they are probiotics, I was wondering if they might be good for my daughter (as she is on antibiotics a lot). The ingredients of Align are: one billion Bifantis, microcystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose capsule USP grade, magnesium stearate, sugar, sodium caseinate, sodium citrate dihydrate, propyl gallate, FD&C blue #2 The ingredients of Digestive Advantage IBS are: Microcrystalline Cellulose, GanedenBC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086), Lysine, Vegetarian Capsule Shell (hypromellose, water, titanium dioxide (color), caramel (color), propylene glycol), Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide.

Cheri, Just wanted to thank you for your prompt and fabulous replies. You are awesome -- you have helped me (oh, and my child too!) sooooo much!!!!! I had seen that trigger list before and had totally forgotten about it. It gives me hope to at least give the pool a try!

That is fabulous!!!!! I am going to give this a try when we open our pool. Please keep us updated.

My teen daughter has started to have some breakouts (not cysts, just "regular" teen acne) on her face, and of course, wants to use all the chemical-filled products that her friends are using. Anyone have any suggestions on what she can safely use to remedy the problem.

OK, in the last year, my daughter has experienced strep induced tics and ocd. For the first year ever, we have our own pool this summer, and I am just getting ready to open it. After reading the chlorine thread, I now don't know what to do!! Is chlorine a major trigger for most, or just for some? I did quite a bit of research, and chlorine is the best for keeping bacteria at bay, and with a lot of kids in the pool, I almost feel it is a necessity. Anyone out there able to swim in chlorine without problems?

Thank you so much for the article. I am copying it and sending it to my doctor. As I read it, however, I am not sure my doctor will support the zithromax. The article seemed to urge caution regarding zithromax use. I wanted to switch because the Pen VK stopped working. I also note, the zithromax in this study was used once per week (every 7 days, I guess?) where I have been giving it every 5 days. Anyone having success using this every 7 days?

Can you give ginko also with Sam-E? If so, do you give both daily, or is the ginko or Sam-E just "as needed."

Honestly, Michele, that "swing of symptoms" is the thing that drives me crazy. You are going along thinking all is well; and then it is not. I thought once we switched to zith, and had some success, we would just stay on it. But my doctor seems very hesitant. I have a couple of doses left and then I'm not sure what will happen.