Neurotransmitter Tests

[kim]

Giselle,

 

Can you tell me which lab you used for the neurotransmitters test? Was it this one by chance?

http://www.neurorelief.com/

 

I read a post on autism/enzyme today referring to this lab. The posters DAN Dr. had recommended it. This is a test I have not heard very much about, but sure looks like there are some things included here, that would be very helpful.

This is the "tests offered" page for the same Lab http://www.neurorelief.com/index.php?major=302

If this is the lab you used, could you tell which test your Dr. recommended?

If you could give any info. regarding how useful you/your Dr. found this test to be, it would be appreciated.

.

[Giselle]

Hi Kim,

We did our test through my son's Environmental Doctor and the company she used is called NeuroScience. http://www.neurorelief.com/index.php They are located in Osceola, WI, their phone number is 715-775-3995. The test cost $185 I believe and was a urine test - always lots of fun with a 7 1/2 year old boy - I mean, how much fun is it to pee in a cup In talking with FJ* it seems a more appropriate test would be one that took a blood sample at approximately the same time as the urine test so as to see the rate of degradation of the neurotransmitters(I think I got that right). For example their son had really high norepinephrine in his urine but really low in his blood and that helped them illumintate other issues. We haven't gone that route yet but will next time. This particular test measured his epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, seratonin, GABA, glycine, taurine, PEA, glutamate, glutamine, histamine, and creatine. There are others that can be measured but she wanted to address these first.

 

NeuroScience has their own products to help when the results come in (which to me is sometimes suspect) but the main one that my son needed is really just a proprietary blend of SAMe, 5HTP with some other nutritionals like B6, cal, mag, etc. that could be taken individually, but it just helps by putting them all together. We are taking the nutritionals that were suggested but as there are three of them it will take 3+ weeks for us to rotate them into his program and then a bit longer to see if they are working. Will post when we know if this helps. Right now just having this information about him is another piece of this whacky puzzle and not sure how it fits in - if at all. We have depression and alcoholism in our family - so maybe it will help with that - so he might still tic but hopefully not be a depressed alcoholic

 

Many of my son's tics seem to be more OCD type tics right now in that he feels the tic coming on but then unless he does it "just right" continues to do it until he gets it right. Hopefully this new stuff will alleviate some of that. We also added L-Carnitine and are going to be adding glutathione next week so hopefully that helps too.

 

I hope that helps and will let you know if there is any change over the next month or so.

 

Good luck,

Giselle

[kim]

Giselle,

 

Thank you for the excellent reply. I got to reading one of my favorite checks and balance articles to look at the effects of SAMe on undermethylated (high histimine) from an interview with Dr. Walsh at Pfeiffer:

 

High Histamine (under-methylated)

 

40-70 is optimum histamine range for mental health considerations. Histamine is an important neurotransmitter which affects human behavior. This syndrome often involves seasonal variations in depression, obsessive-compulsive behavior, inhalant allergies, and frequent headaches. In severe cases involving psychosis, the dominant symptom is usually delusional thinking rather than hallucinations. They tend to speak very little and may sit motionless for extended periods. They may appear outwardly calm, but suffer from extreme internal anxiety. Most OCD patients with both obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions are in this category. Associated with under-methylation, which results in low levels of important neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Treatment focuses on the use of antifolates such as calcium, methionine, SAMe, magnesium, zinc, TMG, omega-3 essential oils, B6, inositol, and A, C and E. The dose of inositol is 500 to 1000mg. Choline is anti-dopaminergic and often makes undermethylated patients worse. Also bad are DMAE, copper and folic acid. Three to six months of nutrient therapy are necessary to correct this chemical imbalance. Symptoms will return if treatment is stopped. Two good labs for whole blood histamine are LabCorp and Quest. Also use a special absolute basophil count as a methlyation marker. The count must be direct and not differential. Alcian blue dye is the preferred staining agent. Best lab for this test is Direct Healthcare Access in Glenview IL 847 299 2440.

 

This info. and more on these transmitters can be found on this page: http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/walsh.htm

Is anyone getting sick of me posting this link yet?

 

I am also trying to figure out what tests are most important as first steps. I'm sure (hoping) the new Dr. will have his own ideas on this on the 11th, but after all of this research, I will have to keep a sock in my pocket in the event it's needed in my mouth. However, this time around, this Dr. has to be willing to work WITH me. I'm all out of blind faith.

 

Thanks again! I'll probably be back with a few more questions for you on this, if that's ok? What a great Mom with such an upbeat attitude.

 

Kim