Medications

[kim]

There is no point to this post, I'm only looking at the pro's and cons of medications like zantac, pepcid, prevacid and motrin.

 

PANDAS readers may be interested in this too.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...02%20INHIBITORS

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celecoxib

 

I have read two posts, one here on page 36, and one on another forum regarding the use of Zantac and Prevacid where it appears the use of these things brought on tics. The post on the other forum was from a Mom of an infant who was prescribed Zantac for reflux. She said it was given btwn the ages of 3 weeks and 7 months in a dose that exceeded the recommended dosage for her daughter (age/weight?). She said it left her with tardive dyskenesia(sp?). She said there was improvement after stopping the use, but one year later, her daughter still has unusual movements everyday and an annoying tongue movement, and she was looking for help.

 

Zantac was prescribed for my youngest son for allergies (H 2 blocker). Pepcid was prescribed by his Ped. for repeated stomach aches. I didn't give it to him either time.

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From HSI e-Alert

How Antacids Cause Stomach Pain

 

Antacids are a quick fix with a steep price.

 

Over time, they reduce your level of stomach acid. Which leads to poor digestion. And more stomach problems!

 

Plus, bad bacteria and viruses have a field day when there's less acid around, creating a breeding ground for infections. And without enough acid, your absorption of crucial minerals such as calcium, zinc, and magnesium grinds to a halt.

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On the other side, when my oldest son has had the head shaking flair, I have thrown in the towel and given him Motrin. When I quite discouraging the use of Motrin, the head flair got better twice. (I certainly can't say it was the motrin. We increased certain supplements, illnesses improved-a lot of variables.) I assumed it allowed him to sort of get ahead of the pain, which reduced the urge to continue the tic, but now, I'm wondering about the anti inflammatory effects of motrin.

 

I know there are many natural substanaces for reducing inflammation. I'm was just curious if anyone else is taking any of these medications and if they have linked them to improvements or adverse effects?

[Giselle]

Hi Kim, since all the TS started I have stopped giving him ALL medications except Zyrtec and that only for a few days when seasonal allergies get super bad - we've only used 7 pills in 2 years. He had a horrible flu this Easter but weathered the whole thing without anything (he started with 103 temp and over the course of the next five days fluctuated between 102-100.5) We both stayed the course and I just stayed confident that his body was doing what it was supposed to do to wipe out those bugs. I explained this to him and even gave him the option of Tylenol at one point in the middle of the night when he was really suffering but I also told him earlier that each time he reduced his fever it makes it harder on his good guys to fight the bad guys. He said he didn't want the Tylenol "because I want this to stop sooner and I want to help my good guys". I stayed up for several hours with him and told him "war stories" about the fights that were going on in him and cooled him off with wet clothes on his head. He loves army and Star Wars stuff so this was easy to keep him entertained. I realized that my rush to Tylenol in his earlier years were more for me than him - I wanted to sleep and wanted him to sleep too - going the new way is definitely harder. There was a huge pay off - many kids in his class got this horrible flu and all but Hoyt had it for almost two weeks. He was done in 7 days! In fact his Dad got it and still has horrible gunk coming out his nose and feels awful - he had to take a fever reducer as he is working on a shoot for a film and he absolutely cannot be sick.

 

Mind you, tic pain? That would be such a hard call!!! The only thing that I do for him for that is rub him with Magnesium Cream from Kirkman Labs and make an immediate appointment with his chiropractor which always helps at least to alleviate the pain and often move the tic to a less worrisome place. I do know though that Kaprex is a natural anit-inflammatory that both my and Hoyt's chiro's recommend but I haven't tried it on him yet but bring it when we are away just in case.

 

But I was plummeted into shame with the part about the Zantac. We never used Zantac but when he was really little (less than two years) we liberally used Mylacon drops for any and all tummy upsets. They of course reduce stomach acids, as you say, and we were told they were perfectly safe by his pediatrician. I think now that these in tandem with antibiotics probably started him on this road of allergy and decreased immune system. How does one get their stomach acids back I wonder?

 

Giselle

[kim]

Giselle,

 

I don't have any links to back this up with, but my understanding is that tylenol can lower glutathione levels. My oldest son had his tonsils out when he was about seven (repeated strep). I think he was on tylenol with codeine for about 2 weeks. He had a hard time recovering from that surgery. They just kept telling me to alternate with the tylenol/co & Motrin. Talk about guilt. I have always felt like motrin worked better for pain and fever anyway with the kids.

 

Then I gave my youngest son Tums for stomach aches. Acid reducer and aluminum, but a small amount did seem to help. I have since read to try peppermint. I still don't know whether he has high or low stomach acid. Amy yaskow's site talks about the benefits of lowering it, but I know too low isn't good either. Have you heard the controversy about reflux symptoms being from too low of stomach acid? For years they have been prescribing acid reducers, but some Dr.s are saying it's the opposite. Wish I knew, but I do think it's important, and something worth noting with our kids.

 

The Pub med study, that looked like an anti inflammatory in conjunction with an antibiotic, improved symptoms. That made me think of the motrin. Dr.s say give tylenol for fever, motrin for pain. Motrin has the anti inflammatory effect. So, thanks for the Kaprex tip. I have been thinking that a nice natural anti inflam. might be worth a little trial, even for allergy stuff. Then there was the Chamomile tea study. That looked like a good place to start. OH oh I'm starting to ramble.

 

I have read a couple of times, I think once was in Natural cures That they Don't Want you to Know About, that giving vinegar will STOP stomach acid problems, by raising it, not lowering it. You may want to ask Hoyt's Dr. if it would be ok to try a little of that, if you think low stomach acid is a problem, or hopefully he will have some, more accurate, info. on all of this.

 

The boys are doing very well. Oldest is having allergy problems. Missed a zyrtec, and it showed. Mood. I'm convinced there is something to the histimine levels and the mind. Talks loud, antsy, even Walks loud. We have been working on a massive social studies project. He did the head shake a couple of times, but said "don't worry, I'm only doing that because of the muscle pain in my neck." Bless his heart. He worries about me, if he has a little tic.

 

Youngest is great tic wise, but no improvements in eating habits. I keep hoping with time the enzymes will help. I still think his sulfur pathways are involved in his eating problems. Your Mag. cream might be a good idea for him, since it provides sulphur. He isn't fond of baths, likes showers better, so epsom salt soaks don't go over very well.

 

kim

 

Wanted to add that olive leaf extract is a pretty popular anti viral on the Autism forums that I read.

[Chemar]

Hi Kim and Giselle

 

Metagenics make a really effective natural pain reliever called Inflavanoid as well as a more potent Inflavinoid Intensive Care http://www.metagenics.com/products/catalog...ail.asp?pid=162

 

White Willow Bark is a good natural anti-inflammatory (if you are ok with salicylate) and cayenne turmeric and ginger are especially known for anti-inflamm properties

[kim]

Thanks for the reminder on the salicylate too. Chemar.

 

On Chamomile

The main constituents of the flowers include several phenolic compounds, primarily the flavonoids apigenin, quercetin, patuletin, luteolin and their glucosides.

 

 

Would want to watch for Phenol problems here too.