IV Glutathione

[mdmom]

My DD13 has been receiving IV Glutathione for about 6 months now (1x/week - 5ml glutathione).

 

I cannot tell if it is helping since we are doing so many different interventions simultaneously. Our LLMD recommended IV glutathione after testing her levels through Great Plains Lab. Doc said it was the lowest glutathione level she had ever seen.

 

This is sad to say, but I honestly cannot keep up with the expense of this therapy, especially when I am not sure if it is helping. It is $95/dose.

 

Read my signature line to see what DD is dealing with (she has been on IV treatment for infections since March, but under treatment since May 2011). She is also MTHFR homozygous for the 677 gene mutation, so we are pretty sure she is not an efficient detoxer.

 

I welcome opinions. I don't want to make a decision solely based on cost.

[peglem]

Well, practically speaking, cost is a factor in treatment. I think I'd skip a treatment or 2 and see if I can see a difference. Sometimes we don't know whether something is helping until we go without. You could always start up again if your child takes a dive without it.

[NancyD]

For my DD, who also had very low levels, two years of monthly glutathione IVs healed her severe colitis completely and allowed her to eat foods she could never eat before (gluten, dairy, soy, etc.). This was 10 years ago and it helped her immune system enormously. We used to travel 8 hours each month to get these IVs. Although we don't drive there as often now as we have been doing many consults by phone, we still try to get an IV glutathione as often as we can. DD is also homozygous for 677 and has Lyme, Bartonella, and MycoP.

 

BCBS used to cover these IVs (out of network, so 80% of customary rates). We haven't had BCBS in years and just switched back so it will be interesting to see if they still cover it.

[LNN]

I can't tell you what to do but do sympathize with your plight. My kids are looking at vision therapy at $125/week - each. And insurance may only cover 60% and even then, only until the end of the yr when our deductible re-sets. Cost is a factor. There's only so much money to go around.

 

But here's my bigger issue with the IV glutathione - for your child (not in general). If she's homozygous MTHFR, she's only methylating at @ 10% efficiency. The glutahione is probably helping to compensate for this. But once you stop the treatment, have you put anything in place to help her body produce its own glutathione? In other words, are you treating the MTHFR issue with methylfolate and methylB12 supplements? This would be much cheaper and in the long, getting closer to the root cause of the low glutathione. You also need to make sure she's getting enough B6 (in P-5-P form) as this is an essential co-factor for changing homocysteine into cysteine into glutathione. You also need to look at how she's using sulfur, as this plays a role in detox. So long way of suggesting that IV glutathione might be a helpful treatment but in and of itself, probably isn't fixing the problem. Given the cost, I'd be looking at root causes so her body can start to make more of its own glutathione.

 

Has you talked to your LLMD about what other options are available? About treating methylation and transsulfuration issues?

[mdmom]

NancyD - Thanks for sharing your story. I have a few questions: Do you know how much Glutathione your daughter was getting each month? Also, do you know what diagnosis code was submitted to BCBS for coverage? I know it was a long time ago that you did this, but thanks in advance for any info you can dig up. I have BCBS and never thought to submit my claims for this. Also, I administer the IV glutathione at home, so it's likely it wouldn't be covered because of this.

 

LLM - Thanks for chiming in - I always appreciate your understanding of methylation issues. DD is doing methyl-B12 injections 3x/week, and supplementing with Thorne's Methyl Guard and 1200mg NAC daily.

 

And I'm with you - why keep giving her something that is doing the work for her rather than training her body to do it's own work. I will see LLMD this Thurs, so I have lots of questions.

[NancyD]

I wish I could remember but it's been too many years and I only keep financial and insurance records for 7 years. I'm sorry I can't be more help on this.

 

NancyD - Thanks for sharing your story. I have a few questions: Do you know how much Glutathione your daughter was getting each month? Also, do you know what diagnosis code was submitted to BCBS for coverage? I know it was a long time ago that you did this, but thanks in advance for any info you can dig up. I have BCBS and never thought to submit my claims for this. Also, I administer the IV glutathione at home, so it's likely it wouldn't be covered because of this.

 

LLM - Thanks for chiming in - I always appreciate your understanding of methylation issues. DD is doing methyl-B12 injections 3x/week, and supplementing with Thorne's Methyl Guard and 1200mg NAC daily.

 

And I'm with you - why keep giving her something that is doing the work for her rather than training her body to do it's own work. I will see LLMD this Thurs, so I have lots of questions.