Glutamate-Augmentin XR-hypoglycemia?

[cobbiemommy]

Negative symptoms are still symptoms: they could give clues.

 

I have been going over all the variable in my son's health and his recent decline.

 

1) I started with the removal of Augmentin XR. Within four days of stopping this abx, DS was moody, irritable, and downright nasty. Augmentin XR has a unique side effect/benefit. Clauvulinic acid, one of the active ingredients in Augmentin XR, blocks the reception of glutamate. An excess of glutamate can cause all number of psychiatric and physical behaviors.

 

2) DS, has been exerting enormous physical energy in wrestling. He literally has soaking clothes when he gets in the vehicle after practice. He tells me that he gives it his all and often is so tired he cannot get up off the mat after a workout.

 

3) His worst days have all been on days of practice and he is just drained.

 

4) Hypoglycemia-DS has had two incidents of hypoglycemia in the past. He would get very moody and irritable beyond just normal hunger pains. After a meal with some carbs he always seemed to come back to his true nature. Maybe that is why peanut butter is helpful for him as well?? Peanut butter would spike his glucose as well as give him tryptophan. There is a family history of hypoglycemia in our family. We have always just made sure that he had a snack or ate on time. Since DS never did sports before, especially right after school, this issue had never come up before. I don't think he is getting enough to eat at lunch for the amount of energy that he is expending thanks to the new lunch standards. He has grown several inches taller and dropped 19 pounds since July.

 

5) Monday, DS, had breath that smelled like nail polish remover. That smell is acetone. When the body doesn't have enough sugar (glucose), it starts catablolizes proteins. The smell of those digested proteins is acetone. (Thank you Dr. Pilgrim; my high school chemistry teacher.) The smell went away after he ate a snack and then dinner.

 

Hypoglycemia can also cause excessive gluatamate concentrations. It is explained in this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excitotoxicity If glutamate is part of the problem, then low blood sugar would make it even worse.

 

For those of you who know about glutamate, is this scenario possible?? It seems so logical to me, but science is definitely not my strong point.

Edited December 18, 2013 by cobbiemommy

[MomWithOCDSon]

It seems like a potential link in the chain to me.

 

Also noteworthy is the fact that carbohydrates induce release of serotonin, as well, so it may not be just the glutamate issue in terms of carb cravings or hypoglycemia.

[MomWithOCDSon]

Also, while clavulanic acid is thought to play a role in the glutamate modulation as well, they've found that a certain class of antibiotics -- beta lactams-- of which amoxicillin and augmentin are examples, have glutamate modulating properties, with or without the clavulanic component. Likely, though, that clavulanic "boost" is part of the reason this particular abx has been such a successful PANDAS intervention for some kids, Sammy Maloney and my son included!

[3bmom]

I found this really interesting! I personally have had problems with hypoglycemia. My husband will feed me when I am super busy because he knows I will become grumpy. I see this a lot in my DS especially before a growth spurt. I can't seem to feed him enough.

 

In one of the many articles I have just started reading on Lyme this was also mentioned as a factor. I and my older son just tested positive for Lyme. My PANDAS DS hasn't been tested because of prophylactic antibiotics but I am sure he is positive as well.