High Histamines - OCD/tics/sensory issues... a mixed bag

[4kiki]

I just wanted to share what we've discovered with our 8yr old son. My son has had these type symptom during allergy season but not as intense as this year. WELL this year we started giving him Allergy Immunotherapy drops and his symptoms increased majorly. I've referred to it as OCD but honestly its a mixed bag of OCD, vocal tics, stimming/sensory stimulation. I connected the dots and had his histamine tested. Mind you, he had barely any noticeable symptoms. Occasional sneezing or cough. His histamine levels were 4x the high normal. Histamine is actually a neurotransmitter and can cause neurological symptoms. Do some research on Histadelia kids. Describes my son to a T. Work with a Functional MD or ND who understands the methylation cycle and other contributing SNPs.

 

I would suggest getting a Blood Histamine test. We just had one for our son by Dunwoody labs. It included histamine, DAO and Zonulin (zonulin was optimal so not a Leaky Gut problem). We ran genes through 23andme a couple years ago which is helpful information (still requires research, trial and error). Dr. Amy Yasko (google her name) has an online forum and free online books which are very helpful regarding gene errors and the methylation cycle. If our histamines are too high there are some reasons behind that which can be supported by understanding your methylation cycle.

 

You can read up on Histamines and how they effect us. Some people have issues because of low histamines and others because too high. Here are two good links.

 

http://www.joanmathewslarson.com/HRC_2006/Depression_06/D_roller_coaster.htm

 

http://www.drkaslow.com/html/histadelia.html

[MomWithOCDSon]

I totally agree, Nikki, that abnormally high histamine can contribute to psychological function, though our DS had some very obvious physical symptoms as well, including seasonal allergies, eczema, reflux and upper respiratory congestion. We've had much success with antihistamines and histamine-controlling supplements such as quercitin, coconut oil, lactobacillus and occasional use of Zyrtec, Pepcid and Benedryl.

[4kiki]

I totally agree, Nikki, that abnormally high histamine can contribute to psychological function, though our DS had some very obvious physical symptoms as well, including seasonal allergies, eczema, reflux and upper respiratory congestion. We've had much success with antihistamines and histamine-controlling supplements such as quercitin, coconut oil, lactobacillus and occasional use of Zyrtec, Pepcid and Benedryl.

I tried activated Quercetin which inlcuded bromelain, vit c and magnesium citrate. It seems to increase the symptoms somehow. I was thinking possibly because Quercetin can increase Dopamine which he seems to be high in based on symptoms (not positive though). Right now I've been using methionine which seems to be helping. He has tested pretty low normal for this a year ago so I feel he's got a little room to handle it. He's also very low normal homocysteine (has been below normal in the past). Methionine can increase homocysteine for its something to watch. However, methionine can decrease blood histamine and raise serotonin. I do need to run out and get histamine degrading probiotics, thanks for the reminder. These are the 3 I've seen : Probiotics B infantis, B longum, L plantarum. I will check into Lactobacillus as well. Thanks! Also, sometimes I've wondered if vitamin c (which is supposed to breakdown histamine) hypes him up. Have you ever seen this?

[MomWithOCDSon]

4kiki --

 

You sound much more well-versed on the methylation issues than I am, so I will defer to you there; our journey began long before all the methylation research and information was commonly available and in lay-persons' discussions, and so when we "lucked into" a beneficial regimen for our DS, I admit to having not pursued those angles to any distinct depth.

 

In terms of Vitamin C, I can only say it doesn't seem to hype our DS up though, beyond food sources, a single supplement is his only source of additional Vitamin C. We've been using SolaRay's "QBC Complex," a blend of quercetin, bromelaine and Vitamin C, for a few years now, only to benefit so far as we've seen. So much so, in fact, that I've begun taking it myself during allergy season, and it seems to help.

 

The lactobacillus/allergy link is a more recent discovery of ours, via a story on NPR, though our DS has been taking probiotics for many years, also. Below is a link to the study the NPR story referenced.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883099/

 

Glad things are going well for you! Have a great summer!

[ibcdbwc]

Vitamin C will hype my DS at a dosage of 500 or greater. We use 250 and it seems to support him well. I will say that for some, Quercetin is a problem because its a sulfa donor. My son has CBS mutations which make sulfa difficult. Can't take NAC either for that reason.

 

I do agree that histamine is a major, often ignored, player!