OCD Flaring Again

[emma1]

Background: 16 year old daughter with strep induced tics and ocd, for about a year. Tics mostly gone; ocd comes and goes. On 500 mg zith every five days. Have been using inositol, samE, probiotics, mag taurate, and most recently 5HTP. Within last two weeks, she was having stomach upset, lack of appetite, and now OCD is returning.

 

Questnions:

 

(1) I think that the 5 HTP is causing the stomach issues. She has been on 4 weeks. I am thinking of stopping -- opinions?

 

(2) I have found several studies on OCD and St. John's Wort. Is anyone using this successfully? Can I keep the other supplements and use St. John's Wort.

 

(3) I recently reduced the inositol (to 500 mg), and that is when the OCD came back. Literally, symptoms started back 3 days later, and became *bad* 6 days later. Is anyone using a *higher* dose? I was using 3 grams (studies had used up to 18 grams). If I raised that again, what should I not give her (5HTP? samE? St. John's Wort?)

 

(4) My doctor doesn't seem well versed in this at all. He is recommending SRRIs, but I would like to avoid if I can.

 

Any help would be so very, very appreciated!!!!!!!!! I am a mess again!

[ilovedogs]

Background: 16 year old daughter with strep induced tics and ocd, for about a year. Tics mostly gone; ocd comes and goes. On 500 mg zith every five days. Have been using inositol, samE, probiotics, mag taurate, and most recently 5HTP. Within last two weeks, she was having stomach upset, lack of appetite, and now OCD is returning.

 

Questnions:

 

(1) I think that the 5 HTP is causing the stomach issues. She has been on 4 weeks. I am thinking of stopping -- opinions?

 

(2) I have found several studies on OCD and St. John's Wort. Is anyone using this successfully? Can I keep the other supplements and use St. John's Wort.

 

(3) I recently reduced the inositol (to 500 mg), and that is when the OCD came back. Literally, symptoms started back 3 days later, and became *bad* 6 days later. Is anyone using a *higher* dose? I was using 3 grams (studies had used up to 18 grams). If I raised that again, what should I not give her (5HTP? samE? St. John's Wort?)

 

(4) My doctor doesn't seem well versed in this at all. He is recommending SRRIs, but I would like to avoid if I can.

 

Any help would be so very, very appreciated!!!!!!!!! I am a mess again!

 

Hugs to you! I'm sorry you are dealing with this, as we have just btdt with the OCD/anxiety lately. Our naturopath recommended that ds take a Neuroscience Product called Kavinace and it has helped tremendously. He started having diminished symptoms after 2 days on this product. It's a B6, taurine and other amino acids complex that has really helped him.

Right now he's sick and I'm debating whether or not it's strep throat, again. He had it back in January. He is NOT PANDAS as far as I can tell, though, b/c his anxiety(more general anxiety) and tics were there before the strep infection.

Most doctors aren't well versed in the supplements, try finding a good naturopath or environmental doctor. Have you thougth about increasing the inositol again? What was she on before?

Bonnie

[emma1]

Thank you for the information. Do you mind telling me how much you are using -- and whether there are side effects?

[Chemar]

emma

if u feel the 5HTP is having digestive side effects it would be best to stop it, and gradually go up with the inositol again

 

some people find tryptophan better than 5HTP

[emma1]

Cheri, I feel that the antibiotics are helping with the tics, but with the OCD, it just isn't cutting it at all. When your son was on samE and 5HTP, was he on st. john's wort too? Do you think it is safe to (1) use samE (500 mg) with 2-3 grams of inositol; (2) use st. john's wort (one standardized pill) with the 2-3 grams of inositol; or (3) use the samE and st. john's wort with the 2-3 grams of inositol; or (4) samE, st. john's wort and inositol (all one pill -- pretty low dose)? Is (4) what you tried, along with 50 mg of 5HTP? I know you aren't giving professional advice, but your input would truly help me.

[ilovedogs]

Thank you for the information. Do you mind telling me how much you are using -- and whether there are side effects?

No side effects so far. Ds is 9 and he takes 2 capsules a day. Each one is taken 1/2 hr before a meal and I open up the capsule and mix it into juice. I do not know the amount offhand and we're both sick laying down right now on the couches!(or I'd check for you!). You can go to Neuroscience's website at www.neurorelief.com to see the products/product and maybe find a doc in your area who uses these products and is familiar with them.

Bonnie

[Chemar]

hi emma

my son wasn't on samE but was on methionine

 

the doc had him on 500mg inositol, 300 mg SJW each morning and 500mg methionine plus 50mg 5HTP at night. He took extra B6 with the inositol

[emma1]

Cheri, Thanks so much for that information. If you don't mind telling, how long was he on that protocol, and how did you determine that it should be changed? (I know I have changed things as I go on, though as long as something is working I am hesitant to change unless there is a problem. So, I guess what I am asking is -- eventually, did one or more of the supplements stop helping your son, or did he begin to react less than ideally to one?) Your information is always so helpful. It is very sweet of you to try to help me and so many others.

 

Is methionine different than SAMe? I was thinking they were essentially the same?

[Chemar]

Hi Emma

he was on 5 HTP for four years and on the combination of it with inositol, methionine and sjw for about 18 mths (we also added D-phenylalanine (NOT -L-) for a short while to boost endorphins as he had some self injurious OCD/tic blends

 

he now only takes inositol and methionine

 

we have always worked under physician supervision so that was how we added and removed supps

Once his raging OCD was under control, he remained on just inositol and 5HTP

 

began to get edgy on 5HTP a few years back so we removed it and added methionine back in

 

ps we were told it is essential to the serotonin biosynthesis to have adequate vitB6 levels too

[Pudgeo]

I tried to take St Johns Wort for myself..YUCK..My stomach was soooo upset...not worth it..Sarah

[Chemar]

that's interesting that SJW affected your GIT Sarah

 

my husband has been taking it daily for years with no upset and we didnt notice any when my son was on it

[emma1]

I have been researching SJW. My understanding is that SJW can cause side effects, but at a much lower rate than most SRRIs. I think around 3% experience side effects.

 

I will say this, however. I have become convinced that you should choose your brand of supplements very carefully. I think it does make a difference sometimes.