N-acetylcysteine

[kim]

Nancy,

 

I was going to include this article in a response to Peglem's CamKinaseII thread, but don't remember seeing it here (altho I may well have missed discussion on it).

 

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_sh...airpullers.html

 

The condition, like many other compulsive behaviors, is thought to arise from an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, especially levels of serotonin and glutamate, a chemical that triggers excitement. N-acetylcysteine blocks production of glutamate in specific areas of the brain.

and

 

The team reported this week in the Archives of General Psychiatry that, after 12 weeks, 56% of those receiving the amino acid supplement reported being "much or very much improved," compared with 16% of those taking the placebo. The improvement was noticeable after nine weeks of treatment.

 

I saw your recent remark about NAC not appearing to work for your daughters OCD. I'm wondering if you could say how much you have been using for how long?

[NancyD]

Hi Kim,

 

My daughter is taking 1200 mg NAC twice daily and has been taking it for about 2 months. I have seen no change since beginning the supplements. Based on the study you mention below, perhaps she hasn't been taking the supplements long enough for us to see a difference. I should also add that she gets NAC combined with her glutathione IV when we see her DAN doctor. That used to be monthly for a few years and now it is only once every 3 or 4 months. Perhaps that is why the OCD is worse (?). Hmmm...food for thought. Thanks for mentioning this, Kim!

 

Nancy

 

Nancy,

 

I was going to include this article in a response to Peglem's CamKinaseII thread, but don't remember seeing it here (altho I may well have missed discussion on it).

 

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_sh...airpullers.html

 

The condition, like many other compulsive behaviors, is thought to arise from an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, especially levels of serotonin and glutamate, a chemical that triggers excitement. N-acetylcysteine blocks production of glutamate in specific areas of the brain.

and

 

The team reported this week in the Archives of General Psychiatry that, after 12 weeks, 56% of those receiving the amino acid supplement reported being "much or very much improved," compared with 16% of those taking the placebo. The improvement was noticeable after nine weeks of treatment.

I saw your recent remark about NAC not appearing to work for your daughters OCD. I'm wondering if you could say how much you have been using for how long?

[kim]

You're welcome and I hope you'll keep us updated whether you find any change with usage!

 

I hope there is more promising news on this front

 

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00627705

 

A Study of N-Acetyl Cysteine in Children With Autism

This study is currently recruiting participants.

Verified by Stanford University, March 2009

[NancyD]

One thing really worries me when I hear "glutamate blocker" (specific to NAC)...

 

Last year we tried Riluzole, a glutamate blocker. NIH is having some success with it for children with OCD (though not necessarily caused by PANDAS). It did not help my daughter at all and, after 3 months of trying it, I tried taking her off it very slowly and it caused an overnight onset of full-blown TS. This was the first time she ever had vocalizations and they were just horrible! The motor tics were also at its worse as a result of the Riluzole.

 

I don't know if it had to do with it being a glutamate blocker or the fact that stopping the Riluzole brought out the tics like a withdrawal reaction.

 

Has anyone had a similar reaction to a glutamate blocker?

 

Nancy

 

You're welcome and I hope you'll keep us updated whether you find any change with usage!

 

I hope there is more promising news on this front

 

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00627705

 

A Study of N-Acetyl Cysteine in Children With Autism

This study is currently recruiting participants.

Verified by Stanford University, March 2009

[kim]

Nancy,

 

Sounds to me like they may very well work in different ways, almost opposite mode of action?????? If NAC helps to increase the intracellular levels of glutathione also (an effect that I wouldn't think Riluzole would have) well, that may be having an effect too. I sure understand your concern though, and don't know if my interpretation is even close to accurate. Probably a good question for one of your daughter's

Drs.

 

http://www.answers.com/topic/riluzole

 

trade name: Rilutek; drug class: glutamate antagonist; action: inhibits presynaptic release of glutamic acid in central nervous system; use: treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease).

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1958156...Pubmed_RVDocSum

 

N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, seems to restore the extracellular glutamate concentration in the nucleus accumbens and, therefore, offers promise in the reduction of compulsive behavior.

[NancyD]

Ahh, you are correct, Kim. What a relief. I thought I heard someone on the ACN forum refer to NAC as a glutamate blocker. Thanks for checking that out!

 

Nancy

 

Nancy,

 

Sounds to me like they may very well work in different ways, almost opposite mode of action?????? If NAC helps to increase the intracellular levels of glutathione also (an effect that I wouldn't think Riluzole would have) well, that may be having an effect too. I sure understand your concern though, and don't know if my interpretation is even close to accurate. Probably a good question for one of your daughter's

Drs.

 

http://www.answers.com/topic/riluzole

 

trade name: Rilutek; drug class: glutamate antagonist; action: inhibits presynaptic release of glutamic acid in central nervous system; use: treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease).

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1958156...Pubmed_RVDocSum

 

N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, seems to restore the extracellular glutamate concentration in the nucleus accumbens and, therefore, offers promise in the reduction of compulsive behavior.