Coming off Antibiotics

[Suzan]

If I even reduce my dd's dose, she shows signs of symptoms within 1-2 days. She is on 500 mg of zith daily. I hope to convince our doc to give another type of antibiotic a try.

 

Susan

[MomWithOCDSon]

About 2 weeks ago, we reduced our DS13's abx regimen from 1,000 mg. Augmentin XR, twice daily, to 1,000 mg. Augmentin XR in the morning, followed by 500 mg. Augmentin in the evening.

 

The first few days went fine, with no noticable issues; in the past, when we removed abx entirely, it would take 7 to 9 days for his behaviors to return in full force.

 

On about day 5, however, he had a definite uptick in general anxiety -- more trouble getting through homework, struggling with some contamination OCD, and a couple of meltdowns 2 days in a row, which had previously been a rarity. We were beginning to think we needed to step the dose back up, but held off for a couple more days.

 

In retrospect, it appears the return of his behaviors may have been more directly related to an uptick in season allergies, a tough school week, etc. than the downgrade in the abx as he "evened out" again in the next two days and was even improving in terms of contamination concerns.

 

More recently (3 days ago), we stepped down again: 875 mg. Augmentin in the morning, and 500 mg. Augmentin in the evening. Once again, it's hard to really determine all the causality, but he is doing terrific! (Knock on wood!) He's level, handling all the demands of school and homework without meltdowns, and undertaking his ERP with enthusiasm and determination; we are thrilled! But of course the demands in school of this week have appeared lower and the weather is finally decent and sun-shiny, so who's to know what one -- or 20 -- things are behind the overall improvement?

 

We just keep taking it one day at a time, I guess!

[Worried_Dad]

Awesome news, Mom! We're still on the 1000 mg of XR twice daily; scared to death to lower the dose, quite frankly, especially since I had the positive ASO titer come back yesterday. We were planning to try to follow Sammy Maloney's dosage schedule (full year of high-dose), but if it's possible to reduce abx more quickly without impact, that would sure be nice.

 

Keep us posted on how it goes, will you? We may try to emulate you!

 

 

About 2 weeks ago, we reduced our DS13's abx regimen from 1,000 mg. Augmentin XR, twice daily, to 1,000 mg. Augmentin XR in the morning, followed by 500 mg. Augmentin in the evening.

 

The first few days went fine, with no noticable issues; in the past, when we removed abx entirely, it would take 7 to 9 days for his behaviors to return in full force.

 

On about day 5, however, he had a definite uptick in general anxiety -- more trouble getting through homework, struggling with some contamination OCD, and a couple of meltdowns 2 days in a row, which had previously been a rarity. We were beginning to think we needed to step the dose back up, but held off for a couple more days.

 

In retrospect, it appears the return of his behaviors may have been more directly related to an uptick in season allergies, a tough school week, etc. than the downgrade in the abx as he "evened out" again in the next two days and was even improving in terms of contamination concerns.

 

More recently (3 days ago), we stepped down again: 875 mg. Augmentin in the morning, and 500 mg. Augmentin in the evening. Once again, it's hard to really determine all the causality, but he is doing terrific! (Knock on wood!) He's level, handling all the demands of school and homework without meltdowns, and undertaking his ERP with enthusiasm and determination; we are thrilled! But of course the demands in school of this week have appeared lower and the weather is finally decent and sun-shiny, so who's to know what one -- or 20 -- things are behind the overall improvement?

 

We just keep taking it one day at a time, I guess!