Ok, what do you all think???

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Ok, what do you all think???
5
Mon, 07-11-2005 - 2:01pm

The supplements, just aren't working. Should I just stop giving them to him?? I've tried lowering the dose. I've been giving him 1 pill twice a day, instead of 2 pills twice a day. I started doing this around the 4th. Maybe he needs more than 2 pill twice a day??? Should I up his dose???

What do you all think?? Suzi...have you started Cassian on the supplements yet?? I'm just thinking I should just stop. I just started reading about b6 and magnesium...anyone try this???

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-11-2005 - 11:35pm

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRr I posted a long reply and added a very helpful link and my reply was eaten by the anti-link monster.

Anyway I had a couple thoughts I will try to rewrite.
1) you may want to try either discontinueing the supp or increasing it again to see if there is a difference. Write down data if you can to be objective. It is possible his body has adjusted to it and after reducing the supp increasing it again may work short term at least. Or it maybe that he is just going through a rough period and it takes a while to take effect.

2) I really really highly recomend you either add or replace the supplement with omega 3's. Seriously, it is the one I have seen a definite difference with and it is the one that has been consistently recomended by every professional (from herbalists, homeopaths to psychologist to ped) It also has studies done. If it is a problem giving it nordic naturals even has chewables for kids.

3) on B6 and Mag, be careful if giving high b6 doses. It has a toxicity level that is well below the ARI recomended amounts and can have neurologic side effects. Though Bernie (Rimland) has some study evidence there really isn't double blind scientific studies that I know of. I am not saying it won't help. It might. I didn't notice a difference with my kids (though I didn't go near the B6 recomended amounts. I am funny about toxicity and such). My nephew and some other kids I know have taken the vitamin supps. I have only known 1 kid whose parents truly felt the vitamins made a real difference. he was a severely autistic child with lots of aggression.

I have a great link on this stuff (alphabetically lists all supps, uses and side effects) if you want it I will try to get it to you but as you know, the link monster already ate one post.

Renee

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 07-12-2005 - 6:18am

What are you giving him and at what dose? A lot of supplements take up to 3 months to see results.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-24-2004
Tue, 07-12-2005 - 9:16am

I would take careful notes and keep him on one dose at regular intervals for at least a few mos. It really does take a long time to see results from most suppliments because the theory behind these is usually to "facilitate growth of new brain connections." I stroke patients, it takes an average of 3 mos to see this new growth. When you keep increasing and decreasing the dose, it is hard to see this kind of impact.

I tried 1 pill with Cassian y'day. It was a pretty calm day for him. I didn't notice much difference. We are also dosing with new SSRI meds (switching him over to Zoloft). Personally, I have seen much more dramatic results from psychotropic meds, than I have ever seen with any vitamin suppliments. I give vitamins because there is some research to suggest that they may help in the long run. There just isn't much research on many of these suppliments, though, especially not with ASD kids, whose brains are different from NT's and different from one ASD child to another. We tried one set of suppliments last year for 3 mos and I took careful notes. There were not significant effects, so I discontinued them. That's just what you have to do with these things. Some kids may have dramatic effects. Others may look like they are having positive effects, but this is really a placebo effect or just a good day for that particular child. That's why you have to keep watching and taking good notes. I can't tell you how many actual research studies I have done that yielded null effects (no significant results). Months of data collection, and nothing happened to the experimental group. Arrrrrrrrrrgh! Very frustrating, every time it happens.

Suzi

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Tue, 07-12-2005 - 11:52pm

Thanks for all your responses. And Samantha, I'm giving him Pedi-active by Nature's plus. It contains LECI-PS and DMAE. I started giving him 2 chewable pills twice a day. They worked great for just a few days and then they seemed to lose their effectiveness. The bottle suggests this dosage 3-4 times a day though.

I'm slowly weaning him off. I think I'll try again after a bit, and see what it does.

Renee, I read about b6 and was a bit concerned myself. I was considering the omega 3's, just haven't decided yet. I think I was waiting to see how this worked out. It was sooo great in the beginning....kinda disappointing!!

We have sooo much going on right now. We'll be moving next weekend (7/23), so I've been starting to do all of the last minute stuff. Lots of cleaning!!! I'll have to start back up once we're in the new house.

Thanks again!!

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 07-13-2005 - 1:11pm

You may already have this info but if not: Dosage Information
Special tips:
--Start slowly. DMAE can over-stimulate the nervous system and cause headaches, tense muscles, or insomnia, although these side effects are uncommon. Drowsiness has also been reported. Begin with a low dose and see how you respond before gradually increasing the amount you take. If side effects develop, stop taking the supplement for a day or two and begin at a lower dose.
--Effects are not immediate but should begin to be felt within several weeks.
--DMAE by itself is relatively inexpensive. It is, however, sometimes sold in costly "brain-boosting formulas" that contain other supplements such as phosphatidylserine (PS) or acetyl-L-carnitine; these additions may or may not be right for you but they will definitely increase the cost of the product.
--Tablets or capsules in doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, or 130 mg should not be hard to find. Pills containing 350 mg or more of DMAE bitartrate, which typically contain about 130 mg of "active" DMAE, are also available.

For ADHD: 100 to 300 mg, taken orally twice a day.

For memory problems or Alzheimer's: 100 to 300 mg, taken orally twice a day.

Guidelines for Use

DMAE supplements won't work for everybody and are not intended as a cure. But they are safe and may be helpful.

Take DMAE with meals for best absorption.

To help jump-start your day, open the capsules and pour the contents into a smoothie or fruit juice as part of your morning routine.

Maximum safe dosages for children or for pregnant or nursing mothers have not been established.

I tried a product with DMAE in it for Kyle called Concentrate! focus formula. He said it made him worse so we stopped using it befor the reccomened 3 months.

I hope you find something that works well for your kiddo. Good luck with the move.

Samantha

Samantha