Melbel
08-03-2012, 10:05 AM
As I research daily regarding Lyme Disease, I often come across information relating to autism (both share inflammation as a common symptom).
There are two medications/supplements that are highly touted to reduce inflammation and improve immune modulation which in turn helps reduce symptoms in both Lyme and autism. I encourage you to explore these treatments further through research and discussions with your child's medical care providers. Not every supplement or medicine works for all children, but I thought enough people were helped that it was worth sharing.
The first is Low Dose Naltraxone (LDN) - Research has shown that many autistic individuals have high levels of beta-endorphins in their central nervous system. Low dose naltrexone blocks the action of opiate receptors, thus reducing their level of endorphins. Improvements noted in autistic individuals who have taken low dose naltrexone include: increased socialization, eye contact, and general happiness; normalized pain sensitivity; and a reduction in self-injury and stereotypic (self-stimulatory) behaviors. My DS showed significant improvements after 1 to 2 weeks of LDN (primarily fatigue, socialization, reduced sensory sensitivity). He currently takes 4.5 mg of LDN compounded into a transdermal cream that he takes at 9 PM.
Another highly touted supplement is Protandim. There is currently a study for autistic children. There are links in the attached site.
Protandim Research Project
The "Protandim Research Project" is a series of case studies put together by parents with Autistic children. An archive of case studies will be archived on this site and available for public downloads. Additional information will also be made available through this site.
http://autismsos.publishpath.com/protandim-research-project ETA: This link appears to be dead now. The supplement may still bear consideration. We have not used Protandim yet, but are supplementing with turmeric, one of the ingredients.
As previously posted, a large percentage (up to 90% according to some experts) of autistic children actually have underlying chronic infections, including but not limited to Lyme Disease and/or Myoplasma, that when treated result in a decrease in autistic presentations. As we experienced first hand, many doctors are content with treating symptoms and simply assigning labels, without attempting to determine the route cause.
Lyme Induced Autism Page: http://www.lymeinducedautism.com/lymeautismconnection.html
The association between tick-borne infections, Lyme borreliosis and autism spectrum disordershttp://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877(07)00578-6/abstract
Preventable cases of autism: relationship between chronic infectious diseases and neurological outcome http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/phe.09.5?journalCode=phe
Patients diagnosed with Lyme disease share many of the same physical manifestations as those diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Long term antibiotic therapy may be an effective treatment for children co-morbid with Lyme disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22361005
There are two medications/supplements that are highly touted to reduce inflammation and improve immune modulation which in turn helps reduce symptoms in both Lyme and autism. I encourage you to explore these treatments further through research and discussions with your child's medical care providers. Not every supplement or medicine works for all children, but I thought enough people were helped that it was worth sharing.
The first is Low Dose Naltraxone (LDN) - Research has shown that many autistic individuals have high levels of beta-endorphins in their central nervous system. Low dose naltrexone blocks the action of opiate receptors, thus reducing their level of endorphins. Improvements noted in autistic individuals who have taken low dose naltrexone include: increased socialization, eye contact, and general happiness; normalized pain sensitivity; and a reduction in self-injury and stereotypic (self-stimulatory) behaviors. My DS showed significant improvements after 1 to 2 weeks of LDN (primarily fatigue, socialization, reduced sensory sensitivity). He currently takes 4.5 mg of LDN compounded into a transdermal cream that he takes at 9 PM.
Another highly touted supplement is Protandim. There is currently a study for autistic children. There are links in the attached site.
Protandim Research Project
The "Protandim Research Project" is a series of case studies put together by parents with Autistic children. An archive of case studies will be archived on this site and available for public downloads. Additional information will also be made available through this site.
http://autismsos.publishpath.com/protandim-research-project ETA: This link appears to be dead now. The supplement may still bear consideration. We have not used Protandim yet, but are supplementing with turmeric, one of the ingredients.
As previously posted, a large percentage (up to 90% according to some experts) of autistic children actually have underlying chronic infections, including but not limited to Lyme Disease and/or Myoplasma, that when treated result in a decrease in autistic presentations. As we experienced first hand, many doctors are content with treating symptoms and simply assigning labels, without attempting to determine the route cause.
Lyme Induced Autism Page: http://www.lymeinducedautism.com/lymeautismconnection.html
The association between tick-borne infections, Lyme borreliosis and autism spectrum disordershttp://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877(07)00578-6/abstract
Preventable cases of autism: relationship between chronic infectious diseases and neurological outcome http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/phe.09.5?journalCode=phe
Patients diagnosed with Lyme disease share many of the same physical manifestations as those diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Long term antibiotic therapy may be an effective treatment for children co-morbid with Lyme disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22361005