Why vitamins seem to have opposite reaction on my so

[blueice]

Hello, I have a 10 year old son that has received vitamin therapy --and every time he starts on the vitamins he has a terrible reaction--to all of them..the doctors( I take him to) for this does not have an answer for me...his behavior turns for the very worst...and they tell me to keep him on them ---that it is a die off reaction.. I do listen--but after 6 months I take him off--completely exhausted...please help--I know they have helped other kids alot...Thanks blueice

[Sally44]

What vitamins are you giving him and what level of doses?
What is your son like whilst taking the vitamins and what is he like when he isn't taking them.

[888mom]

Are they shots or pills?  Is he allergic to something in it?  I am allergic to ragweed and found that I can not have camomille tea (camomille is in the ragweed family) which I was using to try to help me get to sleep at night.  Instead of getting sleepy, I'd get really wierd and a sore throat.  Sometimes herbs or plant extracts are used in vitamins, so if he's allergic to something that might cause a reaction?  Also dosage levels could be a problem.  Maybe his body is not handling the dosage like another person his age and weight would.  

6 months?  If he's having that adverse a reaction for 6 months that doens't sound like a die-off reaction.  And die-off from what?  I have a vitamin deficiency with B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, and B12 and have been on vitamin pills since my body doesn't process vitamins as well as the normal person.  I halved my dosage after the first few days because I was having horrible stomach aches from the medication.  I was given instructions by my doctor and she said if the reaction was that bad, the dosage was wrong.  Does you son have a vitamin deficiency?  Was he tested to have a vitamin deficiency or is his doctor just putting him on mega doses of vitamins without checking first?  I'd get a new doctor if he can't explain to you well enough why your son needs the vitamins and why the adverse reaction is lasting so long and why the doctor stupidly thinks he should stay on them.  He's not a DAN doctor is he?

[MJIthewriter]

I second the comment about getting your son looked at to make sure he has a deficency with a certain vitamin before going into therapy like that.  Think about this: Too much of a vitamin in the system can be just as bad if not worse than not enough.  If the doctor treating your son is assuming he has a deficency just because he has autism, then it's time to see a different doctor.

I've gotten the impression from some of the sites that many of the therapies that DAN and TACA support seem to be more faith based than actually scientifically proven. Testimonials are good, but still no subsitute for good unbiased research. I also noticed from one site someone linked here about killing off certain bacteria. It sounded like their child went through major hell with a bacterial dieoff and some mysterious illness that occured. They downplayed that illness and the medical emergency it caused to be just chance. I don't think so. Be VERY careful!

For that reason, I'm very leary of trusting such things...  Make sure to find someone who's neutral on the subject matter to test your son for vitamin deficiency.  Anyone can claim your son needs this or that (especially if it brings in money), but a good doctor will tell you the truth and give advise from there.

[MJIthewriter]

Also, any time a site starts suggesting any treatment plan that sounds like a "miracle" cure or treatment, a big red flag pops up. I don't believe there's any miracle treatments. Some sites want you to believe autism can be cured or people can "recover"

I've read some of the claims, especially on the stankurtz site. It made me wonder when he started listing treatment from treating anything from ADHD to removing alcohol cravings for alcoholics, not to mention the disclaimer that he is a parent, not a doctor or even an MD. Stuff like that makes me go hmmm... no matter how good the claims on the site seem... Also disconcerting that I couldn't find any neutral scientific studies done on the treatments to see their real effectivness...

Even if such claims were true, would it be a good thing to persue for every autistic child?  I don't think so.

There's no subsitute for hard work and helping to install a sense of self confidence and improve your child's self will as well as working on behavior therapy. That will go a lot further than any of those bio treatments out there.

[Angela77]

Be wary of treatments not validated by the medical community as a whole.  Extreme vitamin treatments, restrictive diets (a study shows that boys with autism have thin bones and diets that restrict casein can be dangerous) hyperbaric chambers, chelation, etc. have the potential for harmful side effects to children in the spectrum.  There is plenty of scientific research that shows what treatments have shown improvements for children with autism.  Stick with the medical and educational communities.  In my opinion, DAN is making statements that cannot be validated by science.

You know your child.  After giving the treatment a chance, and seeing negative side effects, it may be time to consider an alternate treatment.  Best of luck to you.  Keep us posted.

[MJIthewriter]

I couldn't agree more.