ADHD Diagnosis: Kids Suffer With Multiple Conditions

13 Comments

1. BlogFront says:

   March 18, 2011 at 3:49 AM

   Hi Dr. Parker,

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   Spam blogs or “splogs” has been a problem for some time now and people are getting confused about which blog to trust.

   We would like to thank you for maintaining such a reputable blog. We know that it takes time, effort and commitment to keep such a blog and as such, we have added your blog as one of the top ADHD

   You can see your blog listed here: http://blogfront.org/adhd/2

   You can also claim your BlogFront Top Blogs badge at http://blogfront.org/badges/adhd

   Thank you for keeping your blog credible. Let’s keep the blog revolution alive!

   Maria Blanchard
   BlogFront.org
   Blog Revolucion

   • Dr Charles Parker says:

     March 18, 2011 at 5:59 AM

     Maria,
     Many thanks for the inclusion in BlogFront’s listing of top ADHD blogs – will put your link up here, and appreciate your kind remarks.
     cp

2. normldelayz says:

   March 8, 2011 at 1:21 AM

   Dr Parker,
   Your websites, and information you provide as an expert in the field is immeasurable! Since my ADHDer had so many of the stomaches, the repeated illnesses, and a combination of conditions, it was through a process of elimination and much testing to get to the point of what you described here…IGG testing. As the connections became clear over a marked amount of time, that the immune system was malfunctioning.; delving into the cause was a lengthy ordeal.
   The connections of medications that were no longer working, lost their efficacy, and overt behavior changes due to constant upping or downing medications were just screwing up the body systems which became evident immediately upon testing the neurotransmitter levels, which is not a usually mainstreamed protocol. Blood works showed irregularities that were a concern but not addressed right away.
   The dark circles under the eyes is a familial trait, and my child often got asked if they were high because of it. The bowel movement area is something that I often questioned since the size was tremendous and they said it never hurt. Needless to say the medications have been weaned off, and the behaviors have ceased, the adhd symptoms and sudden anxiety has nearly dissipated. The “whole”child is healing and the immune, body, cognitive, emotional and or behavior manifestations have been dramatically reduced.
   In questioning the connections of immune system functioning, adhd symptoms, medication pros and cons, the choice to detox from years of medication seems to have helped. The IGG levels were found to be low yet, there is hope for improving the body systems with a combination of diet, adequate sleep, and the natural progression of growth that is no longer thwarted by psychotropic band-aids that sometimes conceal an underlying condition. Do these medications cause destruction on the DNA/RNA levels, whereas the gut, digestion, hormone, neurotransmitters get somehow distorted?
   The body can heal itself, however, if the immune system is hindered by medications or for an undiagnosed or otherwise unnoticed condition, the adhd symptomatic with other delineating features are clouded and the ability to identify or diagnose a clear psychiatric clinically measured DSM is like catching a chicken that has left the coop…
   Blood level monitoring during medication treatments are the diagnostic and medical tools that could prevent immune dis-regulation, and thereby better assist in overall care of the mind, body and blood. Good to know that there are ways to determine the best course of treatment however, unfortunate that is not always the followed protocol or standard for some cases. Testing through diet restriction or elimination, aides in the food category of allergy or sensitivity, and the digestion response can thereby prove deficient. It is the bloodwork comparisons done at regular intervals that can bring the chicken back to roost.

   • Dr Charles Parker says:

     March 13, 2011 at 6:42 PM

     normaldelayz,
     Always love to hear people talk about chickens… and you are right in some respects, but I carefully and respectfully differ in others. My main point of difference with you is the conclusion that the meds caused the immune reaction – and yes, they may have – but far more likely is the likelihood that the serious underlying immune condition significantly alter the med functions. Having written carefully for thousands of Rx’s my entire professional life and seen them work so well when properly administered – and then having, at this late date, figured out the important relevance of food immunity – I think it’s the other way around, and it is often the way that I am telling you in my office every day.

     I hope your girl is getting an excellent gut healing regime, that the specific IgG guys are identified and out of the picture, and that she continues to grow in those natural ways you suggested. My quick take is that those folks need some neurotransmitter replacements as well to turn them around more quickly.
     cp

3. Sarah Cresap says:

   March 6, 2011 at 8:04 PM

   Dr. Parker, your website is helping us tremendously in our current medication adventure. My son is nearly 10 and has had an ADHD diagnosis since age 5 and has been through all the stimulant meds. He’s been on Vyvanse for the past 18 months, but we took him off his 30 mg in January because of a DOE of only 3 hours and extreme ODD at school and at home he was emotionally fragile, hysterical, paranoid and talking about suicide (only once during a tantrum). We went to a very slow titration of Intuniv and after a month arrived at 2 mg, after backing down from 3mg. Emotionally he was calm, reasonable and happy, but the focus wasn’t really helped and he wasn’t getting work done (one day on federal testing he did 2 problems in 90 minutes).

   So we added back Vyvanse at only 20mg on February 15 and that seemed to be a good fit. I didn’t know then about paying attention to the DOE, but looking back there was one night when he was doing long-division at 9:30 p.m., so the DOE was probably too long, at least at first. Three weeks later, he’s now lost 6 pounds, weighing only 46 pounds this morning. During the break from Vyvanse he’d actually broken the 50 pound barrier and was looking great! Also for the past four afternoons about 4 p.m. he’s begun verbally and physically attacking me–the grumpy monster is back. I assume that this is cause by the drop off of the Vyvanse in the afternoon. I worry because of the two times he’s mentioned suicide that it’s a lot worse in his head than it is for us on the outside dealing with the irritability. Our current plan is to do the water titration of Vyvanse and try him on 5 mls and then 10mls.

   I heard your Cinch podcast on Feb. 26 about the boy with the dark circles under his eyes, whom you guess has an immune problem. The physical description you gave fit my son exactly! I would like to get him tested for neurotransmitters, immune system and endocrine system, but I doubt that they have that available here in Salt Lake City, Utah, but I will look around. Do you think we’re on the right track? I’m interested to here about the outcome for that young boy.

   • Dr Charles Parker says:

     March 7, 2011 at 5:26 AM

     Sarah,
     Everything you were documenting in your comment led me to think immune system dysregulation, and then, in conclusion, I saw that you did indeed already ‘get it.’ This immune system thing is going to change psychiatry in the next few years, without doubt.

     The problem for your guy is highly likely this: Allergy to one or more food substances [must be ruled out first], leads to high histamine, high dopamine, and often high glutamate leading to a nice kid having a serious irritation problem [ODD]. Stimulants add to the dopamine, Intuniv ultimately increases the glutamate, and the guy then, with the best meds, appears untreatable. Glutamate and dopamine are stimulating, and more only drives them out the roof.

     We can easily consult on this problem with your guy through a long distance evaluation, just can’t treat across state lines with meds. If you email Sarah on the Services page here I would look forward to getting the details tacked down. I confess that I am having a ball with these “hopeless cases” as we unearth the underlying pathophysiology. Also take a look at the Testing Options page for far more info.

     – and will keep you posted on the child with dark circles… I see them everyday!
     cp

     • Cresaps says:

       April 10, 2011 at 2:47 PM

       Dr. Parker,
       It’s been a month and I just wanted to report back in that my son is doing well. The water titration down to 10 ml of Vyvanse was just the ticket! He’s now gained back the weight and was 50 lbs. last night. His teachers indicate he’s just as focused as on the 20 mg of Vyvanse, but report he’s smiling a lot more and they’re getting to know his fun personality. The DOE is just where it should be now at about 9 hours.

       Also because of your suggestion that he had an immune/allergy problem we went down a road that was very helpful. He’d already been diagnosed with allergy-induced asthma, by his pediatrician, but had never had allergy testing to find out what his triggers were. We took him to an allergist and they did the skin test on his back and –wow!–he reacted to all 40! The allergist told us that the Singulair he was taking is not super for either allergies or asthma and took us off of that and put us on OTC Zertec. Wow, what a difference! No wonder it was hard doing homework when his eyes were red and itchy, his skin itched and his whole head felt like it was in a cloud. The doctor also reduced his Flovent to 110mg it was incorrectly at 220mg. I’m able to do homework with him now and his teachers say he’s doing much better since the addition of Zertec. As far as food allergies, I don’t think that was his problem as he’s never had any stomach upset or reacted to any particular food, but I will keep that in mind and watch for it.

       We seem to be at a pretty good place. Now we’re just working on the behavior modification piece as he developed a lot of avoiding behaviors when he wasn’t feeling good. But now that he’s got the focus and feels good, it’s time to develop some work habits.

       Thanks again for all your great information! I’ve referred my doctors and counselors to your site as we’ll as my sisters who also have kids with ADD.

       Sarah Cresap

       • drcharlesparker says:

         April 20, 2011 at 8:06 PM

         Many thanks Sarah,
         Just keep watching for the possibility that the IgE reactions settle, but the possibility that IgG reactions continue down the road, leaving the allergic challenges unresolved. Too many Igs to watch!
         cp

4. db says:

   February 19, 2011 at 4:40 PM

   thanks — though I do understand your comment about adderall imprecision. It’s very precise and quite predictable in my response to it. It lasts pretty much exactly 5 hours. I choose to wait for the rebound to really take full effect before taking my second dose – also easier with work schedule.

   I did talk to him, I did take 1 mg, and I did have a terrible reaction. (almost the opposite though of what happened when I took the SSRI. This time I was very confused, easily agitated, very depressed/suicidal thoughts, and tired).

   I know you would recommend neurotransmitter testing specifically, but my budget is tight and insurance doesn’t take it. We’ll wait for the other lab work to come back, but other than that everything is normal and healthy (transit etc…)
   Do you have any other med suggestions that work well for adhd and ocd/anxiety/depression with adderall? (other than not prozac and paxil) I don’t want to change what is working! But given my reaction to both the ssri before and now abilify, not sure what’s left to try.

   • Dr Charles Parker says:

     February 20, 2011 at 5:13 AM

     db,
     If you are shooting in the dark then do rest reassured, as I have been trying different combos for years with some success. The next steps really have to do with low dosage, guesses and med trials. Buspar has had some positive results when SSRIs fail, starting at 7.5 mg BID then going up to 15, even 30 BID. Good job on dialing in the Adderall correctly on the DOE.

     Most of the time the anxiety is downstream from GI issues, from immune system dysregulation, that can be witnessed thru the neurotransmitter testing. Once you see the Histamine, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine collectively elevated you can be certain you are allergic to some food tested with IgG qualitative, not quantitative. if money is an issue try an elimination diet, but that often proves inadequate to see the actual specific underlying challenges. So often the problems are more than just gluten or casein.
     cp

5. db says:

   February 18, 2011 at 6:57 PM

   Thanks for all your insight and work into de-mystifying adhd! I’m an adult with adhd with obsessive thinking, anxiety and some depression (more physical symptoms than mood). I take adderall ir 2x a day roughly 6 hours apart (it lasts 5, but I try to stretch it out as much as possible because even doing that it still doesn’t cover enough of a normal work day).

   The benefits of the adderall are several!
   *no longer a confused, “busy” mind *not as much of a battle to do what I need to do *far less emotionally reactive
   *can prioritize much better w/o being overwhelmed *easier to make decisions
   *can articulate things better
   *less frustrated/angry/intense/impatient

   My psychiatrist recently ordered lab work so we’ll what turns up with that. He also prescribed me 2mg Abilify to take each morning and gave me a sample. I haven’t done it yet because I’m really scared and tentative (not because it’s abilify, but because of what happened last time we added a med). When the adderall wears off and I think about it, I’m not really scared and tentative — rather my words were “absolutely terrified.” Along with all the other symptoms that return like clockwork.

   Why am I scared or terrified?
   About 2 1/2 months ago I was on a higher overall dose of adderall (taking it 3x with 3rd dose being slightly less) but I was obsessing constantly over it and everything else related. He added an SSRI (at 5 mg) and I had a horrible reaction. Complete insomnia, terrible headaches and awful anxiety the next day. It was not one of the ones you’ve listed as a problem with AMP. The next day I took 1/4 of what I had and still had some of the same problems. I quit taking it and then we decided to go down on the adderall before changing anything else. That’s when we settled on the current dose — still struggle w/ being rested with sleep, anxiety, and obsessiveness but it’s MUCH more manageable. I’ve also been in therapy this whole time and doing pretty well with it.

   So I’m very very tentative. I put in a call to him and I know he’ll call me back as soon as he can, but I was thinking maybe I could cut the abilify and only take 1 mg at first?
   I just need some reassurance…

   Thanks. db

   • Dr Charles Parker says:

     February 19, 2011 at 4:10 PM

     db,
     Inappropriate for me to make med recommendations over your doc… need to talk to him. I do question the apparent imprecision in dialing Adderall in from the outset. Not discussing what to expect will lead to fearful consequences.

     Generally speaking I try hard to get it right without Abilify, but love Abilify if I have to turn to it.
     cp

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   February 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM

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