Archive for July, 2009

ADHD Stimulant Meds Cut Young Girls’ Drug Abuse Risk

July 29, 2009 at 2:38 pm · Filed under Addiction, Attention Deficit Disorder, Psychostimulant Medication ·Tagged , , , , ,

This study agrees with testing and clinical experience at Florida Detox and Wellness Institute, which indicates, psychostimulant medication actually decreases substance abuse and cigarette smoking, in patients with Attention Deficit Disorders.

Steven Sponaugle

 

ADHD Stimulant Meds Cut Young Girls’ Drug Abuse Risk

 

MONDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) — Stimulant treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) significantly cuts the odds that adolescent girls will smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs, a new Massachusetts General Hospital study shows.

The finding parallels previous studies in boys, the team note.

People with ADHD are at significantly increased risk for cigarette smoking and substance abuse. In the past, there were concerns that treatment of ADHD with stimulant drugs such as Ritalin might increase the risk of drug or alcohol abuse.

But in several studies of boys and young men with ADHD, researchers have found that stimulant treatment actually decreases the risk and delays the onset of substance abuse in adolescence. It does not affect the risk of using tobacco, alcohol, or drugs in adulthood, however.

The same researchers set out to see how stimulant treatment for ADHD affects the risk of substance abuse in adolescent girls.

“Girls with ADHD actually tend to get into trouble with substance abuse earlier than do boys with the disorder, so confirming those results was not simply academic,” lead researcher Timothy Wilens, director of the Substance Abuse Program in Massachusetts General’s Pediatric Psychopharmacology Department, said in a hospital news release.

For their study, the researchers examined data from 114 girls with ADHD who had enrolled in a study investigating the impact of ADHD on the risk of substance abuse. The girls were between the ages of six and 18 when the study began. They were assessed for tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use five years after they enrolled in the study. The researchers compared the 94 participants who received stimulant treatment with the 20 who had not been treated.

The girls who had been treated with stimulants had half the risk of smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug abuse as those who had not received treatment. In the participants who did develop substance abuse, stimulant treatment did not affect when they began using substances or the level of dependence.

“We can confidently say that stimulant treatment does not increase the risk of future substance abuse or smoking in girls with ADHD and at least delays the onset of cigarette smoking and substance abuse,” said Wilens.

But more research is needed to determine the long-term impact of the stimulants on substance abuse.

“Right now, we can’t say if the observed protective effect of stimulant treatment will continue into adulthood or disappear as it did in our studies in young men,” he said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more about ADHD.

–Krisha McCoy

SOURCE: Massachusetts General Hospital, news release, Oct. 6, 2008

Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Intravenous Vitamin C Megadose Can Effectively Treat Lymes Disease

July 21, 2009 at 3:52 am · Filed under Lymes Disease, arthritis, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, hypercoagulation, neurotoxin ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Thomas Levy, MD, JD, author of Curing the Incurable, effectively treated a female patient suffering severe Lymes disease, using intravenous Vitamin C:

One case in particular stands out. A woman suffering with severe and debilitating Lyme disease had been seen by many doctors and had not responded to several courses of antibiotics. Her health was rapidly failing and her husband called Dr. Levy.

The woman was immediately infused with 100 grams of Vitamin C and within just two hours of treatment here husband reported that she looked 50 to 60 percent better. Over the next two days she received five more 50 gram infusions of Vitamin C, and by hour 72 she was completely well. That was nearly two years ago. She has since suffered no relapses, nor is there any indication of a chronic infection.

After reading about Dr. Levy successfully treating Lymes disease with intravenous Vitamin C, Florida Detox and Wellness Institute successfully treated a male Lymes patient with Intravenous Vitamin C.  In contrast to the severe Herxheimer dieoff and intensification reactions, which usually occur when antibiotics or herbal treatments kill Lymes spirochetes, the male Lymes patient experienced some brief nausea, during treatment.

University physicians treated the CDC positive Lymes patient with intravenous antibiotics, for over 6 months, prior to his intravenous Vitamin C and glutathione detox, at Florida Detox and Wellness Institute.  He could barely swallow or walk upon admission and was suffering from a severe systemic fungal overgrowth.  His urine histamine was twice as high as any other patient measured by Florida Detox and Wellness Institute.  His friend, a former Florida Detox patient, reported that he had considered “ending it all,” prior to intravenous Vitamin C therapy.

Interestingly, his Natural Killer Cell Count increased from 38 to 464, after intravenous Vitamin C treatment.  This Lymes patient also had elevated fibrinogen, and is being treated with Nattokinase for hypercoagulation.  His deficient DHEA and testosterone hormones are also  being treated and followup testing will be done to determine extent of remaining infections.

On 9/30/09, he reported, ” I am dramatically improved from when I first visited Florida in June.  I still feel I have a ways to go but I think the majority of my issues may reside in the anxiety and depression arena.  I would love to knock out that last positive under band 23 while I continue to work on my brain chemistry and associated anxiety issues.”

Steve also tested positive for an Immunoglobin E allergy to cow’s milk, which he eliminated from his diet.

12/11/09  Steve reported he is working about 6 hours daily, but the tachycardia which developed with his Lymes infection continues and he is scheduled for an echocardiogram on 12/15/09.  His heart rate is often over 100 beats per minute.

To be continued-

Steven Sponaugle

Research Director

Florida Detox and Wellness Institute

www.floridadetox.com

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Pulse Oximeter with Audible Alarm and Naloxone Could Have Prevented Michael Jackson Overdose Death

July 9, 2009 at 5:03 pm · Filed under Oxycontin ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Michael Jackson reportedly received regular doses of the powerful time release Oxycontin opiate painkiller medication and was injected with the opioid medication, Demorol, to help him sleep. Tragically, many opiate  overdose deaths occur during sleep, when over-sedated  opiate medicated patients stop breathing.  Pulse oximeters, with audible alarms, can alert family members to obtain emergency medical assistance for opiate medicated  patients, while opiate overdose is still reversible with prescription Naloxone medication.

Michael Jackson appears to have suffered from vitiligo and an Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.  Although Michael Jackson was very fashion conscious, he had been photographed wearing an unsightly particle mask in public.   Michael could have been suffering considerable pain, although he reportedly passed a thorough four hour physical examination, shortly before his death.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protein produced by the liver that acts to protect various organs including the lungs. When a person inherits A1AD, their body produces proteins that are deformed which can also lead to liver disease. An estimated 1 in every 1,600 people to 1 in every 5,000 people have A1AD. http://www.eyeondna.com/2009/06/29/michael-jackson-may-have-had-genetic-lung-disease-alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency/

Many patients medicated with Oxycontin, Methadone and other powerful opiate medications, die during sleep, when their breathing stops. Tragically, many of these deaths occur, while family or friends are present, in the same building or room. If sleeping opiate medicated patients wear pulse oximeters, an audible alarm can alert a friend or family member when a medicated patient’s breathing becomes inadequate. If emergency medical services are called promptly, methadone overdose can be reversed with an injection of the opiate antagonist Naloxone.

Oxycontin, Methadone, Fentanyl and other opiate medication overdoses kill thousands of patients, during sleep each year. http://www.oxyabusekills.com/victims.html http://www.harmd.org/page10.html

Pulse oximeters with audible alarms could alert friends or family, in the same building, when an opiate patient experiences life-threatening sleep apnea. Pulse oximeters attach to a fingertip, with a wire extending to the oximeter meter, which measures percent oxygen saturation, in the bloodstream. Pulse oximeters do not cause pain and seldom interfere with sleep. No special certification or licensing is required to use a pulse oximeter. Rick Sponaugle, MD, Medical Director of Florida Detox, explains opiate medicated patients could be prescribed a pulse oximeter and medical oxygen apparatus, using a sleep apnea diagnosis, without revealing a substance abuse dependency, to an insurer.

If the pulse oximeter alarmed, while an opiate patient, experienced a reduced blood oxygen level, a friend or family member could call emergency medical services.  While waiting for the arrival of emergency medical services, a friend or family member could begin treatment with medical oxygen, at a low flow, in states allowing non-licensed family members to administer oxygen. Licensing or certification required to administer oxygen varies from state to state.

Hospital Emergency Department and Ambulance personnel have successfully reversed thousands of opiate overdoses with prescription Naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which displaces opioid drugs, including methadone, heroin, morphine and Vicodin off opiate receptors in the brain, and reverses respiratory depression and coma. Naloxone is not addictive. Naloxone can cause unpleasant opiate withdrawal in opiate dependent patients, but opiate withdrawal is seldom deadly. Naloxone is inexpensive, with the generic version costing as little as 25-cents per dose.

“Unfortunately, the negative stigma, associated with narcotic medications, prevents many opiate patients from asking friends or family for help. Opiate patients must remember opiate withdrawal is treatable while opiate death is not, when considering whether to ask friends or family for help. ” explains Dr. Sponaugle, who is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and Anesthesiology.

Sadly, the same public which has been quick to judge Michael Jackson as an addict, appears mostly unaware of his medical issues and has essentially forgotten his considerable contributions to charities.  Since media focus has primarily been on Michael Jackson’s eccentricities, addiction, and alleged child molestation, I feel it is appropriate to review some of the charitable contributions Michael made.

Michael Jackson

Charity biography

Michael Jackson wrote “We Are The World” with Lionel Richie in 1985 and performed it as part of an all-star single to raise money for Africa in 1985.

The Millennium-Issue of the “Guinness Book Of Records” names Michael as the “Pop Star who supports the most charity organizations”, according to JacksonAction.com, which has an extensive timeline of Jackson’s charity work.

In 1984, Jackson equiped a 19-bed-unit at Mount Senai New York Medical Center. This center is part of the T.J. Martell-Foundation for leukemia and cancer research. Later in the year, he visited the Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he had been treated when he was burned very badly during the producing of a Pepsi commercial. He donated all the money he received from Pepsi, $1.5 million, to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children.

In 1986, he set up the “Michael Jackson United Negro College Fund Endowed Scholarship Fund”. This $1.5 million fund is aimed towards students majoring in performance art and communications, with money given each year to students attending a UNCF member college or university.

He donated the proceeds from the sales of The Man In The Mirror to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who suffer from cancer.

Jackson donated tickets to shows in is 1989 Bad Tour to underprivileged children. The proceeds from one of his shows in Los Angeles were donated to Childhelp USA, the biggest charity-organization against child-abuse. Childhelp of Southern California then established the “Michael Jackson International Institute for Research On Child Abuse”.

In 1992, he established the Heal The World Foundation, whose work has included airlifting 6 tons of supplies to Sarajevo, instituting drug and alcohol abuse education and donating millions of dollars to less fortunate children.  http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/113-michael-jackson

Steven Sponaugle
Research Director, Florida Detox and Wellness Institute

www.floridadetox.com

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FDA advisers vote to take Vicodin, Percocet off market

July 9, 2009 at 4:11 pm · Filed under Vicodin ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

FDA panel calls for Percocet, Vicodin ban

The group recommended limits on daily doses of acetaminophen.

http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/9/1/fda-panel-calls-percocet-vicodin-ban/

By Wes Duplantier

Published Sept. 1, 2009

A government advisory panel recommended this summer that the Food and Drug Administration ban two widely prescribed medications and increase regulation of over-the-counter products to limit amounts of a certain painkiller associated with liver damage.

The FDA’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee said in a July report the agency should ban two prescription painkillers, Percocet and Vicodin, due to their high levels of acetaminophen and the ease with which patients can become addicted to them.

Bernard Abrams, president of the Missouri Pain Intiative, an advocacy group for people who suffer chronic pain, said his group does not think acetaminophen-opiate combination drugs should be banned, but rather available with a maximum of 325 mg of acetaminophen per pill.

“The consensus is that drugs like Percocet and Vicodin should be available combined with lower doses of acetaminophen,” Abrams said. “We certainly don’t think they should be eliminated.”

The FDA panel also voted 36-1 that if the drugs are not banned from the market, they should be given a black box warning, the FDA’s most severe warning label.  EMPHASIS ADDED

American State Pain Initiatives Director June Dahl said her group, a national coalition of state pain advocacy groups, favors this approach rather than banning the drugs outright.

“A far better solution would be to increase warning labels or increase education about the risk of liver toxicity through public service announcements,” she said.

Jeffrey Phillips, MU director of applied research and associate professor of medicine, said many patients do not know these painkillers contain acetaminophen and are often told to supplement those painkillers with Tylenol, increasing the possibility of liver toxicity.

“This might be throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but people tend not to know that there’s acetaminophen in there,” Phillips said. “No one tells them.”

The panel voted 20-17 to ban medications with acetaminophen and opiates. An earlier FDA report had shown liver damage and even death was linked to heavy consumption of acetaminophen, which is easier on the stomach than aspirin and ibuprofen.

“Generally, we’ve been taught that this is pretty safe stuff,” Phillips said. “But some patients use it chronically and it’s not uncommon for them to develop liver toxicity.”

The panel also said a single dose should only contain 650 mg of acetaminophen; some medications contain as much as 1,000 mg per dose. The panel said drugs with concentrations that high should only be available by prescription.

The FDA is not required to adopt the panel’s recommendations, but usually does so. The Office for New Drugs at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research will consider the suggestions.

DeAnna DuBose, spokeswoman for Abbott Laboratories, which makes Vicodin, said the combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone has been available for more than 30 years and said some patients rely on it as part of their recovery.

“It is important to balance the need for patient safety and treatment options,” DuBose said.

DuBose said there have been precedents of the refusing advice the panel gives and said the company would react to the final decision when one is reached.

“At this point it is too early to speculate on next steps until receiving the Agency’s guidance,” she said.

Doctors say an FDA ban on Vicodin and Percocet would limit their treatment options

By ANDREW ABRAMSON

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Dr. Scott A. Berger hands out Vicodin nearly every day for pain relief from herniated discs and minor surgical procedures.

Yet, if a powerful Food and Drug Administration panel has its way, the most commonly prescribed drug in the United States soon will be off the market.

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Last month, the FDA’s federal advisory panel voted 20-17 to ban Vicodin and Percocet, drugs that combine hydrocodone and oxycodone with acetaminophen. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause liver damage or even death.

The FDA has yet to announce whether it will follow its panel’s recommendations.

About 124 million prescriptions for Vicodin and its generic equivalents were written in the United States last year.

Under the proposed regulations, Tylenol also will be affected.

The amount of acetaminophen in Extra Strength Tylenol, now 500 milligrams per pill, would be reduced to 325 milligrams, and the maximum daily dose would drop.

Earlier this year, the FDA panel also called for a ban of medicines containing a less-potent pain reliever called propoxyphene, including Darvon.

But Tuesday, the FDA announced it would place only a warning label on propoxyphene, leaving Berger and other area doctors hopeful that the FDA will go against its advisory board and keep Vicodin and Percocet on the market.

“By banning those drugs they will be hurting a lot of people that are using those drugs properly and getting good benefit from them,” said Berger, an anesthesiologist at Pain Management Consultants in Boca Raton.

Acetaminophen is metabolized by the liver, and in large doses can be toxic. The potential for liver damage rises when acetaminophen is combined with alcohol.

Overdoses are estimated to cause about 450 deaths per year, and it is considered toxic when an adult takes about 7,000 milligrams per day, the equivalent of 14 Extra Strength Tylenol tablets.

Patients who take Vicodin and Percocet may develop a tolerance and continue to increase their daily dose.

“These drugs have what is a ceiling effect, above which they really do not give more pain relief, but rather side effects,” Berger said. “You may prescribe Percocet for five to six days after an operation, but then you no longer need the medication. They can be useful in the chronic setting provided they are limited in quantity and used in an as-needed setting.”

But doctors are preparing for the possibility that they won’t be able to prescribe Vicodin or Percocet, which would limit their options.

They could provide a weaker painkiller like Darvon, or an anti-inflammatory. But those aren’t considered nearly as effective to treat pain.

“They maybe work at about 60 to 65 percent of Percocet and Vicodin,” Dr. Mohammed T. Javet, who practices internal medicine in Lake Worth, said of propoxyphene-based drugs.

Another option is oxycodone or hydrocodone, medicines similar to morphine that are already present in Vicodin and Percocet.

But the medicines are stronger and more habit-forming alone than they are when mixed with acetaminophen.

“Those drugs have a tremendous potential for abuse,” Berger said. “People are snorting it and doing all sorts of things to get it.”

Instead, doctors hope pharmaceutical companies will develop new pain-relief drugs.

“There are different ways of blocking pain post-operation that weren’t available 25 to 30 years ago,” Berger said. “There are different kinds of nerve blocks, different kinds of pumps that can be used, different kinds of patches that can be administered.

“There will be a progression of other drugs, other delivery systems that ensure people still do get pain relief; they just may not get them with these time-tested drugs that are being banned.”

Dr. Graham Whitfield, an orthopedic surgeon in West Palm Beach, doesn’t understand the logic behind banning a drug which, when taken as prescribed, won’t harm a patient.

“The medical association is not in favor of this,” Whitfield said. “You have legitimate patients who need pain medication and that are following doctors’ orders. Doctors are aware of acetaminophen, and they caution the patients.

“For those people that are abusing, it doesn’t matter whether you eliminate the Tylenol because you won’t eliminate the abuse of the medication. Remove the Tylenol from Vicodin and you have hydrocodone, a much more potent pain medication.”

Berger hopes the FDA will keep Vicodin and Percocet on the market. However, he sees the debate as a call for scientists to develop a better drug.

“Tylenol has been around for 50 years,” Berger said. “Maybe it’s time to find a more specific drug.”

  • Story Highlights
  • NEW: Panel votes to kill prescription drugs that combine acetaminophen, narcotics
  • Panel advises lower maximum doses of nonprescription acetaminophen drugs
  • Those drugs include Tylenol, NyQuil, Pamprin and Allerest
  • CDC estimates acetaminophen was the likely cause of most acute liver failures

updated 10:38 p.m. EDT, Tue June 30, 2009

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(CNN) — A government advisory panel voted Tuesday to recommend eliminating prescription drugs that combine acetaminophen with narcotics — such as Vicodin and Percocet — because of their risk for overdose and for severe liver injury.

Acetaminophen, found in drugs such as Tylenol, is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States.

The panel, assembled by the Food and Drug Administration, voted 20 to 17 to advise the FDA to remove such prescription combination drugs from the market.

The group recommended that the FDA “send a clear message that there’s a high likelihood of overdose from prescription narcotics and acetaminophen products,” Dr. Sandra L. Kweder of the FDA’s Office of New Drugs said at a news conference after Tuesday’s meeting.

The panel was meeting for the second day to vote on recommendations to reduce the risk of serious liver injury associated with acetaminophen, which is found not only in prescription drugs, but also in over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and NyQuil.

It also advised the FDA to lower the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen in over-the-counter and prescription medications, and to address the formulations and dosing recommendations for children.

Kweder said the FDA is already “well on the road” to addressing the pediatric concerns.

The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its advisory committees, although the agency typically does.

If the agency does not choose to eliminate prescription combination drugs, the panel said the FDA should lower the amount of acetaminophen in the drugs and also take some action to ensure that subscribers and patients are aware of potential liver damage posed by taking these products, Kweder said.

In another vote, the panel had voted to advise the FDA to put a boxed warning on the prescription combination drugs.

Although acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States for treating pain and fever, overdoses of acetaminophen have been linked to 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths during the 1990s, according to the FDA, citing one study.

The agency cited another study, a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention population-based report, that estimated acetaminophen was the likely cause of most of the estimated 1,600 acute liver failures each year.

The advisory panel could have voted to recommend pulling over-the-counter drugs that use acetaminophen in combination with other ingredients — such as NyQuil, Pamprin and Allerest — but it chose not to.

Some panelists cited data that suggests that combination over-the-counter drugs account for less than 10 percent of acetaminophen overdoses.

Kweder said families should carefully read medicine labels to know what is in the medicine and how much should be taken.

Abbott Laboratories, which makes the brand-name Vicodin, which has also been available as a generic since the mid-1980s, said in a statement that “today’s discussion is an important continuation of the dialog around balancing patient safety with the need for treatment options for patients in pain.”

It said, “Pain affects 75 million Americans, more than diabetes, cancer and heart disease combined” and added that it would follow the FDA’s final determination.

Endo Pharmaceuticals, which makes the brand-name Percocet, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Percocet is also available as a generic.

CNN’s Saundra Young and Taylor Gandossy contributed to this report.

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Vicodin can cause liver toxicity

July 9, 2009 at 3:57 pm · Filed under Vicodin ·Tagged , ,

The Harvard Women’s Health Watch reports Acetaminophen overdose causes 56,000 emergency room visits and 458 deaths from acute liver failure annually, in the United States. An overdose is considered to be over 4,000 mg daily. Vicodin tablets contain 500, 660 or 750 milligrams of acetaminophen per tablet. Six Vicodin ES tablets contain a total of 4,500 milligrams of acetaminophen, which is considered an acetaminophen overdose. Acetaminophen doses exceeding 12,000 milligrams per day, frequently increase the alanine transaminase (AST) liver enzyme, which is released into the blood stream when the liver or heart is damaged.

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Vicodin abuse can cause hearing loss

July 9, 2009 at 3:54 pm · Filed under Vicodin ·Tagged , , , ,

Hydrocodone overuse or abuse can be associated with a rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Friedman R, House J, Luxford W, Gherini S, Mills D. Profound hearing loss associated with hydrocodone/acetaminophen abuse. Am JOtol. 2000 Mar;21(2):188-91.

There is controversy concerning whether hearing loss experienced by radio talk show commentator, Rush Limbaugh, was caused by Vicodin or Oxycontin abuse. By August 2001, Limbaugh’s listeners had noted changes in his voice and diction, changes that Limbaugh at first emphatically denied on the air. However, on October 8, 2001, Limbaugh acknowledged that the changes in his voice were due to complete deafness in his left ear and substantial hearing loss in his right ear. He also revealed that his radio staff was helping him receive calls on his show by setting up a system where he could appear to hear his callers. The system worked remarkably well, but did not convince all listeners, some of whom noted a long delay between a caller ending his point and Limbaugh responding and occasionally speaking over a caller. At times Limbaugh asked callers to hold on momentarily, while the caller’s comments were typed and shown on Limbaugh’s computer monitor.In December 2001, Limbaugh underwent cochlear implant surgery, which restored a measure of hearing in his left ear. His voice and enunciation returned to normal after the implant. According to his doctors, the deafness was caused by an autoimmune disease. Some medical experts pointed out that chronic use of opioids, such as OxyContin and particularly hydrocodone, both of which Limbaugh later admitted abusing, can compromise the function of the immune system and cause deafness, speculating that his use of these drugs could have caused or contributed to his problem. Limbaugh’s doctors stated that “they were unsure of the exact cause of Limbaugh’s hearing loss,” but said that “overuse of medication was not a factor.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh#Hearing_problems.
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Thyroid Hormone Deficiency – Underdiagnosed and Inadequately Treated

July 9, 2009 at 3:45 pm · Filed under fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thyroid Hormone Deficiency—An Overview

[Parts used with permission from the book From Fatigued to Fantastic!, by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. (Penguin/Avery, Oct 2007).]

Underactive thyroid function is becoming alarmingly common—and is horribly under-diagnosed. The good news is that once it is diagnosed, it can be very easy to treat, and treatment can save your life in addition to making life worth living!

The thyroid gland, located in the neck area, is the body’s gas pedal. It regulates the body’s metabolic speed. If the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, the metabolism decreases and the person gains weight. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include intolerance to cold, fatigue, achiness, confusion and constipation.

Unfortunately, most physicians are not up to date with the research that shows that TSH (the main test used to check your thyroid) is VERY unreliable—missing MOST of the people who need thyroid. Even the “more reliable” free T4 test will only be considered abnormal if you are in the lowest 2% of the population (i.e., have thyroid failure).

The normal range for most labs are based on statistical norms (called “2 standard deviations”). This means that out of every 100 people, those with the 2 highest and lowest scores are considered abnormal and everyone else is defined as normal. Unfortunately, our testing system does not take biological individuality into account. To translate how poorly this “2%” system works, consider this. If we applied it to getting you a pair of shoes, any size between a 4 and 13 would be “medically normal.” If a man got a size 5 shoe or a woman a size 12, the doctor would say the shoe size they were each given is “normal” and there is nothing wrong with it!

I believe that most people with CFS, Fibromyalgia, severe unexplained fatigue or pain, or perhaps even unexplained severe weight gain deserve a therapeutic trial of prescription Armour or compounded thyroid. If your doctor won’t prescribe it, find a Holistic Physician or go to one of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers as these physicians are up to date on the research.

Other useful tools include:

1. If you can’t get prescription thyroid, try natural support with “BMR Complex,” a mix of Thyroid Glandular plus nutritional and herbal support which can be very helpful.
2. For my favorite (and free) thyroid newsletter, sign up at Mary Shomon’s website. You’ll be glad you did!

Ready to become a thyroid expert? Let’s go!

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland, located in the neck area, is the body’s gas pedal. It regulates the body’s metabolic speed. If the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, the metabolism decreases and the person gains weight. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include intolerance to cold, fatigue, achiness, confusion and constipation (though diarrhea from bowel infections is common in CFS/FMS).

The thyroid makes two primary hormones. They are:

Thyroxin (T4). T4 is the storage form of thyroid hormone. The body uses it to make triiodothyronine (T3), the active form of thyroid hormone. Most synthetic thyroid medications, such as Synthroid and Levothroid, are pure T4. These synthetics are fine if your body has the ability to properly turn them into T3. Unfortunately, many people with CFS/FMS find that their bodies do not have this ability.
Triiodothyronine (T3). T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. Although in some life-threatening illnesses the body appropriately makes less T3, research suggests that when CFS/FMS occurs, the body may not be able to adequately turn T4 into T3, or it may need much higher levels of T3.

The Problem with Thyroid Tests

Many years ago, while I was in medical school, physicians were taught to diagnose hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, by using the newly discovered method of measuring the metabolic rate while the patient ran on a treadmill. Doctors thought that this was a wonderful new test and that they finally had a way to identify patients with under active thyroids. We congratulated ourselves on being so clever. But then a new test came out. The new test measured protein-bound iodide (PBI). When doctors began using the PBI test, we realized, “Oh, we missed diagnosing so many people with a low thyroid, but this new test will now pick up everybody who has a problem.” We patted ourselves on the back and told all our newly discovered thyroid patients that it turned out that they were not crazy—they just had a low thyroid. Doctors were comfortable that we could now determine with certainty when someone had a thyroid problem.

Then the T4-level thyroid test was developed and we said, “Oh, that silly old PBI test. It missed so many people with a low thyroid, but this new test will find everyone.” Then the T7 test, which adjusts for protein binding of thyroid hormone, came out, and then the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test. Modern medicine is now beyond the fifth generation of TSH tests, and this is the only test that many doctors use to monitor thyroid function. With each new test, doctors realize they missed many people with under active thyroid function. In 2002, the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists noted that anybody with a TSH under 3 should be treated for hypothyroidism, and that 13 million Americans had an under active thyroid that was not being treated because labs were being misinterpreted. Despite this, most labs still have a normal range for TSH that goes up to 5.5. To make matters more difficult, if the thyroid is under active because the hypothalamus is suppressed, the TSH test, which depends on normal hypothalamic function to be at all reliable, may appear to be normal, or even suggest an overactive thyroid. In fact, when lecturing at a fibromyalgia conference in Italy, I spoke with Professor Gunther Neeck—the world’s foremost expert on hypothalamic-thyroid axis dysfunction in fibromyalgia.8 I asked him a simple question “is the TSH test reliable in fibromyalgia?” He gave a very simple answer, which was “absolutely not!” Fortunately some doctors are finally starting to catch on.

In two studies done by Dr. G.R. Skinner and his associates in the United Kingdom, patients who were thought to have hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid) because of their symptoms had their blood levels of thyroid hormone checked. The vast majority of them had technically normal thyroid blood tests. This data was published in the British Medical Journal.68 He then did another study in which the patients with normal blood tests who had symptoms of an under active thyroid—those who your doctor would likely say had a normal thyroid and would not need treatment—were treated with thyroid hormone. A remarkable thing happened when this was done (well, maybe we’re not surprised!). The large majority of patients, despite being considered to have a normal thyroid, had their symptoms improve upon taking thyroid hormone (Synthroid), at an average dosage of 100 to 120 micrograms a day.69

These two studies, plus another one showing that thyroid blood tests are only low in about 3 percent of patients whose doctors sent blood tests in, confirm what we have been saying all along.70 Our current thyroid testing will miss most patients with an underactive thyroid. Once again, doctors of decades ago were on target when they knew that one has to treat the patient and not the blood test. Most blood tests cannot accurately measure T3 thyroid deficiency because readings measure only the level of T3 in the blood, and it’s the level inside your cells which is important. Nonetheless, it may still be worthwhile to check total or free T3 levels if you and your doctor suspect T3 deficiency. Testing should occur before beginning T3 therapy, as the tests become unreliable once you begin taking hormones that contain T3.

Treating an Underactive Thyroid

We are constantly learning powerful new tricks for treating hypothyroidism and there are many reasonable treatment approaches. Our treatment protocol information checklist (see below at the end of the article) gives the “nuts and bolts” of some approaches.

What treatment will work best often depends on what is causing your thyroid levels to be inadequate. Common causes of under active thyroid hormone in CFS/fibromyalgia include:

1. Hypothalamic dysfunction. Your thyroid gland may be fine but it is not getting adequate stimulation from the hypothalamus and is basically “asleep.” In this situation, simply taking a mix of T4 and T3 (see below) at the dose that feels best may be adequate. As the CFS resolves and hypothalamic function recovers, you may often be able to wean off the thyroid hormone.
2. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In this autoimmune process your body’s immune system attacks and damages the thyroid. This can be diagnosed by a blood test called an “anti-TPO antibody.” If the anti-TPO antibody is elevated, you likely have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and may need to take thyroid supplementation for the rest of your life.
3. Inadequate conversion of the T4 thyroid hormone to active T3. In this situation, which is very common in fibromyalgia, patients often respond best to treatment with pure T3 hormone. Blood tests are normal despite needing 9-27 mcg a day of T3 thyroid hormone (present in 1-3 grains of Armour thyroid).
4. Receptor resistance. In this situation your body is making adequate amounts of thyroid hormone but the areas that they stimulate are very slow to recognize the thyroid hormones’ presence. Because of this, it takes a very high level of pure T3 hormone to get a normal response. This problem often resolves over one to two years on the high dose T3 treatment as the body heals from fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Given the multiple causes of thyroid insufficiency in CFS and fibromyalgia, let’s discuss how to best treat these problems.

Thyroid Hormone

Most doctors prescribe T4 (Synthroid) to treat an under active thyroid. T4, though, is fairly inactive until the body converts it into T3, or activated thyroid hormone. If the problem is only with the thyroid gland itself, prescribing Synthroid will work just fine. However, during periods when the body wants to conserve energy (for example, during times of infection or with CFS/FMS), the body slows down its metabolism. It does this by decreasing the production of active T3 from T4, which is turned into inactive “reverse T3″ instead. In some cases, the body may get “stuck,” and becomes unable to make adequate T3. Because of this problem, many physicians prefer to use compounded or Armour Thyroid, which contains a mix of T4 and T3.

If you suffer from chronic fatigue and have achy muscles and joints, heavy periods, constipation, easy weight gain, cold intolerance, dry skin, thin hair, a change in your ankle reflexes called a delayed relaxation of the deep tendon reflex (DTR), or a body temperature that tends to be on the low side of normal, you should consider asking your doctor to prescribe a low dose of Armour thyroid hormone. As long as you do not have underlying heart disease and you follow up with a blood test to make sure that your Free T4 thyroid levels are in a safe range (going above the upper limit of normal may aggravate osteoporosis, a problem already common in CFS/FMS) a trial of low-dose thyroid hormone treatment is usually quite safe and may be dramatically beneficial.

I prefer to start with a trial of compounded T3 plus T4 from ITC Pharmacy (303-663-4224) or with Armour Thyroid, in which both T3 and T4 are already present. I begin with 1/4 grain (15 milligrams) a day and increase it to 1/2 grain (30 milligrams) a day in 3-7 days. Then, I increase it by .5-1 grain each 1 to six weeks until the patient finds a dose that feels best. If this treatment does not bring about relief, a trial of Synthroid, which only contains T4 may help. One hundred micrograms (0.1 milligrams) of Synthroid “equals” ¾-1 grain of Armour Thyroid. Often, one hormone treatment works when the other does not. Adjust the dose as above. You will know if the treatment is working within two to six weeks on a given dose.

If you are shaky, hyper, or have a racing heart (for example, a pulse over 90 beats per minute), lower the dose. In addition, try taking the full dose of thyroid in the morning on an empty stomach or half the dose twice a day to see which feels best. Do not take thyroid hormone within several hours of taking iron or calcium supplements, or you won’t absorb the thyroid.70

Once you have found a dose that feels best or once the 2 and 3 grain levels are reached, your doctor should check the free T4 blood levels. The first test should be administered about one month after you’ve reached the optimum level described above and then once every 6-12 months. You may need to slowly adjust the thyroid supplementation so that you remain within normal range for blood Free T4 thyroid hormone levels.71 Do not allow your doctor to check a TSH test. It will be low (because of the hypothalamic dysfunction) and your doctor will incorrectly think you’re on too much thyroid—even if your blood T4 hormone levels are low normal. This will make you and your doctor crazy! Although many patients can stop taking thyroid hormone after twelve to twenty-four months, you can stay on Armour Thyroid or Synthroid for as long as it is needed.

Another approach, used by John Lowe, D.C., a researcher in Boulder Colorado, is to use pure T3 hormone (Cytomel). He feels that FMS patients have “thyroid resistance”—that is, it takes a much higher level of thyroid to obtain the normal effect. Even though the body may only make about 25 to 30 micrograms of T3 a day, his studies found it took an average of 120 mcg a day to make his FMS patients feel healthy.72,73 We have found this approach to be helpful in many patients. For more information, see www.drlowe.com.

All prescription thyroid treatments must be prescribed and monitored by a physician. Holistic physicians are more likely to be familiar with and open to trying these new treatment approaches. Unfortunately, many doctors are incorrectly trained to stop increasing the dosage of thyroid hormone once an individual’s thyroid tests are in the “normal” range—even if the dose is inadequate for that person. Do NOT let your doctor use the TSH test to monitor therapy once the TSH drops below 2—it is TOTALLY UNRELIABLE. Ask the doctor to only check the Free T4 level, and to allow you to adjust your thyroid dose as feels best as long as the Free T4 test stays in the normal range for safety.

Synthetic T4 (Synthroid) and pure T3 (Cytomel) is available at any pharmacy. Sustained-release T3, which works better for many patients, can be obtained from compounding pharmacies. There has been a significant problem with quality control for T3 hormone, so I recommend you use ITC Pharmacy (303-663-4224). When you settle on an optimal dose, the compounding pharmacy can then make a single capsule of that dosage to be taken one or two times a day. This is less expensive because the cost tends to be based more on the number of capsules than the actual amount of T3 in them.

Potential Side Effects

If someone has blockages in the arteries that feed the heart and is on the verge of a heart attack, taking thyroid hormone can trigger a heart attack or angina, just like exercise could. Thyroid treatment can trigger heart palpitations as well. These are often benign, but if chest pain or increasing palpitations occur, stop the thyroid supplementation and call your doctor and/or go to the Emergency room at once. Because of this concern, I sometimes recommend that patients at significant risks of angina with several risk factors—people who smoke, have high blood pressure, are over forty-five years old, have cholesterol levels over 260, or a family history of heart attacks in individuals under sixty-five years old-have an exercise treadmill test done before treatment, even if they can’t complete the test.

To put the risk in perspective, in the many thousands of my patients on thyroid supplements, none experienced heart attacks or other major health issues from taking it. In the long run, I suspect thyroid treatment is much more likely to decrease one’s risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol.

The other main concern is that excess thyroid hormone can cause osteoporosis. In my research, I have seen no studies showing any increase in osteoporosis in premenopausal women, or even in post-menopausal women if they are on estrogen, if one keeps the T3 and T4 thyroid blood levels in the normal range. As noted earlier, TSH is simply not a reliable monitor of thyroid levels in CFS/FMS because of hypothalamic dysfunction. We don’t know for sure if keeping the T3 level above normal in FMS patients with thyroid resistance worsens the osteoporosis already commonly seen in CFS/FMS, but this has not been a problem in Doctor Lowe’s experience with thousands of patients. If you need to keep the T3 or T4 above the upper limit of normal, you should have a DEXA (osteoporosis) scan every 6-24 months. If this scan shows osteoporosis, lower the thyroid dose. If this is not possible, consider other osteoporosis prevention measures we discuss in our Osteoporosis overview.

Over-the-Counter Alternatives

If you are unable to find a physician who will write for prescription thyroid hormone, there are other alternatives. For many people, natural thyroid glandular supplements (I recommend BMR Complex by Integrative Therapeutics) can be very are helpful. This natural alternative contains:

Serving Size: 2 Capsules
Amount per Serving
%DV
Iodine [from Kelp Source (Laminaria digitata)]
300 msg
200
Zinc (as Zinc Picolinate)
15 mg
100
Copper (as Copper Chelate)
1 mg
50
L-Tyrosine (USP)
300 mg
*
Thyroid (Freeze Dried, Bovine)
300 mg
*
Blue Flag Root (Iris versicolor)
65 mg
*

The dosing recommendations are to take 1 or 2 capsules three times daily between meals, but after 1 month of “filling the tank” try lowering it to 2-3 capsules each morning only. Thyroid hormone is made of Tyrosine plus iodine and blue flag root is a thyroid stimulant. The thyroid glandular supplies the raw materials needed to optimize thyroid function.

Related Information:

Risks of Missing Hypothyroidism

Hormonal Treatments

This section is from our treatment protocol. It discusses how to use thyroid hormone.

Thyroid supplementation—several studies show that thyroid therapies can be very helpful in CFIDS/FMS—even if your blood tests are normal. This treatment is, however, very controversial—even though it’s usually very safe. All treatments (even aspirin) can cause problems in some people though. The main risks of thyroid treatment are:

1. Triggering caffeine-like anxiety or palpitations. If this happens cut back the dose and increase by ½ to 1 tablet each 6 to 8 weeks (as is comfortable) or slower. Sometimes taking vitamin B1 (thiamine) 500 mg 1-3x day a day will also help after about a week. If you have severe, persistent racing heart, call your family doctor and/or go to the emergency room.
2. Like exercise (i.e., climbing steps), if one is on the edge of having a heart attack or severe ‘racing heart’ (atrial fibrillation), thyroid hormone can trigger it. In the long run though, I suspect thyroid may decrease the risk of heart disease. If you have chest pain, go to the emergency room and/or call your family doctor. It will likely be chest muscle pain (not dangerous) but better safe than sorry. To put it in perspective, I’ve never seen this happen despite treating many hundreds of patients with thyroid. Increasing your thyroid dose to levels above the upper limit of the normal range may accelerate Osteoporosis (which is already common in CFIDS/FMS). Because of this, you need to check your thyroid (Free T4—not TSH) levels after 4 to 8 weeks on your optimum dose of thyroid hormone. All this having been said, we find treatments with thyroid hormone to be safer than Aspirin and Motrin. If you have risk factors or Angina, do an exercise stress test to make sure your heart is healthy before beginning thyroid treatment. These risk factors include: 1. Diabetes, 2. Elevated cholesterol, 3. Hypertension, 4. Smoking, 5. Personal or family history of Angina, 6. Gout, 7. Age over 50 years old.

There are several forms of thyroid hormone, and one kind will often work when the other does not. Do not take thyroid within 6 hours of iron or calcium supplements or you won’t absorb the thyroid. It can take 3 to 24 months to see the thyroid’s full benefit.

__33. Levoxyl or Synthroid (Rx)—(L-Thyroxine) 50 mcg—(100 mcg = .1 mg). See paragraph below and thyroid information above.
__34.** Armour Thyroid (Rx)—30 mg (1/2 grain = 30 mg) (natural thyroid glandular). If #37 (Cortef) is checked, begin the Cortef and/or adrenal support 1-7 days before starting the thyroid. See paragraph below and thyroid information above.

For both of these 2 forms (#33-34), take ½ tablet each morning on an empty stomach for 3-7 days and then 1 tablet each morning. Increase by ½ to 1 tablet each 1 to 6 weeks (till you’re on 3 tablets or the dose that feels best). Check a repeat Free T4 blood level when you’re on 3-4 tablets a day (or your optimum dose) for 4 weeks. If okay, you can continue to raise the dose by ½ to 1 tablet each morning each 6 to 9 weeks to a maximum of 5 a day and then recheck the Free T4 4 weeks later. Adjust it to the dose that feels the best (lower the dose if shaky or if your resting pulse is regularly over 88/minute). Do not go over 5 tablets a day without checking a Free T4 blood level and discussing it with your doctor (although it may take as many as 10 a day to see the optimal effect). When on your optimum dose, you can often get a single tablet at that strength. If your energy wanes too early in the day, you can also take part of your thyroid dose between 11 AM and 3 PM. Some people find that taking part of their thyroid dose at night feels better. You can divide your thyroid dose through the day to see what feels best.

AND/OR

__34A.** BMR Complex (Integrative Therapeutics) 1-2 caps 3x day for 1 month. Then can try 3 each morning. Contains thyroid glandular, Tyrosine, Iodine and other nutrients/herbs. A helpful alternative if you can’t get prescription thyroid hormone.
__35. Iodine—Iodoral tablets from Optimox ½-1 a day for 2-4 months if you have daytime body temperatures Under 98.3 degrees or breast or ovarian cysts. It contains 12.5 mg iodine (iodine 5 mg & iodide7.5 mg). May flare Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and rarely may suppress thyroid function (with long term use).
__36.* Cytomel (Pure active T3) (Rx)—5 and 25 mcg tablets or Compounded Sustained Release T3 from ITC Pharmacy (303-663-4224) (Rx). In Fibromyalgia, resistance to normal thyroid doses may occur and patients often need very high levels of T3 Thyroid to improve. Dr. John Lowe’s research group feels that the average dose needed in FMS is 75-125 mcg each morning—much higher than your body’s normal production. Because we are often going above normal levels with T3, the risks/side effects noted above increase. Because of this, if you have risk factors, it is more important to consider an exercise stress test to make sure your heart is healthy (i.e., no underlying Angina) before beginning this protocol. Also, consider a Dexa (Osteoporosis) Scan each 6 to 18 months while on treatment. There may be initial bone loss the first year, then increased bone density. Bone density may decrease at 6 months and then increase after that. This having been said, in our experience this treatment has been quite safe and, in some FMS patients, dramatically effective. Begin with 5 mcg each morning and continue to increase by 5 mcg each 3 days until you feel well, shaky or you’re at 75 mcg a day (whichever comes first) and then increase by 5 mcg a day each 1 to 6 weeks until (whichever comes first):

1. You reach 125 mcg each morning (or 60 mcg if you’re over 50 years old unless approved by your physician).

2. You feel healthy.

3. You get shakiness, worsening significant palpitations (occasional “flip flops” are common), anxiety, racing heart, sweating or other uncomfortable side effects. If this happens, lower the dose a bit for 2-4 weeks and then try raising again till you note significant improvement WITHOUT uncomfortable side effects or you tried to raise it 3 times and still became shaky/hyper.

Blood tests for thyroid hormone or TSH are not reliable or useful on this regimen. If you feel no better even on the maximum dose, taper off (decrease by 5 mcg each 3 days until you’re at 15 mcg a day. Take 15 mcg a day for 3 weeks and then drop to 5 mcg a day for 3 weeks—then stop).

After being on treatment for 3 to 6 months, some patients can lower the T3 dose or stop it. Feel free to try dropping the dose. If you feel better initially and then worse (beginning more than 4 weeks after starting a new dose), you probably need to lower the dose. If you lose too much weight, try to eat more (and discuss this with your physician) and lower the dose.

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Nonpsychostimulant Dopamine Enhancement for Attention Deficit Disorder Treatment

July 9, 2009 at 3:29 pm · Filed under Attention Deficit Disorder ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

 

SAMe, S Adenosyl Methionine decreased Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) symptoms as effectively as Ritalin, in a small study of  adolescent boys.  The doseage used was 1600 milligrams daily.

The amino acid, tyrosine, is converted to l-dopa, which is then converted to dopamine, in the brain.  Tyrosine, at doses of 1000 to 3000 milligrams daily, can increase dopamine levels.  General Nutrition Centers has a 750 milligram time release tyrosine formula which works well to increase tyrosine levels.

Conversion of tyrosine to l-dopa requires the tyrosine hydroxylase enzyme, which is iron dependent.  If the ferritin iron storage protein level is below 50 mcg/L, dopamine production can be decreased and restless leg syndrome can occur.  Folic acid megadoses of 5,000 micrograms, sublingual Vitamin B12, Vitamin B12 subcutaneous injections or  ferrous bisglycinate supplements can usually increase ferritin levels above 50 mcg/L.   Sometimes ferritin deficiency occurs, due to copper deficiency or inadequate vitamin C.    Blood donors may need to cease donating blood, to increase ferritin levels above 50 mcg/L.  Blood banks do not measure ferritin, which is a more sensitive indicator of iron deficiency, than hematocrit, which blood banks routinely measure. 

Pharmaceutically distilled fish oils can also decrease Attention Deficit symptoms.  Pharmaceutically distilled fish oils concentrate the essential fatty acids, Decosahexanoic Acid, DHA and Eicosapentanoic Acid, EPA, and remove mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls and other toxins, which are contained in  less expensive fish oils.  One hundred bottles of undistilled fish oil are often used to obtain one bottle of pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Pharmaceutically distilled fish oil does not smell or taste “fishy. “

Mucuna pruriens extracts, from the fava bean can increase l-dopa levels, which can increase dopamine levels.

Deprenyl ( Selegiline) is a non scheduled prescription medication, available as a relatively low cost generic drug, which can adequately treat mild attention deficit disorders.  Selegiline is a selective monamine oxidase inhibitor, MAO inhibitor, which primarily reduces breakdown of dopamine.  It has treated attention deficit disorders as effectively as Ritalin, in some published studies.  Since Selegiline is not a controlled substance, patients  are not required to be seen every 60 days, for prescription renewals.

Allergies to food dyes can also contribute to attention deficit disorders.  Yellow number 5 dye, tartrazine, is  a common cause of attention deficit disorders.  Many other artificial food dyes and preservatives including benzoates can aggravate attention deficits.

Hidden food allergies can also cause attention deficit disorders.  About 80 percent of food allergies do not produce symptoms, until 3 to 4 days, after food is consumed.  Delayed food allergies are difficult to identify, since common Immunoglobin E, skin testing does not reveal them.  Simple food elimination diets offer an inexpensive method for eliminating food allergies.  Expensive Elisa/Act  serum testing can test for over 300 allergies, including delayed allergies, in one 30 milliliter blood sample, but are not covered by most health insurance plans.

Excessive body lead burdens can also contribute to attention deficit disorders.  If  hair or urine testing reveals excessive lead levels, oral or intravenous chelation can decrease body lead levels.

Exposure to neurotoxins from mold, Lymes spirochetes, Babesia, Mycoplasma or other microbial pathogens can also produce symptoms of attention deficit disorders.  The highly specific and sensitive Functional Acuity Contrast Test, FACT, only costs $15.00 and is available at www.chronicneurotoxins.com.  If the FACT test is positive, additional testing and treatment for neurotoxicity should be obtained.

Steven Sponaugle

Research Director

Florida Detox and Wellness institute

www.floridadetox.com

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Prescription Pain Creams Can Numb Pain Without Numbing Brain

July 8, 2009 at 11:33 pm · Filed under Lymes Disease, arthritis, chronic pain, fibromyalgia ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Could prescription transdermal pain cream reduce my pain?
DISCLAIMER

The purpose of this article is to educate. This article does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is not a substitute for examination, testing, diagnosis and treatment, by a qualified, licensed health care professional.

Frequently we are able to prescribe non-opiate transdermal pain creams to control any pain persisting after detox. Transdermal delivery bypasses the digestive system and first pass liver metabolism, reducing medication interactions and side effects. Powerful pain killers including ketamine or ketaprofen, can be delivered through the skin without side effects, which would occur if they were ingested. Research verifies the safety of transdermal pain killer application.

Only about 1% of the transdermal NSAID is absorbed systemically. Researchers obtained blood samples from the participants to measure system absorption of ketoprofen. They found that serum ketoprofen levels at 24 and 48 hours were minimal.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Applied to Skin Lessens Muscle Soreness After Exercise (news release, San Diego: University of California, San Diego, July 11, 2003) health.ucsd.edu/news/2003/07_11_Bracker.html (accessed 28 July 2003).

The following article reports “The systemic concentrations of ketoprofen have also been found to be 100 fold lower compared to tissue concentrations below the application site in patients undergoing knee joint surgery. Topically applied ketoprofen thus provides high local concentration below the site of application but lower systemic exposure.”
Pharm Res. 1996 Jan;13(1):168-72

Published research indicates Clonidine reduced oralfacial neuralgia pain, an average of 94 %, with complete pain reduction in half of patients.
Epstein J, Grushka M, Le N. Topical clonidine for orofacial pain: a pilot study. J Orofac Pain. 1997 Fall;11(4):346-52. Related Articles, Links

Compounding pharmacists can formulate these creams to penetrate to needed tissue depth, whether it is epidermal, intramuscular or spinal. Muscle relaxants, including Flexeril, Soma, and Skelaxin;anticonvulsants(Tegretol, Gabapentin), antidepressants(Amitriptyline), alpha adrenergic agonists (Clonidine), GABA B agonists(Baclofen), lidocaine, ketamine, ketoprofen, dexmethorphan, amantadine and other medications can be formulated into these transdermal creams to block various types of pain, without risk of addiction, dependency or gastritis. Lidocaine can often be used, when patients are allergic to other medications, although it only has a 2 hour half life. Flexeril has a half life of 8 to 18 hours and can provide longer lasting pain relief. Elavil has an even longer half life of 24 hours and seems especially helpful for arthritis pain. Transdermal pain creams can numb pain, without numbing the brain. Prescription pain creams are effective for back, joint and muscle pain and work well for arthritis and fibromyalgia. Prescription pain creams can also eliminate “pins and needles” nerve pain. Transdermal pain formulas help patients previously disabled by pain return to work, college or caring for their families.
_________________
Steven Sponaugle
Research Director, Florida Detox

www.florida detox.com

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UNF Professor Developing Highly Sensitive Lymes DNA Test

July 7, 2009 at 1:38 am · Filed under Lymes Disease ·Tagged , , , ,

UNF professor works to unlock Lyme disease’s mysteries

Kerry Clark thinks he’s developed a better test to diagnose the illness.

  • By Jeremy Cox
  • Story updated at 5:16 PM on Tuesday, May. 19, 2009

 

Photo 1 of 3

 

Clark’s research has revealed that Lyme disease is much more common in Florida and other parts of the South than was previously known.”" style=”WIDTH: 225pt; HEIGHT: 149.25pt” alt=”" o:button=”t” href=”http://www.jacksonville.com/files/editorial/images/images/mdControlled/cms/2009/05/19/440333729.jpg”>

WILL DICKEY/The Times-Union
Clark’s research has revealed that Lyme disease is much more common in Florida and other parts of the South than was previously known.

Will Dickey

Photo 2 of 3

The majority of cases of Lyme disease, spread by ticks carrying the bacteria when they bite the skin, have occurred in the Northeast and Upper Midwest.”‘ style=”WIDTH: 225pt; HEIGHT: 156.75pt” alt=”" o:button=”t” href=”http://www.jacksonville.com/files/editorial/images/images/mdControlled/cms/2009/05/19/440333855.jpg”>

WILL DICKEY/The Times-Union
The majority of cases of Lyme disease, spread by ticks carrying the bacteria when they bite the skin, have occurred in the Northeast and Upper Midwest.

Will Dickey

Photo 3 of 3

 

A lone star tick, a species suspected of spreading Lyme disease, is examined in a lab by Kerry Clark, professor of epidemiology at the University of North Florida. Clark says he’s developed a test that more accurately detects the disease in people.”" style=”WIDTH: 225pt; HEIGHT: 167.25pt” alt=”" o:button=”t” href=”http://www.jacksonville.com/files/editorial/images/images/mdControlled/cms/2009/05/19/440333946.jpg”>

WILL DICKEY/The Times-Union
A lone star tick, a species suspected of spreading Lyme disease, is examined in a lab by Kerry Clark, professor of epidemiology at the University of North Florida. Clark says he’s developed a test that more accurately detects the disease in people.

Will Dickey

REDUCE YOUR CHANCE OF A TICK BITE

• Avoid likely tick-infested areas such as wooded, bushy areas or places with high grass and leaf litter – especially from May through the fall, when ticks are most active.

• When in likely tick areas, wear insect repellent with 20 percent DEET or more.

• Light-colored clothing helps you spot ticks more easily. Also, wear long sleeves and pants, tucking your shirt into your pants and you pant legs into your shoes.

• Before going indoors, perform a tick check on yourself.

• If you find any, use a fine-tipped tweezer to remove. Grab the tick close to the skin, and do not twist or jerk.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

DID YOU KNOW?

• Although reports of a Lyme-like illness have been around for centuries, the disease wasn’t recognized scientifically until the mid-1970s, when a cluster of children with rheumatoid arthritis mysteriously popped up in Lyme, Conn.

• Fueled partly by a wider understanding of the illness, reports of Lyme disease have tripled nationwide since 1993.

 

“Tick-borne Disease Research Area – Please Do Not Enter,” the sign says on the front door of Kerry Clark’s University of North Florida office.

If that’s not enough of a deterrence, there are always the photographs of Florida’s three most common tick species blown up to larger-than-life proportions.

But it’s worth poking inside the seemingly menacing door if only to meet Clark and listen to his story.

“It’s like a great mystery,” Clark said.

The villain of his story is Lyme disease, a poorly understood illness that’s spread by tick bites to tens of thousands of Americans each year. After a decade of paltry funding and suffering countless tick bites himself, the 40-year-old epidemiology professor has reached a scientific breakthrough that stands to revolutionize the way doctors diagnose and treat Lyme.

In addition, his toil has revealed an unsettling message for the people of Florida and other parts of the South: Lyme-carrying ticks are spreading the illness here at vastly higher rates than what public health statistics and experts have suggested.

Disease’s spread

Lyme disease follows a perplexing arc that begins with a bull’s eye-shaped rash and vague, flu-like symptoms. Without treatment, Lyme digs in deep, progressing to potentially disabling effects, like severe arthritis, fatigue, numbness in the hands or feet and neurological problems.

The vast majority of the more than 265,000 cases of Lyme disease reported since 1993 have come from the Northeast and upper Midwest.

That’s a conservative number. Scientists think there are seven to 12 cases for each one that is reported. And even that dire-sounding estimate may be too low. Only about 40 percent of positive cases are getting detected by traditional diagnostic tools, which test the body’s reaction to the Lyme bacteria, Clark said.

Clark thinks that his test, which involves looking for Lyme’s DNA in the victim’s blood, is a more accurate way of detecting the disease.

For many, an inaccurate test is a life-changer.

Caught early, the Lyme bacteria usually can be wiped out with antibiotics. But many cases go undetected for years because people, though sick, often don’t know they’ve been bitten by a tick or don’t develop the tell-tale rash.

Not safe in the South

People like Dane Boggs. For a decade, Boggs, a home builder, felt tired all the time and his joints hurt. But his symptoms were mild, so he figured they were merely the side effects of getting older.

Things got worse, though, after he was bitten by a tick on a job site in Atlantic Beach five years ago. He now thinks that his previous decade of troubles were caused by a tick bite that went unnoticed.

The double whammy of bites nearly crippled him, he said.

“My immune system was kind of fighting it off for 10 years, but when I got bit [the second time], that’s when I got super-sick,” Boggs said. “I just wanted to go to bed all the time. It was like an 18-wheeler ran over my body.”

The Ponte Vedra Beach man retired early to devote all his time to fighting the illness. He took powerful antibiotics for two years with little improvement. So he turned to an alternative therapy that uses electrical frequencies to zap microscopic invaders like Lyme disease.

Today, the 55-year-old is healthy, though he cautions his results from the alternative treatment probably aren’t the norm. After his battle, Boggs co-founded a research and support organization called the Northeast Florida Lyme Association.

“Nobody even believes Lyme disease is in Florida. But it does exist, and a lot of people are sick,” said Boggs, who has found a sympathetic ear and a NEFLA board member in Kerry Clark.

Finding new strains

Clark’s research has revealed that Lyme disease is much more common in Florida than previously known.

State disease-surveillance efforts confirmed 88 cases last year, 11 of which are believed to have originated in the state. But Clark has found the Lyme bacteria in virtually every corner of the state, including hordes on the First Coast.

The perception that the South doesn’t have a Lyme problem has biological roots.

In the Northeast, mice are the primary reservoir of the Lyme bacteria, known among scientists as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. But in the South, lizards are ticks’ prime target. And since studies in California showed that reptiles were poor reservoirs, many scientists concluded that the South was relatively safe.

But Clark’s studies of lizards in South Carolina and Florida revealed that 54 percent were positive for Lyme disease. That research petered out because of a lack of funding – a frequent complaint of Clark’s – but it led him to perfect what he believes to be the most sensitive testing method yet for the disease.

Lyme disease is hard to detect in lizards because their blood is highly concentrated with their own DNA, overwhelming the genetic tidbits of any other organisms that might be in their systems. By applying the same amplifying methods he developed for lizard samples, Clark started getting positive readings in human samples that had previously tested negative.

Clark put his theory to the test on 150 blood and skin samples collected from patients suspected of having Lyme disease.

Forty-four percent came back positive, including 20 of the 49 samples from Florida.

What’s more, for the first time anywhere in the United States, he found two additional strains of Lyme disease in humans: Borrelia andersonii and another that has not yet been named.

At least five strains of Lyme are known to infect animals and ticks, but researchers had never seen more than one in humans, Clark said. Most diagnostic tests were only developed to detect one Lyme strain. So if more are infecting humans, Clark thinks, that may explain why they have such a high error rate.

A paper detailing his findings is in review with the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Andrea Varela-Stokes, a parasitologist at Mississippi State University, said she is intrigued by Clark’s research. She called the understanding of Lyme in the South a “tricky situation” because scientists have been unable to grow the Lyme bacteria in laboratory cultures from sick patients.

Although Clark ran into the same problem, he thinks he’s had a breakthrough.

“I think the paper is a really big deal,” he said. “One of two things is going to happen: They’re going to say, ‘This is that weirdo who did all that lizard stuff.’ Or they’re going to say, ‘Why didn’t we do that?’ “

jeremy.cox@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4083

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