Autism - Vitamin B6, Magnesuim, Zinc?

[guyshahar]

Hi - I have read in "Optimum Nutritian for your Child's Mind" - and then backed up in other places - that autism symptoms show great improvement when these supplements are used together. However, it does not discuss doses, or where to find these supplements (which would need to be non-tablets as my son does not chew or swallow solids).

Does anyone have any experience of using these, and of the results? What are the correct doses and what products are recommended?

Elsewhere, I read that when DMG (Di-methyl-glycine!!!) is added to the above, the results are even better. But I don't know what this is or where to find it. Does anyone else?

Well Ds2 has been taking the Behaviour Balance for a week and no changes so far . In fact the day before yesterday I found him asleep in our bed, surrounded by a pink circle of Gaviscon that he'd poured out all over the duvet and carpet. He'd also thrown a wedding photo and a couple of Ds1's Lego minifigures out of the window. When we were leaving for school the next morning I looked up at the window and spied a large turd sitting in the guttering below our window, so he'd obviously chucked that out too.

So thinking of asking for my money back!

Only joking - am hoping that it's an adjustment period. His speech has been good - but that was happening before we started if I'm honest.

Sphil
Well looking at the bright side at least he threw the turd out and didn't squish it up all over the room!
My MIL had quite a long phone convo with eldest last night to the point he wanted to ring her back! Never done that before, normally she's lucky if she gets a 'I'm fine, love ooo, bye'
So i asked if she'd noticed a difference and she acknowledged his speech etc so then i told her about the medicine.
I want to see if others notice anything before I buy more!

Am also wondering like my boys Paed suggested if we could buy the tablets individually like from H&B as this would be much much cheaper, as long as we got the doses right. Might give it a try...

DS is also more cooperative with the Retained Reflexes exercises and last night when I said time to do exercise he just lied down and happily did them for 20 mins. He has also been sharing better with DS2 and letting him have his way which is a majooorrr step for him. And pretend play, he speaks on with someone on the phone for nearly a min with just his hand on the ear. Also interested in books more...Oh how can I forget, cooperated better with swimming instructor on Sunday and he usually drives her mad for the hour, bless her!

unpa1dcar - have tried the separates from H&B for a year before finding this formula that contains the DMG (which is the most expensive and H&B dont stock the higher dose so you may need to be crashing at least 5 tablets) and the B vits. I am supplementing my son with Omega 3, multivit and multimenerals, and the DMG liquid with breakfast...if I was crashing 10 tablets I would have gone mad by now . But well done on your DC on the long tel conversation!

sphil - stick in there and see how he gets when he finishes the bottle in 2-3 weeks then make up your mind. With most supplements there is an adjustment period and with some the issues are milder with others more noticeable.

DS has started playing with toys :) He has said that his "behaviour medicine" is helping him to learn how to play (at 6 ) Still no more cooperative with his OT and vision therapy but I think that he is just too tired after school - another reason that they need to do the stuff at school......

We now are making a behaviour medicine cocktail with half a wine glass of cloudy apple juice and 7.5ml of medicine. He really likes it but hated the medicine on it's own as I think it was too tangy for him.

He has Omega 3 as well but doesn't really like it too much - we have the haliborange but he has to take 10ml which is quite a lot. Is there a liquid that is not at all fishy tasting that I could do a similar cocktail with to hide it?

the haliborange is the least fishy out there, have tried so many brands but DS is now happy taking the Eskimo formula which contains more EPA and DHA than the haliborange. At the beginning I was mixing half haliborange and half eskimo (as second one is quite fishy even for my taste and I have been into supplements since teenager) and then we worked our way up just with 5 ml Eskimo which has Omega 3, 6 9.

Ah, if we are on the least fishy then we will stay with that! I tried some capsules before which were just rank ! I think that maybe a milkshake/haliborange combo is the way to go so that he doesn't have to hold his nose and gag

I am most impressed by DS's willingness to take these supplements as he believes/feels that they are helping him.

Blueshark you must have done wonders for the Behaviour Balance company

Thanks Blue. I guess I'll have to visit H*B and do a cost check. The boys don't have any problems taking tablets (in fact youngest won't take liquid) si I'll see if it works out cheaper. If not I'm looking at £80 per month plus postage and doubt very much it's available on script as dox won't recognise or authenticate it.

£80? the DMG liquid and tablets are around £20 and if your child(ren) is under 6 should last you nearly 2 months if my maths is right....no supplements are given on prescription other than those if you get them tested for vitamins deficiency, I have an appointment in Sept to take DS for allergy and vitamin deficiency testing on the NHS and hope same results will appear as the private testing we had done last month

DS will be 6 next week, how long a bottle should last? I have ordered three and will get them end of this month.

I'm ordering a bottle of the DMG tonight. I hope it helps N.

Blue shark I have two SLD boys, both teenagers. One 12.5 the other 14. So their dosage is much higher. Only giving it to eldest right now (youngest won't take liquid meds) and he has 3 or 4 2/3rds tablespoons a day.
I've had the bottle about 5 days and we're over 1/3 through it already.
I think it will last about 12 to 14 days.
So I will have to buy 4 bottles a month roughly plus postage.
On another site we are trying to get enough of us together to buy bulk as this is cheaper but it's still gonna be a big expense every month.

ops...I didnt realise your DSs are older sorry!

someone - a bottle should last 48 days if you give half a tablespoon which is dose for up to 6y old.

well done little onion for relaying the message regardless whether is as a result of the magic drink or not!

Right apparently the liquid is 19.99 which would only last 6 days for my two BUT the capsules are a lot cheaper at 22.99 for 15 days for both boys.

So if anyone can get their kids to take capsules it'll be a lot cheaper.

Well after our initial shaky start with the hyperactivity, I reduced the dose to just 5ml/day for DS and no more incessant talking seen. I have just increased to 7.5mls and definately much much calmer today and much of the sensory seeking behaviour has abated...4 smiley faces at school (unheard of) as he gets them for NOT touching other children which he finds almost impossible...will let you all know how we progress but tonight at least I appear to have a different child...blueshark-you need commission

Have managed to get it down ds's neck in well diluted blackcurrant juice! Anyone else find it goes all over the place when pouring?

No amazing changes noted here, as yet.

Ha eldest tried to do it himself the other day, with me watching. He spilt about 2 quids worth on the side. I almost scooped it up with a straw .

I use a syringe!

Thank you blueshark. DS will be 6 next week, so if I follow the guidance a bottle should last 24 days, but DS on the smallish side for his age, so I think I will start with half the recommended dose anyway. I want to see if DS shows any changes before ordering anymore (sorry we live in the U.A.E, so not easy on delivery options).

I have a question re how long the supplement takes to stop having beneficial side effects if you stop giving it.

I still haven't got a DX so before he goes for his MDA I want to be able to get him back to his normal self as the only way that DS will get any help is with an ASD dx. As I write that, it is seems really mean but I know that if he doesn't "perform" during the MDA we might not get the DX. Then even thinking about that makes me panic about the future as he is only 6 and about to go into Y2 and I know that these children tend to struggle more as they get older .

BTW, yet another poster here where the grandparents didn't know about the supplement but noticed huge changes in empathy, calmness and maturity

Hi Ben10
I would imagine that it leaves the body quickly; a bit like if you take a vit c tablet or fish oils or something. Suppose it might depend on how well your body stores things.
I wouldn't have a break with eldest as I reckon he'd go back to before pretty quickly.

Thanks unpa1dcar3r I thought it might be quick to leave the body.

For any other reason than trying to get a dx based on his actual behaviours, I wouldn't think about taking him off it as there really have been improvements for us in less than a week. My mum commented that it was as if he had grown up overnight!

I know exactly what you mean. The thing is if they are on somethng then it changes them- obviously for the better- but this doesn't give a true picture of them.
So it's actually unfair in some cases to give them their meds before an assessment as it gives a false reading.
I would not dream of giving youngest son his ritalin or clonodine before an assessment. And it's not just cos I want them to see what I have to cope with, it's because if he's sat there doped up the the eyeballs they won't see his anxiety etc for being there.
And then one day he won't be on the meds (if I can possibly get him off them I will) and then what?
So you're doing the right thing not giving them to your son IMO