Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Medications: What to Avoid & Alternatives

Antibiotics should be avoided as much as possible because in order to stop infection, it kills the good bacteria as well as the bad bacteria. To have a properly functioning digestive system, we need our good bacteria. If your child must take antibiotics, make sure you give him probiotics as well. See http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/24/one-of-the-most-important-steps-you-can-take-to-improve-your-health.aspx for the theory behind using probiotics and what to look for when you buy them.

Antibiotics to Avoid

Our children with Down syndrome shouldn't take any medications containing sulfa such as Pediazole, Gantrisin, Septra or Bactrim. These drugs have the potential to suppress the thyroid gland, which is usually low functioning in the T21 population. Use only if absolutely needed. Sulfa drugs can further deplete zinc in zinc-depleted children. If sulfa drugs must be used, then an additional 10 mg a day of zinc should be supplemented while the child is taking the sulfa drugs.
Instead, request Augmentin, Ceftrim, Biaxin or Zithromax (Z-Pack).

Anesthetics to Avoid

Avoid using the anesthetic Atropine for any surgery, eye exams or dental surgery. Our kids are quite sensitive to atropine. It is used during anesthesia if the heart rate drops too low. But only a tiny dose is needed in DS.

Inhaled anesthetic vs. I.V. anesthetic

Inhaled anesthetic affects children's brains more negatively than I.V. anesthetic. See:
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121026172943.htm


Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is to be avoided with the MTHFR gene (The MTHFR gene is probably a factor in your child having DS). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.go​v/ pubmed/18580170
http://www.ispub.com/ostia​/
index.php?xmlFilePath=jou​rnals%2Fija%2Fvol8n2%2Fno.​xml

Nitrous oxide depletes already depleted B12 (extremely common in DS) and, if your child is autistic (up to 33% of kids w/DS may also be autistic) it causes severe regressions. There's info on anesthesia and ASD on the ARI web site.


Painkillers to Avoid

Acetaminophen should be avoided (Tylenol, panadol and paracetamol etc.). It is hard on the liver and depletes Glutathione levels. More explanation here:
http://www.gotdownsyndrome.net/glutathione%26acetaminophen.html 

Eye Drops to Avoid

Make sure when you take your child to the eye doctor that they don't use drops with atropine in them. Side effects such as pupils dilating for over two days as well as signs of unease including groaning and irritability.


Supplements to Avoid

You may want to avoid tulsi (holy basil), spirulina and ashgawandha due to its SOD (super oxide dismutase) content, which is usually an issue with our children.

Supplement Ingredients to Avoid

Look for organic where possible. Avoid gluten, soy, dairy and corn.

Best Defense

Your best defense is prevention. At 17 months old, Jett has never been sick. This is because he still breastfeeds and has a very good, gut-supporting diet with probiotics and a healthy variety of foods. He is not in day care, but he interacts with children from one to four times a week. I use no chemicals or antibacterial soaps in my home.
During heart surgery is the only time he had to take antibiotics. It took awhile, but his gut flora has healed since then.
To deal with viruses, look to ViraStop. http://www.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=32116abbc151333c65079753bdf869a9&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=nhc&Product_Code=virastop-2x-E90 

Another thing I used is AIR tea, it's a Traditional Chinese Medicine concentrated herbal tea blend that cleared Jett's congestion. It takes a couple of months to fully clear everything and he took it twice a day from age 5-12 months old. It tastes great! My pediatrician recommended it. You take it before you get sick.

I used to be up a lot in the night with the nose drops and "mucus suckers" but not at all anymore. I just clean out his nose quickly with a swab in the morning and give him saline nose drops twice a day. Before, Jett was completely congested, up in his sinuses where I couldn't get to it. Now, I can feel the air coming from his nose which I couldn't do before. Jett has never had a cold or sinus infection. I give him 1/5 teaspoon (1 ml) in the morning and before bed with 2ml of water. He loves it!

It's blended by hand in small, organic batches.

You can get this from your local TCM practitioner ($45-65) or amazon ($16). The website is sjbherbs.com.

A I R (Allergy Immune Respiratory) Tea

Formerly (Zhi Sou Bu Zheng Qi Tang)

Stop Cough & Immuno-Support Decoction

Organic Ingredients:

Glycerin (Plant Source), 生薑Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), 桔梗Jie Geng (Platycodon), 車
前子Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed), 厚朴Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), 補骨脂Bu Gu Zhi
(Psoralea Fruit), 沙參Bei Sha Shen (Glehnia Root), 蒼耳子Cang Er Zi (Xanthium Fruit),
白芷Bai Zhi (Dahurien Angelica), 辛夷花Xin Yi Hua (Magnolia Flower), Distilled Water

Category: Formulas That Regulates Qi and Stops Cough

Actions:
Traditional Chinese Medicine -- Western equivalent:
Allow Lungs to grasp Qi -- Anti- histamine
Nourishes production of Yin &Yang -- Anti- spasmodic
Resolve Phlegm -- Anti-emetic
Transform Phlegm -- Anti-inflammatory
Eliminate Phlegm -- Functions like Anti-biotic
Open the Nose -- Functions like Anti-viral
Rectifies the Qi -- Stomachic Expectorant

Indications:
 All types of Asthma
 All types Cough
 Rhinitis
 Sinusitis (including sinus infection)
 Seasonal Allergies (itchy, watery eyes, itchy nose, etc.)
 Certain types of Uticaria (Differential Diagnosis Required)

Commentary:
This formula is designed to eliminate any upper-respiratory and/or sinus conditions. The formula was originally designed several years ago at the request of a local Holistic Pediatrician who was looking for something to stop coughs and clear infections that also tasted good.



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