Frontal Temporal Dementia - FTD - Formerly Orthomolecular Schizophrenia Protocol

One Patient's story of non clinical and clinical diagnosis of Schizophrenic like symptoms, attempts at vitamin therapy approach, seizure activity present. We searched for answers & much of our research was beneficial in chronological context. Taken out of context, the information may not provide an accurate understanding/solution. Psychiatric illness was ruled out. This blog indicates how we arrived @ the current treatment -vitamin therapy. Diagnosis given: Fronto-temporal dementia.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

DHEA, Melatonin, Seizures

I'm returning to the DHEA topic. Patient has taken a two week break from DHEA after taking for a couple months. One problem Patient has battled with lately is not having a regular sleep schedule, despite continuing Melatonin. Patient has typically been very tired around 7-8PM and gone to bed only to wake up at 1-2am.

While looking at possibilities to get the schedule under control I have decided to give DHEA a shot at it. Will request Patient take DHEA 2.5mg in late afternoon. Idea being that Patient will get a small burst of energy/activity boost to carry into evening hours for a target 10-11pm sleep time. Six to seven PM has also been typically when Patient has delusional thoughts so I want to see how DHEA affects this time of day.

I suggest you read the following links for a better understanding of the role of these hormones within the body.

"...It is this rebound response that is the large area of stimulated nerves
that cause the seizures. Once the brain has stimulated sufficient DHEA, then the seizure stops." (1)

(1) http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/neur-sci/2000-April/043570.html

http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/neur-sci/2000-April/043570.html

http://www.bio.net/hypermail/neuroscience/1998-January/030264.html

I've updated the protocol on right side of page with info about max levels of DHEA. I should add that it is estimated that males levels naturally are 10-15 mg daily, female levels are up to 20% less than male levels. Upregulation does not occur when DHEA is taken orally, so do not exceed the natural levels. Why on earth would anyone take 25, 50, 100mg ???

--gjh

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: If melatonin will not help sleep, then deficiency of L-tryptophan seems probable. My 24 year old son (with schizophrenia) takes 1000 mg between meals in afternoon and 1000 mg at bedtime. This has improved his sleep greatly.; February 26, 2007 at 12:17:00 PM EST

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LOW HISTAMINE

This LOW HISTAMINE schizophrenia supplement schedule was developed to improve the quality of life of our family member-referred to as Patient. Once the FTD diagnosis was agreed, the patient was in late stages and soon hospitalized. The only supplement that was to have significant impact on FTD was DHEA in the early stages. THIS is not a recommendation and we make no claims this protocol will work for you. Always check with a qualified Doctor when making changes to your recovery protocols.
100mg L-Carnosine AM - scavenger of oxidative stress (ROS & alpha-beta unsaturated aldehydes), improves processes affected with autisim, found highly concentrated in muscle and brain tissue, quickly metabolizes blood levels of stress produced Cortisol returning levels to normal, too much Carnosine may cause hyperactivity.
100mg R-ALA (RLA) PM - Powerful antioxidant, reverse cognitive dysfunction, increases glutathione, "recycles" other key antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione, promotes glucose metabolism, proven effective for treating diabetic neuropathy, prevents nerve damage from oxidation.
2mg Melatonin PM-ONLY - counteracts TD, Improves sleep quality of chronic schizophrenia patients, suppresses prolactin release, necessary for SWS-REM sleep, stimulates endorphin production (updated from 1mg 12-9-06)
5mg DHEA AM Androgen occurring naturally in humans and synthesized from cholesterol. 5mg maintenance dose-no higher. Patient responded to larger 50mg dose in the past but then had significant side effects. Goal is to balance or restore normal level. Body does not upregulate its own levels when taken orally, so max total levels should not exceed natural 15 mg in body daily.
100mg CoQ10 AM Many useful antioxidant activities especially Schizophrenia, neuroprotective effects, potent free radical scavenger in lipid and mitochondrial membranes (increased from 30mg on 2-15-07)
800mg EPA-protein AM Balance with DHA
200mg Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine AM Counteracts Kryptopyrrole, break down and use fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, to make red blood cells and antibodies, to help the digestive and nervous systems function, maintain healthy skin. Converts to coenzyme P5P in body
800mg DHA-protein AM Balance with EPA
500mg per meal Vitamin B3 Niacin (no flush-slow release) AM Opens Capillaries, take after each meal, Removes voices, Needed for Omega EFA conversions to prostaglandins.
50-80mg Zinc AM Positive Factor for TD, inverse of Copper, Works closely with B6, promotes normal metallothionein, commonly out of balance with Copper
200mcg-600mcg Selenium AM Antidote for Mercury, Antioxidant, Antidepressant, Improves Prostaglandins
30mg Chelated Manganese PM Prevents Tardive (TD), increases elimination of copper and helps return copper levels to normal. Do not take with Calcium.
5,000mcg Vitamin B12 AM Improves RBC flow through Capillaries
|AVOID| 200mg SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) Treats Undermethylation, was tested on this Patient and did not respond well, maintains cell membrane structure, substances vital to transmitting nerve impluses that influence mood and emotion
|AVOID| 100mg L-Theanine - inhibits glutamic acid excitotoxicity, promotes GABA production, decreases serotonin and increases dopamine (BAD FOR PATIENT), promotes alpha wave production associated with alert relaxation (non drowsy), improves immune system response by boosting capacity of T cells, crosses blood brain barrier.
Exercise & Diet - 30 minutes of walking per day