Do you give l-tryptophan with B3 & B6
My 10 yr old daughter is having so much trouble with homework lately, especially Math. We need to take many breaks as she gets anxiety, and it takes forever. That with the combo of her Adhd & her lack of focus leaves us so frustrated. Still, she fidgets much more on tasks that give her trouble so I think the real problem is anxiety.
I've tried Inositol but it caused restless sleep so stopped using it, and then started L-theanine but have noticed no improvement. I have been researching L-tryptophan because I noticed some here use it. From my research, it says you should supplement with 25-50mg of B6 once or twice with meals and 100mg of B3 with each meal. Also it should be taken with a carb, like fruit juice, but not a protein, as a protein causes it to compete with other amino acids but a carb actually creates the opposite effect.
My daughter takes Empower Plus & a probiotic but Empower Plus doesn't provide the B3 and B6 she might need. Do those of you who use L-tryptophan also give those B vitamins? I feel comfortable with the Empower Plus but am not sure if it is safe to give extra B vitamins. Also, I'm using 500 mg of L-tryptophan once or twice per day (it's only been 2 days) - does that amount sound correct? I've read some articles that say that amount is fine, but others that say use much more. I'd prefer to start out low.
Thanks for any help you can give me!
I do not know the answer to your specific question but I am wondering if you might consider trying the Truehope Amino Acid complex, because that is specifically designed to work with the Empower vitamins. We do not use it as it came out only recently although I know our pdoc has had success with it. He tried to get my eldest to take it (who just takes Lithium) but she refused as she hates swallowing pills.
As for math: Many kids who have BP seem to struggle with math. But their reasons for struggling can be quite diverse. Some have issues with short term memory, which is impacted by anxiety and depression. Others have issues with visual memory which can interfere with the child being able to grasp mathematical concepts. And some have anxiety on top of their memory issues or due to their memory issues. Another segment of kids with BP have separate learning disabilities on top of their bipolar. So even if the Bipolar were treated they would still need specialized instruction to help them because math requires quite a bit of sequencing.
Another issues is what mathematics curriculum is she using? If she is in Public School and using Everyday Mathematics or TERC then chances are her struggles are related to the curriculum and the fact that it is not a good match for her. Many kids with BP or who are on the spectrum do better with curriculums that are straightforward, provide drill but also provide frequent review. Saxon and Singapore Math are two that come up as being successful. These curriculum are not perfect and do lack some of the creative and interesting aspects of math that make up other curriculums. But those things can often be added through supplemental challenges and problems.
Has your daughter had a complete neuropsychological evaluation? It would be helpful to know why math is tripping her up right now and what specific issues are getting in her way. Does she struggle with easier math? How is she with mathematical concepts and spatial relationships?
Another thing is that she might benefit from using a lot more manipulatives right now with math. I would have her playing dice and board games and doing things like dancing and singing her multiplication tables. Math at her age does not, and probably should not, be learned sitting down.
At some point she might benefit from specialized instruction/therapy around learning strategies and mathematics. Sometimes somebody at school can provide these strategies. Sometimes a professional cognitive therapist provides them. Either way learning those strategies can be life changing. My son could not pass Algebra 1 or 2 because of all the issues stated above. He had anxiety and memory issues and needed a math curriculum that was straight forward and not distracting because of his BP illness. He needed therapy to teach him how to cope with anxiety and also his poor short term memory. Medication adjustments only played a small role in helping him overcome his mathematical troubles. That child is now a math major in college and excelling.....even thinking of going to graduate school in mathematics.
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Jistac
Mother of 3 (23,20,17) with a variety of mental health issues. Been involved with using Empower as a treatment since 2003
EMPowerplus does have Niacin and Pyridoxine, the two B vitamins you mentioned (B3, B6). My younger daughter was taking extra B6 as part of a prescription B vitamin in the form of P-5-P (pyridoxal-5-phosphate). She did not take added Niacin.
The doctor had her replace her last 150mg of Seroquel with Tryptophan, for sleep. He put her on 500mg tryptophan for each 75mg Seroquel. She took it at night.
My older daughter did not take anything extra other than the EMPowerplus while she was taking the Tryptophan. (Except when she was taking the aminos).
--Jeanie aka "Naomi"
It's Not Mental
Older dd: formerly(?) teen-onset bipolar (morphed into ultradian cycling): "Recovered" after over 13 years - stable off psych meds almost two years. Now fine on just diet changes and higher thyroid levels (after healing - addressing gut issues/Candidal overgrowth while using EMPowerPlus and other supplements). She added a little EMpowerPlus back on as a multivitamin simply because she feels better on it - gets sick less often.
Younger dd: formerly(?) Childhood-onset schizoaffective, TS, OCD, anxiety, PTSD, migraines. After over 15 years, is now "recovered" for almost 5 years after treating endocrine issues, food sensitivities, gut issues, sleep issues, nutritional/mitochondrial needs.
Sarah,
I would be a little cautious of tryptophan and the 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Isn't Tryptophan is first metabolized into 5-HTP, which is the rate-limiting step? Next, it is converted almost directly into serotonin.
Anyway, the effects should be similar to Paxil or Zoloft, the SSRI medications. Great for unipolar depression, but well known to cause mania in a bipolar.
A lot of depressed bipolars do take SSRI's, but often in a small dose and when combined with a mood stabilizer.
I would suggest caution, but to try it if you need. Also, tryptophan is widely used in the body for other processes.
Brian
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Daughter 7 BP/violent rages. Unsuccessful with multiple meds. Now reasonably stable (now with fewer and less intense regressions) on Risperidone + Restrictive diet + EMPowerPlus + AminoPowerplus + NAC + Q10 + low dose lithium + melatonin + inositol (no more Intuniv)
Son (5) Normal
Wife (CathyK now also on TBMF) BP, & trying to wean off the meds.
My daughters Math program was Everyday Math (and it was not a good match) but now they are piloting a new program. It is more straight forward. I don't see her as not understanding the Math, but I can see that she really needs to concentrate and you can see the wheels turning. It is challenging but she is holding her own so to speak (when the school has put her in classes for extra math help they boot her out after a short time saying she does not need it). They do have really difficult academics these days, so my daughter is now adding & subtracting fractions, borrowing with fractions, so it's thought provoking and pretty challenging. Thank goodness we worked hard last summer on her multiplication facts or this year would be impossible!
I've looked at Empower plus amino's. I've read so much on this recently and am just not sure what to try. When I read about serotonin deficiency she has almost all the symptoms (minus suicidal thoughts & can't remember the other symptom) so I THINK that this is an issue. I know when she took 4 Vaxa Attend (it has aminos but does not say how much of each) she did NOT have the anxiety but her feelings of sadness remained. When we decreased to 2 Vaxa Attend the anxiety returned. The empower plus seems to address the sadness but does not help as much with the anxiety.
She is down to 6 Empower plus a day, but today we are going to increase that to 11 and see if that helps. When she started not feeling well with 8-9 EMpower plus I reduced the amount, but thinking now perhaps I should have went in the other direction.