DAN! Supplements

[chicmom]

We just came from our 3rd DAN! appointment and the list of supplements is getting very extensive...Just wondering what supplements your ASD child is currently taking. Thanks!

[Kristine233]

None. Since we don't believe in that idea that Autism needs to be defeated we treat our Autistic son the same way as our Neurotypical children. The only supplement he gets is a Flintstones vitamin recommended by our pediatrician. I have had friends (IRL) who did the DAN! thing and it was never ending supplements, I didn't ask how many though, I just know it was a lot! So probably pretty typical?

Eidt: lest anyone thinks I'm being negative yada yada yada, clarity disclaimer... I said I treat my Autistic son the same way as my neurotypical children, meaning if ANY of my children needed supplements (via ped recommendation) they would get them. I've just noticed that DAN! Drs give a lot more and that's just what I observed via my friends IRL who have gone to the local DAN! Dr. (PS, I even went to a presentation he gave for our Autism group just so I could have all the information on his program before I made my decision that it was not for us, I did give him a chance.)

[lotusdebi]

Mine takes magnesium and GABA. We'll probably be increasing magnesium soon. They've helped lessen my son's anxieties, obsessions (obsessive subjects as well as obsessive thoughts that he found really disturbing), and meltdowns tremendously! He has a much easier time with transitions now. I'm a firm believer in accepting my child as he is (I hate the "Defeat Autsim Now" phrase for that reason) but, just like I need fish oil and exercise to keep from slipping into a black hole of depression, my son needs something extra to make life livable.

Oh, he also takes DHA, vit D, and a multivitamin. I don't know how much of that is DAN stuff and how much is just recommended by the pediatrician (both his regular ped and his dev ped want him on those).

[BookGoddess]

My child on the spectrum takes supplements. Her lab tests show that she needs various things she can't get from diet alone. We didn't willy nilly decide to give her supplements. What she gets are targeted to her individual needs and given after discussion with her doctor(s). She gets a lot of omega 3 fatty acids, B vitamins, extra C vitamin, and digestive enzymes with every meal. She also gets some antiyeast supplements. All of these have made a big difference. Big. It's important to the point even her teachers make comments about how much better (calmer, more on task) she is with them.

There's a diversity of opinions regarding biomedical treatments. Please remember that some parents of children on the spectrum find special diets and supplements very helpful.

"Disagreement about special needs should be set aside out of respect for the diversity and varying interpretations and beliefs that we hold as a community.

[logan&jordansmommy]

You might want to look into this co op http://http://www.ecolifeus.com/About-Us_ep_7.html
You can get supplements cheaper. I think you see the discounted prices after you sign up. There is no cost or obligation if you sign up with them. It is basically one or two people that have negotiated better prices with manufacturers and they do all the work so you just have to make sure to order the supplments a couple weeks before you need them.

[OdinsMommy0409]

We've only had one DAN! appointment thus far. At the moment, our only current supplements are Probiotics, DHA/Omega 3's, DDP-IV, and Plant Enzymes. We're also doing the GAPS diet with huge improvements. I think DS's supplement list will remain stable unless we see regression from hormone replacements. (He's vax-injured with loss of pituitary function).

[moss]

It depends on the day, but usually cal/mag (he's on gf/cf/sf so i want to make sure he's got the calcium covered) and a good quality multi. epo, halibut liver oil...

sometimes melatonin for sleep but it gives him hypervivid dreams. he hasnt needed it for ages, he sleeps great for the most part these days.

sometimes milk thistle which helps support the liver to produce glutathione, etc

sometimes oil of oregano when he has gut issues, and then a non-dairy probiotic supp to follow up afterwards

when he was in soccer, he took an amino acid which really helped with the sustained energy he needed to run so much

he's taken no-phenol and enzymes but that did nothing for him

the Dan! doc we saw said that the biggest thing that people can do is to follow the gf/cf diet. she's seen the best improvements just from that and said that the families she's had who dont follow the diet and just do supplements never really see the kind of results that they should. we try not to overdo it with the supplements (who wants to take a bucket of pills everyday! LOL), but they can really help