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Thursday, May 22, 2008

What about neurotoxins?

Doctors who are not versed in adjunctive therapies for chronic Lyme patients are likely to be surprised by some of medications used. One class of medicines is used to remove neurotoxins.
Toxins may accumulate in the blood stream which are made by the chronic infection. These toxins are filtered by the liver, but are recycled and not removed from the body. Medicines called bile acid sequestrants can remove these toxins along with bile acids. The primary non Lyme use of these medications is to lower blood cholesterol levels. The two drugs are Questran and Welchol.

The exact nature of these toxins is not undestood. Clinically it has been observed that these medication can help with neurocognitive symptoms and occasionally help with other Lyme related symptoms. These meds do not active systemically; so they are safe to try. The only common complication is constipation. They should not been given with other meds because it may decrease their adsorption.

1 comment:

Shawn said...

I've used activated charcoal for this purpose. It worked similar to chlorestramine and both are reported to lower thyroid T4. AC is also documented to remove/reduce B3 which is manufactured in the gut.

When I first started using AC I would feel better immediately then an hour or two later feel strangely ill.

I've found that N-Acetyl Tyrosine, Niacinimide and B2 would help restore me to feeling normal.