B6-P5P, taurine

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Okay -- Just thought I'd update everyone on what I've found out in my search

for B6 answers.

* started at 50 mg. of straight B6 two weeks ago. After having

daily seizures -- she only had one in a week. We then went up to 100 mg.

and she had no seizures. She was, however, very hyper. . .Wednesday was

described as a " disaster " at her Montessori day camp. Based on this and the

fact that I thought she had a headache ever since beginning B6, I decreased

to 75 mg. on Wednesday and only 25 mg. yesterday. And. . .you guessed it. .

..this morning she had two seizures.

* I was wondering if the B6 needed to be balanced out with anything

else and went back to researching the Kirkman Labs products, specifically

the hypoallergenic Nu-Thera. I spoke with a very knowledgable doctor from

the lab yesterday and here's what she told me: The hypoallergenic Nu Thera

contains P5P which is a converted version of B6, which essentially is more

broken down for kids with absorption problems. That's why they put it in

the hypoallergenic formula, because the kids who need hypoallergenic

products usually have absorption problems. P5P is 4-10 times stronger than

B6. The reason they're not more specific is because it just depends on the

child and how they absorb it. So -- 10 mg. of P5P could be equal to

anywhere from 40 to 100 mg. of B6.

* The Kirkman labs doc said that hyperactivity is very common with B6

and with the P5P. As we know, it needs to be taken with magnesium. There

are, however, some kids who just can't handle B6 -- some are even allergic

to it and can virtually " freak out " on it. That's probably the case with

-- lovely. . .so it appears to have an impact in controlling her

seizures, but once again (as with all the meds) the side effects are

unacceptable.

* She asked me if I was using Taurine. I said I was not -- but that

I'd certainly read about it and been curious about it. She said that she

personally has controlled several small children's seizures using Taurine.

She recommended it for at 1,000 mg./2x day, starting, as always, very

slowly. She said she had not heard of any side effects except at extremely

high doses -- 6,000-7,000 -- there could be abdominal discomfort.

* Her recomendation was to try the hypoallergenic Nu-Thera working up

from 1/4 capsule to 1 capsule/day, supplementing with extra magnesium, and

to start Taurine. I'm not sure about the hypo Nu-Thera -- I may look for a

B complex and see what happens. Just not sure about this P5P business,

although now that I look at the Bio Glycozyme Forte vitamin she's been

taking, I see that it, too, contains P5P. Obviously, that hadn't been

controlling her seizures. . .if B6 really helps her, as it appears it does,

I think she needs the " straight stuff. "

Anyway, since I've posted several times and there's been some debates about

this on the ketogenic list, I thought I'd just give you all an update.

Please let me know if you've heard anything different than the above. I'm

really in a quandry about this. . .it was sure nice to see her go 8

seizure-free days, but the resulting hyperactivity was maddening. . . I feel

like I'm walking a tightrope!!!--D