Supplements are not necessarily safer than prescription medication

[Guest guest]

Margo, When Dr. Goldberg thought I was giving vitamin A or cod liver oil because his blood tests showed elevated vitamin A, I got yelled at big time. Even though I never gave my son Vitamin A, I was giving chapter and verse on how dangerous it can be if the body is given too much. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise to tell Dr Goldberg I never gave vitamin A. However, that’s when I realized supplements can be as harmful as prescription medications and more is not necessarily better. Supplements have the potential to be even more dangerous than prescription medications, because they are not regulated nor go through the rigorous testing required for prescription drugs. When I read this list I understand the desperation that makes moms try these things. Been there and done that. I was guilty also. We would do anything to help our kids. But sometimes it puzzles me when moms are afraid to try tested meds in favor of tons of supplements. Especially when these families don’t do regular blood tests to see the results of what they are doing. Some parents don’t keep track of liver functions to make sure that these supplements are not hurting their children. I worry that as moms and dads, we are practicing medicine without a license. I know I did. ( I used to secretly wish I had gone through medical school so I could have helped my son or find the cure. But I never would have passed.) The thing that makes me even more concerned is the way some of the DAN doctors throw thousands of supplements at our kids instead of treating this more scientifically with one medication change at time and the blood tests to measure the results. They as medical professionals should know better. Having said all that, I was desperate for help for and did the same when we were seeing Sidney Baker, the doctor who started the DAN protocol. And when Dr G said I needed to stop all the supplements, I secretly kept a few until the trust grew that this man knew what he was doing. Of course the trust never changed the fact that at times Dr G’s bedside manner needed help. His passion to help our kids sometimes makes him become too strident. (’s word for me that means too opinionated and overbearing.) But he saved my kid. In all fairness to Dr Baker, some of what he tried did help, but the results we saw were nowhere near those from Dr Goldberg’s protocol. In time, I learned to trust this doctor and follow most of his advice. (We still argue about the best way to do the behavioral and educational rehabilitation.) Please find a practitioner who knows what they are doing and follows the scientific method doctors are supposed to use. Good doctors are hard to find. (We all know where the bad ones are!!!) In addition, don’t do anything that might harm your child.Best,Marcia Hinds