Bictra -

[Guest guest]

Sorry to be jumping in so late.

My son was put on Bicitra (very grapy, clear liquid) a few months into the

diet. Reason being he was admitted to the hospital (local) for low bicarb and

acidosis and dehydration. They felt he needed something to counteract the

acidosis.

We remained on it for at least a year, then when we happened to be at Hopkins

for a follow up, I showed them the bottle and they felt it was questionable

whether or not it was keto friendly, so they switched him to Polycitra, in

powder form. Apparently it has a similar mechanism. Anyway, he is still on it,

no longer has problems w/ acidosis but probably because he eats/drinks

adequately.

I have weaned it considerably and he is on about 50% strength (I mix it w/

double water amount).

The one time I cut it back, within a few weeks there was blood in his urine and

he had some kidney " gravel " but not stones. That scared me enough to put it

back and keep it there. So...he remains on it today....basically just a system

alkalyzer. He runs on the acid side despite being on it.

Barb Swoyer, Jake's mom

PS, the Bicitra actually saved me. Jake loved it....it very sweet and grapy

smelling....it actually helped him to drink, maybe you are on a different kind?

Re: Bictra - help needed

>Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 10:03:47 -0400

>

>To the best of my knowledge, most keto centres don't start the diet with

>bictra, only use it acidosis becomes a problem later. Actually if I was

>you, I would be interested in taking it away to see if you get better

>seizure control - a few kids need the acidosis of the diet to get

>seizure control.

>I can't see any harm in taking it away, you can always put it back if

>theres a problem. Unless of course, your son's condition makes him more

>prone to acidosis, and subsequent problems. with it. I think there are

>some conditions like that but generally they wouldn't do the diet wiht

>those kids at all.

>It must have been you, I remembered a while ago someone just starting

>the diet and saying neuro started them on bictra at same time. I wrote

>saying that was unusual

>

>

>zachary harris wrote:

>

> >

> > Hi Group: My son, Zach, age 7, has been on the diet since february.

> > I have

> > seen such a great increase in his alertness and overall happiness.

> > Although

> > we still have seizure activity, it is significantly reduced.

> >

> > A quick question for the epxerts here. When Zach was started on teh

> > diet,

> > his nuero added Bicitra to his diet to acidosis, but told us that we

> > would

> > only probably have to use it for about three months or so. Well,

> > almost

> > nine months later, Zach si still on the diet. When the neuro does

> > bloodwork, of course, it is with the Bicitra as part of his overall

> > diet.

> > Zach really hates the taste of bicitra, and to make a long story

> > short, it

> > is the only chalenging part of the overall diet plan.

> >

> > anyone else's child taking Bicitra?