Phone:1-206-878-3900, Fax:1-888-878-1118 customerservice@keycompounding.com

April is National Autism Awareness Month - a good time to take another look at Autism and compounded medication currently being used in its treatment.  In 2010 the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated that autism affects 1 in every 110 American children.  Just recently it has been speculated that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may affect as many as 1 in every 88 children and is four times more common in boys than girls..  ASD, also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), actually encompasses five distinct conditions: Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintergative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (atypical autism). The cause of ASD still eludes the medical community, but several factors have been implicated such as hereditary, heavy metal toxicity, vaccinations, exposure to high amounts of pitocin (oxytocin) and/or opioids during birth, food allergies, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  Common symptoms of ASD include impaired social and communication skills (verbal and nonverbal); delayed or unusual speech patterns; hyper or hypo sensitivity to light, sound, crowd and other external stimulation; some degree of fine and gross motor difficulty; repetitive behaviors and ritualized activities; aloofness or disengagement with surrounding environment, inability to handle stress or change in routine or environment; some patients have a degree of mental retardation and one in four develop seizures.  Many people have claimed an association of vaccinations containing thimerosal, a mercury preservative in many vaccines.  Although thimerosal has been present in many vaccines for decades, it is hypothesized that the amount of mercury that a child is exposed to has greatly increased over the past twenty years due to the increased number of vaccines that children are now given today at a very early age.  But the prevalence of autism continues to increase despite the reduction or removal of the thimerosal in most vaccines.  The jury is still out.

In a review of the literature most treatment regimens utilizing compounded pharmaceuticals are derived from factors that have been implicated in the condition as listed above.  In general these include five general areas for possible treatment. Examples of medication follow:

Nutritional Deficiencies - methylcobalamin (Vit B12), folic acid, 5-MTHF, anti-oxidants, B vitamins, alpha lipoic acid, glutathione, fish oil, magnesium, calcium

Immune Dysfunctions - low dose naltrexone (LDN), immune globulin (IVIG)

Toxins - DMSA, DMPS, EDTA (chelation therapy)

Gastrointestinal Abnormalities - secretin

Misc - oxytocin, Respen-A

If you have any questions about these treatment modalities please contact our pharmacists via our website by clicking on “Contact Us”.  We look forward to talking with you.

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