Personal History, Categorical Thinking
January 7, 2007Bullet Proof Liver: SSRIs and Suicide
January 16, 2007Dr Richard Lord – Biomedical Insights
New dimensions for any customized review: Richard Lord PhD takes clinical assessment to a new level. I called him about a patient as one of the two chief clinicians at Metametrix a biomedical lab in Atlanta.
This was one of the most interesting clinical case reviews in my career. Dr Richard Lord, biochemist, neurophysiologist, and coauthor with Dr Alexander Bralley of Laboratory Evaluations in Molecular Medicine reviewed by teleconference the findings on my patient's puzzling ION panel.
Mercury In Evidence
The patient suffers from mercury exposure and toxicity, multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic exhaustion. For years she pursued multiple attempts at evaluation and treatment. She now takes numerous supplements and some small amount of psych meds. She feels like she is deteriorating in spite of doing everything right. This woman is very well read, understands cellular and molecular pathways [such as those outlined in Lord's book above], is clinically trained in psychology, and has her back to the wall because traditional, even excellent functional input, just couldn't move her to a feeling of wellness.
Reviewing the comprehensive ION panel from Metametrix the patterns for Lord just jelled on the page.
Dr Lord On Laboratory Evidence
We could see that the multiple supplements she was taking clearly helped with several values that remained within normal limits. Her efforts with some of her interventions worked well.
– But in the background one annoying problem found expression in numerous downstream effects: insufficient stomach acid due to treatment with an antacid for gastric reflux with esophageal irritation and pain. Low stomach acid led to her real zinc deficiency with multiple downstream effects on lipid metabolism, cell membrane dysfunction, leaving her exhausted and likely contributing to many subtle aspects of her frozen clinical presentation.
Zinc Does Change Your Mind
You might be interested in reading more about zinc in Lord's book with the Second Edition due out this spring, or this article on the downstream effects of zinc. Also check out these metabolic resources with more books and charts on this subject.
The patient and I were fortunate to have the hour with Dr Lord. That review clearly reminds us of the possibilities available using more evidence based assessments when struggling with multiple complex variables and subtle clinical presentations.
Will keep you posted as she modifies her antacids and zinc supplementation.
cp
Dr Charles Parker
Author: New ADHD Medication Rules – Brain Science & Common Sense
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17 Comments
Hi Dr Parker,
I have to thank you again for your truly wonderful website! I have learned soooo much about mental health from it and all the links that you provide. It gives us with mental health challenges lots of hope that we will eventually get to the bottom of our disorders.
That being said, I’m wondering what your opinion is on a supposedly common, but virtually unknown disorder called “Pyroluria”. It involves an inherited inability to use zinc and vitamin B6 due to its binding to an excess of Kryptopyrroles, a by product of hemoglobin synthesis.
I actually learned about it from the link you provided to William Walsh – this video on pyrrole disorder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g3wuTrienM
Again, I thank you for providing us with such a wealth of information!
Mike
Mike,
On it! That one is on my agenda three posts away – next one on folate deficiency, then copper overload, then the very important: pyrrole disorder. Well done, Mike. Stay tuned! You are most kind. I appreciate your feedback, your participation in this important dialogue, and your walking with me over these next hills.
cp
I will definitely be tuning in on the folate deficiency vid!
I did a bit of research on methylation, just so I can get a handle on what it is. Pretty interesting stuff!
One of the experts [ I think his name was Lynch(?)] stated that he has a real problem with “folic acid” which is not “folate” which we are suppose to get from green leafy vegetables. He says that:
a)Folic acid needs to be converted into “methyltetrahydrofolate”, using up other resources in the process (like vitamin B12), before it can be useful,
b) The remaining metabolites from the folic acid conversion can create a toxic load to the body. He even thinks that folic acid fortification may be contributing to cancer rates and other illnesses because of these excess metabolites. I believe he said that chronic illness rates have increased substantially in Australia since they started fortifying there flour with folic acid .
c)If you are fortunate to have inherited the MTHFR gene that lies in the pathway of conversion, you may only get 20-60% conversion into methyltetrahydrofolate. (Throw some toxins in there and a lousy diet and you are really in trouble!)
d)Folic acid will mask a B12 deficiency
Oops! ADHD kicked in again! I need to go exercise or I’ll never get myself well! (I hope I spelled that “methyl” word correct)
Talk soon
Mike
Mike,
Your are on it my friend. And for your next steps download this pdf summary on methylation, folate, etc., and the most interesting book by Bill Walsh: http://corepsych.com/walsh – These details matter.
cp
It’s already on order! I went to the local book store to see if they carried it. The girl there said “No, but we can order it for you”. After I ordered it, I saw that you also offer it on your website.
I thought “Darn! Had I seen that earlier I would have ordered it through you because of all the priceless information, links and advice that is offered on your site.” I really do owe you big time!
I just started seeing a local naturopath and did the IgG test. The one video “IgG denial” that you made is THE video that turned me around! I thought “God, maybe he’s on to something! I better do the testing!”
Turned out that I’m terribly reactive to EGGS! Almost right off the chart!!
Thanks Mike!
Glad you’re on your way. Stay tuned for all the very cool Walsh biotype/biomedical materials coming up. For a quick review [4 pdf pages] of his book Nutrient Power, and the process of looking at epigenetic changes for DAT presynaptic transporters as related to behavior and ADHD download this summary: http://corepsych.com/walsh.
Best wishes,
cp
Mike,
Thanks for commenting here. I just posted the first of a series on Dr William Walsh on these important biomedical issues: http://www.corepsych.com/2014/09/depression-walsh-biotypes-undermethylation/ – Dr Walsh brings together clinical findings and laboratory evidence in useful, fresh ways.
Thanks!
cp
This was a very interesting read. I’m hopting to soon study medical science and I enjoy reading the thoughts of doctors and other medical professionals on various medicines – especially antacids. I have suffered myself with low stomach acids after taking a lot of antacids to help with burning of my stomach lining. It’s interesting because I was then found to have a zinc deficiency and my doctor did not explain that the two may be linked.
Also, thanks for your opinions on Prozac!
Stacie,
Dr Lord and his team do provide truly remarkable findings at their labs, and zinc with antacids is one of his favorite subjects as zinc levels are so significant for so many biomedical challenges. All those with the kind of gastric issues you have should always have full IgG testing for the ~96 most common foods, as I have some interesting clients, one I reviewed a few years ago with Dr Lord. I love Richard’s intelligence, humility, and his abiding sense of humor.
cp
Taking antacids can have a lot of serious downstream effects over time. Of course, many doctors won’t tell you that! You could lose your ability to absorb all kinds of crucial nutrients needed for brain health, most notably B12.
It is a good thing that we have people like Dr Parker, who is passionate about getting to the root of the problem and not just masking symptoms. (I heard someone somewhere say that mainstream medicines approach to chronic health issues is like “Getting rid of the oil light by unplugging the bulb!”)
Thanks Mike,
It’s always encouraging to recognize that more answers become available with remarkably accurate new technologies! Appreciate your kind remarks!
cp
Brian,
Please drop me an email and we can discuss more precisely… so many of the symptoms you amplify upon continue do continue to encourage, in spite of the negatives, a concern about immune dysfunction.
Took a look at your http://www.Adderworld.ning.com site –
Good show,
cp
Thanks for commenting back. Yes, I have read about your dislike for Prozac and wish I had found your site before I took that very disruptive medication. Maybe if I explain a little more this might help and I am sorry if this should not be posted like this. Finding help for this has been near impossible.
Prior to taking the Prozac I had no negative physical symptoms that were obvious. I have always had a headache from time to time, but nothing a little Tylenol could not get rid of. I am mildly allergic to the stuff they put in soy sauce and Chinese food, mustard, nuts and milk. Anyway, when I took the Prozac I immediately felt uncomfortable from side effects, which can only be described as a weird feeling in my head, like burning. I took the Prozac for 6 weeks and then stopped and the nightmare started. For six months I had terrible nightmares, anxiety, shakes, trembles and severe headaches, sometimes the side of my face and neck feel numb. After the initial six months and now two years later, I still have a numb feeling in my head (similar to what I had ten years earlier). The numbness goes away for only brief periods and usually gets worse after I eat. Ibuprofen helps, but what helps the most is Benadryl. I often feel dizzy and sometimes believe I will faint. When I take Benadryl and Ibuprofen together, I can usually wipe out all symptoms for about 4 hours. In the mornings I usually wake up symptom free, until I drink some coffee. Coffee seems to bring the symptoms back and so I try not to drink it. There have been days when I try to go without eating or drinking to see if the symptoms will not return, but usually after 4 or 5 hours of waking, they come back. It does not matter if I am at home or at work.
Ten years ago I had similar symptoms and same as back then my blood test results come back as being normal or ‘good’. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with me according to standard medical tests. The reason my doctor tested for Mercury poisoning ten years ago was upon another of my complaints of numbness in my lower legs above my ankles and my forearms and twitching in my fingers. The twitching is back and sometimes the numbness has returned to my forearms. My blood sugar levels are good. Another thing that intensifies these symptoms is when I take any kind of synthetic vitamin. I had been feeling good about 6 weeks ago and decided to try a fish oil supplement 1000mg from Sundown and that was a very bad mistake as all my symptoms skyrocketed and put me back to square one. Allergy tests against fish are false, no known allergy to fish.
Ten years ago the chelating therapy ceased all the symptoms I had been suffering from. The interesting thing, at least to me, is that all my symptoms both ten years ago and this time started at a specific point, they did not start gradually and I was living in my mother’s old building both times. Maybe there is no connection, I have no idea. I am no longer living in my mother’s building for nearly 2 years and the 8 years between I was living elsewhere. I found out recently that the building was insolated with asbestos. Who knows what those pipes are made of… anyway, thanks for reading and if you have any suggestions on what I should ask my doctor, please advise… thanks…
Bryan
Bryan,
As you may already know from my comments in multiple posts, Prozac is one of my two least favorite SSRIs [#2=Paxil], as it interferes with its own metabolism, blocks many metabolic pathways for other drugs, …etc.
Having said all of that, the only speculative idea that comes to mind, having only this small amount of info, is that Prozac also seems, from my experience to amplify other metabolic conditions – such as gluten sensitivity, etc.
In fact, when I hear “neuropathy and headaches” I must at that moment begin to rule out immune disorders [such as gluten sensitivity – see my multiple posts and Resources for more information] – the way we do it in our shop is found under the Useful References in CorePsych Tools [LRA ELISA/ACT] – here is the link for easy access:
http://www.corepsychblog.com/neuroscience/useful-references/
Mercury and other heavy metal intoxications are frequently associated with a rusty immune system.
Best wishes in your next steps,
cp
This is very interesting. Thank you. In fact, I am planning on pursuing chelation therapy in a few weeks and found this post when I searched your site.
Have you written anything else about that? Specifically, I had chelation done 10 years ago when I was experiencing headaches and neuropathy, and they found I had high levels of Mercury and other heavy metals. I felt much better afterwards and the headaches went away. But about two years ago, I took Prozac for about a month, and have never been the same, the headaches I had ten years ago came back, the same type, just a bit more intense and neuropathy .
I was wondering if the medication (Prozac) could have caused some metabolic changes, perhaps disturbed heavy metals in my body which were acting more subtle and I am hoping that chelation can help again?
My doctor tested and found high levels of certain heavy metals in my system again. I find that a bit odd because I had all the mercury fillings from my mouth removed years ago during the first chelation therapy. I must be picking up the metals from another source, such as my mother’s 200 year old building.
Thank you,
Bryan
Dr. Lord,
It will likely come as no surprise that our mutual patient noted a positive change almost immediately with your recommended chelated zinc.
Moreover, in the several conversations with her since our meeting only 2 weeks ago, all of the refractory clinical parameters such as exhaustion, confusion, and apathy, to name only a few, show marked improvement.
In a word, she is thrilled.
I am collecting more information to publish here on your zinc remarks and your review, to help readers understand the varieties of chelation, why to think about chelated products, and why zinc in the first place.
Thanks so much for mentioning the Metametrix teleconference series, an outstanding ongoing series of presentations that all readers, with even a remote “metabolic interest,” would most enjoy – available at http://www.metametrix.com.
Not only have you have changed her life, but also helped me appreciate additional nuances of the excellent testing available at Metametrix.
Thanks again,
Chuck
Dr. Parker,
Thank you for your kind remarks. We are excited about the potential for teaching through the teleconference series from Metametrix. We all have much to learn in the new arena of health through molecular medicine.
Richard S. Lord, Ph.D.