Methods of treating pervasive development disorders
A therapeutic method for treating an individual diagnosed with PDD pervasive developmental disorder comprises determining the efficacy of digestive enzyme administration for the treatment of the individual based on a measure of the individual's chymotrypsin level, and administering digestive enzymes to the individual based on the determination of the measure of the individual's chymotrypsin level. A method for reducing the amount of methylphenidate (Ritalin) being taken by an individual with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by administering a therapeutic amount of digestive enzymes is also provided.
1. A method for treating an individual with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who is taking methylphenidate, the method comprising the steps of:
measuring a level of chymotrypsin in a stool sample of the individual;
administering digestive enzymes comprising proteases, lipases and amylases to the individual in an amount effective to promote protein digestion to improve a symptom of the disorder if the level of chymotrypsin in the stool sample indicates that the person suffers from a deficiency in protein digestion;
monitoring a behavior of the individual; and
adjusting the amount of methylphenidate being taken by the individual to an appropriate therapeutic level based on improvement in the behavior of the individual.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proteases comprise chymotrypsin.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of methylphenidate being taken by the individual is decreased based on improvement in the behavior of the individual.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digestive enzymes comprise 2-5 mg of chymotrypsin per dose or 60-100 mg of trypsin per dose.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digestive enzymes comprise from 4,000 to 20,000 USP lipases per dose; proteases; and from 10,000-60,000 USP amylases per dose.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the proteases comprise from 10,000 to 50,000 USP per dose.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the proteases further comprise 2-5 mg of chymotrypsin per dose or 60-100 mg of trypsin per dose.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual's fecal chymotrypsin level is below 8.4 U/gm.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual's fecal chymotrypsin level is below 8.4 U/gm but above or equal to 4.2 U/gm.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual's fecal chymotrypsin level is below 4.2 U/gm.