Have a child with classic PANDAS. In one episode before he was formally diagnosed he suddenly went incredibly hyperactive along with an insatiable craving for sweets, which he had seldom sought out before. One night he maniacally tore through the house opening every cupboard looking for candy. This lasted about two months. I can't remember quite how we survived. He also had OCD, which lasted longer.

OP Here-to add to this, he started to get out of control before he was on antibiotics. I thought about PANS/PANDAS but he is not OCD at all, just loses all of his impulse control and his behavior sort of cancels out his meds. Any other ideas. I am meeting with his pediatrician and Psychiatrist next week. Will post what I learn.

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:6:01--Thanks for the info. Looked up on line and there a LOT of drugs listed that can worsen epilepsy. Good reminder to always mention this when something is being prescribed. DC is very stable now on current meds and I tend to forget how unfun it is when everything goes off kilter.

As with everything, it's always a crapshoot. Sometimes antibiotics are smooth sailing. Sometimes they are a nightmare. Sometimes it just means grouchiness and a few auras.

6:01--Thanks for the info. Looked up on line and there a LOT of drugs listed that can worsen epilepsy. Good reminder to always mention this when something is being prescribed. DC is very stable now on current meds and I tend to forget how unfun it is when everything goes off kilter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Antibiotics have many neurological effects. They "lower the threshhold" for many neurological disorders. They are considered a disaster/last resort for many people who have epilepsy, for example.

Any more info on this? Have a chld with epilepsy. Have never heard of this and DC's had plenty of antibiotics, all prescribed by physicians who know about the condition.

I recommend Orrin Devinsky's book on Epilepsy. First of all, he is the foremost expert in this country on epilepsy. His book also has an entire chapter on drug interactions that discusses antibiotics.

As for more info, antibiotics are well known in the epilepsy community to lower the seizure threshhold. Pediatricians are not going to know about this, or internists. Your neurologist certainly should be warning you.

Devinksy's new book "Epilepsy in Children" will be out in November:

http://www.amazon.com/Epilepsy-Children-Orrin-Devinsky-MD/dp/1936303787/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438768770&sr=1-10&keywords=orrin+devinsky

His last book which was published in 2007 is well worth reading until then:

http://www.amazon.com/Epilepsy-Orrin-Devinsky-MD/dp/1932603417/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438768770&sr=1-3&keywords=orrin+devinsky

Anonymous wrote:Antibiotics have many neurological effects. They "lower the threshhold" for many neurological disorders. They are considered a disaster/last resort for many people who have epilepsy, for example.

Any more info on this? Have a chld with epilepsy. Have never heard of this and DC's had plenty of antibiotics, all prescribed by physicians who know about the condition.

My ADHD kid was on antibiotics once, and was a total disaster. It turned out he was allergic to the antibiotics, so I blamed it on that, but maybe it was something more.
After the first couple of days of the insanity, I requested a dye-free antibiotic -- not sure if that helped or not.

Antibiotics have many neurological effects. They "lower the threshhold" for many neurological disorders. They are considered a disaster/last resort for many people who have epilepsy, for example.

Anonymous wrote:You've researched PANS/PANDAS?

That's not PANDAS--symptoms go away on antibiotics.

OP, have you spoken with your doctor?

My child is also a holy terror on antibiotics. It gets better as soon as she stops taking them.

You've researched PANS/PANDAS?

My DS is 7 and on zoloft and Kapvay (clonodine). He is on the mild end of the spectrum with anxiety and ADHD. Every time he gets sick recently, he is completely out of control, as if he is not on the medicine anymore. He seriously seems like he is on speed. He was put on antibiotics (zpack) for bronchitis 10 days ago. Not sure what to do and I hope once the antibiotics are out of his system, he returns to his old self.

Any ideas why this might be happening? Anything I am missing?