Note: The Respen-A™ 1.0 Disc can lower your intracellular calcium level, so it is very important that you take the recommended amount of calcium and magnesium every day! Symptoms of low calcium include irritability, muscle and joint stiffness and aching, numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, around the mouth, and face.
You will need to supplement 2,000 mg of elemental* calcium in the form of calcium carbonate, and approximately 500 mg of magnesium oxide, orally with breakfast 30-60 minutes (parents report best results when waiting 60 minutes) before putting on the Respen-A™ Disc. This needs to be in a 1 to 4 ratio of magnesium to calcium (1 part magnesium to 4 parts calcium) as these two work together in the body. Magnesium oxide is preferred, though other forms are o.k. If 500 mg magnesium is too much, you will have loose stools. If it is too little, you will have constipation. Adjust accordingly.
*FAQ #7 for Respen-A™ thoroughly explains elemental calcium
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) may be a beneficial supplement to be considered with the Respen-A™ Disc as it is a prebiotic that will assist in calcium and mineral absorption, as well as protect the cells from too much calcium influx that can cause inflammation. FOS has also been shown to decrease cholesterol levels due to its ability to protect the cells from destruction from calcium influx. To achieve these benefits from FOS, it is important that 3,000 mg be taken all at once with breakfast. FOS is available as a tablet, or powder that dissolves easily in water, and has a slightly sweet taste.
PRIOR TO USING
Make sure the skin is clean and dry. The disc may be applied anywhere on the torso of the body (abdomen, side, hip, back, chest) that is easily accessible and not subject to too much skin stretching or rubbing of clothing. In the case of sensitivity issues, parents have reported that the back, between the shoulder blades, is an adequate spot as the child has a hard time reaching the disc to remove it. In most cases this sensitivity resolves within 3 days, and the disc can then be transferred to an area that is better for absorption and less likely to become loose due to movement of the body or exterior clothing. A great spot is on the side of the hip, where it can be protected underneath the underwear. This also allows for better absorption because there is fat over the hip bone.
HOW TO APPLY THE RESPEN-A™ DISC:
1) Inspect the skin for any open areas or sores. Do not apply the disc to any areas that have a sore, crack in the skin, or are open.
2) Open the ZipSeal foil pouch- containing the Respen-A™ Discs- at the tear notch, and remove the sheet of discs. [You will find it easiest to cut the sheet into several smaller sections for ease of future access]. Cut out one disc, then reseal the remaining sheet(s) of discs in the foil pouch using the ZipSeal closure. DO NOT LEAVE THE SHEET(S) OF DISCS EXPOSED TO AIR AS THIS WILL BEGIN TO MAKE THE FREQUENCY LESS VIABLE.
3) Peel The paper off of both sides of the disc. Apply the disc to the center of a strip of the adhesive tape that has been provided with the RespenA™ Discs, and attach to clean, dry skin, on the torso of the body (abdomen, hip, side or back) making sure that the entire disc is completely sealed down. The adhesive tape is waterproof, so the disc can be worn when showering, bathing or swimming. It is also occlusive, which keeps air out, thus maintaining viability.
4) Apply 1 disc daily, in the morning, and wear it until bedtime when it will be removed. The disc should be worn for at least 12 hours as there is no carry over, and you'll want to see benefits when you are interacting with your child. The following morning, apply a new disc, rotating application sites so as to not apply a disc in the exact same site on the skin within a 48-hour time interval.
5) Repeat steps 1 through 4 daily.
NOTE: It is o.k. to touch the Respen-A™ Disc and move the sides away from the edges of the tape to ensure more adhesive area for a proper seal.
ADHESIVE INFORMATION: The tape that comes with the disc is occlusive (keeps all air out) and waterproof- both of which are necessary to keep the disc viable. One of the ingredients in the Respen-A™ Disc that keeps it stable is glycerin. Glycerin absorbs water- moisture is in air, and the glycerin attracts moisture. The water clumps together, and this clumping will muffle the frequency of the Respen-A™ Disc, which means you won't get a clear effect. Therefore, DO NOT use any other tape to seal the disc to the skin!
STORAGE: Respen-A™ Discs are to be stored at room temperature in the foil ZipSeal package. IF your zipper on the ZipSeal package fails, simply fold the top over a couple of times and use a bag clip on one corner. DO NOT TRANSFER DISCS TO ANY OTHER TYPE OF STORAGE PACKAGE AS THE ZIPSEAL PACKAGE IS OCCLUSIVE, WHICH MEANS IT KEEPS AIR AND LIGHT OUT. The Respen-A™ Disc will lose its viability the longer it is exposed to air.
We recommend a regular diet with a serving of meat every day.
Do not use the following supplements as they are known to inhibit MAO-A, therefore rendering the Respen-A™ Disc non-viable:
Flaxseed oil, borage oil, primrose oil, fish oil, cod liver oil, krill oil.
Omega 3 EFA supplements. From our observation and experience, the diet should not be supplemented with EFA’s, whether in oil form or supplement form, as these are polyunsaturated to super-unsaturated fats that can potentially decrease the effectiveness of the Respen-A™ Disc. It is important to get some Omega-3 unsaturated fat in the diet, and this can be accomplished by eating some fish each week.
Curcumin, Turmeric
Papain
Licorice Root (Anise): often in digestive enzyme supplements
Quercetin
GABA
L-Glutamine
L-Carnitine
L-Carnosine
L-glutamate
Methylene Blue
Tyrosine
Luteolin
Rhodiola
Harmine
Lemon Balm
Milk Thistle
Ashwaganda
Cat’s Claw
Goldenseal
Kalonji
Black Seed Oil
Vitamin D in excess of 400 IU’s a day
Any antioxidants, such as Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA is already really high in these kids!)
Anything high in polyphenols such as cistus tea, olive oil high in polyphenols (usually very expensive)
Link to known plants that inhibit MAO-A:
https://www.botanical-online.com/en/natural-medicine/depression-natural-mao-inhibitors
We have found that those taking no supplements, other than the calcium/magnesium, the FOS if needed, and inositol- if on a gluten restricted diet-, or 5-HTP if not eating meat, see the best improvements.
NOTE: please discuss with your physician before making changes to your supplement program.
The following antidepressants inhibit MAO-A: nortriptyline, amitriptyline, imipramine, maprotiline, zimeldine, nomifensine, and viloxazine.
The following drugs are known to increase MAO-B. MAO-A and MAO-B should be in balance. When MAO-B is high you will have symptoms of autism, anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, Bipolar, OCD and more. Therefore, keep your eye on symptoms. When the amount of drug used is higher, then MAO-B becomes higher making the Respen-A™ Disc non-viable: Baclofen, Gabapentin
ALCOHOL USAGE AND NARCOTIC PAIN MEDICATION: Alcohol and narcotic pain medication can greatly decrease the effectiveness of the Respen-A™ Disc, and therefore should be avoided.
If you misplace your tape, this is the information for reordering online (available on Amazon):
3M BLENDERM 1" x 5 Yd Clear Surgical Plastic / Tape 1525-1 LF Waterproof Hypoallergenic
Product Description on Amazon: 3M Blenderm Surgical Tape is a latex free, hypoallergenic, occlusive transparent tape designed to provide a barrier from external fluids and contamination. This tape is ideal for protecting wounds and for specialist applications.
If you are looking for more information on the Respen-A™ Disc, please browse the www.respen-a.com FAQ page.
We also have a blog that discusses many topics, not only regarding Respen-A™, but other Autism treatments and how they interact with the Respen-A™ Disc:
https://respena.wordpress.com/
If you have any troubleshooting questions about Respen-A™, or any testimonials you would like to share regarding your results of using the Respen-A™ Disc, please call us at 425-870-9366, or message us on the Respen-A™ Facebook page, link shown below. We would love to speak with you!
https://www.facebook.com/Respenaforautism
Updated 6-06-2023
