[AnnieB3]

Hi, Geode. I read your post on another thread and thought I'd start a new one. Welcome to the forum!

Hi Annie,

I'm new here, and have been trying to read and absorb a lot of this very useful information on this site. Thank you for all your informative contributions!

I did want to share something I learned in another forum for a different condition. Did you know that nightshades also have anti-cholinergic properties? They can inhibit your body's production of acetylcholine, which would have the opposite effect of the cholinesterase inhibition.

Please see "The trees of death" by Stephan Cooter, PhD

Geode

Thanks. I hope you are doing okay.

The body is one big biochemical plant. Foods can interact with our bodies in a good or bad way, as you point out. Some people recommend using only organic nightshades due to how often they are sprayed with pesticides. Organophosphates do a more "Darth Vader" version of what Mestinon does and can be deadly to MGers or anyone else.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/167726-overview

The nightshade foods and the nightshade plants are a bit different. The atropa belladonna plant is indeed poisonous and can result in the reduction of acetylcholine. It is the group of plants they make Atropine from, which is what is used during a cholinergic crisis (too much acetylcholine).

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/812644-overview

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553039_13

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ATBE

Yes, the potatoes and tomatoes and tobacco, etc. can have a certain "degree" of cholinergic issues. This article is by no means a great one but it gives a good explanation and I don't have the energy to search out the past post with better info.

http://www.experts123.com/q/what-is-...ghtshades.html

So while there is a slight risk of "inhibition" of acetylcholine by the nightshade foods, there is a greater risk of it by the plants like Atropa Belladonna and drugs like Atropine.

The Buckthorn plant also inhibits acetylcholinesterase, so MGers should stay the heck away from that. Don't even touch it!

Even if you don't have MG, this stuff can be bad for you. We MGers have enough acetylcholine but it doesn't get to where it's going. So we still have to be careful about getting too much acetylcholine, especially if we are on Mestinon.

I still believe there are "subgroups" of MGers who may not even have enough acetylcholine to begin with. But that's speculation. Some people with Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes don't have any acetylcholine or not enough.

This topic can be confusing. Here are a few clarifications.

Mestinon inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme that mops up after acetylcholine (ACh) has done its job, allowing us to use what acetylcholine we have for a longer period of time. ACh needs time to get through the fewer muscle receptor openings so that our muscles work.

Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco are all nightshade FOODS. They do have cholinesterase inhibitor properties, just like Mestinon does. So does caffeine. Other foods too to some degree.

Organophosphates, DEET, etc. do what Mestinon does but in an extreme fashion. They can cause muscle paralysis and death.

Atropine, commonly found in eye drops given at an eye appointment, "compete" with acetylcholine and keep it from getting to the muscle receptors. That's why my eyes stay dilated for HOURS after an eye appt. and my MG gets worse. Some antibiotics do this too.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/cholin...dications.html

When in doubt, ask your doctor. If they don't know, bring in an article or two and ask them again.

I hope this hasn't confused the issue.

Annie