Posted by JLx on October 16, 2004, at 17:08:29
In reply to L-glutamine helped me with anxiety!, posted by mmb on October 15, 2004, at 17:30:51
Hi mmb,
I tried glutamine after it was recommended in "Depression Free for Life" by Gabrial Cousens and it's also in "Depression Free Naturally". At 500 mg I felt ok, so I took 500 mg more later and was still ok. At an additional 500 mg a bit later I felt nuts in the same way that I feel with too much calcium. I thought glutamine was different from glutamates, which I am somewhat sensitive to, so I was surprised. According to Russell Blaylock, who wrote "Excitotoxins", glutamine is converted to glutamate and is a potential excitotoxin. He recommends it only for short term use for GI injury and in the vigorous athlete.
Is Glutamine Supplementation Helpful or Harmful?http://www.mercola.com/2004/may/1/glutamine.htm
I know that another doctor on that site disagrees with him but I am just telling of my experience (which happened before I knew anything about this controversy) as food for thought.
JL
> After reading stories on this board and trying different medication I can now tell you how things turned out good from an unexpected source. For several years I have been suffering from severe stress and all symptoms related to it. To name just a few: anxiety, depression, fear of future, panic attacks, feeling tired, sleepy during the day, at night I could not fall asleep without benzos, tremor, feeling irritated all the time etc. I can not even remember all the symptoms. I tried all kind of benzos, Zoloft (for 9 months), all kind of alternative stuff (5-HTP, St. Johns worth, Adapton, inositol...) some of which helped (5-HTP, inositol) some did not. In my desperation I started to try and mix everything, especially these alternative stuff. At the same time I surfed the Internet trying to find more information because I was convinced my problems were related to unbalanced chemistry in the brain (due to severe trauma I went through several years earlier). Then one day I bought L-glutamine without much expectation since I have been dissapointed so many times with different supplements. And I was dissapointed. Nothing really happened. Two weeks later I come across an article about amino acids and especially L-glutamine on how it can boost GABA in the brain. I went out to another shop and bought 90 capsules of 500 mg L-glutamine of another brand. I took 2 capsules (1 g) at about 9 pm and for the first time in my life in last 8 years I felt myself. I then added small dosage of benzo and I felt even better. I fell asleep like a baby. Tomorrow when I woke up I still felt anxiety (which is a trademark of my mornings) but I was happy that I slept so good. Then I took 1g again in the morning and 1g in the evening and I continued to feel fine. Now, after three months I can tell you that this stuff works (at least on me). I feel great energy during the day (no more naps in the afternoon), anxiety is GREATLY reduced, I am not affraid of future nor social life. I sleep very good and only sometimes I have to add small dosage of benzo in the night just to feel really good. I also added Amin acid mix during the day and it just helped. I wean off Zoloft without problems while on glutamine and stopped taking it after 2 days. My daily regime has changed from every capsule in the drugstore to the following:
> Morning:
> Multivitamine tablet dissolved in water - 100% RDA of all vitamins and minerals
> 300 mg Magnesium + B1, B12, B6 - capsule dissolved in water
> 1g L-glutamine (on empty stomach)
>
> Afternoon:
> Amino acid mix - 1 tablet all aminoacids
> Multivitamine tablet dissolved in water - 100% RDA of all vitamins and minerals
> B vitamin complex - 1 capsule
> Ginkgo biloba - 1 capsule
>
> At night
> 1g L-glutamine (on empty stomach)
> 300 mg Magnesium + B1, B12, B6 - capsule dissolved in water
>
> So far so good. It works. I also take taurine sometimes (it is great supplement, really helps to calm your mind), but only when needed. Did not try L-tyrosin or l-phenylalanine, did not have to.
>
> A couple of suggestions to those who want to try alternatives: There are a lot of articles on the Internet about how amino acids change and balance brain chemistry. Do not believe in everything - I have found articles from very reliable sources (Phd's in USA) who even offer therapy with amino aicds for anxieta, depression etc.
>
> Try different brands. I get my L-glutamine from shop for body builders and it seems to be very potent. The other brand that i tried first did nothing.
>
> Watch out for placebo effect. That's what happened to me with Taurine. I expected too much from it after reading on how good it is. Then, when I took it first day I felt worse and stopped taking it. One week later I was working on something, then by mistake took 1 capsule of taurine and forgot about it. After one hour I felt much better. The more you think about it the less the effect or bigger placebo effect.
>
> Stay persistent. Most mental problems are really caused by unbalanced chemistry in the brain. Do your own research, find out how transmitters work (I could write a book about it after all the reading), how SSRI work, how vitamines work, how your body depletes nutritients under sressful situations. YOU CAN GET OVER IT. JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
>
> Sorry for being too long but i hope i can help people with mental problems. I was one of them.
>
> regards,
> mmb
poster:JLx
thread:403538
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040928/msgs/403915.html