Posted by Larry Hoover on March 25, 2005, at 17:11:37
In reply to My supplement regimen, posted by MoparFan91 on March 22, 2005, at 19:50:19
> In addition to my medications of Lamictal, Geodon, and Klonopin (as needed) for Bipolar II, I'm taking the following meds/supplements many of which my doctor recommended:
>
> To Help with Mood Stabilization:
> Lamictal 100mg 2xday (200mg total)
> Magnesium Glycinate 600mg 3xday (1,800mg total)
> Fish Oil 1,800mg EPA/DHA 3xday (5,400mg EPA/DHA total) - I get this with 18 capsules total of Wal-Mart brand Fish Oil
>
> To Help Lift Depression:
> Geodon 10mg 2xday (20mg total)
> 5-Hydroxy Tryptophan 100mg at bedtime and 50mg morning and noon (200mg total)
> L-Tyrosine 500mg daily (30 minutes before waking up in the morning)
>
> To Help with Anxiety:
> Taurine 500mg nightly
> Niacin(amide) 500mg 3xday (1,500mg total)
>
> To Even Out Blood Sugar:
> Chromium Picolinate 400mcg 2xday (800 mcg total)
>
> For Thyroid Health:
> Zinc 50mg 2xday (100mg total)That's too much zinc. You'll suppress copper uptake at that dose. Maximum should be around 40 mg/day.
> Selenium 200mcg in the morning
> Kelp/Iodine 1 Tablet
>
> Augmenting Nutrients:
> Vitamin C 4,000mg 3xday (12,000mg total)
> Vitamin E 400IU 3xday (1,200IU total)This should be a mixed tocopherol supplement. Recent evidence has demonstrated that the alpha-tocopherol (synthetic E) supps can cause lasting deficiencies of gamma-tocopherols, which have independent antioxidant effects in vivo. It's really worth seeking out a mixed tocopherol vitamin E supp. Make sure it contains gamma-tocopherols.
> Vitamin B-Complex 1 Tablet in the morning
> Vitamin B6 200mg 2xday (400mg total)
> Vitamin B12 2,000 mcg 2xday (4,000mcg total)You only need that amount for about one month, to get your body stores maxed out. After one month, you could take that much once a week.
> Multi-Vitamin 2 Tablets in the morning
>
> As Needed:
> Klonopin 0.5mg for mixed states/anxiety
> Extra Taurine 1,000mg-2,000mg for mixed states/anxiety
> Glycine 2,000mg to calm hypomania
> Melatonin 1mg for sleep
>
> I've been taking most of these consistently for about a month, and I seem to be getting some relief along with my meds. I seem to be getting the most benefits from Magnesium Glycinate, Fish Oil (been taking this for almost 2 months), 5-HTP (been on it for almost 2 weeks), and possibly Vitamin C (been on for a few weeks). I'm probably getting some benefit from the others as well.
>
> I intially started on 800mg of Mag Glycinate a day but moved up later on. I have been at 1,200mg or higher of Magnesium Glycinate for almost a week recently moving up to 1,800mg. Since moving to higher doses of Magnesium Glycinate, my sleep quality seems to be improving some. I think 5-HTP may be playing a role here as well. I also think the Tyrosine helps keep me more alert during the day, but if I go over 500mg, my anxiety goes up. Fish Oil seems to be helping me keep afloat and also seems to give me more brain power. Vitamin C seems to have a mind-clearing effect on me as well (someone mentioned it has anti-psychotic properties at high doses).
>
> Does anyone take any of these supplements listed above?
>
> What are your experiences with them? Did you get any therapeutic benefits?I certainly obtain a sense of resiliency, and of mood stabilization. I'm less irritable. I know I'm still mentally ill, but there just aren't extremes like before. I bounce back better. That sort of thing.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:474253
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050323/msgs/475545.html