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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2011, at 3:21:29
I put together a kind of random assortment of supplements to address my issues (anxiety, agitation, skin and hair problems, etc.). The results have been fantastic. My anxiety levels are down. I respond better to psychiatric medication. The stiff gait and mild dysphoria I used to get from an effective (30mgs) dose of Abilify is gone, and my thoughts are actually clearer now than off the Abilify. My skin looks better and my hair has thickened up and isn't brittle or dry anymore.
I do take a lot of stuff, though. This is my daily line up: 1) 3 grams niacinamide; (2)2 b-100 caps (3) 30mgs optizinc (4) 3 grams (6 caps) green tea extract (5) 6 grams taurine (6) 4mgs astaxanthin (7) 200mgs soy extract (8) 1600 IU natural vitamin e+400micrograms selenium.
I feel like a vitamin junkie. As much $$$ as I spend on vitamins, though, I feel like I'm saving money on meds. I take 30mgs/Abilify (I get it from India relatively cheaply) and I'm about to start taking Lamictal as soon as my package of Indian generic tablets gets here. That's it. Back in the day, I was on 4-6 meds, of which 2-3 were usually controlled substances. I look and feel so much better.
Anyway, just thought I'd post this to show that even with severe mental illness (I have Bipolar I w/ psychotic features, which I call "BipolarPhrenia"), more natural approaches can help you get more mileage out of meds and therapy. Also, I was kind of hoping for feedback on my vitamin program, since there aren't any alternative docs around here for me to consult.
Posted by Lao Tzu on July 28, 2011, at 5:38:01
In reply to 1+/- year on supplements, posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2011, at 3:21:29
I'm so happy you are doing well!! If you take the right supplements at the right dosages, you can get better. I too have bipolar depression with psychosis, and I have to take Risperdal everyday, 6mg, to control delusions and hallucinations. I also like vitamin E and selenium, but I take lower dosages than you and I do fine. Lately, I have been using ginkgo biloba for a couple of months, and it seems to help. I can think a little better, and have a little more energy with it. The other supplements I use are GABA, fish and borage oil, Vitamins C and E, selenium, and B6, B1, and B12. So far, I have been happy with my regimen. I haven't used real high dosages of taurine because I am sensitive to it, but I do like to take it once in a while to help me relax. I seem to sleep better with it too. Great you are doing well, and thanks for listing all the supplements you take. I'm sure other people can learn from your experiences. See ya!
Lao
Posted by Johnnybaklava on July 28, 2011, at 11:44:31
In reply to Re: 1+/- year on supplements, posted by Lao Tzu on July 28, 2011, at 5:38:01
Congrats! It makes perfect sense that your vitamins would increase the effectiveness of your meds, and it sounds like you have zeroed in on the right combo. I'm curious what the zinc, green tea, astaxanthin, soy and selenium do for you. The others I can kind of figure out.
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2011, at 13:07:31
In reply to Re: 1+/- year on supplements, posted by Johnnybaklava on July 28, 2011, at 11:44:31
zinc was added for my skin and hair (I had thinning dry, brittle hair before+rosacea). Green tea extract is just for added antioxidant support and b/c I noticed that higher doses seemed to calm me down (EGCG, maybe? I dunno). The soy is for skin and hair (boosts the effects of propecia for hair loss by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT) and the astaxanthin is for my skin and overall antioxidant support.
Posted by DG77 on August 3, 2011, at 13:14:16
In reply to Re: 1+/- year on supplements, posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2011, at 13:07:31
Soy may increase estrogen production in males, which is obviously not a good thing. Not everyone agrees with this, but I personally steer clear of it.
Here is one account:
http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/soys-negative-effects
Posted by torrid on August 4, 2011, at 23:33:39
In reply to 1+/- year on supplements, posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2011, at 3:21:29
I have had the same good luck with SAMe,NAC, selium,D3, C, high potency multi, magnisium glycinate, folic acid, niacin, and omega mood. I take the SAMe on and off because it poops out quickly. Omega mood I'm up to 4 grams a day, folic acid 3 grams, inositol hexaniacinare 1 gram, C 1 gram, D3 5000iu, NAC 3 grams, SAMe 800mg x2, melitonin 6mg plus B12 injections monthly. D3, fish oil and niacin were added resently so I can't give those credit yet. my hair loss is under control, I sleep good, nightmares are only a fraction of what they were, anxiety is under control. I cost a lot and I live on SSD so it's a big finacial comittment but it's worth it. Therapy with a guru in anxiety shouldn't go with out mention too. I have an excelent diet high protien, complex carbs and high in goods fats, no trans fats and very low in bad fats. I don't get enough excersize but I'm not sedentary. glad to here you too have had luck on this path.
Posted by Johnnybaklava on August 5, 2011, at 13:19:50
In reply to Re: 1+/- year on supplements, posted by torrid on August 4, 2011, at 23:33:39
That's great to hear! It's a long road, and often costly, and my cabinets are full of half-bottles of things that didn't work, but it's nice to feel relatively in control without being drugged out. I also find it fascinating that I can take certain things now that I couldn't before. I tried SAMe a long time ago and it made me feel speedy so I stopped. But now I'm taking TMG, a SAMe precursor, and am fine. I don't really know if it does anything but I hear it's good for eliminating homocysteine and for liver detox so I take it anyway. Plus it's way cheap. NAC is amazing too. I've taken a break from it and have been taking the reduced form of glutathione and I like it. I tried inositol a few times and it made me irritable, but maybe I should try it again. I eat pretty healthy too, raw whenever possible but I still do meat, plus I have a green smoothie every morning. So far so good!
Posted by bleauberry on August 14, 2011, at 14:13:03
In reply to 1+/- year on supplements, posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2011, at 3:21:29
That's great! Hey, ya know, that really isn't that much stuff. The doses aren't really all that high either. There is nothing heavy duty in that mix, just basic stuff. So that is cool!
Two others I think could take you even further along the journey of healing are NAC and Japanese Knotweed.
Not sure if you have ever tried Rhodiola, it can be tricky, but that might be a good one for the radar screen if you haven't already.
As with all substances...manufactured or natural...dosing is critical. Too much or too little, both are bad. You obviously know that because you have honed in on your favorite doses. Nice.
Posted by Johnnybaklava on August 15, 2011, at 12:47:07
In reply to Re: 1+/- year on supplements, posted by bleauberry on August 14, 2011, at 14:13:03
Thanks for the tip on knotweed. I'll check it out. I've had pretty good luck with rhodiola, though I tend to be cautious and haven't taken huge amounts of it. Now I am trying out idenebone and am liking its stimulating effects. It's not too jittery like so many stimulants can be. My sleep has been pretty weird, not terrible, just light, but that could be circumstantial. But I prefer the idenebone to coq10.
This is the end of the thread.
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