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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on October 5, 2011, at 7:40:56
hey did anyone find that they experienced an initial increase in anxiety on fish oil which later passed? thinking of retrying it and was wondering if there any rationale to sticking it out through the neg. effects.. thanks
Posted by SLS on October 6, 2011, at 15:22:55
In reply to fish oil - do side-effects pass?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 5, 2011, at 7:40:56
> hey did anyone find that they experienced an initial increase in anxiety on fish oil which later passed? thinking of retrying it and was wondering if there any rationale to sticking it out through the neg. effects.. thanks
What side effects?
I forget - are you bipolar?
Some people experience a manic reaction to fish oil. Perhaps this manifests as anxiety in some cases. Fish oil made my depression substantially worse. I tried taking it on three separate occasions; each with the same result.
- Scott
Posted by morgan miller on October 6, 2011, at 20:59:05
In reply to Re: fish oil - do side-effects pass? » g_g_g_unit, posted by SLS on October 6, 2011, at 15:22:55
Different ratios and different doses matter here I think. If you haven't experimented with fish oil enough, you may never know if the omega 3s in it will be beneficial.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on October 7, 2011, at 7:58:47
In reply to Re: fish oil - do side-effects pass? » g_g_g_unit, posted by SLS on October 6, 2011, at 15:22:55
> What side effects?
um, on a DHA-heavy formulation, i experienced an increase in anxiety and an uncomfortable kind of inner tension that i get on a lot of norepinephrine-type drugs.
>
> I forget - are you bipolar?i might be. my psychiatrist said he doesn't think so (my official dx. is inattentive-ADD, OCD and atypical depression), but i'm seeing a professor who specializes in anxiety disorders as well as bipolar for an assessment soon.
>
> Some people experience a manic reaction to fish oil. Perhaps this manifests as anxiety in some cases. Fish oil made my depression substantially worse. I tried taking it on three separate occasions; each with the same result.
>i tried an EPA-only formulation which produced a genuine manic reaction in me after about a week of taking it .. racing thoughts, insomnia, etc. i've never really experienced anything like that otherwise though (meds included).
Posted by morgan miller on October 7, 2011, at 8:05:27
In reply to Re: fish oil - do side-effects pass? » SLS, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 7, 2011, at 7:58:47
GGG, try a lower dose than what you previously tried. If nothing happens, at least you get the health benefits. We need omega 3s in our diet.
Morgan
Posted by SLS on October 8, 2011, at 8:04:53
In reply to Re: fish oil - do side-effects pass?, posted by morgan miller on October 7, 2011, at 8:05:27
> GGG, try a lower dose than what you previously tried. If nothing happens, at least you get the health benefits. We need omega 3s in our diet.
>
> Morgan
Would flax seed oil provide enough omega-3 EFA?
- Scott
Posted by morgan miller on October 8, 2011, at 21:39:42
In reply to Re: fish oil - do side-effects pass? » morgan miller, posted by SLS on October 8, 2011, at 8:04:53
Flax isn't a bad source, it's just not the best. I think the ALA omega 3 only converts to EPA and DHA in the body at a rate of around 4% of the ALA that you consume, which is pretty low. This of course may vary with individuals and diet. I've heard that a vegetarian diet can increase the rate of conversion, not sure how true that is or if the evidence for this is very good. If you do Flax, it's probably best to get a refrigerated oil that is fresh and unrefined. Keep it tightly sealed and refrigerated as the oils in flax can oxidize easily.
Walnuts, hemp, chia, pasture fed eggs, pasture/grass fed beef, yogurt/milk from grassfed cows and of course quality low mercury fish(wild alaskan salmon, sardines, and Wild Planet canned tuna-lower mercury small tuna) are other dietary sources of omega 3s. Walnuts, hemp and chia are plant sources containing the ALA omega 3.
Unfortunately eating well nowadays costs money, but it could take you a long way in feeling better and being healthier. Do you have a Wholefoods or any decent organic/natural foods market near you?
Have you ever considered going "primal" or "paleo" Scott? Maybe with feeling better, eating better will be easier now. I don't have any idea how your diet has been. It could be great for all I know.
Morgan
Posted by Lao Tzu on October 9, 2011, at 17:26:12
In reply to fish oil - do side-effects pass?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 5, 2011, at 7:40:56
The fish oil purportedly acts like a mood stabilizer if you are experiencing a lot of mania, but usually the dosages are high for mania. I haven't found that fish oil causes me any anxiety, just the opposite in fact. Perhaps you don't tolerate it well or you are taking too much. You might try a low dosage instead, say 1,000-2,000mg per day and see if that helps. Some people cannot tolerate large dosages of fish oil for whatever reason. Fish oil has mainly been studied for bipolar disorder when mania is present.
Lao
Posted by Hyena on October 10, 2011, at 16:24:09
In reply to fish oil - do side-effects pass?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 5, 2011, at 7:40:56
hi,
are you taking any other supplements? ive found fish oil reacts badly with some other supps such as b6, magnesium and selenium.
EPA is what works for me, not DHA. i had hypomanic symptoms at the start also which went away after a few weeks. i actually quite enjoyed this feeling but i understand why it might not be good for someone with bipolar.
EPA works like a dream for me now. i've only ever tried 2 meds: lexapro and xanax. this beats them hands down.
id suggest lowering the amount of EPA you are taking and maybe take it with food if you werent before. also take it earlier in the day as it can affect sleep at the start. this also passed for me after a while.
good luck.
> hey did anyone find that they experienced an initial increase in anxiety on fish oil which later passed? thinking of retrying it and was wondering if there any rationale to sticking it out through the neg. effects.. thanks
Posted by bleauberry on October 24, 2011, at 19:26:02
In reply to fish oil - do side-effects pass?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 5, 2011, at 7:40:56
Just lower the dose. Your body may be telling you whatever amount you are taking is too much too fast. If you are on just one pill a day and can't lower the dose any more than that, then either take it every other day or get the liquid stuff.
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