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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Gaiamuse on October 20, 2009, at 21:53:45
I saw a thread earlier about people getting anxious on fish oil. But it makes me depressed
....Anyone else have this experience? Or advice? I would keep taking it if I knew it would eventually go away..but it's awful.
I am wondering if there might be a difference between male and female reactions on this? (I am female -- and I do well on flax seed oil -- even though I read somewhere else here that it doesn't have the Omega 3 power that fish oil does.) In traditional chinese medicine there is a very distinct difference between the basic nature of flax and fish oil -- even if they both have omega-3 content. I believe flax would be vegetable/yin/female and fish oil would be meat/yang/male....and I am wondering if fish oil would be too "yang" for my constitution.
Posted by bleauberry on October 21, 2009, at 19:12:46
In reply to Fish oil makes me depressed?, posted by Gaiamuse on October 20, 2009, at 21:53:45
Fish oil makes me very depressed too.
There needs to be a lot more research on the intricate workings of fatty acids. We only have limited knowledge in that area.
Me having Lyme, I recently discovered that one thing Lyme can do is disable the enzyme that metabolizes Omega 3 into its beneficial forms. It instead is metabolized to harmful substances.
Though usually anti-inflammatory, fish oil can actually be pro-inflammatory in a minority of people. Like me.
I think it is not so much a matter of whether Omega 3 is good or Omega 6 or Omega 9 or whatever, but the balance of them matched to the genetics and pysiology of the particular person. Which is only found by experimentation. Some people do great on Borage Oil (Omega 6) with no Omega 3. Others, the opposite. Others need a mix of both, but in varying ratios from person to person.
Me, I gave up on the whole fatty acid thing years ago because all of them just caused me problems. When I first started fish oil I swore it made me feel worse. But I kept taking it....for years! It wasn't until I stopped taking years later that I actually felt a little better. Stupid me.
Most people do find at least some kind of benefit though, so I'm glad for that. I'm not one of them.
Posted by Lao Tzu on October 28, 2009, at 16:44:45
In reply to Fish oil makes me depressed?, posted by Gaiamuse on October 20, 2009, at 21:53:45
I hear ya! If I take too high a dose of fish oil, I get depressed. I can only take a very small dosage of fish oil and I'm fine. Try one capsule, then two if one is not enough. Soon you'll figure out that you took one too many fish capsules. Stay with the dosage that keeps you free of depression. Then you'll be fine. You also might want to try adding a little Borage oil, not too much. Your body can only process so much of it per day. For me, I take three 500mg capsules of fish oil and one 1,300mg capsule of borage oil. This is all I can tolerate, so I rely on other supplements if I think the fish oil isn't addressing all of my issues.
Posted by FishyFisherman on October 5, 2011, at 11:32:26
In reply to Re: Fish oil makes me depressed?, posted by bleauberry on October 21, 2009, at 19:12:46
This happens to me as well.
Posted by Lamdage22 on November 8, 2011, at 15:14:49
In reply to Re: Fish oil makes me depressed?, posted by Lao Tzu on October 28, 2009, at 16:44:45
Same here.. pretty sure too much fish oil makes me depressed. And not just slightly. 1-2 capsules sounds reasonable though. Maybe at nighttime to prevent daytime fatigue/low drive!?
Posted by creepy on November 22, 2011, at 19:50:55
In reply to Re: Fish oil makes me depressed?, posted by FishyFisherman on October 5, 2011, at 11:32:26
I cant take the stuff. within a day or two I get depressed and irritable. HAve repeated several times at different doses.
Posted by nocturnal1 on February 28, 2012, at 12:22:41
In reply to Re: Fish oil makes me depressed?, posted by creepy on November 22, 2011, at 19:50:55
Everyone is going to react differently to these touted health supplements. If it makes you ill, then don't take them. Me personally, the fish oil is a benefit and helps with both sleep and depression, have to get the dose right, however. Not all fish oil is equal and not all will be as effective for a person. Also, you want the ones that are free of mercury or at least say so. Your body may also decide to OD on it after a certain length of time and you may have to drop it or back off on it. remember it is an oil and could build up in the organs that store this sort of thing. it could irritate gallbladder issues to, it is an oil.
Posted by CaffeinePoet on December 10, 2012, at 18:44:45
In reply to Fish oil makes me depressed?, posted by Gaiamuse on October 20, 2009, at 21:53:45
> I saw a thread earlier about people getting anxious on fish oil. But it makes me depressed
>
> ....Anyone else have this experience? Or advice? I would keep taking it if I knew it would eventually go away..but it's awful.
>
> I am wondering if there might be a difference between male and female reactions on this? (I am female -- and I do well on flax seed oil -- even though I read somewhere else here that it doesn't have the Omega 3 power that fish oil does.) In traditional chinese medicine there is a very distinct difference between the basic nature of flax and fish oil -- even if they both have omega-3 content. I believe flax would be vegetable/yin/female and fish oil would be meat/yang/male....and I am wondering if fish oil would be too "yang" for my constitution.According to the book, "The Depression Cure" , another essential fatty acid, GLA, can be depleted in people who take high doses of fish oil. Yet this can be resolved by taking occasional doses of Evening Primrose Oil. I have been following the supplement advice in the book and found it helpful.
This is the end of the thread.
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