Posted by Cindylou on April 9, 2002, at 21:04:21
In reply to Re: SAM-e and BP II » Cindylou, posted by Ron Hill on April 9, 2002, at 14:11:35
Hi Ron,
Thanks again for your helpfulness. I am interested in taking that online screening, but was a bit confused when I checked out the link. I couldn't find the actual screening test. Do I need to pay the $10 first, in order to "subscribe" to their services, and then I'll have access to the test?As far as my pdoc prescribing the tricyclic -- she is also the one who believes that I am bipolar II. We were both in a quandry over what to do ... since no mood stabilizer that we know of is safe during pregnancy.
Since depression is my predominant issue, she thought the nortriptyline would be worth a try -- and she did mention the Omega 3 fatty acids being a possiblity for stabilizing moods (although she didn't know much about it -- said I would need to take 5 grams, but that's about it.)
I wonder if SAM-e and Omega 3 could work together without a med? I'm not sure if SAM-e is safe during pregnancy, though.
I will probably be moving to Pennsylvania in the next month or two, so I am in the market for a new pdoc -- I am looking forward to another opinion; a fresh set of eyes.
I am planning to start a thread about psychiatrists vs. psychopharmacologists ... is one better than the other?
Thanks again, Ron. You've been a great help!
cindy
> >I remember seeing a long thread where you discuss your success with SAM-e, but if you don't mind I'll still throw out some questions to you ...
>
> > 1. what is your diagnosis?
>
> Hi Cindylou. My dx is BP II.
>
> > 2. are you on other meds?
>
> 600 mg/day Lithobid and 200 mg/day SAM-e.
>
> > 3. did SAM-e have side effects for you?
>
> Slight nausea at times.
>
> > 4. have you tried the Omega 3 fatty acids? My pdoc just mentioned that to me as a possible option, but neither one of us have much info. on it. I remember seeing a thread about that, too -- I'll have to get busy researching those posts!
>
> I take salmon oil capsules and flax seed oil capsules and I try to eat a diet high in omega-3 Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA's). For me, omega-3 PUFA supplementation provides a slightly beneficial mood stabilizing effect, but nothing profound. By contrast, I take 500 mg/day of phosphatidylserine (PS) complex (containing 100 mg of PS) and the mood stabilizing effect of PS is, for me, much more profound than that of omega-3 PUFA's. Unfortunately, PS is expensive (about one dollar per 500 mg capsule).
>
> As an aside, I am convinced that phospholipids play a central role in cell membrane plasticity and, as a result, contribute to improved mental health. IMHO, SAM-e's beneficial effects are partially attributable to SAM-e acting as a methyl donor in the synthesis of phospholipids. While, I believe that the primary reason for the effectiveness of SAM-e is that it serves as a methyl donor in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, I think that the phospholipids aspect is important as well. Click the link below if you care to read an article related to this topic.
>
> http://www.immunesupport.com/news/SAMe2txt.htm
>
> > I was able to post a quick question to Dr. Kramer while I as away about SAM-e, and he said he wouldn't recommend it for bipolar -- I was recently diagnosed as BPII (however, I'm a bit skeptical about that diagnosis. Depression, definitely. Anxiety, definitely. Bipolar? I don't know.)
>
> I have been following your posts for about the last month or so and, therefore, I am familiar with what you wrote to Dr. K and his response. I wanted to respond to his post to you, but I decided that Dr. K was already too busy and that he did not need another input from me. I disagree with Dr. K's post to you in so much as I believe SAM-e is safe for bipolars PROVIDED the patient is taking an adequate dose of a mood stabilizer and is under the care of a good pdoc.
>
> As I've read your posts over the past month, I have always thought that you would be a good candidate for a SAM-e trial. However, as I see in a thread below, you are discontinuing your mood stabilizer (Lamictial) during pregnancy. If in fact you are bipolar, then I would not recommend that you take SAM-e without a mood stabilizer (MS) fully in place because it may induce mania (or hypomania). At the same time, feeding a BP patient an AD (a TCA in your case) without a MS in place can also induce mania (or hypomania). Is the pdoc that gave you the BP dx the same pdoc prescribing the TCA in the absence of a MS? If so, I'd have real concerns regarding the pdoc.
>
> If I were you, the first thing I would do is find out if the BP II dx is accurate. See another pdoc and get a second opinion. Also, as a screening tool, you might take the following online diagnostic test. It cost ten bucks, but I think it is worth the small fee. If you can, have your husband (or a very close friend) sit next to you while you take the test to provide an objective opinion of your answers.
>
> http://www.mentalhealth.com/fr71.html
>
> -- Ron
poster:Cindylou
thread:99337
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102575.html