Posted by Mr Beev on June 13, 2002, at 11:04:40
In reply to Question for Mr. BEEV, posted by johnj on June 12, 2002, at 17:53:23
> Your message caught my eye because I have a similiar problem. I have tried running, and lifting and I have always hydrated well. I seem to get this side effect, depression, sleep disturbance after a certain number of days, it used to be weeks. I take nortryptline (TCA), lithium, and a benzo. Working out has always helped me but I find myself worse after a certain period of time. What meds do you take, if you don't mind me asking. I too, have a low sodium intake and wonder if this is a thing that sneaks up on me? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.
> JohnjHello Johnj, I do not mind answering your questions at all, though I am not sure how helpful I shall be (sorry if this is a bit prolix)! I, too, had hitherto found that vigorous workouts had always improved my condition however minimally. I never had this problem until I greatly reduced salt intake as well as sports drinks. Just like yourself, after a fortnight or so of running in hot, humid weather, I found myself increasingly depressed and insomniac. I was not on any medication at the time, having successfully recovered from a substantial depressive/anxiety disorder a year and a half before. I asked myself: what was different this spring over the last (when I was also med-free)? The answer: salt intake.
So I conducted an experiment.
At the time, about a month ago, I was in very bad shape mentally - and, as I now suspect, at least in part due to salt loss. After a run, I mixed 0.5 tsp salt in a liter of water and almost instantly felt much better! A half hour later I mixed another 0.5 tsp/liter and felt a curious warmth suffuse my entire body - and I felt almost normal! It appears to be well known that electrolyte imbalance can precipitate depression and other disorders. I believe we sweat out mostly trace amounts of minerals, a little potassium, and a LOT of salt. One tsp of salt after a run is quite a bit, probably a bit much. But I have low blood pressure, exercise regularly, and have a very low sodium diet, so I reasoned it would likley be acceptable.
The bad news is that this "fix" only lasted for a half week or so before a major depressive/anxiety period began, exactly like I suffered two years ago - before I exercised. Now I am taking 150mg Effexor in the morning and 2.5mg Zyprexa in the evening, and am feeling almost well. I drink at least: roughly 1 quart gatorade before every run and 1Q gatorade + 0.5 tsp salt after every run.
I hope this was helpful in some way,
Best wishes,
Mr Beev
poster:Mr Beev
thread:109469
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109690.html