Posted by KaraS on July 3, 2004, at 20:55:16
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » KaraS, posted by Larry Hoover on July 3, 2004, at 10:50:44
>
> > Thanks for your input Lar. What dosages were effective for you? I have tried many things that have done nothing for me. I tried Enada NADH but
> > only at 5 mg. I didn't notice any effect but I'm going to try taking 10 mg. Also, I've heard that this is something to take only periodically as your body will develop tolerance. Has that been the case with you?
>
> Rather than a tolerance phenomenon, I see it as a saturation effect. You need a higher dose initially, until you saturate your body. After that, you need much less, and much less often.
>
> I have to resort to anecdote to explain specifics. In my experience, and in that of a "lost" poster, Ron Hill (I miss you, Ron), it takes some time for the NADH effect to build. I liken it to filling up a well. Both Ron and I found that 10 mg/day was needed initially, and that over time the effect seemed to increase. Then, and quite dramatically/suddenly, we both found that 10 mg/day was too much (as if the well filled up, and started to overflow). Thereafter, 5 mg/week was sufficient to maintain the effect. We both found that trimethylglycine (TMG) had a synergistic effect, making the NADH stimulation more pleasant.Larry, that's really fascinating to me and very encouraging. I thought that NADH was too expensive to use and that it didn't last long before pooping-out so why bother? (based on ifno I had read from Ray Sahelian, MD.) It really isn't that expensive after you've built up initially. Now I have two more reasons to try it again. Thanks!
>
> > In terms of phenylalanine, I've taken 500 mg. of DLPA (with and without P5P) and I felt a little bit of a buzz but not much. I'm planning on trying up to about 1,500 mg. soon.
>
> I personally prefer DLPA over L-PA or tyrosine. I have a similar response, but at higher dose.
>
So you think that if I were to try 1000-2000 mg. of DLPA that I might get more out of it in terms of motivation, energy, concentration etc. rather than just more jumpy?
> > I've also tried SAM-e (1200 mg./day of one of the best brands) with zilch results. I didn't notice any change from DMAE either.
>
> I never tried SAMe. Too expensive.
>> > In addition I've tried l-tyrosine (3,200 mg./day) for over 3 weeks and that did absolutely nothing for me.
>
> Interesting. Your DLPA response might be to formation of PEA, then.
>
Yes, I was hoping for PEA formation when trying the DLPA. I have rejection sensitivity that I've read can be a sign of low PEA. I am a chocoholic also which could be my body craving the PEA. When I took some DLPA and later ate some chocolate, I got quite jumpy and shakey though. I didn't feel more motivated - just somewhat incapacitated.> > I'm thinking of trying an acetylated version with biopterin. Do you know anything about it? Here's some info on it from Dr. Priscilla Slagle's web site:
> >
> > ".... is a specialized tyrosine product used to treat depression when tyrosine hasn't worked effectively enough.
> >
> > .... combines biopterin with N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, a highly bioavailable form of L-tyrosine for the natural precursor treatment of low moods of depression. N-acetyl-L-tyrosine can be used in lower doses than L-tyrosine.
> (snip)
>
> Biopterin is nothing more than a common form of folate. Unless you have a genetic defect which blocks folate--->biopterin transformation, I don't see any need for fancy supplements like that. I really don't get the actylation angle (but I haven't looked too closely at it, either). It might enhance uptake into the brain, but it certainly doesn't seem to promote e.g. DOPA synthesis (from a Larry-Hoover-brain theoretical perspective).
>
That's interesting about the biopterin. I didn't know exactly what it was but perhaps uptake is a or the problem for me. I don't know the exact mechanism of acetylation but I think that it also makes for better uptake.> > I'm thinking that if this works for me for depression, energy and concentration, then I will know that for me biopterin is the missing link.
>
> You won't know if it's the biopterin or the N-acetyl tyrosine.
>
Good point. There is a Jarrow product that is acetylated l-tyrosine without the biopterin so I could use that to distinguish.
> > Otherwise I'm thinking that I have a problem with one or more of the aforementioned enzymes or with too much MAO.
>
> You really ought to give TMG (trimethylglycine) a try. It has profound effects on my energy level. In fact, I have to be very cautious about dose because it exacerbates my insomnia.
>
Wouldn't TMG do the same thing as SAM-e? Since I had no result whatsoever form that, is it still worth trying the TMG also?
> > Sorry to to be so long-winded here but I'm determined to figure out why I'm so lethargic, depressed and unfocused. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> >
>
> Glad to help with the advice part, but it all comes down to how well you do the experiment, and some luck in finding the right experiment to try.
>> Lar
With your expert help, I'm sure I can find the right experiment(s)! By the way, have you ever tried Rhodiola Rosea? (I don't think I've asked you that yet but please forgive me if I have.) I just bought some of that and am really looking forward to trying it. I just have to decide if I want to take it with the small amount of Effexor instead of the SJW while I withdraw ... Decisions, decisions....
Kara
poster:KaraS
thread:359642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040613/msgs/362895.html