Posted by jujube on October 8, 2004, at 16:06:57 [reposted on October 8, 2004, at 18:36:38 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Any Success with Herbs over Meds » TommyIsland, posted by alesta on October 8, 2004, at 8:44:01
> > I've been taking Effexor XR at 150 MG a day and Depakote 1000 MG a day for about 5 years. At first the combo was a lifesaver but I must admit that over the last 2 years or so it has seemed to lose it's juice. What I mean by this is that the side effects that at first I just lived with, have now stock piled up to a point where I can't take it anymore. The low libido, anorgasm, severe somnolence (wanting to sleep ridiculously long hours), carb cravings so severe I eat triple what other people can eat in one sitting, memory problems so bad I can't recall anything short term and memories from a year ago are so faint I can barely recall, low energy levels.............and I can go on and on and on. The bottom line is that I'm fed up living life like this........I'm 28 and want to experience life in a whole new way. I've since quit the Depakote as of a month ago with no side effects (actually I feel absolutely no difference that it has lead me to believe I never should have taken it in the first place because I've always suffered from Unipolar Depression and not classic Bipolar with Mania.) The bottom line for taking a mood stabilizer is to keep somebody from bouncing into a manic state of which I've never entered.
> >
> > Anyways, I started taking a daily Multivitamin with Minerals, A Multi Oil Softgel pill - 3 pills at once in the morning - containing Omega 3,6,and 9 Fatty acids, one pill of Biotin 1000 MG, and I just picked up some Green Tea Extract today - each pill contains 325 MG. I am hoping the Green Tea will give me a boost in energy. I'm starting to go to the gym again (I've had a gym membership all along and got lazy a few months back) --------------
> >
> > Question: Has anybody had success or know of any great Herbal Supplements out there that give much needed energy boosts to make me wanna get my [*]ss moving in the morning ---- excuse my French. Also, has anybody had success with taking only Herbs in lieu of Meds and actually had success? I would love to be med drug free!
> >
> > I want to get off of Effexor XR all together because it really seems to lack. If I can get some herbal supplements to do the trick I would be much happier.
> >
> > All responses would be greatly appreciated by me!
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> > Thanks,
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> > Tommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>
> hi tommy!
>
> well, i'd be glad to help you! :)
>
> getting off effexor sounds like the right thing for you.
>
> i am taking rhodiola. it is very effective for depression for me and just as good or better than many meds. no side effects at all. if you aren't treatment-resistant, i think this would be a great thing to try. of course, YMMV. the brand i take is nature's plus. it is one of the best out there; quality is important.
>
> you have to take breaks with it, b/c a tolerance builds up quickly. i would recommend 3 weeks on, 1 week off. I came up with a great idea for dealing with the week off..during your week off i would suggest taking TMG. both TMG and rhodiola take about the same amount of time to work (about 3 or 4 days). so your depression would be covered nonstop. look up info on psychobabble for a good brand of tmg. also, you need to take it with sublingual b12, etc. (i'd recommend a brand, but i'm not taking it yet, for financial reasons.)
>
> i plan to go the med route for my anxiety, however. i don't think the natural treatments for anxiety work as well as meds, in my opinion (and i've done a lot of research).
>
> good luck, tommy! let me know if you have any further questions.
>
> take care,:)
> amy
>
>
Amy,I've heard that Rhodiola can be safely combined with an AD. I am thinking of trying it with the Celexa I am using (checked with my doctor and he didn't have a problem, but he isn't really familiar with Rhodiola). How long have you used the Rhodiola? Did you notice a difference between the effectiveness of Rhodiola and an AD?
I am also going to try GABA-Plus for anxiety. It is a combination of GABA, niacinimid and inistol. I should receive my order in about a week, and am hoping it will be effective. I am trying to go the natural route, but you never know with these things.
Tamara
poster:jujube
thread:400550
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040928/msgs/400554.html