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Re: Severe Panic Attacks Agoraphobia » JLx

Posted by jujube on October 31, 2004, at 15:37:54

In reply to Re: Severe Panic Attacks Agoraphobia » corafree, posted by JLx on October 31, 2004, at 9:07:03

JL,

Question for you, if you don't mind. Is it also possible that chromium might also be a useful supplement? I ask because I had heard that it is useful in balancing blood sugar levels. I may be way off base here, but waking up with panic attacks/anxiety perhaps could be caused by a drop in blood sugar levels after the evening fast. I recently began taking 200 mg of chromium a couple of hours before bed, and I am finding that I am waking up a little less anxious. I had tried magnesium before bed, but woke up on night after taking 500 mg with the worst night terror I had had in a long time. Perhaps I took took much mag at once? Your views would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Tamara

> Hi Corafree,
>
> What I've learned about alternative med is that very rarely is there one or two things that substitute "this for that" for the drugs we used to take. Alt med really is holistic, most things work synergistically. Drugs treat the symptoms, while usually alt med addresses the causes of our symptoms.
>
> I mentioned magnesium because most people eating the typical Western diet are deficient, and because magnesium is involved in over 300 fundamental enzymatic functions of the body. It's especially implicated in stress. http://www.healthy.net/scr/column.asp?ColumnId=5&ID=74
>
> "Chronic stress depletes your body of magnesium. The more stressed you are, the greater the loss of magnesium. The lower your magnesium level to begin with, the more reactive to stress you become and the higher your level of adrenalin in stressful situations. Higher adrenalin causes greater loss of magnesium from cells. Administering magnesium as a nutritional supplement breaks this vicious cycle by raising blood magnesium levels and buffering the response to stress, building your resistance."
>
> I understand your concern about costs, as I have the same problem. But experience has taught me that products like "beCalmed" are something of a rip off. For one thing if they don't work, you're left not knowing which ingredient was the problem one. Here's what's in it:
>
> Each Capsule Contains:
> D/L-Phenylalanine 300 mg
> L-Glutamine 150 mg
> 5-HTP 5 mg
> Vitamin B6(pyridoxine HCL) 1 mg
> Calcium (chelate, citrate) 50 mg
> Magnesium (chelate, oxide) 25 mg
> Folic Acid 0.01 mg
>
> It MAY be possible that this is just the exact combination of these things that you need, but I am doubtful. Those are really low levels of B-6, calcium, magnesium and folate for instance, and they're NOT necessarily the best forms of those supplements. Magnesium oxide is very poorly absorbed, for example, and the preferred form of Vit B6 is pyridoxal-5-phosphate. You're paying mostly for the amino acids, D/L-Phenylalanine and L-Glutamine. While the glutamine may be calming, DLPA is not known for that. 5-HTP may be helpful, but again, that is a tiny amount.
>
> In my opinion, you'd be better off "bang for your buck" addressing the underlying stress response in your body first, as a panic attack is like an explosion of non-managed stress. It's not THE problem, it's a symptom of a body system problem. So, anything you can do to reduce stress from bubbling over like that will help.
>
> Your attacks upon awakening might be due to the fact that cortisol is naturally high in the morning, for instance. Cortisol may be increased in general from chronic stress and may be due to exhaustion of the adrenal glands. So, anything that supports the adrenal glands would help in the long run such as Vit. C and pantothenic acid. In general, for stress, avoiding caffeine, aspartame, smoking, a hypoglycemia-inducing diet or just sugar itself would probably help.
>
> Re supplements, if you said, "I only have x number of dollars to spend, what should I buy?". I would say magnesium first.
>
> "Some studies have shown that certain phobic disorders like agoraphobia are associated with lower levels of magnesium, and other kinds of nervous system instability may also be involved. One clear symptom of magnesium deficiency is hyperreflexia -- a kind of heightened startle reflex marked by sensitivity to noise and exaggerated reflex responses. In fact, one of the symptoms of magnesium overdose is the suppression of normal reflexes. So the idea is to keep the body supplied with the ideal levels of magnesium -- though deficiencies are the real concern. In our high-stress post-industrial environment, daily stresses and shocks may literally leach away the magnesium we need to maintain our neurological equilibrium." http://www.consciouschoice.com/holisticmd/hmd1205.html
>
> I'd recommend, magnesium glycinate, mg taurate, magnesium citrate, mag malate but NOT mag aspartate, mg glutamate or unless you want to mostly waste your money, mg oxide . Magnesium glycinate and magnesium taurate are both especially good for stress because they are both chelated with amino acids that are themselves calming. Mg citrate and mg malate are both good too and often easier to find (and not as expensive). Magnesium glycinate for me was like a magic bullet, I went off my meds (Zolof, Provigil) within 2 days, and besides a nightly regular dose I still use it during the day whenever I feel myself getting stressed out and irritable. (Mine is probably not a typical reaction though.) If you don't eat much calcium rich food you might also add a bit of calcium. But if you eat a lot of such things as dairy, you might then be overloaded with calcium, and the magnesium will help balance that.
>
> The next thing I'd recommend is niacinamide. Do a search on here and you'll see it mentioned often for anxiety. Vit B 1, thiamine, is also recommended for anxiety. Vit C also helps stress, is cheap and has a very short half life, so it can be taken it often.
>
> Here's a recent thread you might find of interest: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040928/msgs/403538.html
>
> I had panic attacks many years go for a short time (until I had some effective therapy) but have certainly experienced a lot of anxiety in my day. I wish I knew years ago what I know now. :)
>
> Keep hanging around here and you will pick up many good tips.
>
> JL
>
> > >Hi...tks for response.
> >
> > Do take Bs and Omega-3, but haven't added magnesium.
>
> > Do you mean a combo-B? The one I have sometimes gives me a bit of a headache; don't know why. I am a very slow metabolizer. Haven't been eating well...maybe could be why.
> >
> > Any good readings on 'alternative medicine for anxiety'? Actually, like to hear personal stories, here, better.
> >
> > Go to local health store and when mention anxiety ... could come out of there with $1000 worth of stuff; hard when already living on limited income.
> >
> > best wishes cf
> >
> > >
> > > Do you already take magnesium and B vitamins? Omega-3?
> > >
> > > They won't be a quick fix, may take 4-6 weeks, but they seem to be some good basics for any type of nervous condition.
> > >
> > > JL
> > >
> > >
> > > http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,890,00.html
> > >
> > > > I am suffering terribly w/ attacks w/o precipitating events, and even upon awakening. Do not recall dreams/nightmares.
> > > >
> > > > I am looking for something to take daily or at onset of a panic attack. I'm cannot take Xanax and Klonopin (which I do have) does not work.
> > > >
> > > > I hyperventilate, and have a back injury, so breathing exercises useless at these times.
> > > >
> > > > Can anyone share any experience/knowledge re: following list alternatives found researching Internet.
> > > >
> > > > TheraStress
> > > > Becalm
> > > > Euphorx
> > > > Anxietol 7
> > > > HerbVal Supra
> > > > Prosera
> > > > Clarocet NRI
> > > > Amoryn
> > > > Relora
> > > > Pinadol
> > > >
> > > > Totally appreciate any feedback. Corafree
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>


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poster:jujube thread:408983
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041022/msgs/409659.html