Posted by psychobot5000 on October 7, 2006, at 10:20:56
In reply to Re: Solutions for fish-oil insomnia? » psychobot5000, posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 7, 2006, at 9:07:33
Thanks very much to those who responded--I'm looking up taurine and other suggestions, and they sound promising. It's also very good to hear someone say that the side-effect can go away with time.
As for why fish-oil causes insomnia, I believe there's strong animal evidence that it does increase dopamine in the frontal cortex. That might be it, or similar activity elsewhere--it helps me concentrate, even though it doesn't feel like a stimulant (which is good), so I believe that that is the case. I do agree that it's not a stimulant--I've taken those, and they feel different, a little less like being oneself. I prefer the subtler effect of fish oil, and of course it's good for the heart rather than bad.
Tried kava last night, along with going off the dose for a day (EPA seems to have a half-life of 50 hours or so). Slept a little better, and got very relaxed, but it also is messing with my emotions this morning (uneven, weepy)--it's recognizably similar to what Lunesta does to me. I'm guessing this means it has a GABAergic mechanism, and I won't be touching it again.
I'll try something other herbal remedy tonight, though. Now I have a few to look into.
Psychbot
poster:psychobot5000
thread:692394
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060817/msgs/692682.html