Posted by Lao Tzu on March 29, 2009, at 12:43:36
I believe, through my exhausting experimentation, that certain vitamins are probably essential for schizophrenia and bipolar depression. They are not helpful for psychosis, but they will help with depressive symptoms and mood stability. I've been on a vitamin regimen for two years now (in addition to medication), and I have found that it usually takes much longer to see good results from vitamins than it does for medication. One has to be patient as change is not usually dramatic with vitamins, but can add to the healing process over time. I have changed my regimen countless times in frustration, thinking I was doing it all wrong. However, I've identified some key vitamins that do help when taken in correct dosages. That is the hard part, determining the correct dosages for your individual needs. This is my current regimen:
Niacin sustained-release---250mg in the morning and 750mg at bedtime
Natural Vitamin E---100-200IU in the morning and 400IU at bedtime
P-5-P or Vitamin B6---50-100mg in the morning and at bedtime
Vitamin C---500mg in the morning and at bedtime
Zinc picolinate---33mg in the morning
Vitamin B1---100mg in the morning and at bedtime
Vitamin B12---anywhere from 250-1,000mcg during the day
Fish oil---Very subjective. Experiment with low dosages and work your way to higher dosages according to what you can tolerate
Borage oil---Very subjective. Personally, I can only tolerate 1,300mg in the morning and occasionally, another 500mg in the afternoon. Best to take this one at same time as fish oil.
Selenium---200IU per day
melatonin---1/4 piece of a 3mg tablet at bedtime
Niacinamide---Very subjective. I only take a mere 30mg occasionally.
Calcium carbonate---controversial. May cause more problems than help, but I do take 300mg occasionally for help with depression.
In addition to my bedtime vitamins, I'll either take 50mg Benadryl or 1,000mg acetaminophen (Tylenol) for help with sleep. I absolutely will not take Benadryl everynight as it can precipitate daytime depression if used on a long-term basis. I'll alternate between Tylenol and Benadryl. In addition, it is also important to take the vitamins at bedtime as they do help with sleep.
The above vitamins have definitely helped me with my depressive symptoms and mood.
poster:Lao Tzu
thread:887597
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20090204/msgs/887597.html