Re: Zinc gluconate vs zinc picolinate » Larry Hoover

Thank you for your reply. Other than the tests that I had done at an orthomolecular treatment facility in February 2013 that pointed to elevated free copper (a serum copper level of 112 ug/dL and a ceruloplasmin level of 20.2 mg/dL, resulting in a free copper percentage of 51.4 percent, as calculated by the orthomolecular doctor I saw), the only thing that I can think of that might point toward the possibility of Wilson's disease based on what I know about the disease is the fact that I experience ongoing tremors. I first experienced tremors when I started taking lithium carbonate in the fall of 2003, but the tremors didn't stop after I discontinued the medication around the summer of 2005. Taking Abilify from the spring of 2008 through October of last year seemed to bring on a different type of tremor, and as the case seemed to be with lithium, discontinuing the Abilify hasn't seemed to alleviate the tremor that began around the time I began taking the medication, at least so far. So, I have what seem to be two different types of tremors to contend with, and even though I tend to think that past medication use at least played a role in bringing the tremors out, I can only wonder if other factors might also be contributing to the tremors. I know that tremors are among the neurological symptoms of Wilson's disease, but I don't seem to have the other neurological symptoms of the disease or any of the liver-related symptoms, based on what I've gathered about the disease. The doctor at the orthomolecular treatment center that I visited in 2013 ordered a comprehensive metabolic panel blood test that included results for AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT), but those results (which I understand tend to come back as elevated in Wilson's disease patients with liver issues) came back normal, with respective numbers of 25 IU/L and 21 IU/L.

All in all, I tend to think that between my tremors, my psychiatric symptoms (mainly long-standing problems with fatigue and other depressive symptoms, as well as schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms that have seemed to align most closely with those of schizotypal personality disorder since late 2007 -- though I will say in retrospect that I was quite delusional during much of 2007), and the test results from my orthomolecular treatment center visit that pointed toward elevated free copper, being evaluated for Wilson's disease would make sense. There's a medical facility close to where I live that the Wilson's Disease Association has designated as a "Center of Excellence," and if I ever get the sleep-regulation problems that I experience under a sufficient amount of control so I can make the morning appointments that are available at the center I mentioned, I think that there's a good chance that I'll arrange to be evaluated there.

Regarding copper, no, I have not been supplementing with it at all any time recently. I don't even take a copper-containing multivitamin or any kind of multivitamin for that matter, so I don't ingest any copper other than what I get from food and from tap water. In either 2004 or 2005, I did try a copper supplement once, but I didn't take more than a single dose of the supplement because my problems with energy and other depressive symptoms intensified quite a bit for about a day or so after taking the supplement.

As far as zinc supplementation is concerned, I've actually taken both zinc picolinate and zinc gluconate since writing the post that you replied to here, and as a matter of fact, I'm still taking zinc gluconate. For whatever reason, I did not respond well to zinc picolinate when I tried it not too long ago. My schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms (specifically some of the perceptual issues that I contend with) worsened with a rather small amount of zinc picolinate (I think it was around 12.5 mg, but I don't remember for sure), and I also noticed a kind of strangeness that's difficult to describe other than to say that I seemed to be in quite a strange and uncomfortable state. I don't have either of these issues with zinc gluconate at 75 mg, although I'm not sure if the supplement is doing anything positive (or much of anything at all) at this point. In addition to taking zinc in the gluconate form, I'm currently taking vitamin D3, curcumin (in the BCM-95 form), monolaurin, and vitamin C. For now, I seem to be noticing some benefits from the supplements that I'm taking, especially as far as their effects on my energy, as well as my concentration and other cognitive-type symptoms are concerned, although figuring out which supplements might be benefiting me and which ones might not be benefiting me would probably only be something that I'd be able to accomplish by trying to go without each supplement that I'm taking for at least a little bit.

Anyway, I ended up writing more than I thought that I would with this response, but I think that I've now addressed the questions that you brought up. Thank you again for your response.

"Maybe someday
We'll figure all this out
We'll put an end to all our doubt
Try to find a way to just feel better now"

- Rob Thomas

Re: Zinc gluconate vs zinc picolinate » Larry Hoover

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