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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 103. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KayeBaby on September 24, 2007, at 17:08:31
My Doc gave me samples today. Apparently it is a Rx only, highly absorpable form of folate. it is given to boost effectiveness of antidepressants in people who have less than a full AD response.
I have 2 weeks worth. We shall see....
Kaye
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 15, 2007, at 20:08:29
In reply to Anyone tried Deplin?, posted by KayeBaby on September 24, 2007, at 17:08:31
> My Doc gave me samples today...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Alternative. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070923/msgs/789443.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Phillipa on October 22, 2007, at 22:58:22
In reply to Redirect: Deplin, posted by Dr. Bob on October 15, 2007, at 20:08:29
Dr. Bob sorry to be a pain but deplin is prescription only now so please redirect back to meds board. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:24
In reply to Anyone tried Deplin?, posted by KayeBaby on September 24, 2007, at 17:08:31
A B vitamin? Hope it works and please keep us posted on this one. Phillipa
Posted by KayeBaby on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:26
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
I'll tell you one thing...I took the first one late afternoon yesterday and when I took my ambien and tried to sleep-it was like I took nothing! It seemed as though it energized me and not being able to sleep but in snatches all night confirmed it. I haven't had that happen in a long time. I can think of nothing else to account for the trouble sleeping.
I took one this morning and I feel more motivated today than I have in days. I'm rather surprised.
Kaye
Posted by stargazer2 on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:27
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
Another medication I have not heard of. I googled it and understand what it is now. Why are there so many meds out there and no consensus as to how to treat chronic recurrent depression. Everybody treats it differently, unlike most diseases where usually there are one or two proven treatments.
No wonder so many of us get incomplete resolution of depression. There needs to be a better way to standardize treatment so that we all get the treatment that works best for our various types of depression, which is the first problem with depression, how to diagnose it correctly without any test for it or knowing what brain system is affected.
I know even though so many do not recognize depression as a disease, there are sure alot of drug companies and doctors getting rich off of a disease that has so many ways to treat it and no consensus as to what will work for each individual case.
The more meds we try and fail, the more we doubt our diagnosis, the meds, our doctors, everything about how depression is treated. At least I do.
Try having it for more than 30 years and being a guinea pig for every medication that might help me, but usually doesn't, at least not for long. I can never believe that any med might be the one since so many have not been.
Sorry, so far off topic but I see Keplin as just another med to try and fail. I will ask my doctor about this but I'm sure he will know nothing about it. Again, no consensus as to how to best treat a disease that is chronic and recurrent for so many of us.
Kaye Baby, I hope Keplin helps your situation, I really do.
Stargazer
Posted by KayeBaby on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:28
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
It just a highly absorbable form of folate that used to be sold over the counter till the pharm co. decided to take it on. Good and bad in that. People may be more likely to take it if a Dr. prescribes it.
I wish getting patients' nutritional status up to par was standard before starting drug thereapy (when possible) I have helped myself so much with my own research and experimentation with nutrition and supplements I can only imagine what good could be done in the hands of a competent specialist.
B6 and zinc in higher amounts has done me a world of good as have magnesium and a few others.
It is certainly worth a try, Stargazer. Do you have insurance? Your Dr. is sure to have a bunch of samples to give you.
Good luck to us all.
Kaye
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:29
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
Kaye the only supplements that truly worked for me and I did feel great were Shaklee. I still am a distributor I think but don't know how to get back on them and heard they are not like they used to be. Before you could trust them so much and they worked. I believe there has to be a better way then trial and error as what Stargazer says is true the more you try and fail the lower your self esteem and the more anxious or depressed and all that wasted time and money. Phillipa
Posted by KayeBaby on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:30
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
Yes, but the other option is worse.
I have heard good things about Shaklee. I have found Puritan Pride to be pretty good as well and the prices are really good.Kaye
Posted by sparkle on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:31
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
I have been using deplin for a few weeks with celexa and it does seem to be making a positive difference with moood and energy level. I am wondering if it is making me a little jittery also. has anyone else noticed that?
Posted by KayeBaby on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:32
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
I was wondering if this may be the cause of some anxiety and trouble sleeping.
I know it got me uo and moving some and that is pretty amazing. The first week was tough, though.
Kaye
Posted by Snap on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:33
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
I started Deplin last Thursday - so it's been 7 days. I'm not sure what to expect because I've been a wreck for the past couple of days and I don't think it's related to Deplin - Wellbutrin combo that I'm taking but a monthly hormonal situation.
Can you please tell me why the first week was rough? I take my dosage in the AM - how about you?
Thanks!
Snap
Posted by Snap on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:34
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
Shaklee - I'd like to know more about that!
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:35
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
You can google them the best supplements ever. I need to find a distributor here and at least get on Vita lea the complete MVI again. Phillipa
Posted by KayeBaby on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:36
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
Well, I started Deplin at the same time I started generic adderall (previously on brand) I was very anxious and thought it might be the Deplin since I could not imagine THAT much of a difference between generic adderall and the brand. It was the adderall. I did stop the Deplin for almost a week and will begin again probably tomorrow.
Kaye
Posted by jrbecker76 on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:37
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
my post comes with the usual disclaimer reminding everyone that I'm pretty med sensitive (to both prescription meds and supplements).....
I tried Deplin (L-methyfolate) for three days. Response was consistently poor for each day of the trial. I noticed a very mild increase in focus and attention span for the the first four to six hours after ingestion. But by mid-afternoon, I would begin to experience some irritability followed by a worsening of mood within 8 hours after ingestion. I forced myself to nap to recover from the low mood. Sleeping it off for an hour or two led me to feel somewhat refreshed but still with some lingering low mood for the rest of the evening. No real anxiety to speak of though.
My doc has mentioned, however, that he's had several patients have some fairly positive responses to it.
Posted by KayeBaby on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:37
In reply to Re: Deplin (l-methylfolate), posted by jrbecker76 on October 15, 2007, at 20:07:51
I have been out of my samples for the past couple of days and it seems like my motivation/energy may have been better on it. It could be coincidental.
I will not have insurance till Nov. so I did some digging around online and found some l-methylfolate left from before it was disontinued otc. I ordered two bottles. Of course the amount in this is in mcg. and Deplin is 7.5mg so we shall see.
Kaye
Posted by Ron Hill on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:38
In reply to Anyone tried Deplin?, posted by KayeBaby on September 24, 2007, at 17:08:31
Kaye,
I've been taking Deplin (L-methylfolate) for the past five days and, so far I am enjoying a remarkable benefit in the tx of my bipolar depressive phase. It has completely eliminated my depression.
I am currently taking 15 mg/day.
Will it last? Time will tell. But in the meantime, I'm enjoying life without depression.
What is your response to Deplin?
For those reading this post, here is the URL for the Deplin home page:
http://www.deplin.com/
Click through all the links.-- Ron
Bipolar II with ultra rapid cycling (15 day cycle), and mild Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
600 mg/day Trileptal
200 mg/day Lamictal
875 mg/day Keppra
90 mg/day Nardil
15 mg/day Deplin--------------------------------------
> My Doc gave me samples today. Apparently it is a Rx only, highly absorpable form of folate. it is given to boost effectiveness of antidepressants in people who have less than a full AD response.
>
> I have 2 weeks worth. We shall see....
>
> Kaye
Posted by KayeBaby on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:38
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
It definately has helped with energy and motivation. Depression too but i am pms-ing right now and stressed so it's a bad time for me to try to *ss*s that. I have certainly been worse...
I am not taking near the dosage you are. I might bump it up some and see how I do.Glad to hear you are getting some relief. I, too, noticed the effects on the first day.
Kaye
Posted by stargazer2 on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:39
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
Hi, I am following your posts as I have TRD and have failed most AD trials. I am currently on Nardil and Nortriptylline and the response has been unremarkable although I did have a 3-4 period of improvement.
Do you both take deplin or the generic version. I will order some myself to try and join your post too. I may wait a week before I do that since I just increased the Nardil from 45 to 60 and I want to see if that does anything.
I probably will take anyway due to my poor results with most AD's.
Is there a blood test that you were given before starting deplin or generic?
Stargazer
Posted by sparkle on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:40
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
stargazer, deplin is a prescription but i continue to see improvement and this is usally the time of the year my mood takes a dive. I think it is well worth a trial. blessings
Posted by Ron Hill on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:41
In reply to , posted by on December 31, 1969, at 18:00:00
> Do you both take deplin or the generic version. I will order some myself to try and join your post too.There is not a generic version of Deplin. Further, the OTC products are being forced off the market by Merck. Merck owns the patent for Metafolin (L-methylfolate), and they contend that the OTC products violate their patent rights.
You can still find some L-methylfolate OTC products if you look online, but one-by-one they are being pulled from the market.
> I may wait a week before I do that since I just increased the Nardil from 45 to 60 and I want to see if that does anything.
I make it a rule to only change one thing at a time, otherwise, I do not know what is doing what.
> Is there a blood test that you were given before starting deplin or generic?
Nope.
> Stargazer
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 27, 2007, at 14:02:46
In reply to Re: Redirect: Deplin » Dr. Bob, posted by Phillipa on October 22, 2007, at 22:58:22
> deplin is prescription only now so please redirect back to meds board.
Oops, sorry about that!
Bob
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2007, at 20:29:38
In reply to Re: Redirect, posted by Dr. Bob on October 27, 2007, at 14:02:46
Dr. Bob it really is a prescription and an old poster one the most knowledgeable ones who volunteerily left is doing well on it too. Thanks for looking into the fact that it is indeed a med. Phillipa
Posted by Astounder on November 1, 2007, at 20:02:36
In reply to Re: Anyone tried Deplin? » KayeBaby, posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2007, at 14:00:24
This article explains the mechanism of Deplin (L-methylfolate):
http://www.cnsspectrums.com/aspx/article_pf.aspx?articleid=1267
The jist of it:
"Antidepressants boost the actions of one or more of the three monoamines: DA, NE, and/or 5-HT. MTHF acts as an important regulator of a critical co-factor for trimonoamine neurotransmitter synthesis. This co-factor is known as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4).... By boosting trimonoamine neurotransmitter synthesis via enhancement of BH4, MTHF presumably is able to augment the antidepressant actions of known antidepressants."
So basically what it does is recycle BH4. BH4 is a necessary cofactor in the enzymatic conversion of L-phenylalanine to to L-tyrosine by phenylalanine hydroxylase, L-tyrosine to L-DOPA by tyrosine hydroxylase, L-tryptophan to 5-HTP by tryptophan hydroxylase. It is not a cofactor for the conversion of L-DOPA to dopamine or 5-HTP to serotonin by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase.
Two questions: 1) Wouldn't this have the same effect as supplementing with 5-HTP + L-DOPA + carbidopa? And 2) couldn't you simply supplement BH4 directly? They do sell it online at a comparable cost to Deplin:
http://www.schircks.com/tablets/sys/tetrahydrobiopterin_tab_frame31.htm
BH4 100x 10 mg tablets = $113Quoted from Deplin website:
L-methylfolate 90x 7.5 mg tablets = $119.69
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