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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by borderliner21 on March 12, 2002, at 12:33:23
I am taking st. john's wort for depression. It works great but it swings me into mania and I get extremley agitated and can't sleep. I am wondering if there is anything to counteract the mania that I can buy over the counter. I am trying to get away from medications(lithium and ssri's because of the terrible side effects)
Posted by TSA West on March 12, 2002, at 16:38:03
In reply to need some advice, posted by borderliner21 on March 12, 2002, at 12:33:23
The only over-the-counter remedy for bipolar disorder I can think of is some dietary inostol, available at most health food stores, mostly as a combination of choline and inositol. Inositol levels are lower in bipolars for some strange reason:
"Inositol and its synthetic enzyme, inositol monophosphatase, were measured in postmortem brain samples of 10 suicide victims, eight patients with bipolar affective disorder, and 10 normal comparison subjects.
Results : The frontal cortex inositol levels of the suicide victims and the patients with bipolar disorder were significantly less than those of the normal comparison group. No differences in cerebellum or occipital cortex inositol levels were found among the three groups. The groups also showed no differences in inositol monophosphatase activity in any brain area.
Conclusions: These results could suggest a deficiency of second messenger precursor in patients with bipolar disorder and suicide victims."
--American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 154(8) August 1997---------------TSA West: 1865-2002---------------
Posted by borderliner21 on March 12, 2002, at 17:06:09
In reply to Re: need some advice » borderliner21, posted by TSA West on March 12, 2002, at 16:38:03
thanks,
Posted by borderliner21 on March 12, 2002, at 18:48:52
In reply to Re: need some advice, posted by borderliner21 on March 12, 2002, at 17:06:09
I have some inositol here but it says it is only 250 mg.... And I read that the theurapetic dose has to be atleast 10 mg. does this mean i have to take 40 of them... that can't be right..anyone have any info?
Posted by IsoM on March 13, 2002, at 21:49:32
In reply to need some advice, posted by borderliner21 on March 12, 2002, at 12:33:23
Some people respond very well to herbs & if you're one, good for you! Three herbs that really are accredited for reducing anxiety & agitation are passiflora (passionflower leaves), skullcap (a strangely named little flowering plant), & catnip. Yes, good old catnip is an old standard to help nerves & aid in sleep. Gentle enough for babies even.
Since you're interested in herbs, I think it's important to check out all possible herbal & drug interactions. Herbs are completely innocuous. Here's my two bookmarks on interactions.
http://www.gnc.com/health_notes/Index/Herb.htm
http://www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/index/DHerb_Index.cfmAlso, you can ask a good pharmacist. She/he should have a handbook on drug/herb interactions behind the counter for clients.
This is the end of the thread.
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