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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jasmine Neroli on October 25, 2003, at 18:30:17
1)Would a combination of DLPA & Picamilon work together to help GAD anxiety symptoms, plus cognitive/focussing/memory/problems (which as far as I'm concerned are part of my GAD???). If so, at what dosages? Are there other supplements to add or substitute for these two? I get a lot of headaches along with the anxiety and was hoping the DLPA would help.
2)I'm currently taking Buspar for the GAD, with mixed effectiveness on symptoms. It leaves me ..well I can't exactly call it "sedated", but definitely with low mental energy and flatness, no "brightness" at all. Would the above supplementation help increase mental energy, mood and improve the anti-anxiety effect, in combination with the Buspar????? I have been taking Ginseng with the Buspar and it helps, but for only short periods of time (like about 90 minutes??).
I'm so fed up of trying to eliminate my symptoms..EVERYTHING I take has unpleasant side effects. The only thing that consistently works and has little/no side effects for me, is Klonopin, but my Pdoc doesn't like it.
Appreciate any info anyone can give me. Sure hope Larry H is still around.
Jas
Posted by Cybele on October 28, 2003, at 8:20:20
In reply to DL-phenylalanine with picamilon-work ,yes/no?, posted by Jasmine Neroli on October 25, 2003, at 18:30:17
About 15 years ago I self-treated with L-phenylalanine, based on the advice in one of Dr. Andrew Weil's books. I took it for six months, and I do think it made me feel a better but that might just have been a coincidence as I also started back exercising more. However, I went in for my annual women's exam and my BP was something like 140/114. I was 27. I stopped taking L-phenylalanine right away, and my BP quickly returned to normal. Dr. Weil cautions that people with BP problems should not take this amino acid, but I did not have a BP problem until I started taking it. Scary stuff. I don't know if the DL- version is any better WRT this issue.
Posted by JLx on October 28, 2003, at 8:33:09
In reply to Re: DL-phenylalanine with picamilon-work ,yes/no? » Jasmine Neroli, posted by Cybele on October 28, 2003, at 8:20:20
I'm experimenting with both L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine and observing my blood pressure by regular testing via a self-test booth in a pharmacy. Blood pressure can normally flucutate quite a bit so regularly periodic tests will indicate a overall pattern. My BP was normal before tyrosine/phenylalanine and now it's higher, especially the systolic, though it seems to be dropping down again gradually. The last time I did it, after just taking some magnesium and following a walk, it was normal. I think it bears watching, but I won't be worried unless it continues to consistently be high.
> About 15 years ago I self-treated with L-phenylalanine, based on the advice in one of Dr. Andrew Weil's books. I took it for six months, and I do think it made me feel a better but that might just have been a coincidence as I also started back exercising more. However, I went in for my annual women's exam and my BP was something like 140/114. I was 27. I stopped taking L-phenylalanine right away, and my BP quickly returned to normal. Dr. Weil cautions that people with BP problems should not take this amino acid, but I did not have a BP problem until I started taking it. Scary stuff. I don't know if the DL- version is any better WRT this issue.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on October 28, 2003, at 18:50:34
In reply to Re: DL-phenylalanine and blood pressure » Cybele, posted by JLx on October 28, 2003, at 8:33:09
Jasmine, try it!! These are two of the best OTC treatments you can find, and they'll long remain a staple of my daily supplement diet. I definitely suggest starting off with 50mg three times daily of picamilon, though 100mg will probably do much more good; you can just dive right into the DLPA -- I suggest the 750mg caplets made by Source Naturals, three daily on an empty stomach.
FWIW, I haven't had any problems with blood pressure, but I have slight (very slight) hypotension to begin with.
Michael
Posted by Jasmine Neroli on October 28, 2003, at 22:33:43
In reply to Re: DL-phenylalanine and blood pressure, posted by Ame Sans Vie on October 28, 2003, at 18:50:34
Thanks Michael ( & others!).
I've taken the plunge and started on 500mg DLPA per day 3 days ago. I think I'm feeling a positive effect, but early days yet. I felt more energetic and "even". I'm also tapering down my BuSpar dose from 30-20mg at the same time, cuz I was fed-up of the side -effects and not much GAD improvement.So that might also have an impact.
Because I'm changing those two things at once, I'll postpone starting the Picamilon (although I have some now!). I go to my PDoc tomorrow too, and will discuss dropping the BuSpar altogether in favour of daily Klonopin again. I want to try augmenting Klonopin with Adderall or Provigil, but I've got a feeling my doc won't go for it :(.
So Picamilon is on the back-burner for a bit, till I see how I fare with the other stuff.
I, too have slightly low blood pressure, so I don't have any concerns about a high BP prob.
Thanks again for the feedback.
Jas
Posted by Franz on October 29, 2003, at 11:52:20
In reply to Re: DL-phenylalanine and blood pressure -ASV All, posted by Jasmine Neroli on October 28, 2003, at 22:33:43
> Thanks Michael ( & others!).
> I've taken the plunge and started on 500mg DLPA per day 3 days ago. I think I'm feeling a positive effect, but early days yet. I felt more energetic and "even". I'm also tapering down my BuSpar dose from 30-20mg at the same time, cuz I was fed-up of the side -effects and not much GAD improvement.So that might also have an impact.
> Because I'm changing those two things at once, I'll postpone starting the Picamilon (although I have some now!). I go to my PDoc tomorrow too, and will discuss dropping the BuSpar altogether in favour of daily Klonopin again. I want to try augmenting Klonopin with Adderall or Provigil, but I've got a feeling my doc won't go for it :(.
> So Picamilon is on the back-burner for a bit, till I see how I fare with the other stuff.
> I, too have slightly low blood pressure, so I don't have any concerns about a high BP prob.
> Thanks again for the feedback.
> JasJas, I am interested in your results.
I am taking a low dose Klonopin and was thinking in trying another thing like Buspar.
What are the side effects you get from Buspar?. Klonopin at even extreme low doses still cause me some sedation.
U think I do nopt have GAD but more social anxiety, worry and low mood, maybe a bit depressed.
I do not think you will have problems with DL Phenulalanine and blood pressure, unles you already are hypertensive or have the tendency. Maybe adding magnessium could help (I used to like a Ca/Mg/Zn tablet for anxiety). Anyway, be careful.
I understand thyrosine does not raises blood pressure like phenylalanine.
Another product I am interested in is pregnenolone see socialfear.com
Never tried it yet.
Yes I tried picamilon and can´t tell if it did too much.
Thanks and good luck
Posted by Jasmine Neroli on November 2, 2003, at 0:49:55
In reply to Re: DL-phenylalanine and blood pressure -ASV All » Jasmine Neroli, posted by Franz on October 29, 2003, at 11:52:20
Hey Franz:
Well, for my BuSpar history: 2months ago I started on 10mg ( 2x 5mg)per day and slowly titrated up to 30mg per day, all in split doses, over a course of 4 weeks, since I have a history of sensitivity to Serotonergic drugs. No side effects at all, until I started taking the 10mg tabs twice per day, when I became extremely dizzy about 20 mins after taking. This lasted about 45 mins. I then felt a little "flat & fatigued" for a couple of hours. I also got slight transient nausea. None of these effects were a big deal and could be worked around. However, I was receiving ZERO anxiety relief and often had to use Klonopin PRN, for bad days. My Pdoc increased the dose to 30mg (2x15mg) and this is when a whole host of side effects kicked in.....more dizziness that lasted about an hour, similar fatigue, headache, freezing cold hands (!!! really!!!), weight gain, extreme nausea upon waking in the am, apathy and "breakthrough" menstrual bleeding. I did start to feel a bit better in the anxiety relief area though.
Just went to the Pdoc last week..he agrees that all side effects are possible from BuSpar and outweigh the minimal benefits I was getting.
So I'm back on Klonopin only (.5 - 1mg per day).
I don't want to put you off the BuSpar, because a lot of my side effects are uncommon. The dizziness and tiredness are the most likely. It is actually one of the safest drugs, which is why my doc prescribed it instead of Klonopin or others. If it works for you, it's a great med.
I'm happy to be back on just Klonopin...at .5mg I get absolutely no sedation, just a lifting of the physical anxiety effects and some mood lifting. I do find 1mg a bit sedating though. When I originally started taking it however, I did feel sedated at .5mg for about 2 weeks.
I have been taking 500mg DLPA all week, with perhaps a little effect, so now I'm going to increase it to 1000mg (unfortunately I only have 500mg caps). I do take mag/calc. each day. And my Pdoc actually suggested supplementing with Omega 3 fatty acids ( I was so surprised!).
Hope my experience helps with your decision making. Best of luck!
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