![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 4 to 28 of 52. Go back in thread:
Posted by EscherDementian on March 15, 2004, at 5:11:31
In reply to Re: GABA Fish Oil, posted by EscherDementian on March 5, 2004, at 1:16:10
The best i've discovered (for me), is from
Source Naturals:
Sublingual,
1-->3x day (depending on need),
be$t price per small amount for test,
called "GABA Calm".Escher
Posted by GabaGirl on March 16, 2004, at 14:49:50
In reply to GABA Fish Oil « bruce_w6, posted by Dr. Bob on March 3, 2004, at 23:31:25
Hi,
I currently am taking fish oil supplements, but not with GABA currently. But I have tried it by itself in the past and noticed some calming effects from it, but more from the compound in Gaba Calm, mentioned above. Here is the full list of ingredients gor Gaba Calm:
GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid)
100 mg
Glycine
50 mg
Magnesium Taurinate
40 mg
Yielding 3 mg of Elemental Magnesium
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine25 mgFrom what reading I've done on GABA, taking it in tablets does not pass the blood brain barrier. Is there more research available that you know of?
Currently I take Neurontin which "may" increase GABA levels, though I've read synthetic versions of it such as Neurontin (Gabapentin) typically cause more sedation than anything else. Thinking of switching or augmenting with another anticonvulsant with my pdoc that may be a better combo.
I'm still researching fish oil for the best formulas and daily dosage. Will check out the threads below.
But interested in the GABA and Fish Oil combo too.
Best,
Gaba Girl
Posted by LOOPS on April 16, 2004, at 9:20:58
In reply to Re: GABA Fish Oil, posted by GabaGirl on March 16, 2004, at 14:49:50
Hi -
How does the Gaba calm (sublingual source naturals) make you feel? How long do the effects last? Does it help with insomnia? How strong is the effect.
Cheers
Loops
Posted by Escher Dementian on April 23, 2004, at 5:49:56
In reply to Re: GABA Fish Oil, posted by LOOPS on April 16, 2004, at 9:20:58
Jury's in re: GABA Calm(see my above post)...
Absolutely worthwhile and worth every cent. It is now a permanent among my other suppliments. i use it for anxiety/panic attacks, and my partner now uses it for temper and agitation.
For you, LOOPS: It feels like Xanax or Valium to both of us. Feels about the same strength, too.
Effects last many hours ~ never a need for more in a day/night, but i really couldn't tell you how many hours. (The point is to feel comfortable and calm, not 'feel a chemical' isn't it?)Relativity,
EscherP.S. For insomnia, i use something different. There are a few different reasons for insomnia. The best remedy to the reason for my own insomnia was Licorice Root. And that was stronger/better than Valerian Root, Ambien, ...etc...etc. (-->a whole wastebasket full of meds intended to target insomnia). My best to you, LOOPS.
Posted by LOOPS on April 23, 2004, at 9:18:20
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by Escher Dementian on April 23, 2004, at 5:49:56
> Jury's in re: GABA Calm(see my above post)...
>
> Absolutely worthwhile and worth every cent. It is now a permanent among my other suppliments. i use it for anxiety/panic attacks, and my partner now uses it for temper and agitation.
>
> For you, LOOPS: It feels like Xanax or Valium to both of us. Feels about the same strength, too.
> Effects last many hours ~ never a need for more in a day/night, but i really couldn't tell you how many hours. (The point is to feel comfortable and calm, not 'feel a chemical' isn't it?)
>
> Relativity,
> Escher
>
> P.S. For insomnia, i use something different. There are a few different reasons for insomnia. The best remedy to the reason for my own insomnia was Licorice Root. And that was stronger/better than Valerian Root, Ambien, ...etc...etc. (-->a whole wastebasket full of meds intended to target insomnia). My best to you, LOOPS.
Excellent news it's working. I might give it a try as I have a bottle of gaba which I take, (not the whole bottle obv.), but I am looking for something a little more immediate. Acetyl-l-tyrosine is great in tiny quantities like in this product - it sounds like a winner.Niacinamide is also great for anxiety, but it does take a week or so to get the effects. I'm a lot less ruled by my emotions when I take this.
Good to find supplements that actually DO something quite powerful for a change.
Loops
Posted by Emme on April 23, 2004, at 17:09:45
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by LOOPS on April 23, 2004, at 9:18:20
I'm curious as to how the GABA in this product works. As I understand it, GABA itself does not cross the blood brain barrier. Is the GABA in GABA Calm prepared in some way that helps it cross the BBB? (If I recall correctly, for example, picamilon is GABA bonded with niacin). Do any of the other amino acids in GABA Calm accomplish this?
Posted by LOOPS on April 23, 2004, at 20:12:13
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by Emme on April 23, 2004, at 17:09:45
I just have to jump in and say I know officially GABA isn't supposed to work, but it definitely does something!
I have insomnia, and have taken stuff that hasn't worked a bit. When i combined a gaba pill with some inositol it worked. When I only took the inositol it didn't. - ???
I just don't think it can be as simple as it either does or doesn't cross the bbb.
I took picamilon for ages - it worked. But then it stopped working - ???
Anybody else experiment with this??
Loops
Posted by Escher Dementian on April 24, 2004, at 7:34:03
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by LOOPS on April 23, 2004, at 9:18:20
>
>I am looking for something a little more immediate.
>
GABA Calm is sublingual, for the purpose of having an immediate effect.
Posted by GabaGirl on April 25, 2004, at 7:12:31
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by LOOPS on April 23, 2004, at 20:12:13
I just bought a bottle of GABA Calm yesterday and had used it many years ago with some success. It's too soon to really tell if it works well for me now, but will post later. It does have added magnesium and taurine along with the GABA which may contribute to it's effectiveness.
I've been slightly hypomanic of late due to stress and Spring season, but also experiencing some depression at times too. For stress and anxiety I've been using Passionflower successfully, both in tea and tincture form. It works like nothing else for me and helps with sleep. Bach's Rescue Remedy also seems helpful from time to time for stress relief and calming effects.
I have been also taking inositol but it seems to be very activating and have had to taper off. Still I seem much more prone to depression without it. Better when I take it in the morning and sometimes a bit more in the afternoon, and with 5mg of Prozac it seems to work exceeding well for depression! But what a balancing act I need right now between the two extremes.
Will see my pdoc about it all Monday am, but am now having trouble with her, looking at returning to my old therapist and possibly finding a new pdoc. She may be good with meds I think and alt treatments but seems over-booked and does not return calls promptly which is a bad thing for someone with bipolar.
Currently taking:
1800mg Neurontin
5-7.5mg Zyprexa
1 gram Inositol - Jarrow powdered form
Several grams of fish oil - Carlson's Finest
Magnesium Supplement off and on
B-Complex
Passionflower as needed
and GABA Calm to add in if neededAnyone else find Inositol too activating? It gives me energy, focus, lifts depression, but with my proneness to hypomania currently seems I have to be careful with it. Anyone try Lecithin as an alternative? Wondering about that and if it would be safer for bp's when vulnerable to hypomania.
Best,
GabaGirl
Posted by zero on April 27, 2004, at 22:54:39
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by GabaGirl on April 25, 2004, at 7:12:31
I get "activation" from Inositol alone.
GABA Calm does the same thing to me.
L-Tyrosine makes me feel very crazy (probably hypomania).
L-Taurine I find very calming; helps w. anxiety and agitation.
I like Twinlab's GABA Plus (GABA, Inositol and Niacinamide) - I find it very calming.
Posted by GabaGirl on April 28, 2004, at 10:12:13
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA » GabaGirl, posted by zero on April 27, 2004, at 22:54:39
> I get "activation" from Inositol alone.
Do you take inositol with choline then?
>
> GABA Calm does the same thing to me.
>
> L-Tyrosine makes me feel very crazy (probably hypomania).
>
> L-Taurine I find very calming; helps w. anxiety and agitation.
>
> I like Twinlab's GABA Plus (GABA, Inositol and Niacinamide) - I find it very calming.GABA Calm is helping me a bit, but will also check out the above eventually.
All these supplements are getting expensive for my wallet!
Best,
GabaGirl
Posted by LOOPS on April 28, 2004, at 10:29:30
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by GabaGirl on April 28, 2004, at 10:12:13
>
>
> > I get "activation" from Inositol alone.
>
> Do you take inositol with choline then?
>
> >
> > GABA Calm does the same thing to me.
> >
> > L-Tyrosine makes me feel very crazy (probably hypomania).
> >
> > L-Taurine I find very calming; helps w. anxiety and agitation.
> >
> > I like Twinlab's GABA Plus (GABA, Inositol and Niacinamide) - I find it very calming.
>
> GABA Calm is helping me a bit, but will also check out the above eventually.
>
> All these supplements are getting expensive for my wallet!
>
> Best,
>
> GabaGirl
>
>L-tyrosine is a dopamine precursor. I get the same thing. I am VERY sensitive to dopamine-promoting stuff.
This morning I took my usual 500mg inositol (with 500mg niacinamide) and I already feel too hyper. This is bizarre, as when I take it at night (with gaba pill) I don't get this reaction. In fact I can take 1,500mg IF I take the gaba and not react like this. A couple of nights ago I tried taking 1,500mg inositol early in the evening, WITHOUT gaba. (By the way if I take niacinamide without inositol, I can end up feeling quite low and depressed).
Result - I was in a bit of a mess. I suddenly got all euphoric and felt quite emotionally wobbly to say the least. Sometimes I think I really am bipolar.
They say inositol and lithium shouldn't be taken together, as they cancel each other out??
Right now I'm thinking I'll go with lith orotate in the day and inositol at night (have been taking lith orotate for ages now).
I'm also going to go back on the picamilon as it's been a 3 week break now, and I don't want to be spending a whole truck-load of money trying to find something that works as well. Hopefully seeing as I've taken a break from it it will begin to work again now. I may have to supplement it with more niacinamide though.
I am a little worried that I have destroyed my brain's own ability to make it's own gaba from taking the picamilon too long. Is this possible??? Maybe I will take some l-glutamine as well, to produce more gaba.
Oh what a mess....
Loops
Posted by LOOPS on May 3, 2004, at 19:44:04
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA » GabaGirl, posted by LOOPS on April 28, 2004, at 10:29:30
Just wanted to update a few more of my experiences (in case anyone is still out there???) -
L-glutamine BAD IDEA. Worked the first night, then this morning had exactly the opposite effect. Was not calmed. Felt crazy crazy.
Eventually found some True Calm caps which contain taurine and gaba and a few other bits and pieces. Took one of these and back to just below 'normal' again.
I refuse to give up on the inositol - without it I am just a depressed mess. It literally just takes one 500mg capsule to bring me out of depression. AND it helps with sleep. PLUS my hair is looking way thicker, my eczema clearing up dramatically and acne going away since going on this.
I am waiting for the taurine to arrive in the mail. I'm really hoping this will help balance things out a little more. I am so sensitive to things that I will probably start out with half a capsule and see how that goes.
Madness. Total madness. It probably doesn't help that I am at a very difficult turning point in my life anyway.
Anyone still there???
Loops
Posted by Escher Dementian on May 4, 2004, at 5:02:00
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by LOOPS on May 3, 2004, at 19:44:04
I'm still here with you, LOOPS :-)
Gosh, i hear you and can relate to the madness you feel. i feel bad that you're having a rough time. i admire your 'hanging in there' with intelligence and determination, even though it may not seem that way to you. Sadly, i think the nature of all "turning point" times in our lives, most often rotates on crisis before our life achieves a sensibility again. When GABA Calm was reccommended to me by a pdoc, i was A MESS.
I really enjoy your posts, and am grateful for the information you share with us. We're sortof in this search together, aren't we?L-glutamine is a BAD IDEA ? Thank you for the warning. i found the same thing happened when i tried L-phenylalanine: WATCH OUT! It felt good the first day i took it, then the next, made me crazy and overstimulated.
Please keep posting and let me know how you are doing when you get your taurine, and what you think of it. Did you say you are in Brazil? (forgive me if my memory is faulty. Sometimes i feel i only have 2 braincells to rub together to try to get a spark!) It must be very challenging to have to send through the mail for things? i admire your patience and ability.
i wish you the very best in what you are going through...~Escher
P.S. Have you ever seen the chinese character/word for "crisis, or turning point"? ~It's a little man dancing on the edge of a cliff looking at the view. The chinese define the word as: "dangerous opportunity" !
Posted by GabaGirl on May 4, 2004, at 8:09:17
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by LOOPS on May 3, 2004, at 19:44:04
Hi:
I'm still around and following this thread. I feel the same way about Inositol. If I don't take it, my energy drops immensely and I get very depressed in the afternoon/evenings.
The GABA Calm seems helpful for calming me down, but may be overkill now. I didn't need to take it today so far. Good sign?
I found a really interesting article on anxiety and depression/bipolar from the Mcman site. Makes it seem even more so that "calmative" supplements and herbs like GABA, taurine, passionflower -- one of my faves -- are especially helpful to us who may have both anxiety and depression/bipolar.
Here is the link: http://www.mcmanweb.com/anxiety.htm
Best,GabaGirl
Posted by LOOPS on May 5, 2004, at 12:43:25
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA » LOOPS, posted by Escher Dementian on May 4, 2004, at 5:02:00
> I'm still here with you, LOOPS :-)
>
> Gosh, i hear you and can relate to the madness you feel. i feel bad that you're having a rough time. i admire your 'hanging in there' with intelligence and determination, even though it may not seem that way to you. Sadly, i think the nature of all "turning point" times in our lives, most often rotates on crisis before our life achieves a sensibility again. When GABA Calm was reccommended to me by a pdoc, i was A MESS.
> I really enjoy your posts, and am grateful for the information you share with us. We're sortof in this search together, aren't we?
>
> L-glutamine is a BAD IDEA ? Thank you for the warning. i found the same thing happened when i tried L-phenylalanine: WATCH OUT! It felt good the first day i took it, then the next, made me crazy and overstimulated.
>
> Please keep posting and let me know how you are doing when you get your taurine, and what you think of it. Did you say you are in Brazil? (forgive me if my memory is faulty. Sometimes i feel i only have 2 braincells to rub together to try to get a spark!) It must be very challenging to have to send through the mail for things? i admire your patience and ability.
>
> i wish you the very best in what you are going through...
>
> ~Escher
>
> P.S. Have you ever seen the chinese character/word for "crisis, or turning point"? ~It's a little man dancing on the edge of a cliff looking at the view. The chinese define the word as: "dangerous opportunity" !
Hiya -no, I live in Chile, but was visiting some friends in Brazil a couple of months back. Luckily I can get stuff sent here from N America - have found some good websites as well.
Well I guess I should put my rave in here as well about the l-tryptophan I started night before last! I started a small dosage of 600mg and really felt almost instantly better. What a deal - because this stuff was cheap as well.
So now I have (I hope) a good system running combining B3, inositol, l-tryptophan, mag chelate and a few other things into the mix (eg fish oil).
Am still taking the gaba, but only at night, as the l-tryptophan seems to be really smashing this hypo problem to pieces, (along with the niacinamide etc).
Last night i could actually talk sensibly and openly to some friends without frantically searching for some alchohol to be myself.
This is going to be a very interesting journey. I have an inkling that the tryptophan is fixing the serotonin deficiency (eating high protein followed by carbs few hours later never had THIS much effect) - maybe I will have another problem further down the road with regard to dopamine though. We'll have to see.
Have you tried l-tyrosine?? I once tried acetyl-l-tyrosine and it was very powerful (sending me hyper again). I'm not sure I like things that bypass the blood brain barrier (apart from ALC which seems to be fine in small dosages). James South recommends taking l-tyrosine with l-tryptophan if the depression is apathetic. This means if I go down that road once more, I may add in a smidgen of l-tyrosine. But I have to be VERY careful not to push it too much the other way.
Never felt like this (i.e. normal, easy-going) with 5-htp - tried it so many times.
I like the Chinese definition of crisis! That so describes what I'm going through right now. I need to have my head screwed on right to cope as well! (It's that kind of decision). FREAK OUT! That's what my brain does when put under any emotional pressure - thus I am inclined to get dizzy and fall OFF the edge of the cliff without even getting to decide whether to jump one way or the other!
At least life is never boring. I always think that when it starts to get really crazy and I can't cope.
Loops
Posted by LOOPS on May 5, 2004, at 12:52:26
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by GabaGirl on May 4, 2004, at 8:09:17
> Hi:
>
> I'm still around and following this thread. I feel the same way about Inositol. If I don't take it, my energy drops immensely and I get very depressed in the afternoon/evenings.
>
> The GABA Calm seems helpful for calming me down, but may be overkill now. I didn't need to take it today so far. Good sign?
>
> I found a really interesting article on anxiety and depression/bipolar from the Mcman site. Makes it seem even more so that "calmative" supplements and herbs like GABA, taurine, passionflower -- one of my faves -- are especially helpful to us who may have both anxiety and depression/bipolar.
>
> Here is the link: http://www.mcmanweb.com/anxiety.htm
>
>
> Best,
>
> GabaGirl
Hi GabaGirl -see my above post on l-tryptophan. It's really working for me. I don't know how long I will take it for though - depends what long term effects there are (if I go too much the other way). It also seems to have sorted out the inositol dilemmma in that I am no longer too activated by it.
Hang in there and take whatever you have to, that's my motto. It's all better than meds.
Loops
Posted by GabaGirl on May 5, 2004, at 13:06:26
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA » GabaGirl, posted by LOOPS on May 5, 2004, at 12:52:26
Hi Loops:
Thanks for your reply! I haven't yet tried l-tryptophan but used to eat turkey and turkey burgers a lot to calm myself down on high anxiety days. It worked fairly well. (Beer is also nice or a margarita... :))
Where did you find the l-tryptophan? I would like to try it. Though so far this week I haven't even needed the GABA Calm the or even my passionflower or rescue remedy. Sleep has really, really helped.
I still take some meds, but minimal amounts - prozac, neurontin and zyprexa. The add in's like inositol, fish oil, B-vitamin and diet changes have helped me the most I think.
So are you off meds altogether? And where in Chile are you? I used to date a Chilean artist who told me about it and have always wanted to visit there.
I'm up much further north in the Washington, DC area. Crazy place to live in these days...
As I say the high anxiety is mostly gone of late -- went through the worst of it perhaps the last few weeks. I've have PTSD from a brutal attack over 10 years ago that happened on May 1st. Now that it's past that anniversary and dreading it coming, I'm feeling much, much better!
Best,
GabaGirl
> > Hi:
> >
> > I'm still around and following this thread. I feel the same way about Inositol. If I don't take it, my energy drops immensely and I get very depressed in the afternoon/evenings.
> >
> > The GABA Calm seems helpful for calming me down, but may be overkill now. I didn't need to take it today so far. Good sign?
> >
> > I found a really interesting article on anxiety and depression/bipolar from the Mcman site. Makes it seem even more so that "calmative" supplements and herbs like GABA, taurine, passionflower -- one of my faves -- are especially helpful to us who may have both anxiety and depression/bipolar.
> >
> > Here is the link: http://www.mcmanweb.com/anxiety.htm
> >
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > GabaGirl
>
>
> Hi GabaGirl -
>
> see my above post on l-tryptophan. It's really working for me. I don't know how long I will take it for though - depends what long term effects there are (if I go too much the other way). It also seems to have sorted out the inositol dilemmma in that I am no longer too activated by it.
>
> Hang in there and take whatever you have to, that's my motto. It's all better than meds.
>
> Loops
Posted by LOOPS on May 5, 2004, at 17:15:24
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by GabaGirl on May 5, 2004, at 13:06:26
Hiya again -
The stuff I buy I found out about from searching psychobabble - somebody recommended the site - not sure if I'm allowed to post it here, so maybe you do the search first on tryptophan and if that fails email me (LOUISA192@YAHOO.CO.UK).
It's like $12 for 4 ounces, 90% pure - really cheap and effective.
I'm so sorry about your past ordeal - these things really **** us up profoundly.
I have never been through what you have, but I have spent the last 28 years of my life suffering from anorexia, bulimia, social anxiety, low self-esteem etc etc and have made so many huge mistakes because of how I bad I feel. It all came to a crux about a year ago when my self-medicating with alchohol, pot, and endless nicotine gum and cigarettes just didn't work anymore AT ALL. This threw me into a mad panic as I just couldn't get a grip on anything. Nothing made ANY sense, and I felt so helpless. I was also completely alone due to my social anxiety - despite liking other people it would just stress me way out being around anybody, which was a shame, as people seem to like me too (how ironic).
I even have an amazing supportive husband, so felt really guilty for not doing better - although our relationship has been really tested due to my mood swings and impulsive behaviour. Sometimes I am not sure I can ever really learn to be loved.
Oh nothing like a good ramble is there!
I count myself very lucky I never got to go down the road of meds - actually that's wrong - when I initially started taking St Johns Wort, I ended up at my docs begging for emergency benzos to help me sleep. I knew they were dangerous, but the SJW had lifted me so far out of depression that I didn't want to give it up - but needed sleep. I never took them frequently, but did a few times a week (plus sometimes ambien).
Now after 2 weeks (is it more?) of being off these completely (and managing), I am wondering about re-bound anxiety I was getting after them (I would sleep, but wake up with ever-growing anxiety).
It has not been cheap going down this road of supplements. Lots of things worked a bit, then didn't, some worked better in combination (expense gaining) - and it takes ages to work out what is really WORTH it, and what isn't.
For instance, I tried L-theanine - it worked for a few weeks, but then I found I got ANXIOUS with it (?).
As I said before, the 5-htp was very weird, and never consistent in its effects.
I think after reading a few books I came to the conclusion to stop messing with my brain chemicals and focus on an orthomolecular approach - feeding with vitamins. This way I figure my body won't fight what I'm doing.
Today my GABA calm arrived. I note again it has l-tyrosine in it? If I want to take this in the evening will it stop me sleeping I wonder??
Well finally I am working again (I teach the piano but recently I have been trying to get some composition done as well and it's impossible with feeling so anxious).
Chile is an excellent place to live. I live in La Serena in the iv region (slap bang in the middle,above Santiago). If only the sea wasn't so damned cold!
Loops
Posted by BarbaraCat on May 8, 2004, at 2:33:42
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA » GabaGirl, posted by LOOPS on May 5, 2004, at 17:15:24
Hi,
You can get it from 'pet vitamin' sources. Here's one I use:http://www.biochemicals.com/productinfo.php3?id=22
I don't take it all the time, but L-tryp works pretty well for my muscle pain associated with fibromyalgia and sometimes for depressed anxiety and helps me sleep when I'm going through a wired phase. More prophylactic than an actual antidepressant. 5-HTP didn't do a thing except make me more depressed. Apparently, 5-HTP goes directly to the brain bypassing l-tryptophan's preliminary step which acts on serotonin receptor sites in the muscles and gut. So much anxiety is associtiated with gut/vagus nerve constriction so there might be an important clue here.
Posted by GabaGirl on May 9, 2004, at 5:34:03
In reply to Tryptophan source, posted by BarbaraCat on May 8, 2004, at 2:33:42
Hey:
Thanks for the tryptophan source! I will look into it. It may be helpful for me since I have a lot of depressed anxiety and wired anxiety at times too.
Good source (cheap too! Jarrow - $7.50 per bottle for 227 grams) for inositol:
http://wholesalesupplementstore.com/inositolpowder.html
Best,
GabaGirl
Posted by GabaGirl on May 9, 2004, at 6:00:33
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA » GabaGirl, posted by LOOPS on May 5, 2004, at 17:15:24
Hiya Loops:
I read your message on Friday and sooo wanted to take some time to reply, but was very busy at work. I may write to you off line too as we have much in common.
I can so much identify with what you have been through and your situation also reminds me of my aunt's who is also bipolar with OCD I think, and lots of anxiety issues. She is unfortunately recently divorced from her husband now after going through a lot of rehab for alcohol and pot use and now working for a rehab facility in Nashville.
As for myself, I still smoke cigs to excess and have had problems with alcohol abuse in the past, and present really though it's been less and less of a problem.
I still feel I need to take my meds in addition to the supplements and saw my pdoc/therapist yesterday who upped my prozac to 15 mg from 5. It was a bit of a downer ironically and actually was very stressful seeing her to be honest. I wonder if her approach to "therapy" is right for me and if it is doing me more harm than good. Something for me to think about... I feel that things like meditation, Tai Chi, and life coaching might be much more helpful to me at this time. Anyone try those or similar alternative therapies???
I also find I am very drawn to the "physician heal thyself" model, and have had so much success with changing my diet and adding supplements, I am taking the orthmolecular approach more and more seriously. Much more I need to learn about it too!
This board has especially been helpful to me. (More helpful than my pdoc honestly. :) ) Sometimes I feel ready to pull a Donald Trump and tell her "Your fired!" I've been considering it....
But I do need someone to monitor me and write scripts since I'm not ready to try going without my meds. Been there, done that and it was bad, bad bad...
It's great you are able to find combinations of supplements that work for you without meds. Perhaps I will eventually too??
Best,
GabaGirl
Posted by BarbaraCat on May 11, 2004, at 12:30:53
In reply to Re: Tryptophan source - Inositol source added, posted by GabaGirl on May 9, 2004, at 5:34:03
Hey, that is a good price for inositol! I've been using www.iherb.com for most of my supplements, but this source has better prices. Thanks. Oh, BTW, myo-inositol is the preferred form for mood disorders. This Jarrow powder is the myo form, but I don't know if most people are aware there are differences in inositols.
>
> Good source (cheap too! Jarrow - $7.50 per bottle for 227 grams) for inositol:
>
> http://wholesalesupplementstore.com/inositolpowder.html
>
> Best,
>
> GabaGirl
Posted by LOOPS on May 14, 2004, at 9:28:10
In reply to Re: Tryptophan source - Inositol source added » GabaGirl, posted by BarbaraCat on May 11, 2004, at 12:30:53
Hello everybody again!
Have a dilemma. Is it 'ok' to take the l-tryptophan at the same time as GABA (in pill form) - or will the GABA 'fight' with the tryptophan to get to the brain? Also, is eating bread + honey ok to eat with all this (all my pills need some food or I feel sick).
Am doing pretty well this week, hoping this lasts...
Posted by BarbaraCat on May 14, 2004, at 17:53:30
In reply to can I take tryptophan at same time as gaba?, posted by LOOPS on May 14, 2004, at 9:28:10
> Is it 'ok' to take the l-tryptophan at the same time as GABA (in pill form) - or will the GABA 'fight' with the tryptophan to get to the brain?
**Shouldn't be a problem since they work on different pathways.
>>Also, is eating bread + honey ok to eat with all this (all my pills need some food or I feel sick).
>
**Yes, carbs are good to eat with tryp and other amino acids. Protein can compete with aminos, however. Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C taken with increase availability. L-taurine is a good relaxing amino to look into for balancing electrical potential, somewhat like an anti-convulsant.
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