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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 bch on February 8, 2007, at 15:09:27
I have been on prozac for 15 years, started looking for "Better" stuff a few months ago, now after cymbalta, klonepin, emsam, the pdoc wants me on topamax. I just want my prozac and my body back with out all the zips, zaps, zuts, etc.!!
If I decide to cut my losses and chuck it all, could someone give me a couple of good alternative cocktails to try? I am too lazy and brain damaged at this point to sift thru all the snake oil sites, and sales pushes to do it myself.
Before the prozac I tried several minerals and whole foods diets but they just were not effective enough to treat my depression, so I know a little about herbs and supplements but am not current.
Tried SamE and St. John's- No effect on first, yuk on second
I have liked:
DHEA, Melatonin for hubby for sleep, I SLEEP CONSTANTLY, (after I binge eat LOL)so don't need sleep aid(I do have allergies to ragweed, pollen so probably no derivitaves of that)
I will use usana brand for base vites and minerals as much as possible because they are fairly natural and my sis in law sells them and swears by them...to much trouble to do otherwise right now, like I need conflict.
Thanks to anyone willing to do the work for me as I am too brain cell challenged (first day drug free from emsam, lastly)
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on February 10, 2007, at 4:20:39
In reply to Natural cocktail to replace scripts, posted by bch on February 8, 2007, at 15:09:27
I don't know what to suggest, if you've tried sam-e and SJW.
If you're allergic to ragwort you should stay away from chamomile BTW. People with allergies to ragwort have also been show to be allergic to chamomile, once or twice quite seriously (ER visits) .
Its quite hard, because you can't really combine psych drugs and alternatives at the same time, unless you're willing to do the legwork yourself -- we're not pdocs/herbalists/etc here, and it would be sorta risky for us to suggest stuff that you could try without you kinding researching it out for yourself, if you know what I mean.
That said, you sound as if either tyrosine or rhodiola rosea would be good - both are quite stimulating and anti-fatigue. But you can't take them with conventional pysch drugs and things.
I'd recommend you buy "natural highs" -- don't be put off by the title, its not about getting 'high' its about using supplements, herbs to help you relax, have better mood etc. Its easy to read and very informative.
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Declan on February 10, 2007, at 21:37:22
In reply to Natural cocktail to replace scripts, posted by bch on February 8, 2007, at 15:09:27
Sceletium?
Seroctin?
There have certainly been posts here about Seroctin.
Posted by laima on February 11, 2007, at 18:40:46
In reply to Re: Natural cocktail to replace scripts, posted by Declan on February 10, 2007, at 21:37:22
I had decent luck once with just: l-phenylalanine + tyrosine+ fish oil +multi-vitamine.
Posted by bch on February 12, 2007, at 9:39:47
In reply to Natural cocktail to replace scripts, posted by bch on February 8, 2007, at 15:09:27
Thanks so much for responses. I had to travel so I bought big (common) nutrition book and found good info. just need to get a clearing in the brain fog enough to process. However, I had a meltdown on the way home and was horrible with my kids and just thought, screw it I'll just take the topamax, I obviously can't make it on my own, waa, waa, waa, My pity party was a failure and as usual, I cried alone.
The specifics you mentioned give me a great starting point, and knowing what not to combine. I will look up the supplements you stated in the book I bought and do searches here. Thanks again!
Posted by LOOPS on March 7, 2007, at 9:25:47
In reply to Re: Natural cocktail to replace scripts, posted by bch on February 12, 2007, at 9:39:47
Hi -
well, where to start - I would recommend if you can afford it to start experimenting with different 'add-ons' to a decent multivitamin - that is what I have done over the past couple of years and here are some of my results (although be aware that different people have different nutritional demands):
Minerals: IME these are really really important for depression/anxiety/insomnia you name it - more so than is probably recognized. Here are the biggies:
Magnesium (and possibly calcium) - very good for anxiety, magnesium more for depression (calcium can be depressing if taken in wrong ratio to magnesium - but too much magnesium without calcium can result in anxiety/depression again). Start with magnesium only then add in calcium if you feel bad again. Don't take the oxide or carbonate form - very badly absorbed.
Zinc - good for both anxiety and depression. If taking 'large' amounts make sure to balance with copper (e.g. 40mg zinc 2mg copper).
vitamin C - again, large doses can lower zinc and copper - this has happened in my experience but might not in yours - some people swear by grams of the stuff. Then again, you might need more than say 60mg - I take around 500mg.
B vitamins: a good complex (but IMO not huge quantities of the stuff) - I do well on 10mg of each B taken in demand). I also like thiamine (B1) - I take extra of this one (10mg). I get anxious on 50mg B complex but some people like taking 100mg which is a lot. Make sure there is PABA in the formulation - this helps me with anxiety.
Well you see my problems are mostly with anxiety and if you have more lethargic tired depression type stuff going on, you may need different ratios of say the B vitamins. Also with regards to Ca/Mg - some people do very well with only magnesium but I need both (I have sleeping problems).
So minerals, B vits, vitamin C, a multi-vit which would include natural source vitamin E and low doses of vitamin A (avoid the synthetic form palmitate, acetate etc). You might get all the mienrals from a multi - but I prefer to have a different supplement - just be sure you don't take too many minerals if doing both - you have to do some maths there but it is worth it.
Fish oil can be very good for rebuilding damaged brain cells - if you have been on various meds then this would help things function normally again. I personally don't take much but I eat fish - too much fish oil makes me a little anxious. YMMV obviously.
Loops
Posted by bch on March 8, 2007, at 13:24:39
In reply to Re: Natural cocktail to replace scripts, posted by LOOPS on March 7, 2007, at 9:25:47
This is the end of the thread.
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