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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 Ricardo on April 29, 2003, at 21:30:17
Hi!
I've been taking fish oil for about a month. I've tried to be without AD's for a while, but now I'm back on them - Effexor, to be precise. However, I think fish oil, based on what everyone says about it here, could still help me, so I've decided to keep taking it. The thing is, I don't know much about how to take it. What's the best dosage? What time of day should I take it? I've heard it's best if I take it with fatty food. What if I take it with water only? What about the fish-tasting burps? Does it mean it wasn't absorbed and will be elminated?
Thanks a lot!
Ricardo
Posted by Caleb462 on April 29, 2003, at 22:01:41
In reply to Fish oil rules, posted by Ricardo on April 29, 2003, at 21:30:17
> Hi!
>
> I've been taking fish oil for about a month. I've tried to be without AD's for a while, but now I'm back on them - Effexor, to be precise. However, I think fish oil, based on what everyone says about it here, could still help me, so I've decided to keep taking it. The thing is, I don't know much about how to take it. What's the best dosage? What time of day should I take it? I've heard it's best if I take it with fatty food. What if I take it with water only? What about the fish-tasting burps? Does it mean it wasn't absorbed and will be elminated?
>
> Thanks a lot!
> Ricardo
Larry Hoover would probably give better answers - he's the fish oil expert around here... but here's my input:To treat mental illness, it's suggested that you get atleast 1 gram of EPA per day. So... look on the back of the bottle of whatever kind of capsules you have and see how much EPA per pill. If it's 200 mg EPA per pill, you will need to take atleast 5 of those pills a day to gain mental/emotional benefit.
What time of day? I would say whenever you eat, after a meal - perhaps half the dose after breakfast and then the second half after lunch. Taken later in the day, fish oil can cause sleeping trouble.I'm not sure exactly, but if you were to take it with water only - you would likely lose some of the EPA/DHA.
As for the fish-tasting burps, no, they don't mean anything at all.... other than the fact that you've got fish oil in your stomach.
Posted by Ricardo on April 30, 2003, at 8:53:08
In reply to Re: Fish oil rules, posted by Caleb462 on April 29, 2003, at 22:01:41
Thank you! I'll keep that in mind!
Best wishes,
Ricardo
Posted by susan C on May 1, 2003, at 21:39:24
In reply to Re: Fish oil rules, posted by Ricardo on April 30, 2003, at 8:53:08
The least expensive way to get a tsp of fish oil is with liquid in a bottle, rather than the capsules. Cold processed, deep sea types are good sources. I have read some concerns about heavy metal, but am not convinced it is a problem.
I am trying it too, and am having trouble regularly taking it with breakfast in the morning, I keep forgetting. But it is the next thing for me to try. Dr says, it might help, it can't hurt.
mouse with codliver oil
Posted by Ritch on May 1, 2003, at 23:28:25
In reply to Re: Fish oil rules, posted by susan C on May 1, 2003, at 21:39:24
> The least expensive way to get a tsp of fish oil is with liquid in a bottle, rather than the capsules. Cold processed, deep sea types are good sources. I have read some concerns about heavy metal, but am not convinced it is a problem.
>
> I am trying it too, and am having trouble regularly taking it with breakfast in the morning, I keep forgetting. But it is the next thing for me to try. Dr says, it might help, it can't hurt.
>
> mouse with codliver oilHi! I like the liquid fish oils a lot. I'm taking Carlson's now (1-tsp twice daily with food). I was visiting some relatives and we went to a health food store and found this HUGE bottle of Carlson's cod liver oil that was the same price as the fishoil, but had a much larger quantity. It didn't have any fishy taste to it either. It has got Vitamin A/D, but if you keep it moderate it isn't toxic. Since I only take about 1-2G of EPA per day, it wouldn't matter to me if it was regular fishoil or the liver oil. If you can just remember to take a teaspoon with each meal you have got it made.
OH, I tried Zonegran recently and it bombed. I took two doses and got super irritable. My pdoc had me set up with Keppra next. I'm taking 500mg of Keppra per day with 250mg Depakote and .5mg Klonopin. Keppra is the first AC (besides Neurontin) that I have taken that hasn't made my memory screwed up. I just feel a little dizzy. I seem to sleep better, too. So, are you still on Depakote+Verapamil?
Posted by susan C on May 2, 2003, at 11:03:58
In reply to Re: Fish oil rules » susan C, posted by Ritch on May 1, 2003, at 23:28:25
yup, still on 1000mg depakote and 360 verapamil, The only difference is I am taking it all at night now. I was splitting the dose, but kept forgetting the am dose...I could tell because about four to eight hours later, I would start feeling 'odd". So far I have not missed any pm dose. So, I am trying to remember to take the fish oil regularly. I know it will take at least a month to see if there is any difference. I havent been taking any other suppliments. I just havent been able to justify them. But this fish oil seems worth a try. I am trying also to do an elimination diet for some foods to see if I am sensitive (different topic) as I seem to get itchy with strawberries. Darn.
Keppra was a no go for me, I got very dizzy and must have had to rest 5-10 times a day. I stuck it out for over a month, as I remember. Remember I have a journal I wrote of my experience in here somewhere :)
So, the relative success of verapamil still continues. If it weren't for the times I forgot to take dose, and how I felt, I would say my improvement may be coincidence. However, I think it is the verapamil.
take care mitch.
mouse
Posted by Ritch on May 2, 2003, at 13:10:34
In reply to Re: Fish oil rules » Ritch, posted by susan C on May 2, 2003, at 11:03:58
> yup, still on 1000mg depakote and 360 verapamil, The only difference is I am taking it all at night now. I was splitting the dose, but kept forgetting the am dose...I could tell because about four to eight hours later, I would start feeling 'odd". So far I have not missed any pm dose. So, I am trying to remember to take the fish oil regularly. I know it will take at least a month to see if there is any difference. I havent been taking any other suppliments. I just havent been able to justify them. But this fish oil seems worth a try. I am trying also to do an elimination diet for some foods to see if I am sensitive (different topic) as I seem to get itchy with strawberries. Darn.
>
> Keppra was a no go for me, I got very dizzy and must have had to rest 5-10 times a day. I stuck it out for over a month, as I remember. Remember I have a journal I wrote of my experience in here somewhere :)
>
> So, the relative success of verapamil still continues. If it weren't for the times I forgot to take dose, and how I felt, I would say my improvement may be coincidence. However, I think it is the verapamil.
>
> take care mitch.
> mouse
>
>
>
>That's very interesting about the continuing success of verapamil. I'm going to keep that one on the back burner as a possibility in the future. My pdoc did bring it up once-but that was quite a while back.
Yes, I remember reading your Keppra journal that you had going. I was a little dissapointed by your lack of success with it. Basically, you just felt kind of tired, woozy, and listless on the stuff. The things it is "working" for with me that I am definitely noticing is.. my IBS symptoms are greatly diminished which is somewhat unexpected. Also, my sleep seems more sound. The dizziness at 250mg bid is pretty minimal and I have noticed it fading over the last week of taking it. I also seem less "phobic" or "fearful" if that makes any sense (my pdoc and I are beginning to suspect that I am having some partial seizure activity of some kind). Another tactic that I am trying that is helping sleep is enforced darkness. I've blacked out my windows and it keeps all light out of my room when I wake in the morning. It took a while, but my too early awakenings starting going away and I feel a little more rested.
Good luck with the fishoil. Hey, the worst thing that could happen is your triglycerides get lowered!
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