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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tulip04 on April 12, 2005, at 18:12:24
Any recommendations on the best supplements for anxiety? I've tried all the antidepressants but I can't handle them, i get way too sedated. My anxiety comes and goes, I get anxiety attacks where I start shaking and now I pop a xanax to get rid of it, but I'd like to get away from the xanax. I'd say it happens once a week or once ever two weeks, not often enough to tolerate the side-effects of antidepressants. Kava or Valerian? These say they are good for insomnia, but I don't have that and don't want somethign that will make me tired.. any advice??
Posted by Mistermindmasta on April 12, 2005, at 23:54:52
In reply to Supplements for anxiety???, posted by tulip04 on April 12, 2005, at 18:12:24
> Any recommendations on the best supplements for anxiety? I've tried all the antidepressants but I can't handle them, i get way too sedated. My anxiety comes and goes, I get anxiety attacks where I start shaking and now I pop a xanax to get rid of it, but I'd like to get away from the xanax. I'd say it happens once a week or once ever two weeks, not often enough to tolerate the side-effects of antidepressants. Kava or Valerian? These say they are good for insomnia, but I don't have that and don't want somethign that will make me tired.. any advice??
Valerian works for me, but is kind of depressing. L-Theanine also worked nicely, but gave me very bad muscle aches. Taurine might work, and Larry knows a lot about that amino. Passion flower has definitely worked for me, in the past, but only certain brands. Some of the no name brands I've tried do nothing. I also like the anxiety clearing effect of ashwagandha. Have you tried any of those?
Posted by LOOPS on April 15, 2005, at 13:11:48
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety???, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 12, 2005, at 23:54:52
I'd second the ashwagandha. It is very good for calming in a 'deep breathing' kind of way (if that makes any sense).
Although I'll probably get bashed for bringing this up again, have you tried fish oil? Some people find it does not help anxiety, but I have found it extremely helpful in the long run for my awful driven anxiety.
Loops
Posted by sdb on April 17, 2005, at 15:36:37
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety???, posted by LOOPS on April 15, 2005, at 13:11:48
Hi LOOPS,
How many ashwagandha do you take (dosage/daily)?
How many fishoil do you take and when did you notice the beneficial effect for anxiety(days/dosage/daily)?Thanks
Posted by KaraS on April 17, 2005, at 16:56:20
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety???, posted by LOOPS on April 15, 2005, at 13:11:48
> I'd second the ashwagandha. It is very good for calming in a 'deep breathing' kind of way (if that makes any sense).
>
> Although I'll probably get bashed for bringing this up again, have you tried fish oil? Some people find it does not help anxiety, but I have found it extremely helpful in the long run for my awful driven anxiety.
>
> Loops
Also, where brand of high EPA fish oil were you referring to in a previous thread and where did you get it? I think you said that you find this brand to be more help in terms of anxiety.Kara
Posted by LOOPS on April 18, 2005, at 11:37:22
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety??? » LOOPS, posted by KaraS on April 17, 2005, at 16:56:20
Hi -
I'm presently taking 3 caps /day of Solgar's Ashwagandha, but I've also got some liquid from a while back which I'll be using up too. Ashwagandha is an odd herb, as it is both relaxing and mildly energy-giving. I always try to include an adaptogen or two in my regimen as they always have a positive effect on me, and over a long period of time too. Note Ashwagandha has never been great for sleep for me so I don't use it for that.
The fish oil - I ordered recently some of Source Natural's 'Arctic Pure EPA', which has 500mg EPA and 90mg DHA per capsule. I'm not sure why they bragg about it being from the Arctic - as the Antarctic is the cleanest place for fish - they probably think their customers won't remember the difference! The place I'm ordering it from, it works out a lot cheaper than Omegabrite (which I haven't tried) - and you get much the same deal in terms of strength.
Right now I'm making it a bit complicated mixing up different brands of fish oil - I take
1 cap SN EPA (500 epa/90 dha)
1 cap NOW double concentrated fish oil (360epa/240dha)
1 cap GNC bogstandard strength (180/120)I do this 3 times a day. I also take 500mg vit C 4-5 times a day, and tried some natural vitamin E caps, but found I started to break out in acne with this (found this before as well) - so rely on the smallish amount of vit E in the GNC brand to do the job (other brands don't state how much vit E is in there with the fish oil).
I would like to see more evidence in studies that EPA is the way to go, and DHA doesn't matter too much in terms of managing mood and anxiety/depression. I would take 6 of the high EPA caps and be done, but that works out quite expensive (120 high epa caps costs me $30), and I have a backlog of other brands like the NOW caps, and also I have the Natural Factors (400/200) to use up as well in the future. Also the first time I tried the high EPA caps, I took 2 and nothing else and felt quite a strong lift in mood (but not in a hyper way).
This may confirm the idea that the DHA takes away from some of the antidepressant effect of EPA - but who knows for sure?? I do know however, that when I started taking a brand that had equal amounts of DHA and EPA, both my anxiety and depression returned with a vengeance.
I read on one site that for bipolar it might be important to get a balance of EPA/DHA, but still with more EPA than DHA. I have not been diagnosed with bipolar (never bring it up with my doc), but I get very strong cyclical moods, so obviously need mood-balancing supplements. So for now I'll take a mix of EPA/DHA.
So this brings me to about 5g total omega 3 a day. I would also say my eczema has cleared up more since starting the high EPA caps, but I have also presently given up dairy and eggs which has also made a difference.
One other thing I take on and off and I am presently back on is lithium orotate. I take 2 tabs of this a day. I don't mix it with 5htp - I once tried this and got extremely monged out and antisocial. Alone with the fish oil it is working great though for extra mood balancing and concentration. I tend to have a problem with anger and flipping out so this is useful for me.
If the fish oil doesn't cut it for anxiety (and I still have a few bad days), I'll take some borage oil or evening primrose oil and this really settles me down.
Hey, one more thing - since taking all this fish oil, my scrabble scores have soared! It's odd, because it doesn't feel like it's 'stimulating' my mind, but now I am beating my husband every night (at scrabble that is!), which he is not very happy about. Now he of course is pinching my fish oil in order to catch up.
One last (really) thing - I have cut down on the other fats in my diet and this seems to be effective as well.
Loops
Posted by KaraS on April 18, 2005, at 15:04:19
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety???, posted by LOOPS on April 18, 2005, at 11:37:22
Thanks Loops,
I think I'll try experimenting with various mixtures of EPA and DHA to see what works for me. No other way to know for sure what the best composition may be in my case. I'll check out the Source Naturals brand (even if it is from the Artic) and then play around with the dosages.
Take care,
Kara
Posted by LOOPS on April 18, 2005, at 17:02:54
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety??? » LOOPS, posted by KaraS on April 18, 2005, at 15:04:19
I agree - it's just impossible to know what ratio etc. is going to work. All the studies seem to show different things. I think diet is an important supporting factor though - I'm very lucky in that I have time to prepare good meals, but of course not everyone has that luxury.
I had an odd observation the other day - I felt vaguely 'normal'; in other words, I felt how I think everybody else feels when there's nothing dramatic happening - not anxious, not depressed - getting on with things. It was nice to feel like that.
Anyway good luck with the fish oil and let me know how it goes and if you find success with a particular ratio/quantity/brand.
Loops
Posted by tulip04 on April 21, 2005, at 20:54:21
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety???, posted by LOOPS on April 18, 2005, at 17:02:54
thanks for all the replies. sorry so late to get back, I was out of town. I do take fish oil everyday, but I think I'm going to try the ashwagandha... i've never heard of it. do you just get it at nutritional stores? i think i'll stay away from the valerian, the last thing i need is a depressant...
Posted by not_so_pro_social on April 24, 2005, at 2:28:29
In reply to Supplements for anxiety???, posted by tulip04 on April 12, 2005, at 18:12:24
Phenibut
Posted by lotus on May 1, 2005, at 0:23:57
In reply to Re: Supplements for anxiety???, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 12, 2005, at 23:54:52
> > Any recommendations on the best supplements for anxiety? I've tried all the antidepressants but I can't handle them, i get way too sedated. My anxiety comes and goes, I get anxiety attacks where I start shaking and now I pop a xanax to get rid of it, but I'd like to get away from the xanax. I'd say it happens once a week or once ever two weeks, not often enough to tolerate the side-effects of antidepressants. Kava or Valerian? These say they are good for insomnia, but I don't have that and don't want somethign that will make me tired.. any advice??
>
>
>
>
>
> Valerian works for me, but is kind of depressing. L-Theanine also worked nicely, but gave me very bad muscle aches. Taurine might work, and Larry knows a lot about that amino. Passion flower has definitely worked for me, in the past, but only certain brands. Some of the no name brands I've tried do nothing. I also like the anxiety clearing effect of ashwagandha. Have you tried any of those?What brand of passion flower did you use that worked?
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 5, 2005, at 20:05:53
In reply to Supplements for anxiety???, posted by tulip04 on April 12, 2005, at 18:12:24
Gastrodia tuber extract. Take the equivalent of roughly 250-500mg gastrodin per day in divided doses along with 25-50mg picamilon tid, 250-750mg phenibut tid, and high quality extracts of:
kava
passionflower
skullcap
magnolia officianalis (sp?)You can substitute high-dose valerian for the Gastrodia if you cannot get it, but it probably won't be as good.
This is the end of the thread.
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