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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by saturn on March 19, 2007, at 20:47:15
After several trials over several years I'm considering stopping fish oil for dysthymia and ADHD (and incidentally for cardiovascular benefits).
It seems to work considerably well sometimes and perhaps only marginally at others. I've tried several different preparations: standard, high-EPA, 100% EPA. This last trial has been about 12 weeks with about 1 gram EPA and 140 mg DHA per day.
The reason is anxiety. I can't 100% say it's the fish oil, but I'm highly suspicious. Whenever I begin any fish oil prep it causes anxiety. I tough it out nonetheless, and though it does seem to subside, I believe it makes me much more susceptible to anxiety on the whole.
I've attempted to counter this with exercise, taurine, magnesium...nothing.
Might anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? I'd hate to give it up, especially since I cannot tolerate stimulants or AD's-- but on a cost/benefit analysis I'm starting to think that the anxiety may just not be worth it.
Thanks for reading. Peace...Saturn.
Posted by teejay on March 19, 2007, at 22:58:19
In reply to Discontinue fish oil?, posted by saturn on March 19, 2007, at 20:47:15
I've pretty much given up on fish oil for exactly those reasons, and yes, given its purported benefits I too feel sad to have given it up.
How is your sleeping? I sleep ok but my sleep doesnt refresh me and I wake anxious.
I have some skullcap in the drawer which I only use sporadically and in low dose but last night about half an hour before bedtime I took a double dose (2 times 400mg) and actually woke up refreshed even though the nights sleep didnt seem anything special.
Maybe some kind of herbal preparation might help you keep up the fish oil if its so important to you. Personally I'd just write off fish oil as 'not needed' by your body.
TJ
Posted by H2Obuffalo on March 19, 2007, at 23:40:08
In reply to Discontinue fish oil?, posted by saturn on March 19, 2007, at 20:47:15
Hi Saturn-
Have you tried reducing your dose yet? I took a total of 900 mg EPA daily (from three capsules of Carlson's Super Omega 3) for a over a year with good results and then through trial and error found that I could no longer tolerate that "standard therapeutic dose" of around 1000 mg EPA. I think my brain just eventually became saturated and didn't need so much every day anymore. Now I take just 1 capsule (= 300 mg EPA) daily, from which I get my old good results without the weird overdose effects. Best wishes.
-H2Obuffalo
Posted by saturn on March 20, 2007, at 14:42:48
In reply to Re: Discontinue fish oil?, posted by teejay on March 19, 2007, at 22:58:19
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> How is your sleeping? I sleep ok but my sleep doesnt refresh me and I wake anxious.I sleep well when my schedule allows me to. I have a bit of delayed sleep phase, so it's normal for me to sleep from say 4am till noon. To maintain a regular work schedule, however, I take Lunesta. My sleep is fair but yes I would say I frequently have some level of anxiety upon waking.
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> Maybe some kind of herbal preparation might help you keep up the fish oil if its so important to you. Personally I'd just write off fish oil as 'not needed' by your body.Thanks for the input, TJ. I think I'll half the dose for a week or two and if it is still intolerable write it off as 'not needed' as you suggest.
...Saturn
Posted by saturn on March 20, 2007, at 14:47:02
In reply to Have you tried reducing your dose yet?, posted by H2Obuffalo on March 19, 2007, at 23:40:08
> Hi Saturn-
Hi H2OBuffalo. Though I have tried lower doses, I have not done so with my current high EPA/DHA ratio formulation (I've been at a steady 1 gram EPA for 3 months). Good suggestion. I think it also takes some time to for dose changes to be noticeable, so it's not always easy to tell immediately.
I'm going to cut my dose in half beginning today for a week or two. Perhaps that will do the trick. If not I may just have to drop it. Thanks again for your response.
...Saturn.
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