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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lao Tzu on August 1, 2008, at 4:58:01
Hi. I am bipolar, mostly with depression and mood problems, not the type with a lot of manic episodes. I think I've had only 1 real bad manic episode in my life so far. The supplements I have found that help me with bipolar are the following:
B6--100mg at any one time
B12--500-750mcg per day.
B3 (Niacin)--500mg at a time. 250mg in addition to vitamin E, B6, and melatonin for sleep problems.
Niacinamide (a form of B3)--I've found that this may be more tolerable and less side effects than regular Niacin (B3). It also may help more with anxiety than regular Niacin (B3).
Vitamin C--has been helpful at times for depression
Magnesium--helpful for high anxiety states and for depression
Calcium--helpful when depression is accompanied by a lot of anxiety.
Zinc--helpful for anxiety and depression, but I have found that it works well when taken with B12. Can have a depressogenic effect if too much is taken, but can also help with depression if a low dosage is taken. I take 15mg a day, and that helps, along with B12, magnesium, and B6.
Fish oils---very helpful for mood imbalances, but I would recommend starting off at a low dosage (1 or 2 capsules) and increasing this according to what you can tolerate.
Borage seed oil---very helpful for depression when accompanied by fish oils. I wouldn't recommend just taking borage seed oil without supplementing with fish oil as well.
Vitamin E---have found that this vitamin helps with better sleep when accompanied by B3 (Niacin), B6, and melatonin at bedtime.
Melatonin---I started off taking 3mg before bedtime, but I eventually discovered after two months that melatonin alone doesn't solve my sleep problems. When I added vitamin E (200-400IU), B6, and Niacin to my bedtime regimen, I noticed I only had to take 1/4 of a 3mg melatonin tablet to do the trick.
Must note that I have seasonal variations in my depression, which means that I have more anxiety and more energy in the winter months, and less anxiety and less energy in the summer months. Therefore, you may need different supplements according to the season. For example, in winter when I have more anxiety, I take the following supplements:Winter
combination of B12, B6, B3, zinc, magnesium, calcium (if you need it). Fish oil may be good too.
Summercombination of Borage oil, fish oil, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin C, and niacinamide (start off at low dosage for help with mood imbalances). Dosing with borage oil and fish oil is a little tricky. May take a few weeks to work out correct dosage of each. They seem to work good together as long as you don't overdo it with either one. I recommend trying 500mg fish capsules rather than 1,000mg fish capsules. That way you can adjust your dosage of fish oil more easily with the borage oil. You want a nice balance of fish oil to borage oil. May take a few weeks to work this out until your body adjusts to the oils. The brands of fish oil I recommend are Fisol or Eskimo-3. They both come in 500mg capsules. I recommend Source Naturals Mega-GLA Borage seed oil.
Posted by macfishy on September 1, 2008, at 20:56:18
In reply to Supplements for Bipolar Depression, posted by Lao Tzu on August 1, 2008, at 4:58:01
Thanks LaoTzu for all of you fish/gla posts
I am one who does really well with fish oil initially, but after a few days I start to feel worse.
If I use High EPA concentrated fish oil, I get very anxious and start to get more muscle aches etc.
If I use standard ratio DHA/EPA fish oil (180EPA/12-DHA), the DHA makes me more depressed.
I have tried every imaginable dosage of each, combinations, all DHA, all EPA, etc etc.
I keep trying because of how good I initially feel the first few days...free of depression and anxiety!
But i have never tried combining GLA with my fish oil experiments. I will try that now in hopes of finding THE solution.
I have read in my research that GLA and EPA both produce beneficial prostaglandin, and I have read in Dr Sears books that too much EPA can overpower the positive effects of GLA in your body, but Dr Sears only recommendeed tiny tiny amounts of GLA to counteract the EPA.
So maybe I am one who needs more GLA than EPA.
I will keep you updated. Thanks!
Posted by karinamarie on September 13, 2008, at 6:04:43
In reply to Supplements for Bipolar Depression, posted by Lao Tzu on August 1, 2008, at 4:58:01
> Hi. I am bipolar, mostly with depression and mood problems, not the type with a lot of manic episodes. I think I've had only 1 real bad manic episode in my life so far. The supplements I have found that help me with bipolar are the following:
>
> B6--100mg at any one time
> B12--500-750mcg per day.
> B3 (Niacin)--500mg at a time. 250mg in addition to vitamin E, B6, and melatonin for sleep problems.
> Niacinamide (a form of B3)--I've found that this may be more tolerable and less side effects than regular Niacin (B3). It also may help more with anxiety than regular Niacin (B3).
> Vitamin C--has been helpful at times for depression
> Magnesium--helpful for high anxiety states and for depression
> Calcium--helpful when depression is accompanied by a lot of anxiety.
> Zinc--helpful for anxiety and depression, but I have found that it works well when taken with B12. Can have a depressogenic effect if too much is taken, but can also help with depression if a low dosage is taken. I take 15mg a day, and that helps, along with B12, magnesium, and B6.
> Fish oils---very helpful for mood imbalances, but I would recommend starting off at a low dosage (1 or 2 capsules) and increasing this according to what you can tolerate.
> Borage seed oil---very helpful for depression when accompanied by fish oils. I wouldn't recommend just taking borage seed oil without supplementing with fish oil as well.
> Vitamin E---have found that this vitamin helps with better sleep when accompanied by B3 (Niacin), B6, and melatonin at bedtime.
> Melatonin---I started off taking 3mg before bedtime, but I eventually discovered after two months that melatonin alone doesn't solve my sleep problems. When I added vitamin E (200-400IU), B6, and Niacin to my bedtime regimen, I noticed I only had to take 1/4 of a 3mg melatonin tablet to do the trick.
>
>
> Must note that I have seasonal variations in my depression, which means that I have more anxiety and more energy in the winter months, and less anxiety and less energy in the summer months. Therefore, you may need different supplements according to the season. For example, in winter when I have more anxiety, I take the following supplements:
>
> Winter
>
> combination of B12, B6, B3, zinc, magnesium, calcium (if you need it). Fish oil may be good too.
>
>
> Summer
>
> combination of Borage oil, fish oil, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin C, and niacinamide (start off at low dosage for help with mood imbalances). Dosing with borage oil and fish oil is a little tricky. May take a few weeks to work out correct dosage of each. They seem to work good together as long as you don't overdo it with either one. I recommend trying 500mg fish capsules rather than 1,000mg fish capsules. That way you can adjust your dosage of fish oil more easily with the borage oil. You want a nice balance of fish oil to borage oil. May take a few weeks to work this out until your body adjusts to the oils. The brands of fish oil I recommend are Fisol or Eskimo-3. They both come in 500mg capsules. I recommend Source Naturals Mega-GLA Borage seed oil.
>
>Hi Lao
Thank you for all your posts on alternative ways of treating Bipolar. I can't tell you how much better I feel about my condition tonight after reading through your information. I want to help myself and with the information I am finding on this site I might just be able to do so. Doctors are having a hard time treating me and have so for a very long time. I am tired of them trying one medication after another without a positive result. It is soul destroying. Thanks again your information is so valuable to those of us who are searching for other ways to treat their Bipolar.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 15, 2008, at 15:00:19
In reply to Supplements for Bipolar Depression, posted by Lao Tzu on August 1, 2008, at 4:58:01
Glad I could be of help. Right now, the supplements that are helping me the most are fish oil, borage oil, thiamine (B1), vitamin C, just a smidgeon of calcium (150mg), N-Acetyl-Cysteine, P-5-P (B6), Niacin, vitamin E, and melatonin. I take most of my Niacin and P-5-P before bedtime, and just a tiny bit of P-5-P in the morning, about 12.5mg. I also take my vitamin E at bedtime because somehow it helps me sleep better if I take it with a combination of Niacin (500mg), P-5-P (75mg) and melatonin (0.75mg--Just a little bit of melatonin does the trick). One thing I've noticed that sometimes lower dosage of supplements are much more forgiving than mega-doses, which means less side effects. You have to experiment a little.
I also wanted to say that medication is also great for stabilization. There are many different mood stabilizers out there, each with their own side effects, but when you find the right one that works for you, you might find your supplements complement the medicine. The key is stabilization. Some people can take high dosages of fish oil and not have to take any medication. This is the wonder of natural substances. However, for some medication is highly necessary, and then the supplements added to correct any nutritional deficiencies. It has worked for me, and I know you'll be able to find a solution that you can live with. Good luck.
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