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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tinabee on September 10, 2000, at 18:36:06
In April BJ asked about alternative ways of dealing with depression.I came across her post on the Effexor thread because I've been taking it for six months after
WellbutrinSR stopped doing much. Now I take 150 mg of Effexor, and 200 mg of Wellbutrin. But reading around the medical stuff and trying out diet things, I found
1) Effexor works because it inhibits reuptake of both seratonin and norepinephrin
2) Neurotransmitters are NEVER just neuro... They affect an amazing amount of body functions,like gastro-intestinal sysmtem, probably when they're in the blood, not the brain? As someone once stated, there are no side-effects, just effects. You have to decide what's worth putting up with, to get the other effect.
3) I feel GREAT when I remember to drink a protein shake in the morning (Spirutein-healthy, not Slimfast-diet-- less sugar -- protein intake is connected with dopamine- the neurotransmitter Wellbutrin works on. Slimfast works in a pinch, though)
4) There's a reason I crave sardines and other sources of Omega-3 ( or6?)linolenic acid-- they have to do with another neurotransmitter ( um, GABA?).
5) 5-HTP can increase blood-seratonin levels much higher than tryptophan-- so it's not a particularly safe way to increase the body's seratonin (Tryptophan does not metabolize in the blood as easily, but in the nerve cells)
6) I've had killer Candida for years, one effect of which is ---duh, depression? And, the same dietary things that are good for getting rid of Candida also are good for (some people's) depression: get rid of refined sugar, add acidofolus and bifidus cultures (and lots of other stuff I'm not ready to do, like giving up coffee and cigarettes)
It's great to read this list-- what a wealth of information form us, the people taking the stuff. I've had a low-grade depression since I was 13, and the doctor then didn't even think it was worth telling me.
I don't think doctors are idiots, but their training is overwhelmingly aimed at what drug works. It's not aimed at diet and herbs. So I'm really interested in how people put our information together, as well as who found doctors
whose advice was a little more than, don't touch the herbal stuff- we don't know the effects. For instance,Drug/herb people don't even agree on whether St Joan's wort is an SSRI or an MAOI-inhibitor-seems like that would be important! (Taking both these types of AD increases chances of seizures...) Perhaps some people know about drug/diet/herb interactions?
Anyone else try diet-stuff AS WELL as these various drug cocktails?
Posted by Winfield on September 10, 2000, at 21:00:14
In reply to Alternative Ways of dealing with Depression, posted by Tinabee on September 10, 2000, at 18:36:06
> In April BJ asked about alternative ways of dealing with depression.I came across her post on the Effexor thread because I've been taking it for six months after
> WellbutrinSR stopped doing much. Now I take 150 mg of Effexor, and 200 mg of Wellbutrin. But reading around the medical stuff and trying out diet things, I found
> 1) Effexor works because it inhibits reuptake of both seratonin and norepinephrin
> 2) Neurotransmitters are NEVER just neuro... They affect an amazing amount of body functions,like gastro-intestinal sysmtem, probably when they're in the blood, not the brain? As someone once stated, there are no side-effects, just effects. You have to decide what's worth putting up with, to get the other effect.
> 3) I feel GREAT when I remember to drink a protein shake in the morning (Spirutein-healthy, not Slimfast-diet-- less sugar -- protein intake is connected with dopamine- the neurotransmitter Wellbutrin works on. Slimfast works in a pinch, though)
> 4) There's a reason I crave sardines and other sources of Omega-3 ( or6?)linolenic acid-- they have to do with another neurotransmitter ( um, GABA?).
> 5) 5-HTP can increase blood-seratonin levels much higher than tryptophan-- so it's not a particularly safe way to increase the body's seratonin (Tryptophan does not metabolize in the blood as easily, but in the nerve cells)
> 6) I've had killer Candida for years, one effect of which is ---duh, depression? And, the same dietary things that are good for getting rid of Candida also are good for (some people's) depression: get rid of refined sugar, add acidofolus and bifidus cultures (and lots of other stuff I'm not ready to do, like giving up coffee and cigarettes)
> It's great to read this list-- what a wealth of information form us, the people taking the stuff. I've had a low-grade depression since I was 13, and the doctor then didn't even think it was worth telling me.
> I don't think doctors are idiots, but their training is overwhelmingly aimed at what drug works. It's not aimed at diet and herbs. So I'm really interested in how people put our information together, as well as who found doctors
> whose advice was a little more than, don't touch the herbal stuff- we don't know the effects. For instance,Drug/herb people don't even agree on whether St Joan's wort is an SSRI or an MAOI-inhibitor-seems like that would be important! (Taking both these types of AD increases chances of seizures...) Perhaps some people know about drug/diet/herb interactions?Yeah,
try Marijuana, with different drugs to aleviate
the side effects.
> Anyone else try diet-stuff AS WELL as these various drug cocktails?
Posted by stjames on September 11, 2000, at 1:02:41
In reply to Alternative Ways of dealing with Depression, posted by Tinabee on September 10, 2000, at 18:36:06
I take a good multi vin/min with trace mins, Hemp
Seed Oil (the higest known source of the 3 omegas)
Some B complex plus L-phe, Lethicin or eggs, and a concentrated
plant product (or juiceing) for bio flavinoids and other
anti oxidents. the B 5 and 6 plus L-phen is the only thing that makes
any difference in my mood, it is a very small one. The other effects
are probably major. Less damage and loss due to oxidation. Less risk to cancer. A greater
supply of precursors for times of stress, thus less damage and loss during stress. More neuroprotection and regeneration.
I'll let you know how I look and think in 20 yrs.
This is the end of the thread.
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