Posted by Ame Sans Vie on July 28, 2003, at 13:28:57
In reply to Re: augmenting nardil with neurontin -dosage??thanks » temoigneur, posted by temoigneur on July 28, 2003, at 1:12:04
If you're feeling "dull", then Neurontin certainly isn't the answer. It would most likely make you feel worse. I would recommend you put off adding or changing medications for now, in favor of holistic remedies.
NADH has been known to work just great in increasing energy and mood. Just ask Ron Hill, a fellow poster here at PB. The dose is usually 5-10mg daily. If memory serves me correctly, it exerts its effects by enhancing the action of dopamine in some way (though it also has other beneficial actions).
I personally prefer L-Tyrosine, which is a precursor to norepinephrine and serotonin. I take 500mg three times daily. It's very important to take them on an empty stomach (at least one hour before eating or two hours after), and it's equally important to supplement with vitamin B6 while taking L-Tyrosine, or else it simply won't work. You can take the commonly sold pyridoxine form of B6, but a percentage of the population lacks the ability to efficiently use this form of the vitamin. So I'd recommend P-5-P (Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate), a far superior form of vitamin B6 that will guarantee you receive its full benefits. The dose is 50mg three times daily, with food.
Other options include:
TMG (trimethylglycine) -- 125-250mg daily
DMG (dimethylglycine) -- 125-250mg daily
Alpha Lipoic Acid -- 30mg twice daily
Royal Jelly -- 100mg three times dailyThe best herbs for your condition are probably eleuthero root (formerly known as Siberian ginseng), American ginseng, and reishi. Oriental ginseng can tend to cause excess anxiety. All of them are considered adaptogens. http://www.medicine-plants.com/articles/14/ provides a good definition of "adaptogen":
~~~
What is an Adaptogen?
So What is an Adaptogen?
An adaptogen is nature's solution to sickness.
To be considered an adaptogen, a plant must conform to the following criteria:
--The plant must be nontoxic and totally harmless to the body. It must allow the continuing normal physiological functioning of the individual.
--The action it exerts must be nonspecific and should maintain normal body functions despite a wide range of onslaughts to the body (i.e., stress).
--It should normalize body functions irrespective of existing pathological condition.
--This is a tall order for one substance. Unlike drugs which carry with them the possibility of side effects, adaptogens must benefit the body without disturbing it or doing any harm. Not many plants possess adaptogenic properties.Serious research on adaptogens began in 1947 under the auspices of Dr. Nicole Laserev from Russia. He reported on several indigenous plants that helped increase the body's natural resistance to environmental stresses and later coined the term "adaptogens."
~~~
So in other words, eleuthero is generally good for whatever ails you. If you're stressed, it should help with that. If you're feeling fatigued and "blah" it should likewise help with that. It's one of my personal favorite herbs. The dose is 250-500mg twice daily, with food.American ginseng may be a bit more stimulating than eleuthero, if that's what you're after. The dose is 500mg twice daily, with food.
Reishi is actually a mushroom, and IMHO, is one of the greatest herbal remedies available today. The dosage varies, but I take 460mg daily.
Finally, there are homeopathic remedies which can be very helpful in treating a huge variety of conditions. I use homeopathic remedies myself and find them very useful. I'd suggest using the Online Remedy Finder at http://www.abchomeopathy.com/go.php to find the remedy or remedies which are best suited to your particular symptoms. The remedy finder on that site is *very* in-depth, so you can expect the remedies it suggests to be very well-tailored to your specific needs.
You can buy all these supplements online at http://www.puritanspride.com. Their prices are *very* reasonable, and all of their products are currently either 50% off or buy one get TWO free!
I believe these supplements are all safe to take with MAOIs, but I'd suggest asking your doctor or pharmacist just to be sure. Good luck!
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:246046
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/246167.html