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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 11, 2001, at 11:10:30
I'm finding that the supermarket brand of St. John's Wort has a really calming effect--pretty dramatic actually. I've never been able to get this type of effect without lots of drowsiness, and I've tried every antidepressant and benzo known to mankind except for foreign ones to the U.S. {Of course, I am taking mega doses of the stuff (1200 mg three times a day)}.
Posted by Simcha on August 11, 2001, at 16:08:13
In reply to St. John's Wort, posted by SalArmy4me on August 11, 2001, at 11:10:30
> I'm finding that the supermarket brand of St. John's Wort has a really calming effect--pretty dramatic actually. I've never been able to get this type of effect without lots of drowsiness, and I've tried every antidepressant and benzo known to mankind except for foreign ones to the U.S. {Of course, I am taking mega doses of the stuff (1200 mg three times a day)}.
Hey Sal...
Let me know if this stuff continues to work. I'm a big fan of herbal remedies. Currently I'm trying Korean Ginseng and Ginko Biloba to get some sexual energy back. Not sure if it is working since I've only been on it for a few days.
Before I began ADs I used Kava Kava to relax me and Valerian to help me sleep. Both seemed to be effective. Since I've been on ADs various docs have told me to be careful of Kava Kava and Valerian so I stopped taking them. I seem to sleep like a baby now with the ADs and I think the Celexa is having a massive calming effect on me.
St. John's Wort cannot be used with ADs. Am I correct in this? Would I have to go off of the ADs in order to try it?
Posted by gtbear on August 11, 2001, at 22:18:58
In reply to Re: St. John's Wort » SalArmy4me, posted by Simcha on August 11, 2001, at 16:08:13
> > I'm finding that the supermarket brand of St. John's Wort
My friend peter mcwilliams was a big fan of st john's wort for depression http://www.petermcwilliams.org
http://www.joypills.com
He wrote a book about it which is free on his web site. The dosage he recommends is 3 pills at a time, they are large, three times a day, and expect a month for results. So i take a smaller dosage now and then and get just maybe some placebo effect. I am also taking vitamins, C and a B complex, a trusted friend thinks part of the emergence of my bipolar stuff was that i'd let my nutrition go to hell, plus sleep deprivation. I started feeling better around the same time as i started the C.
Peter was an activist on medical marijuana issues
and was killed for it, which is depressing.
I had a personal and financial crisis recently, and stopped self-medicating with pot alcohol and coffee, and that's when the depression and anxiety hit so bad i could finally feel it and i sought treatment and am just starting a zyprexa/zoloft regamin. Scared but hopeful.
So with that going on I can't sort out what effect if any the st john's is having, but again its hard for me to take in the large doses that seem to be needed. I have more motivation now, back when i got it i just had a vague sense something was wrong.
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 12, 2001, at 9:25:32
In reply to Re: St. John's Wort » SalArmy4me, posted by Simcha on August 11, 2001, at 16:08:13
I have some really good articles from JAMA that I could give you on this topic if you give me your e-mail address...
Posted by Simcha on August 13, 2001, at 7:29:21
In reply to Re: St. John's Wort » Simcha, posted by SalArmy4me on August 12, 2001, at 9:25:32
Sal,
Gladly ;-)
Here is my email address:
Thanks for all of your support. :-)
> I have some really good articles from JAMA that I could give you on this topic if you give me your e-mail address...
Posted by Cindylou on August 13, 2001, at 12:52:24
In reply to Re: St. John's Wort » SalArmy4me, posted by Simcha on August 11, 2001, at 16:08:13
Hi Simcha,
I did a lot of research on St. John's Wort a few months ago -- it really seems to help a lot of people. My nutritionist said I needed to be off ALL ADs for at least 6 weeks. My psychiatrist, however, wanted me to stay on Wellbutrin; she said that would be okay. She said SJW is very similar to SSRIs in its effect.I tried the SJW and was very fatigued on it -- to my surprise. I tried again after going off the Wellbutrin for 2 weeks, and still had the intense fatigue.
I know I'm pretty rare for having that side effect -- it might be because I've been on AD meds for many years, so my body chemistry is different than most :(
Hope you have better luck with it -- it seems to help many people with little or no side effects.
-cindy
> Hey Sal...
>
> Let me know if this stuff continues to work. I'm a big fan of herbal remedies. Currently I'm trying Korean Ginseng and Ginko Biloba to get some sexual energy back. Not sure if it is working since I've only been on it for a few days.
>
> Before I began ADs I used Kava Kava to relax me and Valerian to help me sleep. Both seemed to be effective. Since I've been on ADs various docs have told me to be careful of Kava Kava and Valerian so I stopped taking them. I seem to sleep like a baby now with the ADs and I think the Celexa is having a massive calming effect on me.
>
> St. John's Wort cannot be used with ADs. Am I correct in this? Would I have to go off of the ADs in order to try it?
Posted by Cindylou on August 13, 2001, at 12:57:26
In reply to St. John's Wort, posted by SalArmy4me on August 11, 2001, at 11:10:30
Hi again,
I wanted to give you guys this website address: www.sjwinfo.orgIt is a great site, created by a guy who has been on SJW for 3 years. It has excellent information, lots of links, and a discussion forum similar to this one but much smaller.
Hope you find it helpful.
-cindy> I'm finding that the supermarket brand of St. John's Wort has a really calming effect--pretty dramatic actually. I've never been able to get this type of effect without lots of drowsiness, and I've tried every antidepressant and benzo known to mankind except for foreign ones to the U.S. {Of course, I am taking mega doses of the stuff (1200 mg three times a day)}.
This is the end of the thread.
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