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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 17, 2015, at 15:33:51
Anybody noticed this? I've been doing Orthomolecular (yes, I'm pushing it on you) and I think one reason it works is because it supplements what meds take away, so the meds do their thing without causing additional problems.
OM traditionally involves loads of b-complex plus b3 (pick your form...I go for niacinamide, 3 grams/day), plus at least 3 grams C (you can take more, of course).
Still, Hoffer-style OM may not be enough. I read that a couple meds I'm on deplete coenzyme q10. I'm 31, so I'm already at the age where coenzyme q10 levels begin to drop, so...I supplement. 200mgs/day, the softgel form (super-absorbable, supposedly. Made by some company called Kaneka).
The thing that worries me...severe mental problems, like schizophrenia, apparently involve a lot of oxidative stress. So...without supplementation of some form, pills are suppressing the symptoms while making some of the underlying problems worse, it seems.
Anyway, whatever you're on, for whatever reason, I recommend trying to find out what gets depleted. I think its particularly important for neuroleptics and anticonvulsants. With anticonvulsants...I think its scary, how docs Rx them and then B vitamins and D can be depleted, and nobody tells the patient.
Posted by linkadge on October 18, 2015, at 14:07:18
In reply to vitamin depletion by psych meds, posted by Christ_empowered on October 17, 2015, at 15:33:51
Hi Empowered,
My views on supplements are this:
Supplements can help, but I focus on the ones that directly help my psychiatric symptoms. I used to take a load of supplements, but some of the research is turning on the safety of certain supplements.
For example, a recent study suggests that some antioxidants can actually make certain cancers spread faster. You can create imbalances by taking too much of any one nutrient.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151008131112.htm
Now, if high dose vitamin C, or D or anything really helped my depression, or psychosis, I would certainly take it. My #1 goal is getting my mind in the right place. There is a huge mind body connection. For instance, Q10 really helps my headaches and can improve my sleep. Folic acid helps my depression, and omega-3 helps my overall mood. So, I take these. I take the supplements that help me stay in the zone (mood wise). I continually take breaks, and act under the belief that I am inherently well, but need meds / supplements to bounce me back into the zone.
After that, I try to use the smallest doses of psych meds possible and then just focus on eating an extremely healthy diet.Many foods can naturally boost the levels of key antioxidants as well as help control inflammation. Take ginger root for instance. Rats subjected to high stress, showed depletion of vitamins A C and E and increase in oxidative stress. However, these alterations were prevented by concurrent treatment with ginger root (without actually having to supplement vitamins A C or E!) So, the phytochemicals that are in healthy foods, can help the body to maintain nutrient balances.
Now I know, some people absolutely need high doses of psych meds. If this were the case, I would look for a naturopathic MD to maybe do some analysis.
The supplement industry heavily promotes the notion that our world is so polluted and depleted that supplements are absolutely essential.
However, I eat a diet that contains 100% of my RDI of everything.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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