Posted by Indie on July 19, 2004, at 22:56:11
In reply to Re: Where to start?-Indie, posted by Patient on July 19, 2004, at 14:45:43
OK, so I talked to my mother last night and saw my p-doc today. As per testing discussed earlier in the thread, they both seemed to be of the "leave no stone unturned" philosophy and mom offered to pay for the lab tests. So, at the end of the month, I will be having the spectracell blood test (http://www.spectracell.com/) and the NeuroScience urine test (http://www.neurorelief.com/) done. Until then I will not be taking any Vitamin/Mineral supplements so that I can get a base-line of my nutrient levels taken. I will be taking Omega 3 supplements (5 grams/day). I will report with results of the tests in case anybody is curious about testing.
In the meantime, my doc has decided that he wants to try me on SAM-e as he has had great success with it in a couple of Bipolar patients. I asked him about the danger of inducing mania and he said that it was highly unlikely. I am also on 300mg Lamictal/day and 5 mg Zyprexa/day as mood stabalizers, so that further decreases the risk of mania (My manias are pretty easy to control anyway) I later spoke to a pharmacist and a nutritionalist about the risk of mania and the both agreed that it really isn't a danger.
As to taking SAM-e with other antidepressants, again, nobody thought that it was a risk (I have been on Elavil for over six months with little to no response.) I am a bit concerned about it all because I have seen so much warning about use with bi-polar patients and patients taking ADs. But with everybody that I consult irl about my health saying that it is OK I am going to go ahead and try it.
So...Here is my current regiment until I have the tests done on July 29:
Lamictal, 300mg. Bed time.
Elavil, 100mg. Bed time.
Zyprexa, 5mg. Bed time.
Omega 3, 2.5grams twice daily with meals.
SAM-e, 400mg. Morning
Homocysteine Protection Formula (15mg Vitamin B6, 250 mcg Methyl B12, 400mcg Folic Acid, 500mg Trimethylglycine) 1 Tab daily with a meal.
Whew, that seems like alot of stuff to me!!
Does anybody have any actual experience with SAM-e causing mania? Has anybody had any problems with taking SAM-e with ADs? Does anybody know what the deal is with the Homocystein stuff? (My doc recommended it and my pharmacist said something to the effect of it, in conjunction with SAM-e, will help balance out hormone and neurotransmitters and help detoxify the brain...the science of it was a bit over my head.) Any comments or suggestions on my current path to healing are more than welcome!!
Indie.
poster:Indie
thread:367111
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/368043.html