Posted by JLx on June 14, 2006, at 12:02:10
In reply to so many things to try, so lost! suggestions?, posted by zefdie on June 13, 2006, at 3:11:57
> I am deep in the hole with a persistent, awful depression. I've read this board on and off for years and always come away with my head spinning. I've also been very grateful for the help and information that's to be had here. Following some of your suggestions over the years, I've found taurine to be helpful for calming down an agitated depression, and have also taken tryptophan to decent results. I've got a mean depression though, so tryptophan never feels like enough. I am taking 5-HTP right now, though it's pooped out on me, and have ordered some of the pharmaceutical-grade stuff to try this week. 5-HTP had a great effect for the fist week or so, so I'm hoping getting the better stuff might make a difference.
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> I am currently on Lamictal for bipolar II, depressed all day, blah. I've also got an ADD diagnosis. In the past I've taken piracetam to clear the mental fog and found that it really helped my mood. Hydergine, if I recall, is really expensive but I've heard the two work best together and I wonder if that might be worth trying (if I can find Hydergine for cheap enough). One of my persistent troubles is cognitive impairment and loss of creativity. This is why I'm doing everything I can to avoid an SSRI.
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> Right now, in addition to Lamictal 400 mg, I take 5-HTP w/ b6 (no dose really makes a noticeable difference anymore anyway, bleh) and a multi-vitamin. I feel like I can't afford to be taking 10-plus supplements a day, and sometimes reading the info here I feel like I should be supplementing like crazy.
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> Sometimes I take a B complex, too.
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> I hope this wasn't terribly long-winded, I'm exhausted and sluggish and, well, depressed.
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> Thank you!I've found these brain tests from the Amen Clinic to be interesting and helpful in terms of the recommendations Dr. Amen then also makes re the different brain problem areas:
http://amenclinics.com/ac/tests/
http://www.amenclinic.com/bp/articles.php?articleID=10
His recommendations jibe with my own experience.
But in general, the single most helpful supplement for me is magnesium. When I started taking it, I quit all meds and haven't looked back. I was alerted to magnesium's great potential by this site: "Rapid Recovery From Depression Using Magnesium Treatment" by George Eby http://www.coldcure.com/html/dep.html
JL
poster:JLx
thread:656325
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060601/msgs/656859.html