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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 9, 2005, at 6:25:33
I've been taking the standard dose of SJW for a while now (hmm three weeks?) and it seems to be working, although nothing actually great, just a very small but noticeable change. I think. I find it hard to tell!!
Anyway I was wondering if there are any auguments out there that I could try with it to enhance its efficiancy?
I suffer from moderate (and in the past) severe atyplical depression and feel that SJW might be good for me as it supposedly reuptakes in a broad way like a MAOI, which are meant to be the gold standard in atypical depression.
(BTW My chances of going on a MAOI are virtually impossible -- I live in the UK!)
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 9, 2005, at 8:31:00
In reply to Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions??, posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 9, 2005, at 6:25:33
> I've been taking the standard dose of SJW for a while now (hmm three weeks?) and it seems to be working, although nothing actually great, just a very small but noticeable change. I think. I find it hard to tell!!
It is a gentle med, in most people.
> Anyway I was wondering if there are any auguments out there that I could try with it to enhance its efficiancy?
Sure there are. The first one is more St. John's wort. There is no upper dose limit, no toxic effect, nothing to limit you except the experience of side effects. You may safely increase the dose until you experience adverse effects. Do so with caution, nonetheless. Reasonable dose increases might be 300 mg each week. There is a further caution below, however.
Also, I have always felt that Siberian ginseng Eleutherococcus senticosus went well with SJW.
> I suffer from moderate (and in the past) severe atyplical depression and feel that SJW might be good for me as it supposedly reuptakes in a broad way like a MAOI, which are meant to be the gold standard in atypical depression.
>
> (BTW My chances of going on a MAOI are virtually impossible -- I live in the UK!)Yes, SJW does have a broad effect. And I believe it is most appropriate for atypical depression.
One caveat. SJW induces the enzyme 3A4. It ramps up the activity of that enzyme rather dramatically. It is the exact opposite of the "grapefruit effect". I can't tell if a Meri-Tuuli is boy or girl, so be aware that oral contraceptives can fail with SJW intake. Use a reliable back-up.
Lar
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 9, 2005, at 9:46:06
In reply to Re: Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions?? » Meri-Tuuli, posted by Larry Hoover on November 9, 2005, at 8:31:00
Hi Larry!
Thanks for the post!
Hmm... have heard of siberian ginseng and would like to give it a go, although I'm not too sure where to get it from/dosages. I'll see if Kira do it (they are reputable).
Hehehe....Meri-Tuuli literally translates from Finnish (my mother is Finnish and lives there) as 'Sea-Wind' although I prefer the more poetic 'Sea-Breeze' .....in any case Meri-Tuuli is my middle name and I'm a gal. In case you were wondering......;o)
Posted by blueberry on November 9, 2005, at 17:37:10
In reply to Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions??, posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 9, 2005, at 6:25:33
There are several things you could do.
Wait longer...3 weeks is not long enough for sjw.
While you're waiting, make sure the brand you are using is a brand used in clinical research studies...such as Kira LI160. Whatever the brand, make sure it specifies that it has a minimum of 3% hyperforin content...most only specify the hypericin content. Hyperforin is the important one.
Other herbs such as valerian for anxiety and insomnia, or gingko biloba or the ginsengs for stimulation.
Providing more neurotransmitter precursors such as 5HTP for more serotonin action or DL-phenyalanine for more norepinephrine and dopamine action.
Honestly though, if you have a brand with 3% hyperforin content and you give it a good 6 to 8 weeks at a therapeutic dose, you could be happy with it. Some people and some clinical studies have used doses as high as 1800mg a day, instead of the usual 900mg, so increasing dose is possible.
I'm a big fan of sjw. For me it started working at about 3 weeks, got much better at about 5 weeks, and really didn't peak out until about 8 to 10 weeks.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 10, 2005, at 10:47:42
In reply to Re: Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions??, posted by blueberry on November 9, 2005, at 17:37:10
Hey Blueberry, thanks for the post -
I think I'm already feeling the effects and I am liking it very much. It truely is a great herb.
I am taking Kira (one a day) which gives you the standard dose of 900micrograms. Yes I am planning to keep on it for at least for two months, well more hopefully!
Hmmm I would like to try either ginko or siberian ginseng...although I guess I should wait it out for a few more weeks with the SJW before considering adding anything or increasing the dosages.
I assume its safe to take long term? (apart from the obvious interactions with meds)
Also what side effects did you experience - I feel the need to pee more urgently than before. I don't need to go more often, just when I do, its alot more uncomfortable! I also get some gastro acid problems if I don't take it with something to eat. Plus I get abit hyper about an hour after a dose....but these are NOTHING compared to the usual side effects from other tradition ADs....
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by blueberry on November 10, 2005, at 16:59:40
In reply to Re: Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions?? » blueberry, posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 10, 2005, at 10:47:42
Kira was my brand too. Amazing stuff.
It's funny you mentioned the pee thing. I found I could go a long time between pees, a lot longer than usual. I stumbled across a study they did on rats that showed that sjw relaxed the bladder through some opioid connection.
The revved up feeling you get shortly after dosing, I got that too. It was short lasting and easy to deal with. It eventually went away.
Sjw was just great. I felt so warm, comfortable in a crowd, interested in things, calm yet motivated, more talkative, and just felt like I was alive for the first time in years. But because I was also taking it with meds, things got weird and almost dangerous after 3 months, so I had to stop it. If I could ever wean off of meds completely, I would love to go back to Kira all by itself.
Posted by mystery road on November 10, 2005, at 19:39:01
In reply to Re: Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions?? » Meri-Tuuli, posted by blueberry on November 10, 2005, at 16:59:40
Blueberry..
I've just started Perika..Have you tried it?
Would you suggest switching to the Kira?..I hope its gonna help as I can't handle meds and suffering pretty badily..MR
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 11, 2005, at 5:44:53
In reply to Re: Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions??, posted by mystery road on November 10, 2005, at 19:39:01
Hi MR!
Well, I have never tried Perika, but I believe that either Kira or Perika are the best brands of SJW - they are the ones with the most consistent content etc.
As for the differences between the two, I came across this website http://www.sjwinfo.org/ which has a bunch of useful information on SJW. I think they are slightly different - Kira has a more balanced formula and works for most people, while Perika either hits the spot or it doesn't. Although that is far from gospel -- I can't remember where I read it!
Meri
Posted by blueberry on November 15, 2005, at 17:52:54
In reply to Re: Augments to St John's Wort - any suggestions??, posted by mystery road on November 10, 2005, at 19:39:01
Perika is very similar to Kira. Both have standardized high percentages of hyperforin. Every brand is a little bit different though. I have tried Perika at one time and Kira another, and found them to be very similar. I think if I recall correctly Kira was a slight bit more calming while Perika was a slight bit more activating, though the difference really wasn't much.
This is the end of the thread.
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