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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ngdodge on May 5, 2006, at 19:36:04
I've been trying mostly natural approaches to depression the last year or so. Serotonin does not seem to be my main issue, since 5-htp, tryptophan and SJW have not had much effect on me ( zoloft and effexor didn't either in prior years, and cymbalta did to a point, but maybe that's norepinephrine ).
I did try Wellbutrin a few months ago and it had a huge impact -- my energy, mood, awareness and social comfort level increased dramatically right away, but I could not sleep -- max 3 hours a night for 3 weeks, so I stopped. I did not want to go down a path where I would have to take a bunch of meds to balance out the wellbutrin.
I tried selegiline recently and had a nearly identical effect -- improved mood, energy and outlook ( I had a LOT of POSITIVE reflections of my past, which was very unusual for me, even incidents that I would normally classify as negative ). However, I could not sleep for two nights straight, but for an hour or two, so I stopped.
I had tried tyrosine but didn't notice much effect from it.
sam-e is perhaps something I should give more of a focussed try on.
any other ideas ?
Posted by Declan on May 5, 2006, at 19:39:07
In reply to natural dopamine solutions ?, posted by ngdodge on May 5, 2006, at 19:36:04
Hi again
Rhodoiola is worth a look at, but may cause insomnia.
Mucana pruriens is good, and doesn't cause insomnia with me. I can take 1 cap first thing, no problems.
Declan
Posted by blueberry on May 7, 2006, at 13:41:34
In reply to Re: natural dopamine solutions ? » ngdodge, posted by Declan on May 5, 2006, at 19:39:07
Tell me more about mucuna if you could please. How it affects your mood, side effects, etc.
Thanks!
Posted by Declan on May 7, 2006, at 15:12:50
In reply to Re: natural dopamine solutions ? » Declan, posted by blueberry on May 7, 2006, at 13:41:34
I forget who, gromit maybe, described it as jumping into a cool pool on a hot day, which is rather charming. Side effects...none that I notice. the main effect is feeling a bit zingy, or oozy...I dunno. As for the sleep, well I sleep so badly that it's hard to be sure. Last night wasn't brilliant, so no protein drink (Musashi Shi Ho) today. If I sleep badly tonight then maybe it could be the mucana, but I doubt it. I take it first thing on an empty stomach, though the people who want to boost GH take it at night.
It's fair to say it's pretty benign, I think. I only take 1 cap/day.
Declan
Posted by tealady on May 11, 2006, at 4:47:12
In reply to natural dopamine solutions ?, posted by ngdodge on May 5, 2006, at 19:36:04
Posted by ghuber on May 11, 2006, at 21:22:38
In reply to natural dopamine solutions ?, posted by ngdodge on May 5, 2006, at 19:36:04
1g of L-Tyrosine on an empty stomach each day will greatly increase dompamine levels...
After 2-4 weeks of pure L-Tyrosine supplementation, its good idea to add a serotonin precursor to avoid unbalanced neurotransmitter levels. Add 1g of L-Tryptophan or 100-200mg of 5-HTP on an empty stomach at a different time of the day in order to avoid competition of the different aminos across the blood brain barrier.
Posted by djmmm on May 13, 2006, at 10:29:33
In reply to natural dopamine solutions ?, posted by ngdodge on May 5, 2006, at 19:36:04
Look into Mucuna pruriens (aka Velvet Bean). It contains L-dopa.
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 24, 2006, at 12:53:27
In reply to natural dopamine solutions ?, posted by ngdodge on May 5, 2006, at 19:36:04
> I tried selegiline recently and had a nearly identical effect -- improved mood, energy and outlook ( I had a LOT of POSITIVE reflections of my past, which was very unusual for me, even incidents that I would normally classify as negative ). However, I could not sleep for two nights straight, but for an hour or two, so I stopped.
You should have tried using a lower dose and/or dissolving the tablet (I assume the pill form) under your tongue.
Go with the positive effect, but go easier on the dose. Not everybody needs the same dose. You might only need 10% of the dose I need, or vice versa. And there's no way to tell, ahead of time.
Lar
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