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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 10:30:55
After a 3 month trial (my longest to date) of fish oil, I've decided to discontinue taking it due to anxiety. It's been about 5 days without it now.
The problem is the anxiety is still there. Nonetheless, I still believe it to be the fish oil, as I've done countless trials on it and have almost definitively found it to be the culprit.
Will it take time for this anxiety to fade, or am I just wrong about it being the fish oil?
Thanks for any input. Peace...Saturn.
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 21, 2007, at 11:45:14
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil, posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 10:30:55
> After a 3 month trial (my longest to date) of fish oil, I've decided to discontinue taking it due to anxiety. It's been about 5 days without it now.
>
> The problem is the anxiety is still there. Nonetheless, I still believe it to be the fish oil, as I've done countless trials on it and have almost definitively found it to be the culprit.
>
> Will it take time for this anxiety to fade, or am I just wrong about it being the fish oil?
>
> Thanks for any input. Peace...Saturn.Simply considering the progressive incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids into the structure of your cells over time, *if* the fish oil is responsible for the anxiety, it would take longer to fade, proportional to the dose and duration of supplementation.
I hope you don't mind if I say I'm intrigue by your reaction, as I can't think of a mechanism for it. What is your reaction to niacinamide? To GLA?
Lar
Posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 19:08:38
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » saturn, posted by Larry Hoover on April 21, 2007, at 11:45:14
>
> Simply considering the progressive incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids into the structure of your cells over time, *if* the fish oil is responsible for the anxiety, it would take longer to fade, proportional to the dose and duration of supplementation.
>
> I hope you don't mind if I say I'm intrigue by your reaction, as I can't think of a mechanism for it. What is your reaction to niacinamide? To GLA?
>
> Lar
>Hi Lar,
I'd like to think that it's actually not the fish oil, given its multiple health benefits (and because I can't tolerate any ADHD meds). I've even read studies suggesting that it should *decrease* anxiety, so perhaps your intrigue is well-founded and it is not the fish oil after all.
Another possibility I'm considering is cortisol, as the anxiety seems to kindle througout the morning and peak midday...and then significantly declines into the evening.
I've never tried niacinamide (aside from a regular multivitamin) or GLA (I do take magnesium and taurine, which work inconsistently). Would they be worth a shot?
Thanks...Peace...Saturn.
Posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 19:13:34
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » saturn, posted by Larry Hoover on April 21, 2007, at 11:45:14
I'm also trying to rule out whether my morning light therapy could be a factor. As with the fish oil, however, the anxiety continued when I stopped the light.
Posted by fayeroe on April 21, 2007, at 21:33:37
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » Larry Hoover, posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 19:13:34
i was having significant anxiety while taking fish oil...so i quit taking it......anxiety went away.
i worried about the health benefits and started taking it again......more anxiety. i quit it and anxiety went away. and i mean heart thumping anxiety.......
it really, really puzzles me.......pat
Posted by teejay on April 21, 2007, at 21:38:49
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » Larry Hoover, posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 19:08:38
I'm kinda with saturn on this one. I can't hand on heart say 101% that fish oil is bad for me, but over time it always seems to be in my regimen when I feel lousy!
I've now not taken it for a few months and feel much better. Do I feel fully 'well'? No, of course not, but one thing i've noticed recently is my ability to fight off or at least partially fight off a bad spell has improved. Not only that but just sometimes I can actually look to the future with some form of anticipation rather than aprehension. Like I said, I don't feel 'cured' by any stretch of the imagination, but I certainly feel that over the past few months that I've taken a step in the right direction.
For the record I'm treating myself as though I'm histadelic. I'm considering now I've been doing so for a whilem if I should ramp up my dosages a bit to see if it improves my situation further?
TJ
Posted by teejay on April 21, 2007, at 21:46:56
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » Larry Hoover, posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 19:08:38
I'm kinda with saturn on this one. I can't hand on heart say 101% that fish oil is bad for me, but over time it always seems to be in my regimen when I feel lousy!
I've now not taken it for a few months and feel much better. Do I feel fully 'well'? No, of course not, but one thing i've noticed recently is my ability to fight off or at least partially fight off a bad spell has improved. Not only that but just sometimes I can actually look to the future with some form of anticipation rather than aprehension. Like I said, I don't feel 'cured' by any stretch of the imagination, but I certainly feel that over the past few months that I've taken a step in the right direction.
For the record I'm treating myself as though I'm histadelic. I'm considering now I've been doing so for a whilem if I should ramp up my dosages a bit to see if it improves my situation further?
TJ
Posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 22:19:39
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » saturn, posted by fayeroe on April 21, 2007, at 21:33:37
> i was having significant anxiety while taking fish oil...so i quit taking it......anxiety went away.
>
> i worried about the health benefits and started taking it again......more anxiety. i quit it and anxiety went away. and i mean heart thumping anxiety.......
>
> it really, really puzzles me.......patHi Pat,
May I ask how long and at what dose you where taking, and how soon after quitting that the anxiety went away?
Thanks...Peace...Saturn.
Posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 22:26:40
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil, posted by teejay on April 21, 2007, at 21:46:56
Hi Teejay,
In what way do you feel "much better" after stopping fish oil, and how long until you felt so? If you don't mind my asking. Thanks...Peace...Saturn.
Posted by fayeroe on April 21, 2007, at 22:32:03
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » fayeroe, posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 22:19:39
> > i was having significant anxiety while taking fish oil...so i quit taking it......anxiety went away.
> >
> > i worried about the health benefits and started taking it again......more anxiety. i quit it and anxiety went away. and i mean heart thumping anxiety.......
> >
> > it really, really puzzles me.......pat
>
> Hi Pat,
>
> May I ask how long and at what dose you where taking, and how soon after quitting that the anxiety went away?
>
> Thanks...Peace...Saturn.i was taking 1200mg daily. i had been taking it for about a year. and all of that time i had been having anxiety that didn't compare to what i usually have. i keep a "journal record"......
the anxiety went away in around 72 hours. as it did after i stopped it the second time. somewhere in that vicinity.
>
Posted by teejay on April 22, 2007, at 7:21:27
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » teejay, posted by saturn on April 21, 2007, at 22:26:40
Its a reduction in that obsessive anxiety and edginess that I notice most. That allows my mind to relax a bit and generally work better. Constant intense anxiety really is so, so debilitating as it becomes all encompassing.
Difficult to quantify and explain really.
Felt a bit edgy and anxious this morning as it happens, but the improvements lately give me confidence that I will be able to push the symptoms back.
Hope this helps.
TJ
Posted by saturn on April 22, 2007, at 9:13:08
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil, posted by fayeroe on April 21, 2007, at 22:32:03
> > > i was having significant anxiety while taking fish oil...so i quit taking it......anxiety went away.
> > >
> > > i worried about the health benefits and started taking it again......more anxiety. i quit it and anxiety went away. and i mean heart thumping anxiety.......
> > >
> > > it really, really puzzles me.......pat
> >
> > Hi Pat,
> >
> > May I ask how long and at what dose you where taking, and how soon after quitting that the anxiety went away?
> >
> > Thanks...Peace...Saturn.
>
> i was taking 1200mg daily. i had been taking it for about a year. and all of that time i had been having anxiety that didn't compare to what i usually have. i keep a "journal record"......
>
> the anxiety went away in around 72 hours. as it did after i stopped it the second time. somewhere in that vicinity.Thanks Fayeroe,
I've been keeping a journal on this also, as it's not always immediately obvious what the culprit is. I really appreciate the input. Thanks...Peace..Saturn.
Posted by saturn on April 22, 2007, at 9:18:56
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil, posted by teejay on April 22, 2007, at 7:21:27
> Its a reduction in that obsessive anxiety and edginess that I notice most. That allows my mind to relax a bit and generally work better. Constant intense anxiety really is so, so debilitating as it becomes all encompassing.
>
> Difficult to quantify and explain really.
>
> Felt a bit edgy and anxious this morning as it happens, but the improvements lately give me confidence that I will be able to push the symptoms back.
>
> Hope this helps.Definitely helps. And I can completely relate improvements giving you the confidence to push the symptoms back. Just as I write this on reflection I realize that I'm closer to relaxed than anxious. I know the anxiety will come, but such improvements also give me a kind of strength to deal with it and focus on long-term improvements in decreasing it. Thanks again....Peace...Saturn.
Posted by saturn on April 22, 2007, at 23:20:05
In reply to Re: stopping fish oil » saturn, posted by Larry Hoover on April 21, 2007, at 11:45:14
Found this post from LOOPS:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060313/msgs/626248.html
Anyone tried or have an explanation as to how or if GLA might be of some benefit here (re: fish oil-induced/exacerbated anxiety)?
Thanks...Peace...Saturn.
This is the end of the thread.
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