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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lao Tzu on August 15, 2008, at 14:48:19
Okay, first. I'm bipolar with mostly depressive episodes, so I'm a lethargic bipolar depressive, problems with energy, especially in the summer. Supplements that have helped me with low energy are supplementing with low doses of fish oil and borage oil. After a couple months of taking the borage oil it seems to lose its antidepressant/mood-lifting effects, so now I've added some other supplements to help with my mood disorder. This is the regimen I've been doing for the past 3 weeks. Seems to work:
Morning:fish oil (210 EPA: 130 DHA) I take Eskimo-3 Brand fish oil, i.e. three 500mg capsules. I'm sensitive to the fish oil, so while other people need to take many grams of it to feel better, I can only take low dosages.
Magnesium Citrate 150mg
Niacinamide (form of B3) 62.5mg---you can cut a 250mg tablet into four pieces, and I need only 1/4 of a tablet.
Afternoon/Evening:Vitamin C 500mg-1,000mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 100mg
N-Acetyl-Cysteine 300mg--doses of 600mg seem to be too much for me to take at once so I cut the tablets in half.
Bedtime:Vitamin E 200IU
Vitamin B6 100mg
Vitamin B3 sustained release (Niacin) 250mg
melatonin 1/4 of a 3mg tablet
Borage oil 1,300mg (Source Naturals Brand) OR Evening Primrose Oil
Calcium 300mg
Like I said, I've been doing this for the past 3 weeks. I had to lower my dosage of borage oil to 1 capsule. Two months prior to this I was taking two 1,300mg capsules of borage oil during the day. Now, it doesn't seem to work well, but I think it might still be beneficial so I take 1 capsule at bedtime. It's supposed to help with depression. I've had pretty good success with N-Acetyl-Cysteine if I only take 300mg at a time. It helps me feel more positive about things, but that's just an observation. I don't really know what it does to the mind. Also, just to let you all know I've been on medication now for two years, so I'm sure that definitely is a factor in how well the supplements alone work. Especially, if you're bipolar you need to be on medication, but the supplements are also quite helpful in addition to the medication, and they are much better for you than turning to drinking and smoking pot. Hope this is helpful to some of you bipolars out there. Remember, don't give up!
Posted by SLS on August 24, 2008, at 16:04:07
In reply to Bipolar Depression Supplements, posted by Lao Tzu on August 15, 2008, at 14:48:19
Hi.
I think you hit the bullseye with your treatment regime.
One thing to take into consideration is that NAC might not produce results for 8 weeks. It is always a good idea to take fish oil as it is truly nutrition for the brain. It helps neurons grow neurites and encourages the formation of more connections.
I take 1800mg of NAC. The Berk study in bipolar depression used 2000mg. I also take fish oil. I am really happy to see someone so well informed as to put together the nutritional cocktail you have. It makes me feel better about my own decisions.
You might want to consider taking Deplin or some other source of L-methylfolate. I take 7.5mg. Whereas its use has been demonstrated when added to an ongoing treatment with standard antidepressants that is yielding a partial response, I don't think anyone can guarantee that it won't produce results when added to your type of treatment.
Good luck. Remember to be patient. It might take 2-3 months of treatment to show results.
Please post your results. Thanks.
- Scott
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