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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 15, 2011, at 16:40:00
I feel that a combination of vitamins C, E, fish and borage oils along with my medication help a lot with the illness. I've tried taking all kinds of vitamins and supplements but have been disappointed with most of them. I used to try high dose B vitamins, but have found that in the long run they don't help much with schizophrenia. B1, B6, and B12 have helped somewhat, but now I am relying more on C, E, fish and borage oils. The medication has helped a lot with delusions and hallucinations, but your doctor has to find the correct dosage. Fish and borage oils can be used along with the medication and I have found that Vitamin C and E can be used as well. I thought that a multivitamin might help, and it seemed so for a week or two, but in the long run I don't think a multivitamin is going to make much of an impact on schizophrenia.
Lao
Posted by Johnnybaklava on September 16, 2011, at 10:41:17
In reply to Fish oil for schizophrenia, posted by Lao Tzu on September 15, 2011, at 16:40:00
That's interesting. I had been taking fish oil for a while and never really noticed anything, and I even suspected it of adversely affecting hair. But then I stopped and, after a few months, felt myself slowly sinking back into some old stuff so I think that maybe the fish oil had been helping subtly. I'm going to experiment with high EPA fish oil, as I have tried a couple brands that actually made me feel worse and discovered that their EPA/DHA ratio was basically even. I take C for overall health but can't say I've noticed much in terms of mood.
Posted by Lao Tzu on September 20, 2011, at 6:37:19
In reply to Re: Fish oil for schizophrenia, posted by Johnnybaklava on September 16, 2011, at 10:41:17
Vitamin C has effects on norepinephrine, so theoretically, it could help some people who have depression related to norepinephrine deficits. Fish oil is a mood stabilizer, and there is some evidence that schizophrenics have altered fatty acid metabolism. The jury is still out for now as to the importance of fish oil for schizophrenia, but there is some good evidence that it could prevent full-blown schizophrenia if taken earlier in life, before adulthood. Once you have schizophrenia, the fish oil may not do much, but I have found that it does have effects on mood, perhaps may be better for mood disorders rather than psychosis. For me, 1,500mg of fish oil per day works well. Probably, fish oil is better for bipolar disorder. More research needs to be done in this area, however. Some sources say EPA is the most important component in fish oil as it relates to mental illness, but I have also read that DHA is very important as well.
Lao
Posted by Johnnybaklava on September 20, 2011, at 12:26:24
In reply to Re: Fish oil for schizophrenia, posted by Lao Tzu on September 20, 2011, at 6:37:19
Interesting. I have tried the whole salmon oil pills for a month and noticed that I either didn't feel much of anything, or felt rather down after taking them consistently. I noticed that the amount of DHA is actually higher than the EPA in these pills. I can imagine that the EPA is good for depression, the DHA is good for mania, so maybe this is why they can help with mood balance.
Posted by TheDmachine on September 27, 2011, at 20:43:55
In reply to Fish oil for schizophrenia, posted by Lao Tzu on September 15, 2011, at 16:40:00
LAO:
I agree that adhering to a healthy lifestyle will definitely help with our mental health and outlook, but if you feel that eatting vitamins and fish oil help with 'schizophrenia', then you are truly delusional, more likely than not the biggest delusion is 'schizophrenia' itself.
Reprogram yourself... your problem isn't fish oil, or psychosis, or delusions etc... your problem is your way of thinking and the label you have accepted.
Posted by Lao Tzu on October 9, 2011, at 17:12:20
In reply to Re: Fish oil for schizophrenia, posted by TheDmachine on September 27, 2011, at 20:43:55
I agree with you Dmachine in part. There is a lot of psychology involved with schizophrenia, but there is more going on than is realized. Changing your way of thinking is helpful as I have found out myself. I am not saying fish oil or vitamins will cure schizophrenia. I never said that. Probably they are useful for mood disorders, but true, they are not always the answer. Medication also helps schizophrenia because it "calms" the hallucinations. Medication has been a big part in my recovery from the standpoint of balancing brain chemistry, but again, it doesn't solve the whole puzzle of schizophrenia. Thanks for being so candid in your post. I like the fact that some people challenge the theory of using supplements to cure mental illness. I do agree with you partially. A lot of money stands to be made by this industry, and over the years I have put less stock in using vitamins, but I still use them to help with mood as I seem to have symptoms of bipolar disorder as well.
Lao
Posted by novelagent on March 1, 2012, at 10:51:03
In reply to Re: Fish oil for schizophrenia, posted by Lao Tzu on October 9, 2011, at 17:12:20
My psychiatrist has told me that fish oil reduces inflammation, and under the inflammation hypothosis of schizophrenia, inflammation worsens symptoms over times.
I take fish oil and Aleve, as I get headaches (likely due to my schizphreniform disorder) as well. I'm trying to neg my doc into prescribing Lovaza, but she hasn't bothered to read it in the PDR to dose it to me yet.
Lovaza is a synthetic fish oil. In head-to-head comparisons in a journal on omega 3 fatty acids, Lovaza was approximately half as potent as pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, so it's probably wise to take twice the advised dose. I'm poor, so it would be good for me to take it, as I would save on pricey fish oil...
> I agree with you Dmachine in part. There is a lot of psychology involved with schizophrenia, but there is more going on than is realized. Changing your way of thinking is helpful as I have found out myself. I am not saying fish oil or vitamins will cure schizophrenia. I never said that. Probably they are useful for mood disorders, but true, they are not always the answer. Medication also helps schizophrenia because it "calms" the hallucinations. Medication has been a big part in my recovery from the standpoint of balancing brain chemistry, but again, it doesn't solve the whole puzzle of schizophrenia. Thanks for being so candid in your post. I like the fact that some people challenge the theory of using supplements to cure mental illness. I do agree with you partially. A lot of money stands to be made by this industry, and over the years I have put less stock in using vitamins, but I still use them to help with mood as I seem to have symptoms of bipolar disorder as well.
>
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> Lao
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