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Vitamin E (tocopherol)


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Generally, it is recommended to take vitamin E with fish oil because it helps metabolize the fish oil. Some fish oils come combined with vitamin E.

 

See http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

To help fish oil to work, take it with 400IU vitamin E per day. This helps metabolize the fish oil. A good type of vitamin E to take is mixed tocopherols -- they've been shown to have other health benefits. You don't need to take any more than 400IU vitamin E per day.

What kind of vitamin E should you take?

 

From the U.S. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/

The FNB's vitamin E recommendations are for alpha-tocopherol alone, the only form maintained in plasma. The FNB based these recommendations primarily on serum levels of the nutrient that provide adequate protection in a test measuring the survival of erythrocytes when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, a free radical [6]. Acknowledging "great uncertainties" in these data, the FNB has called for research to identify other biomarkers for assessing vitamin E requirements....Naturally sourced vitamin E is called d-alpha-tocopherol.

 

....

Supplements of vitamin E typically provide only alpha-tocopherol, although "mixed" products containing other tocopherols and even tocotrienols are available....A given amount of synthetic alpha-tocopherol (listed on labels as "DL" or "dl") [is] only half as active as the same amount (by weight in mg) of the natural form (labeled as "D" or "d"). People need approximately 50% more IU of synthetic alpha tocopherol from dietary supplements and fortified foods to obtain the same amount of the nutrient as from the natural form.

 

From Livestrong http://www.livestrong.com/article/402715-natural-vitamin-e-vs-synthetic/

Natural vitamin E is produced by green plants. Synthetic vitamin E is produced in a laboratory. You might think that the synthetic vitamin E you get from dietary supplements and fortified foods is the same as natural vitamin E. Not exactly. The Office of Dietary Supplements says you need almost twice as much synthetic vitamin E to meet the dietary requirements for natural vitamin E and to protect your health from free radicals.

 

....

Alpha-tocopherol is the only form your body recognizes and uses to meet your daily requirements for vitamin E. Natural vitamin E is listed as international units, or IU, which is the measurement of biological activity. The recommended daily amount, or RDA, is for the natural form of vitamin E. You will find natural vitamin E labeled as d-alpha-tocopherol.

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopherol

Synthetic vitamin E derived from petroleum products is .... is always marked on labels simply as dl-tocopherol or dl-tocopheryl acetate, even though it is (if fully written out) actually dl,dl,dl-tocopherol.

Integrative practitioners believe that since d-alpha-tocopherol is accompanied by other tocopherols in nature, a form of vitamin E called mixed tocopherols may have additional health benefits. From Dr. Andrew Weil http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02813/facts-about-vitamin-e

Dr. Weil recommends supplementing with vitamin E that provides a minimum daily dose of 80 mg of the whole complex, including mixed tocopherols and mixed tocotrienols. It should provide at least 10 mg of tocotrienols. If you can't find that, look for a product with mixed natural tocopherols (400 to 800 IU daily). Avoid dl-alpha-tocopherol, the synthetic form.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 2 years later...

Vitamin E is the only thing suggested by my liver specialist at a dose of 400UI per day. I have fibrosis in my liver and a few cysts.  I was taking this for a few years and then forgot in one of my more forgetful wd times.  I was reminded by him this past spring and have been taking them faithfully again. Not expecting a miracle but if you have a liver problem it may be helpful 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 5 months later...

Can anyone recommend me a good Vitamin E brand please? I take fish oil already so I want to try this. :)

Intro and updates thread http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9951-stone-tapering-problem-please-help-a-bit-urgent/

Prescribed 20mg of Citalopram 17 years ago.

Began tapering 3 or 4 years ago and was on 2.5mg every other day for 3 months until 21/8/2015 I then stopped completely for 10 days.

On 1/9/2015 I re-instated 1.25mg a day due to horrendous rebound depression/side effects (also found this site, thank God).

Seemed to stabilise then had a bout of very severe depression starting around the beginning of October/15,

then on the 19/10/15 I panicked and started on 20mg Fluoxetine, realised this was a bad idea and then had to decide between a lower dose of Fluoxetine

or reinstating Citalopram at maybe 1.5mg finally decided on 5mg of Fluoxetine for "bridging" purposes.

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Is the dl for delta?

 

And how do iu's and mg.'s line up.  How many iu's in a mg. or viceaversa?  I started some a couple of days ago.  Not sure if I should recommend or not......yet.  Delta fraction tocotrienols.  I always have liked Dr. Andrew Weil.

 

Generally, it is recommended to take vitamin E with fish oil because it helps metabolize the fish oil. Some fish oils come combined with vitamin E.

See http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
 

To help fish oil to work, take it with 400IU vitamin E per day. This helps metabolize the fish oil. A good type of vitamin E to take is mixed tocopherols -- they've been shown to have other health benefits. You don't need to take any more than 400IU vitamin E per day.


What kind of vitamin E should you take?

From the U.S. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/

The FNB's vitamin E recommendations are for alpha-tocopherol alone, the only form maintained in plasma. The FNB based these recommendations primarily on serum levels of the nutrient that provide adequate protection in a test measuring the survival of erythrocytes when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, a free radical [6]. Acknowledging "great uncertainties" in these data, the FNB has called for research to identify other biomarkers for assessing vitamin E requirements....Naturally sourced vitamin E is called d-alpha-tocopherol.

....
Supplements of vitamin E typically provide only alpha-tocopherol, although "mixed" products containing other tocopherols and even tocotrienols are available....A given amount of synthetic alpha-tocopherol (listed on labels as "DL" or "dl") [is] only half as active as the same amount (by weight in mg) of the natural form (labeled as "D" or "d"). People need approximately 50% more IU of synthetic alpha tocopherol from dietary supplements and fortified foods to obtain the same amount of the nutrient as from the natural form.

From Livestrong http://www.livestrong.com/article/402715-natural-vitamin-e-vs-synthetic/

Natural vitamin E is produced by green plants. Synthetic vitamin E is produced in a laboratory. You might think that the synthetic vitamin E you get from dietary supplements and fortified foods is the same as natural vitamin E. Not exactly. The Office of Dietary Supplements says you need almost twice as much synthetic vitamin E to meet the dietary requirements for natural vitamin E and to protect your health from free radicals.

....
Alpha-tocopherol is the only form your body recognizes and uses to meet your daily requirements for vitamin E. Natural vitamin E is listed as international units, or IU, which is the measurement of biological activity. The recommended daily amount, or RDA, is for the natural form of vitamin E. You will find natural vitamin E labeled as d-alpha-tocopherol.

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopherol

Synthetic vitamin E derived from petroleum products is .... is always marked on labels simply as dl-tocopherol or dl-tocopheryl acetate, even though it is (if fully written out) actually dl,dl,dl-tocopherol.


Integrative practitioners believe that since d-alpha-tocopherol is accompanied by other tocopherols in nature, a form of vitamin E called mixed tocopherols may have additional health benefits. From Dr. Andrew Weil http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02813/facts-about-vitamin-e

Dr. Weil recommends supplementing with vitamin E that provides a minimum daily dose of 80 mg of the whole complex, including mixed tocopherols and mixed tocotrienols. It should provide at least 10 mg of tocotrienols. If you can't find that, look for a product with mixed natural tocopherols (400 to 800 IU daily). Avoid dl-alpha-tocopherol, the synthetic form.

 

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022, and again finally 5/25/24.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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I tried taking 400IU of vitamin E with my fish oil of this brand:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029F5CM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

 

I had a pretty nasty reaction (burning sensations, headaches, difficulty thinking etc) to 400IU, but not when I cut open the capsule and took around 200IU (half).

 

I ended up sending the stuff back though, because it didn't seem to be worth the risk of exacerbating my WD symptoms.

 

Just my own personal experience.

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Thanks Osckajga, I found this one on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004Z722IC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=TX0K6ENIDBNB&coliid=I54J9ZAM1MSNPit's a bit expensive though. Strange that you had that reaction. :(

Intro and updates thread http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9951-stone-tapering-problem-please-help-a-bit-urgent/

Prescribed 20mg of Citalopram 17 years ago.

Began tapering 3 or 4 years ago and was on 2.5mg every other day for 3 months until 21/8/2015 I then stopped completely for 10 days.

On 1/9/2015 I re-instated 1.25mg a day due to horrendous rebound depression/side effects (also found this site, thank God).

Seemed to stabilise then had a bout of very severe depression starting around the beginning of October/15,

then on the 19/10/15 I panicked and started on 20mg Fluoxetine, realised this was a bad idea and then had to decide between a lower dose of Fluoxetine

or reinstating Citalopram at maybe 1.5mg finally decided on 5mg of Fluoxetine for "bridging" purposes.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Shoot Stone.........they don't really give all the ingredients/exact make up(from what I can see) on the Amazon site?  And do they always do that......."only 2 left!" type of business???

 

I think I will just hold for a bit ..........while I continue to adjust to my final decreases and get some kind of working routine for the winter in order.  And read some more on my "intellectual" days.

 

Ugh, I imagine even the local "more natural food and supplement" places will be all atwitter soon with Christmas buying spree folks.........I so want to head for a cave in Portugal about now.

 

Just jawing.......a bit negative. :blink:

 

Thanks for the input. :)

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022, and again finally 5/25/24.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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Hi Many, there is a bit of a description further down the page

 

"Guard your cells against the damaging effects of free radicals with the natural antioxidant protection of Full Spectrum E with Tocotrienols. Each high-bioavailability softgel supplies 100 IU of vitamin E from d-alpha tocopherol, plus the full spectrum of the other naturally occurring tocopherols, including a high concentration of d-gamma tocopherol, plus the synergistic support of Tocomin Tocotrienol Complex. These close cousins of the tocopherols act as high-powered antioxidants that optimise the free-radical neutralising activity of vitamin E."

 

I have been spending so much on supplements lately,  that I don't want to get these until I am sure I have found the best ones. :)

Intro and updates thread http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9951-stone-tapering-problem-please-help-a-bit-urgent/

Prescribed 20mg of Citalopram 17 years ago.

Began tapering 3 or 4 years ago and was on 2.5mg every other day for 3 months until 21/8/2015 I then stopped completely for 10 days.

On 1/9/2015 I re-instated 1.25mg a day due to horrendous rebound depression/side effects (also found this site, thank God).

Seemed to stabilise then had a bout of very severe depression starting around the beginning of October/15,

then on the 19/10/15 I panicked and started on 20mg Fluoxetine, realised this was a bad idea and then had to decide between a lower dose of Fluoxetine

or reinstating Citalopram at maybe 1.5mg finally decided on 5mg of Fluoxetine for "bridging" purposes.

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  • 6 months later...
  • 11 months later...

Can any one really recommend a good vitamin e supplement to take with my fish oil , I have looked up brands and information , and I am so confused to what to take , some people say don't take if it's made with soy , some say don't take if it's synthetic as it's not good for you , don't want to be spending a fortune on a supplement that is not really doing any good

Edited by scallywag
merged topics

2001 to jan 2015 Effexor 150 mg 

jan 2015 15 mg mirtazapine 20 mg quetiapine 

feb 2015 quetiapine stopped 

feb 2015 30 mg of citalopram added 

feb 2015 mirtazapine increased to 30 mg 

july 2015 citalopram stopped 

sept 2015 200mg of pregabalin 

jan 2017 mirtazapine stopped

jan 2017 20 mg fluoxetine

march 2017 all meds stopped 

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  • Administrator

Mixed tocopherols. The base (soy, etc.) is up to you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 1 month later...

Careful with vitamin e while tapering! I started taking vitamin e with my magnesium and fish oil and symptoms started to flare up. Today I decided to look up Vitamin E side effects and on webMD it says that it can induce cyp3a4 and interacts with medications that are metabolized by that enzyme. I am not going to take it anymore and hope that the bad reaction was in fact the Vitamin E which would make sense because my medication is metabolized pretty heavily by cyp3a4. I can not find research to find the extent to which it induces cyp3a4 but considering it is on webMD it at least warrants caution.

Been on 3mg Risperdal for 13 years due to drug induced psychosis from meth

Was on 0.5 mg Klonopin for 6 years as needed until May 2016 for anxiety

Quit the Klonopin in May 2016 too fast and went into withdrawal hell for 9 months

Started reducing Risperdal by 0.25 mg a month in December 2016

Ran into problems after hitting 2 mg and getting rid of the morning dose so decided to slow taper down

Waited 10 weeks to reduce dose again

6/30/2017 at 1.75 mg

7/30/2017 at 1.60 mg

9/11/2017 at 0 mg

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  • 4 years later...

I had a strange reaction to Vitamin E last night (first time taking it) along with updosing to a full 2500mg of combined EPA/DHA er day. I bought Ultimate E on Amazon as it was a Top Pick on ConsumerLab. I started feeling really weird in my head and the recent symptoms I have had started flaring up, which lasted most of the evening. Was it Anxiety or an adverse reaction? No clue but I was under no stress at the time. So not yet sure if I will continue it. It was not a comfortable feeling.

 

 

My Introduction thread

2002-2003 Celexa/Lexapro (first ride, very mild withdrawal). 2004-2012 Drug free
2013-2018 Cymbalta 60mg | 2019 Effexor 75mg - 150mg (can't recall specifics)
2020-Apr 2021 Trintellix 20mg | May-Jun 10mg | Jul-Aug 5mg (stopped Aug 12th, 2021)

WD symptoms began 4-6 weeks after last dose, increased severely at the 4 month mark
2021 Oct 9th Propranolol 10mg 2x/day (10am and 7pm) tapered to 5mg. Stopped 2/1/22.
Lorazepam (Ativan) 0.5-1mg as needed

Started a 0.5mg Trintellix reinstatement on 12/17/21 

Tapered to ~0.4mg and 0.3mg by end of May 2022

Stopped Caffeine 1/1/2022 and Nicotine on 4/1/2022.

Jan 19, 2022 - Added Vitamin D3 (2000iu), Super Omega-3 (2500mg) 

December 2022 - Finished taper of reinstatement dose around 0.03mg

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  • 5 months later...

@YachtRock

Did you continue taking vitamin E? How are you reacting?

 

2009 Escitalopram 10mg

April 2013 got off August 2013 reinstated 

July 2015 Ketipinor 50mg (Quetiapin)

April 2021 got off Quetiapin 4w taper

May 2021 tapered off Escitalopram 

9 August 2021 back on Escitalopram 2,5mg. Down to 2 mg. Updosed to 2,2mg August 24 Down to 2mg September 2

Updosed to 3mg Sept 28 

December Still holding ❤️

June 9 2022 2,9 mg

June 19 2022 2,85 mg

December 2022 switched syringes and realized i am actually taking 3,4 mg

Supplements vitamin E 400 magnesium malate a fraction of 400, Rosita Cod liver oil

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14 hours ago, Escitalopram21 said:

@YachtRock

Did you continue taking vitamin E? How are you reacting?

 

 

Actually NO I completely forgot about it. But I have been taking the full course of Fish Oil now for 6 months without Vitamin E, and doing much better from a physical standpoint. So I don't think it is hurting and may be helping? So difficult to tell. I have also resumed taking a daily multivitamin, turmeric and Vitamin D 🤷‍♂️.

My Introduction thread

2002-2003 Celexa/Lexapro (first ride, very mild withdrawal). 2004-2012 Drug free
2013-2018 Cymbalta 60mg | 2019 Effexor 75mg - 150mg (can't recall specifics)
2020-Apr 2021 Trintellix 20mg | May-Jun 10mg | Jul-Aug 5mg (stopped Aug 12th, 2021)

WD symptoms began 4-6 weeks after last dose, increased severely at the 4 month mark
2021 Oct 9th Propranolol 10mg 2x/day (10am and 7pm) tapered to 5mg. Stopped 2/1/22.
Lorazepam (Ativan) 0.5-1mg as needed

Started a 0.5mg Trintellix reinstatement on 12/17/21 

Tapered to ~0.4mg and 0.3mg by end of May 2022

Stopped Caffeine 1/1/2022 and Nicotine on 4/1/2022.

Jan 19, 2022 - Added Vitamin D3 (2000iu), Super Omega-3 (2500mg) 

December 2022 - Finished taper of reinstatement dose around 0.03mg

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I see. I started taking 200ue vitamin e a few days ago and when i took 400 i started having wd symptoms. Dont know if it was a coincidence or if i reacted to it

2009 Escitalopram 10mg

April 2013 got off August 2013 reinstated 

July 2015 Ketipinor 50mg (Quetiapin)

April 2021 got off Quetiapin 4w taper

May 2021 tapered off Escitalopram 

9 August 2021 back on Escitalopram 2,5mg. Down to 2 mg. Updosed to 2,2mg August 24 Down to 2mg September 2

Updosed to 3mg Sept 28 

December Still holding ❤️

June 9 2022 2,9 mg

June 19 2022 2,85 mg

December 2022 switched syringes and realized i am actually taking 3,4 mg

Supplements vitamin E 400 magnesium malate a fraction of 400, Rosita Cod liver oil

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  • 3 months later...

I am considering getting Solgar's Vitamin E as it was recommended by an akathisia veteran for its antioxidant properties. It seems its formula covers most of what is best practice according to this thread. Great!

December 2021 - Metoclopramide started. Akathisia symptoms start; Metoclopramide gets changed to PRN.

March 2022 - Akathisia diagnosed; Metoclopramide stopped; Propranolol 10mg x twice a day. Biperiden PRN (0.5mg to 1mg).

April 2022 - Tandospirone 30mg (10mg 3x day), Quetiapine 25mg (only taken once, immediate adr). Mirtazapine 7.5mg. . Discontinued Propranolol.

May 2022 - Mirtazapine upped to 15mg. Tandospirone cut to 2x 10mg. Low dose Depakote for the month; 100 to 200 to 100 to 0. Mirtazapine cut back to 11.75mg (3/4 of a 15mg pill).
June 2022 - Mirtazapine updose to 15mg. Tandospirone, Biperiden discontinued. Klonopin started PRN (0.5mg). 
September 2022 - Akathisia slowly starts improving, WD/ADR normal sets in in mid September. Hold for 4 months.
March 2023 - Off mirtazapine; no Klonopin for 5 months either! Started quercetin (250mg x 2) to soften the histamine rebound.

May 2023 - Stopped quercetin and changed from magnesium carbonate to oxide - reacted badly. Reverted back to carbonate. 
June 2023 - Added fish oil.
Current regimen: CALM Magnesium (Carbonate into Citrate) 175mg x2; Vitamin E 268mg x2; Fish oil (100mg Omega3; EPA 30mg; DHA 37mg)x2
Intro thread: 
https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/27095-portuguesesea-metoclopramide-akathisia-and-mirtazapine/

 

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