What helps, what doesn't? Managing supplements, herbs, vitamins, amino acids, etc.

[Jayjohnny]

Thanks for sharing! I take Vit D. omega 3, probiotic and turmeric as well. Might add in some Vit. C. I think probiotics are key!

I could not agree more and also help a little, I find, with mood and anxiety.

[peng]

I have had gut trouble since childhood and then depression came.

What are good probiotic suggestions?

By the way, I am packing my fishing stuff and will be over to Iowa soon!

[Jayjohnny]

I would suggest Lactobif. California Gold is one of the brands and Iherb sells it I do believe. I always wanted to visit Scotland!!!

[peng]

Thanks, Jayjohnny,

 

AmazonUK are not doing that one just now, but I see another equivalent here that has nearly 5 out of 5 from over a thousand ratings.

Will try it out.

[xtremexyz]

WOuld any of these supplements help with constant fatigue?

[KarenB]

I had good success reducing my fatigue with iron and vitamin C supplements.  I still take these daily.  As with all supplements, introduce one at a time, start low and increase slowly. 

[Timeman]

When is the best time to take supplements, or are they split during the day???  Thanks

[KarenB]

It differs with different supplements.  You'd need to google each one separately to find out, as some are best in the morning and some in the evening. 

[Terry4949]

I have just been out and got some supplements to try any advice on which one to start first , I know start small and then increase but not sure what to go for first . I currently take 2 fish oil capsules in the morning , 

i have got , calcium with magnesium tablets , in hope they may help with anxiety 

also. L-theanine to help with sleep and calmness

and coq10 to try and give myself some energy to battle this 50 mg tablets 

 I have 500 mg vit c and b12 I think are 1000mg but have not really tried any yet , 

i am eating very little lately no appetite and have lost a lot of weight is it best to take these with food , also not sure as some people say take at night others in the morning , any help 

[Terry4949]

I have just got some supplements , last night I took , 100mg of taurine and a100mg of l-theanine , this morning I have taken another 100 mg of l-theanine , so far I can't say I have had any undesirable effects , what are safe levels for these sort of supplements , can you take them through the day at higher doses if tolerated , I know people take fish oil at 6 times the daily amount suggested , I am not talking about overdosing on them , just asking to what other people have found is the general level or amounts , as I don't want to get a build up in my system and do more harm , also I have some coq10 and nac but not trying them yet 

 

[JanCarol]

Someone has asked about supplementation in general, and specifically how to come off supplements. 

 

I thought I would post my personal rules about supplements.

 

From a Private Conversation (quoting myself):

 

Quote

Our foods, as they are grown commercially, do not provide the aminos, vitamins and minerals that they used to.  It's better here in Oz, with our locally grown fruits and veg, but more and more they are grown for shipping.  Soils here contain no natural selenium, for example, so when fluoride was added to the water - it could be causing a lot of thyroid problems.  Selenium is also a co-factor with Vitamin E, essential for lung health and a vital anti-oxidant.   I remember studying a program by a veterinarian back in the 90's, who said that many of our chronic diseases - if he were treating animals - would be treated by mineral supplementation instead of drugs.  That was back when "liquid minerals" were all the rage.

 

I do agree that there are fads, but there are ways to separate the research from the fads.  This is why I belong to Consumer Labs, who do meta-analysis of independent studies worldwide.  There are benefits to supplements, and there are crap supplements.  I find that Consumer Labs is very good at sorting the grain from the chaff.

 

One general rule that I have found takes away a lot of expensive "proprietary" products - is simply to avoid "compound" products.  Not everyone needs the same ratios as a compound provides, and often elements of a compound contradict each other, as evidenced by how many companies bundle calcium with magnesium (they cancel each other out).  

 

As for Shep's questions, I apply the following rules to my own supplement programs:

 

1.  No compounds.

2.  Only one change per month.  I use vitamin trays - so it's easy to make sure that only one change is done per month.  There is a disadvantage to this - if something goes wrong, I am unable to adjust it for a whole month.  (all the white capsules look the same once they are put in trays).

3.  25% tapering, on supplements that hit neurotransmitters.  This is most of the aminos (NAC, GABA, Taurine, etc.), and some of the herbs (St. John's Wort, Valerian, Kava, most of the herbs that we do not recommend)

4.  IF there is a problem with 25% tapering, back it off to 10%.

 

These are my rules, perhaps guidelines to help others - but if you are paying attention to symptoms, the rules should just get you started until you find what your own rules are.

[JB1234]

Please give you 2 cents if you have good or bad experiences using supplements. Reading about what supplements people use and find help in recovering from discontinuation of AD’s. 

 

—I take about 8 capsules of fish-oil during the day.

—I take vitamin D as well

—I also was taking ginger capsules when I have  dizziness or vertigo.

— Occasionally , I take Hops capsules if I have difficulty sleeping.

 

—Does anyone have any luck using magnesium for muscle cramps?  If so what form is it?  ..and what dosage is recommended?

 

—Also does anyone take B6 ?? If so ...how much?

 

—Has anyone found recommended supplements that had negative effects? 

Thanks ahead for your input.

[ChessieCat]

JB please search the site for individual topics.  There is a lot of existing information on SA.

[BfromNJ]

Hello all.   I wasn't sure where to post this.    Just a general question I guess.   When we are in withdrawal,  can seemingly harmless supplements possibly cause an upset to the nervous system?   

 

One example i am particularly wondering about is d-mannose.   Used for bladder health.   It's some type of sugar.    Hard to find much info about it .   

[arielS]

Hi.. Anyone tried to use ginseng herb or beet to increase dopamine lvs? And will it help in adverse reaction or just WD symptoms?  Any idea?  

[arielS]

Feverfew herb useful?

 

While I was on Facebook I saw someone who wrote that fever few which has anti-serotonergic function has helped a lot in releasing emotions and libido.. Anyone tried it?  Or any information about it... 

 

Edited October 19, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with existing topic

[ChessieCat]

Similar topics merged.

 

9 hours ago, arielS said:

Feverfew herb useful?

 

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/feverfew

 

https://www.drugs.com/mtm/feverfew.html

 

I also did a search on SA and this is the search results:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=feverfew&quick=1

[Altostrata]

Please use search in the Symptoms and Self-Care forum to find topics about a specific herb, supplement, or treatment, and add your comments and questions to existng topics.

[curiousnootropics]

DL-phenylalanine helps me with my motivation and mood, but it increases anxiety some. Anyone know anything I could try to add to counter the anxiety effect from that? I have read about L-lysine. Thoughts?

[ChessieCat]

51 minutes ago, curiousnootropics said:

I have read about L-lysine.

 

There are many existing topics on SA.  Use the site search function or a search engine and add site:survivingantidepressants.org to the search term.  There is a topic for the above supplement.

[fullofdetermination]

Can Relora be helpful while still holding Luvox or is it dangerous to take together?

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, fullofdetermination said:

Can Relora be helpful while still holding Luvox or is it dangerous to take together?

 

Looks like you haven't done a search on SA because I found this post:

 

 

Relora ™ blend of plant extracts from Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense

 

If you are still taking a benzo then it might not be a good idea to take this supplement:

 

One of the mods posted to this another member:

 

On 2/2/2022 at 9:51 PM, Shep said:

There's an interaction between Magnolia and sedatives from WebMD:

 

Magnolia might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking magnolia with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

 

You may be getting a paradoxical reaction when combined with a sedative such as Ativan, along with the other "brakes" that are dampening down your nervous system, triggering it to alert. 

 

[fullofdetermination]

Hey Cheesie. Thank you. From my understanding, this user used it after being AD free, right? I wonder if it's safe to take while still on fluvoxamine.

 

I ask this because I bought a multivitamin that its PM dose has less than 70mg of Relora and I am still holding/tapering my benzo. 

 

I wouldn't mind revving the symptoms, but worries are more about a serious danger regarding interactions in the same liver enzymes.

[curiousnootropics]

What supplements work for YOU?

[curiousnootropics]

Anyone tolerate Vitamin D?

[Sofa]

After taking blood tests, i seem to be low in several B-vitamins. Is it safe to take them? Its B12, B9 and B6. I am also low in D-vitamin. 
 

Will it be too stimulating? My nerve system is pretty wrecked!

[Estman]

1 hour ago, Sofa said:

After taking blood tests, i seem to be low in several B-vitamins. Is it safe to take them? Its B12, B9 and B6. I am also low in D-vitamin. 
 

Will it be too stimulating? My nerve system is pretty wrecked!

I have the same thing
Last week's blood test showed low B12 levels and low, even borderline, B9 levels.
The last few weeks have been very weak and tired
It seems that we have a bigger problem here in the spring

[jon1]

I have low Vit D, but I’ve never been able to take it in pill form - even before  withdrawal.

 

It always gives me insomnia and makes me very agitated.

 

I’ve tried D3, D2, all sorts of types and doses and the result is always the same.

 

I get out in the sun as much as possible (the healthiest way to up D levels) and use a UVB lamp in the dark winter months.

[Sofa]

On 4/3/2022 at 6:03 PM, Estman said:

I have the same thing
Last week's blood test showed low B12 levels and low, even borderline, B9 levels.
The last few weeks have been very weak and tired
It seems that we have a bigger problem here in the spring

Do you tolerate B-vitamin supplements?

[Estman]

17 hours ago, Sofa said:

Do you tolerate B-vitamin supplements?

I don't know yet if it fits.
I have been taking vitamin B12 in the morning for a week and folic acid for lunch.
Some of the weird symptoms are, maybe I'll just take B12 in the meantime
Have you tried to take them?
What was the result?

[curiousnootropics]

On 4/10/2022 at 10:43 PM, jon1 said:

I have low Vit D, but I’ve never been able to take it in pill form - even before  withdrawal.

 

It always gives me insomnia and makes me very agitated.

 

I’ve tried D3, D2, all sorts of types and doses and the result is always the same.

 

I get out in the sun as much as possible (the healthiest way to up D levels) and use a UVB lamp in the dark winter months.

No withdrawal increase with UVB lamp ?

[curiousnootropics]

Almost every supplement I take causes me problem, I don't get it. What is the cause of this?

I took a lot of these supplements before Zoloft without any problems.

[jon1]

1 hour ago, curiousnootropics said:

No withdrawal increase with UVB lamp ?

No problems with withdrawal.

 

I guess because it’s the closest thing there is to getting sunlight, so the body is making Vitamin D as it would naturally, rather than trying to ingest a man-made chemical it’s not designed to process.

 

Oral Vitamin D gives me such bad anxiety, I’m convinced there must be a sizeable minority of people in the world who have anxiety symptoms and don’t realise it’s caused by Vit D, either directly taken, or as part of a multi vitamin, or added to food they eat.

 

The irony is we’ve caused the epidemic in D deficiency ourselves. Ever since the decade everyone was told to stay out of the sun because it causes ageing and possibly cancer, western countries’ D levels have been dropping.
 

When people do go outside, they slap on so much sun lotion that their bodies don’t create any Vit D.

 

Even more ironic (and sad) is that despite people avoiding the sun and putting on lotion, skin cancer in most places has continued to rise.

Getting outside in to the sunshine is one of the healthiest things a person can do.

 

 

[curiousnootropics]

23 minutes ago, jon1 said:

No problems with withdrawal.

 

I guess because it’s the closest thing there is to getting sunlight, so the body is making Vitamin D as it would naturally, rather than trying to ingest a man-made chemical it’s not designed to process.

 

Oral Vitamin D gives me such bad anxiety, I’m convinced there must be a sizeable minority of people in the world who have anxiety symptoms and don’t realise it’s caused by Vit D, either directly taken, or as part of a multi vitamin, or added to food they eat.

 

The irony is we’ve caused the epidemic in D deficiency ourselves. Ever since the decade everyone was told to stay out of the sun because it causes ageing and possibly cancer, western countries’ D levels have been dropping.
 

When people do go outside, they slap on so much sun lotion that their bodies don’t create any Vit D.

 

Even more ironic (and sad) is that despite people avoiding the sun and putting on lotion, skin cancer in most places has continued to rise.

Getting outside in to the sunshine is one of the healthiest things a person can do.

 

 

Great. You have taken blood work after using UVB to see your Vitamin D levels?

How much does a UVB lamp cost and how long do you have to be in front of it?

[jon1]

12 minutes ago, curiousnootropics said:

Great. You have taken blood work after using UVB to see your Vitamin D levels?

How much does a UVB lamp cost and how long do you have to be in front of it?

I did when I first started (I’ve been using it a few years), and there had been quite a big jump in my levels within around 3 months.

 

They can be quite expensive, the most famous brand are Sperti.

 

https://www.sperti.com/product/sperti-vitamin-d-light-box/

 

The box is design to specifically target the UVB light bands that give us Vitamin D. Other, cheaper lamps might not.

 

How much time you take depends on your skin type etc. I only need 2 minutes 3 times a week in winter. Some people use it for longer to increase levels more quickly.

 

A cheaper alternative is to find a tanning salon that offers a “Vitamin D Sunbed”. Ten minutes on one of those once a week will also raise your levels very quickly. Of course a side effect of that is also getting very tanned, which you might not want!

 

Vitamin D sunbeds are really only the old ‘low pressure’ sunbeds that were used a few years ago. They have a good about of UVB light (that creates Vit D on our skin).

 

The more modern, faster sunbeds, use mainly UVA, which doesn’t cause our skin to make Vit D.

[curiousnootropics]

4 hours ago, jon1 said:

I did when I first started (I’ve been using it a few years), and there had been quite a big jump in my levels within around 3 months.

 

They can be quite expensive, the most famous brand are Sperti.

 

https://www.sperti.com/product/sperti-vitamin-d-light-box/

 

The box is design to specifically target the UVB light bands that give us Vitamin D. Other, cheaper lamps might not.

 

How much time you take depends on your skin type etc. I only need 2 minutes 3 times a week in winter. Some people use it for longer to increase levels more quickly.

 

A cheaper alternative is to find a tanning salon that offers a “Vitamin D Sunbed”. Ten minutes on one of those once a week will also raise your levels very quickly. Of course a side effect of that is also getting very tanned, which you might not want!

 

Vitamin D sunbeds are really only the old ‘low pressure’ sunbeds that were used a few years ago. They have a good about of UVB light (that creates Vit D on our skin).

 

The more modern, faster sunbeds, use mainly UVA, which doesn’t cause our skin to make Vit D.

Okay. How much did you raise your Vitamin D levels? Did you feel better when the levels got to normal again?