Rhodiola rosea

[Addax]

The findings also suggest that this supplement is helpful in decreasing waking cortisol.

Planta Med. 2009 Feb;75(2):105-12. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1088346. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

"A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue."

Olsson EM1, von Schéele B, Panossian AG.


Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of the standardised extract SHR-5 of roots of Rhodiola Rosea L. in the treatment of individuals suffering from stress-related fatigue.

 

The phase III clinical trial took the form of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with parallel groups. Participants, males and females aged between 20 and 55 years, were selected according to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare diagnostic criteria for fatigue syndrome. A total of 60 individuals were randomised into two groups, one ( N = 30) of which received four tablets daily of SHR-5 extract (576 mg extract/day), while a second ( N = 30) received four placebo tablets daily.

 

The effects of the extract with respect to quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire), symptoms of fatigue (Pines' burnout scale), depression (Montgomery -Asberg depression rating scale - MADRS), attention (Conners' computerised continuous performance test II - CCPT II), and saliva cortisol response to awakening were assessed on day 1 and after 28 days of medication. Data were analysed by between-within analyses of variance.

 

No serious side effects that could be attributed to the extract were reported.

 

Significant post-treatment improvements were observed for both groups (placebo effect) in Pines' burnout scale, mental health (SF-36), and MADRS and in several CCPT II indices of attention, namely, omissions, commissions, and Hit RT SE. When the two groups were compared, however, significant effects of the SHR-5 extract in comparison with the placebo were observed in Pines' burnout scale and the CCPT II indices omissions, Hit RT SE, and variability. Pre- VERSUS post-treatment cortisol responses to awakening stress were significantly different in the treatment group compared with the control group.

It is concluded that repeated administration of R. ROSEA extract SHR-5 exerts an anti-fatigue effect that increases mental performance, particularly the ability to concentrate, and decreases cortisol response to awakening stress in burnout patients with fatigue syndrome.

Edited January 22, 2017 by scallywag
added paragraph breaks to abstract for readability

[Petunia]

This is interesting, Rhodiola rosea was one of the supplements I tried in early withdrawal, I've probably still got the half empty bottle somewhere.

 

Do you have a link for this Addax?

[Addax]

Oops! I meant to include the link to the full article. Here it is: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Erik_Olsson/publication/23480646_A_randomised_double-blind_placebo-controlled_parallel-group_study_of_the_standardised_extract_shr-5_of_the_roots_of_Rhodiola_rosea_in_the_treatment_of_subjects_with_stress-related_fatigue/links/0912f507db8786234b000000.pdf

[Songbird]

This would seem to suggest that rhodiola is stimulating, which might not be helpful to those in w/d having anxiety symptoms.  I guess it could possibly be helpful to those with fatigue as a major symptom, depending on how they react to it, as people's systems in w/d often do not react in a "normal" way.

[Cheryl]

I did not see this in topics. Has anyone tried this herb?
I read some great things on this for mental clarity, stress relief, fatigue and exercise poop out.
It's an adaptogen and not meant for later in day although some reported improved sleep overall.
I also read that there are no side effects.

Edited January 22, 2017 by scallywag
merged topics

[JanCarol]

OK some news is in from  Consumer Labs.

 

Rhodiola is almost as effective at Sertraline as controlling depression.  Not quite, but almost - and - they say in the article that it is better, as it has a better risk / benefit ratio than Sertraline.  This was at 340 mg, and for those who benefitted, some went up to as much as 1360 mg.

 

Here's that article:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711315000331

 

Another article talked about helping with anxiety:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26502953 giving rhodiola a favourable safety profile.  In this study, they took 200 mg before breakfast, and 200 mg before lunch.

 

They also offered a interactions warning: Not to be taken with Lexapro (escitalopram), major interaction.  They cautioned against using it with any antidepressant (SSRI/SNRI/ tricyclic), and to "check with your doctors" for conflicts.  However, the conflicts that I see doctors prescribe, I have a feeling they will just say, "it's an herb, whatever."

 

So - my advice is:  if you are still tapering, if you are still on an antidepressant drug, it is better not to take rhodiola.

 

However, if you have been off the drugs for at least a year, and are struggling with depression, it might be of help, especially if combined with other tools from your toolkit.

I take it as an adrenal tonic, to help smooth the cortisol spikes.  I do not take it all the time, as I find it more stimulating than ashwaganda (for example)

Edited June 5, 2018 by JanCarol

[lavendertealatte]

I just tried taking a pill of this yesterday and I'm pretty sure it increased my anxiety, which is listed as a possible side effect ironically, since I took it to decrease my anxiety.  Now I see that it interacts with Lexapro which is what I've been weaning off of!  I've looked at other sources and couldn't find interaction warnings.  Anyhow, I probably will let this one go.  Even though it's hard to tell if I'm just anxious about supplementation.  Would need husband to do a double blind test on me to really know.  I read that if you get jittery from coffee, you probably shouldn't take rhodiola for anxiety.

 

 

[mickde1]

I'm going to try some at a very low dose hopefully  to try get some some relief ( 16 years  on prozac  now 44 months cold turkey  ) i have tried it before it worked for 2 weeks but i had a wave and i wasn't educated enough to know that waves still happen that put me 

off at the time and stopped i should of kept going because it had soothed some of the symptoms and cleared the head a bit  life was a little better  if anything it may of played into my insomnia but that's a some price to pay considering the benefits  i've just stopped a reinstatement  of a  micro dose of prozac of over a duration of 6 months  no effect  to worried to up the dose

[SolarPlexus]

Hi all. I have been using a Rhodiola Rosea supplement (250 mg a day) for the past week and it has helped reduce the brain fog and the hyper-irritability. I haven't had fits of rage since I started taking it or as much electromagnetic sensitivity.  So I can now use a computer normally. The drawback, however, is that I have had broken sleep since starting the supplement. I will look for a good melatonin supplement to see if it helps counteract this side effect. What is your take on using Rhodiola Rosea during the WD process? Thank you in advance for your kind feedback.

[Arian]

Does someone know how exactly rodhiola acts as a stimulant? Does it enter the gut-brain barrier? Is it connected with serotonin receptors or what? I wonder similar for other herbs that act as stimulants. Thanx

[Tootsieroll]

I've been sitting on trying Rhodiola.  Anyone have experience with it.  I can't find concrete information on whether it affects dopamine or serotonin.  I remember a while back someone mentioned it was more dopaminergic but I can't find any sources to substantiate that.  Anyone know for sure? thanks.

[Altostrata]

See this existing discussion.

[ElaineM]

Suggestions if taking this when on a reinstated mount of 1 mg of Fluoxetine is a good idea?