Posted by Ron Hill on February 4, 2003, at 14:48:04
In reply to fighting anhedonia by increasing reward pathway, posted by hok on January 24, 2003, at 13:19:37
> Also, has anybody been trying any supplement (e.g., NADH) and had any success?
--------------------------Hok,
I started taking NADH (coenzyme 1) ten days ago, and although it is too early to tell if it will provide long term benefit, the initial results are remarkable. I am somewhat reluctant to post my positive results because last year I posted extensively regarding the positive benefits I was obtaining with SAM-e only to have the supplement induce severe irritability after five months of excellent benefit. At the same time, however, I feel that I have an obligation to the participants of this board to report this anecdotal NADH experience just in case it might help someone else.
I don’t know your dx nor do I know you medication history, and I do not presume to know if NADH will help you. However, based on what I’ve read and my own preliminary results with the coenzyme, I would recommend that anyone suffering with the type of depression characterized by anhedonia and anergy read the literature written about ENADA NADH.
It is thought that NADH stimulates tyrosine hydroxylase, the key enzyme for the production of dopamine. It is also reported that NADH increases the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, but its primary action is thought to be dopaminergic. Please note, however, that some in the medical community (e.g. Ray Sahelian, M.D. in his book “”Mind Boosters””) contend that, although NADH provides initial relief for depression, tolerance is quickly developed to the coenzyme and, as a result, the over-the-counter product loses its effectiveness.
Here’s a Reader’s Digest version of my situation and how ENDA NADH is currently providing a benefit: I am bipolar II and I take 600 mg/day of Lithobid. The Lithobid does a good job of controlling my hypomanic symptoms but does little or nothing for the depressive phase of my illness. Over the years, I’ve tried several SSRI’s, SNRI’s, and other types of antidepressants but in the end they all left me with apathy, anhedonia and anergy. {As a side note, I have never tried any of MAOI’s and, if ENADA NADA poops out on me, I might try an MAOI.}
My most recent depressive phase began in November 2002 and lasted until ten days ago when I took the ENDA NADH. It was bad to the point of not even having enough motivation to shower and shave for days on end. I was sleeping mega hours and I just could not pull myself out of it. My wife is used to me cycling into depression, but this time it was lasting longer than usual, so she called my pdoc and set up an appointment. While doing some research on the internet in preparation for my upcoming pdoc appointment, I came across NADH information.
For some time now it has been my opinion that my depressive phase (characterized by anhedonia and anergy) is dopaminergic in nature. Therefore, when I read that NADH stimulates tyrosine hydroxylase, the key enzyme for the production of dopamine, and that NADH is present in every living cell, and that NADH supplementation does not cause any side effects, I decided to try some.
ENADA NADH is the stabilized form of NADH and, therefore, suitable for oral administration. ENADA NADH comes in two forms; 10 mg sublingual (under the tongue) tablets and 5 mg enteric coated (down the hatch) tablets. As chance would have it, I purchased the sublingual variety.
As I left the nutritional store, I placed a tablet under my tongue. Within thirty seconds, I began to feel relief from my three-month long depression and within two hours it was gone. Ten days later I’m still doing well on 10 mg/day. Will it last? I hope so, but time will tell. Will it help you? I hope so, but you would know more about that than I.
Here are some of the links discussing NADH:
http://www.healthwell.com/hnbreakthroughs/mar98/nadh.cfm?path=hw
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=8101444&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9247090&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9013405&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b
http://www.nadh.com/site7/SYSact20.htm#Top
http://www.nadh.com/site7/RSdprs05.htm#Top
http://www.smart-drugs.com/article-JamesSouth-NADH.htm
http://www.nadh-priceinfo.org/
http://qualitycounts.com/fpnadh.html
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/3118/T/Both/
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/powersearch2.cfm (Note: enter “NADH” as keyword)
poster:Ron Hill
thread:137341
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030204/msgs/139361.html