Posted by SLS on August 20, 2008, at 5:35:57
In reply to Re: what is Deplin, anyway?, posted by dcruik518 on August 19, 2008, at 9:24:39
Hi Dwight.
> I've never heard of Deplin but it seems to be helping some of you guys on here. Where do you get it? Is it a nutritional supplement or a drug?
Deplin is a "medical food" containing the active ingredient, l-methylfolate. Deplin is available in the US by prescription only.
It is well known that many people with depression are low in folate. However, folic acid is too "weak" to get into the brain and be transformed into l-methylfolate, the active form of folate. However, Deplin quickly crosses the blood brain barrier and is already in the form that the body can use. One should not expect to glean a robust antidepressant response for a few months. I think the best candidate to try Deplin is one who is already partially responsive to a standard antidepressant treatment. Deplin seems to be an augmenter rather than a monotherapy. At least, that is the current usage of this naturally occuring substance.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:846761
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080814/msgs/847307.html