Posted by Duncan on November 9, 2011, at 11:05:31
In reply to Re: creatine?, posted by Duncan on November 8, 2011, at 14:13:42
In a small study (eight unipolar and two bipolar patients) of creatine, both bipolar patients developed hypomania or mania. All of the unipolar patients on creatine improved.
OBJECTIVES: Creatine plays a pivotal role in brain energy homeostasis, and altered cerebral energy metabolism may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Oral creatine supplementation may modify brain high-energy phosphate metabolism in depressed subjects. METHODS: Eight unipolar and two bipolar patients with treatment-resistant depression were treated for four weeks with 3-5 g/day of creatine monohydrate in an open add-on design. Outcome measures were the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Clinical Global Impression scores, recorded at baseline and at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. RESULTS: One patient improved considerably after one week and withdrew. Both bipolar patients developed hypomania/mania. For the remaining seven patients, all scale scores significantly improved. Adverse reactions were mild and transitory. CONCLUSIONS: This small, preliminary, open study of creatine monohydrate suggests a beneficial effect of creatine augmentation in unipolar depression, but possible precipitation of a manic switch in bipolar depression.
poster:Duncan
thread:1001820
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20111027/msgs/1002022.html