Posted by jflange on September 12, 2003, at 22:32:05
Hi!
I know that a number of people here swear by vitamin B supplementation with their psych meds, so I wondered if there was anyone who has clues about or has shared my unorthodox reaction.
I take Zoloft (75 mgs) and Buspar (10 mgs) for anxiety/PD and I have been pretty stable on these doses for about a year and doing fairly well. However, whenever I take any B vitamin supplementation (I have tried B-50, Lecithin, Biotin, and Brewer's Yeast), this is the reaction I get. Initially, I feel very good, VERY relaxed, happy, ebullient, not manic but clear and focused and oddly calmer. By the following day or so (day 2 of B supplementation), I start to feel a bit racy, anxious, symptomatic, even paranoid, like it is interfering with my meds. If I stop here, I go through a type of day-long withdrawal with continued anxious/sad feelings and enormous headache.
I thought, perhaps, the B was increasing the efficacy of my psych meds and that I should hold out for a week until everything stabilized so the s/e's could clear. But there was not much improvement and after 2 weeks, I had my very first brain zaps, which I have never had before, even when withdrawing from other meds.
So here's the question: what is the mechanism of these B's which is causing this reaction? I have read that Lecithin in particular increases dopamine receptivity and given the (mild) dopaminergic action of my Z + B combo, maybe this is the problem. (?)
Any thoughts? I would love to take vitamin B and get some benefits!
Many thanks,
jflange
poster:jflange
thread:259519
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20030903/msgs/259519.html