Posted by Larry Hoover on August 14, 2004, at 13:15:15
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? Phenylalanine, posted by robot on August 10, 2004, at 21:41:18
> I would like to know your opinions about phenylalanine. My doctor said its not good to take, and Ive read that it promotes nerve cell death (and some say cancer, but that actually worries me less).
Phenylalanine does not promote cancer, nor does it cause nerve cell death.
> I have taken the supplements before, without much result. ONe time, however, I took 500 mg (without having taken it for quite awhile) and I had a weird anxiety that lasted through the next day. I felt very irritable and confused.
There are many reasons to feel irritable and confused. Linking those feelings to a tiny dose (500 mg is very small, with respect to amino acid doses) of phenylalanine is not reasonable, if you didn't rechallenge yourself with some more, another time. I actually prefer a triple challenge, to reduce the likelihood of coincidental occurrences or placebo effect to a minimum. Placebo effect can be positive, or negative.
> Since then I have tried Spirulina powder. It seemed to stimulate me a little, but I discovered that it makes me even more mentally fuzzy than normal. Could this be the phenylalanine content? If not, what could it be? (Ive been on Lexapro 20 mg during this time.)
Some algae products contain alkaloids with psychoactive properties. It's hard to say.
> I would like to try phenyl again sometime but I want to know Im not risking something that could make my problems worse.
> thanks guysI doubt you can hurt yourself with it, if that's what you're worried about.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:359642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/377597.html