Posted by Lao Tzu on September 4, 2008, at 14:12:04
After about a year of experimentation, I've come up with a list of supplements that seem to work for depressive symptoms and mood, but not mania.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B6 (P-5-P preferably)
Vitamin B3 Niacinamide form
Vitamin B3 regular old Niacin form--sustained release
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Mega-GLA Borage Oil
Omega-3 Fish Oil
Melatonin
Zinc
Magnesium
CalciumThese are just the ones that have helped me. There may be others like choline and N-Acetyl-Cysteine. I stay away from folic acid because it precipitates mood swings in me. However, some people do very well taking balanced amounts of B12 and folic acid.
To date, the only herb that ever helped me was Kava Kava for anxiety, but I wouldn't mix this herb with pharmaceutical medications.
I haven't had any good success with free form amino acids; however, ones that might help are tyrosine, taurine, and methionine.
Here are some combinations of supplements that have helped me:
In winter-- B12 ( 500-750mcg), zinc, magnesium/calcium, B6 (P-5-P), Niacin, fish oil.
In summer/early fall--Niacinamide, calcium, B6 (P-5-P), fish oil, borage oil, vitamin E, vitamin C
At bedtime for better sleep---200-400IU vitamin E, 1/4 of a 3mg tablet of melatonin, 250mg Niacin sustained release, and 50mg B6 (P-5-P). Since I've started taking these supplements at night, I've slept much much better.
poster:Lao Tzu
thread:850324
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20080612/msgs/850324.html