Posted by Tomatheus on August 6, 2013, at 23:39:22
In reply to Bipolar seeking supplements in addition to meds, posted by tcast5000 on August 6, 2013, at 22:11:02
tcast5000,
Hello, and welcome to Psycho-Babble.
As far as I am aware, there is one controlled study showing a supplement called N-acetylcysteine to be an effective treatment for bipolar depression. For more information, see:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/n-acetylcysteine.htm
I also came across this Web page on PsychCentral that summarizes the potential benefits of dietary supplements in individuals with bipolar disorder:
http://psychcentral.com/lib/nutritional-supplements-for-bipolar-disorder/000887
I personally have not had long-term success with N-acetylcysteine or any of the supplements mentioned in the PsychCentral article, but I have a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, with symptoms of fatigue, hypersomnia, and difficulty concentrating being the most difficult to treat. I might describe the state that I've been in since February 2007 as a mixed state of sorts, with a psychosis with probable mania sort of superimposed over the fatigue and other symptoms that I mentioned in my last sentence. It would be my guess that patients whose symptoms present differently from mine might respond differently to supplements than I have.
What sort of course does your bipolar illness tend to run? Do you think that you need more help treating the manic side of your illness or the depressive side? Do you experience any psychotic features as part of your illness?
T.
Conditions:
* chronic fatigue, hypersomnia, and related symptoms
* schizoaffective disordertomatheus.blogspot.com
poster:Tomatheus
thread:1048481
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20130319/msgs/1048492.html