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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jirel on October 14, 2000, at 17:23:45
I can't quite decide if this is really the herbs or something else. I've taken Wellbutrin for 8 years (100 mg tablets four times a day). In April my mother died (she had been senile) and I decided to quit consulting and get a 'normal' job. I was having problems both with the doctor who proscribed the Wellbutrin and my insurance company so I VERY slowly came off the Welbutrin. About 3 weeks ago I began to take a pill with 300 mg St John's Wort, 50 mg 5-HTP, and a blend of Passion flower, Gotu Kola and Kava Kava. Its not that there's a sudden rush of good feeling nor have all my depressed feelings quit (but then I'm only taking 1/2 the recommended dosage) it just - things 'feel' better. I feel a little more aware of things (that has a down side, I feel my joint pain a little more acutely now). I worked in the garden all day, dug 5 18X18 inch holes and planted 5 rose bushes in those holes, did not accomplish the unrealistic expectations I had for myself of planting 10 roses (hard to do with a bad back) but I don't feel down about it! On the negative my bad temper is rearing its head again and I'm having to work against it more than I did when I took the Wellbutrin - but it only made me functional, it never really cured my depression. I'm kind of afraid to get my hopes up - but really, things feel better!
Posted by Greg on October 14, 2000, at 19:05:34
In reply to The herbs seem so much better than Wellbutrin!, posted by Jirel on October 14, 2000, at 17:23:45
Jirel,
Congrats! It's always great to find something that helps. Can you tell us the exact name of the pill and where you got it (supermarket, drug store, health food store)? Sounds like a vitamin supplement.
Peace,
Greg> I can't quite decide if this is really the herbs or something else. I've taken Wellbutrin for 8 years (100 mg tablets four times a day). In April my mother died (she had been senile) and I decided to quit consulting and get a 'normal' job. I was having problems both with the doctor who proscribed the Wellbutrin and my insurance company so I VERY slowly came off the Welbutrin. About 3 weeks ago I began to take a pill with 300 mg St John's Wort, 50 mg 5-HTP, and a blend of Passion flower, Gotu Kola and Kava Kava. Its not that there's a sudden rush of good feeling nor have all my depressed feelings quit (but then I'm only taking 1/2 the recommended dosage) it just - things 'feel' better. I feel a little more aware of things (that has a down side, I feel my joint pain a little more acutely now). I worked in the garden all day, dug 5 18X18 inch holes and planted 5 rose bushes in those holes, did not accomplish the unrealistic expectations I had for myself of planting 10 roses (hard to do with a bad back) but I don't feel down about it! On the negative my bad temper is rearing its head again and I'm having to work against it more than I did when I took the Wellbutrin - but it only made me functional, it never really cured my depression. I'm kind of afraid to get my hopes up - but really, things feel better!
Posted by Jirel on October 14, 2000, at 19:31:21
In reply to Re: The herbs seem so much better than Wellbutrin! » Jirel, posted by Greg on October 14, 2000, at 19:05:34
First - I'd like to make the comment that St John's Wort is a 'do not take without doctor's approval if you are taking a Mao inhibitor -(I'm no longer on any perscription) - just in case people forget about that. This is called HTP.Calm, its put out by Natural Balance and was bought at a health food store. It is considered a nutritional supplement and if I remember correctly 60 capsules cost about $20. Normal dosage is 2 tablets a day and I will probably eventually try that, but I'm occaisionally very sensitive to herbs so I'm working my way up slowly.
> Jirel,
>
> Can you tell us the exact name of the pill and where you got it (supermarket, drug store, health food store)? Sounds like a vitamin supplement.
Posted by Flutterbee on October 16, 2000, at 7:18:24
In reply to The herbs seem so much better than Wellbutrin!, posted by Jirel on October 14, 2000, at 17:23:45
I too stopped take Rx's (prescriptions) AD's (for mild depression and anxiety). Well, the natural stuff is much better for you in the long run. Rx's can be very hard on your system (your liver,heart, GI track, etc). I have studied and taken 5-HTP for a while and it works for me. If we all ate like we should (more nuts, seeds, beans, raw fruits and veggies) we probably wouldn't need alot of these Rx's. I am working on becoming a Dietician and I have been a health food store manager/Personal Trainer and I have seen how supplements and proper diets can make such a big difference in people. I would like to suggest to you to look into other amino acid supplements as well. One in particular is L-Tyrosine. Read up on it(the good and the bad, how and when to take it, what dosage, etc). I take it and it helps with mental alterness. Is is used by the brain to synthesize norepinephtine and dopamine, which are critical to clear, quick thinking, long-term ememory, and feelings of alterness and stability. L-Tyrosine is best taken on a empty stomach first thing in the AM. 5-HTP is better taken at night either an hour before dinner (at least 3 hours after your last protein meal) or at bed time, again about 2-3 hours after you last protein meal). The L-Tyrosine will help with fatique that often goes along with depression. But if you suffer from severe anxiety you may want to be careful. Well, I'll stop babbling right now. Hope I gave you some insight. Good luck!-Flutter
Posted by Jirel on October 16, 2000, at 18:01:13
In reply to Good for you Jirel! (m)..., posted by Flutterbee on October 16, 2000, at 7:18:24
Flutterbee - thanks for the congrats. I agree that things would be much better if I ate right, but you know how that old saw goes - its in the same class as 'you can get a job without experience and you can't get experience without a job'. Well, I can't stay alert/un-fatigued/motivated/etc long enough to tackle the food problem. I'm doing better but I'm still not fully taking care of things around me let alone myself. And since I currently have no family or firends close by, there's no one to try to nag me into. However, I have already promised my self to start working on eliminating dairy again (its bad for me) and hopefully I will slowly get enough energy to concentrate on work, house, garden AND my eating habits. Meanwhile, I'm just glad I'm off the perscrition. Like you said - in the long run herbs (some of them anyway) are better for you. I'll look into the other stuff too.
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