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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fca on August 11, 2006, at 9:22:15
study but not sure what to make of it--I wonder why they picked vanlafaxine FWIW
Kava in generalized anxiety disorder: three placebo-controlled trials.
Connor KM, Payne V, Davidson JR.
aDuke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina bPrivate Practice, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, USA.
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of kava kava (Piper methysticum) in generalized anxiety disorder. Data were analyzed from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of kava, including one study with an active comparator (venlafaxine), in adult outpatients with DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder. The pooled sample (n=64) included the following number of participants: kava, n=28; placebo, n=30; and venlafaxine, n=6. Given the comparability of the study designs, the data comparing kava and placebo were then pooled for further efficacy and safety analyses. No significant differences were observed between the treatment groups in any of the trials. In the pooled analyses, no effects were found for kava, while a significant effect in favor of placebo was observed in participants with higher anxiety at baseline. No evidence of hepatotoxicity was found with kava, and all of the treatments were well tolerated. Findings from these three controlled trials do not support the use of kava in DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on August 11, 2006, at 20:31:51
In reply to Kava, Placebo and venlafaxine--Interesting, posted by fca on August 11, 2006, at 9:22:15
Posted by fca on August 12, 2006, at 13:13:39
In reply to what does kava kava do pharmacologically? (nm) » fca, posted by iforgotmypassword on August 11, 2006, at 20:31:51
the EU and then taken off the market becuase of alleged hepatotoxicity--I am sure it is much discussed on the ALternative page--what struck me was the lack of resonse except to the placebo--of course they were not comparing it to Benzo's with which it is often compared
Posted by willyee on August 12, 2006, at 15:04:01
In reply to It is an herbal anxiolytic, was approved In, posted by fca on August 12, 2006, at 13:13:39
> the EU and then taken off the market becuase of alleged hepatotoxicity--I am sure it is much discussed on the ALternative page--what struck me was the lack of resonse except to the placebo--of course they were not comparing it to Benzo's with which it is often compared
Kava Kavas active constitutes are its lactones.To date or last time i remember looking,15 lactones had been able to be isolated,and studied on their own for there affect.Kava because of its many active lactones can affect up to 15 receptor sites in the brain,depending on dose and potency.
In Europe Merck actualy had kava as a prescription medication,opposed to a over the counter herb.Its believed the binders and fillers did not interact well with the herb,quite a number of liver toxcity cases popped up,and merck pulled the prescription drug.
The U.S did the next best thing,they presented a mandatory BRIGHT red label to be put on all brands,warning the product could damage liver.
The herb was tested here,findings can be googled,and after a very long time,results came back finding kava could in NO way be linked to any liver damage.However by this time the damage was done,with those notable red labels,sales dropped dramticaly and one manf. after another pulled there kava.
Now there are approx 5 commercial kava brands,with no red label,people will still advise aganist kavas use,however im sure most of these people fail to see a few things,first there are no more red warning labels,second,if the results came back negative,kava would have been comptly banned,which it is not,natrol & vitamin shoppe are just two brands that come to mind who still put kava on shelves.
Last people advising aganist this,i wonder if they at all even read the findings that came back period.
Nevertheless i personly once considered kava a very important tool in my aresnal,it provided anxiety relief,mood elevation,and a mild stimulant effect all at the same time.
Some extrmely effective brands then were GNC`S kava and solaray which i found very potent.
Now after many trials and hopes,i find the remainging kava products natrol,vitaminshoppe,now foods, and a few more to totaly be worthless,the provide nothing more for me than a sick tummy.
I have tried and wasted a bit of money in hopes there was still one brand left from the aftermath worth anything,i have not.
When kava was readly available,and what kava was believed to do was extremly complex,it affected a LOT of different receptor sites,raising some,lowering others,it was also considered to be very nueroprotective.
You can order kava in bulk over the net from so called farms,but i who used it extenisvly,and collected tons of info from it,found the commecial standerized brands to be the best,in fact mixing a few good brands such as gnc,solaray,solgar etc,provided a great effect.
I made calls and was told not to expect kava to ever return to the shelves again,but kava is NOT banned,there are brands on store shelfs as we speak,however i find them to be totaly inferior.
One of kavas greatest effects i remeber reading was how it worked on dopamine receptors,not simply raising or lowering the chemical,but rather growing nuerons,i cant repeat the technical stuff,but i do have many many articles i can easly make available if the interest here arose.
And to end,there are a lot of double blind studies done that DID show kava to have efficay in gad,ocd,and other anxiety realted illness,again i have these.
Posted by fca on August 12, 2006, at 17:28:36
In reply to Re: It is an herbal anxiolytic, was approved In, posted by willyee on August 12, 2006, at 15:04:01
support your statements--safe, as effective as some benzo routines and not hepatotaoxic--I tried it about five months ago but my anxiety was so far out of control I did not get a favorables response--I am going to try it again as things are quite stable right now and anxiety is minimal--fca
Posted by willyee on August 12, 2006, at 18:27:40
In reply to Willyee, the scientific articles I have read, posted by fca on August 12, 2006, at 17:28:36
> support your statements--safe, as effective as some benzo routines and not hepatotaoxic--I tried it about five months ago but my anxiety was so far out of control I did not get a favorables response--I am going to try it again as things are quite stable right now and anxiety is minimal--fca
Unfortunatly i cant recomend them over benzos,as even when kava worked there was a rebound,however i dident mind,and dont mind benzos if my life is improving,the big picture is if ones life is moving forward,if it is,i dont care if i use a benzo,so when kava worked i used it in conjunction with my meds,both my AD and benzo,however at different times,difference was kava provided me with many more remission periods,and periods of almost if not PRO social moments,id want to talk,and go out.Im curious to know what brand your using,as i havent found any that works,the closesest i came to was a powdered brand sold close to me called KAVA KING,however i couldent imagine the kava working monotherapy,without my maoi or klonopin,however i wish u luck,you might want to possably add caffiene to it as well if it is sedating.Email me if u want or need anything,i worked a lot with kava kava.
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