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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 Christ_empowered on August 1, 2016, at 20:28:23
The alternative site isn't getting a whole lot of action, so I thought I'd post here.
Do y'all take fish oil? I just started. Its vitacost stuff (of course...). Its strawberry flavored, which is delightful.
I don't know how to do dosing. I'm a lil OCD and I high dose things, so I take 10 grams (10 capsules) per day, in 2 equal doses, AM and PM.
So far...well, its weird. Probably placebo, but I did feel calm a bit after taking one of the doses. I mean...cool, soothing calm. Only thing I could come up with was a decrease in blood sugar (?) or something like that. Can it lower blood pressure, too?
I did read that fish oil can increase the uptake of vitamin c into the cells...something about competing with glucose. I'm up to 20 grams time release C per day...maybe this will be a good combination?
Please fill me in on your fish oil experiences...dosing suggestions would be nice, too. Thanks.
Posted by shadowtom2 on August 1, 2016, at 21:27:35
In reply to fish oil.., posted by Christ_empowered on August 1, 2016, at 20:28:23
I've taken fish oil and other omega-3 supplements at a few different points since my symptoms of clinical depression first emerged more than 15 years ago, and also since I started to experience some symptoms that would be considered to be on the schizophrenia spectrum nine years ago. I seem to recall having noticed the soothing calm feeling that you described on at least some of the occasions when I tried fish oil, but I don't recall noticing any benefits beyond that with regular fish oil softgels. I also took a high-EPA omega-3 supplement several years ago and noticed something similar to what I had experienced with regular fish oil, but I also noticed a bit of an increased tendency toward ideas of reference, so I stopped taking it. Another omega-3 supplement that I've taken was one that contains only DHA (without EPA) from plant-based algae. I definitely recall having noticed some short-lived improvements in energy from having taken the supplement with DHA from plant-based algae at some points, but that supplement seemed to increase my irritability more than anything else the last time that I took it, so I haven't taken that supplement since then.
So, that sums up the experiences that I've had with fish oil and other omega-3 supplements over the course of the last several years. I hope that you'll continue to find the fish oil that you're taking to be of some benefit. Regarding blood pressure, there seems to be some evidence (from what I've seen) that supplementing with fish oil might lower blood pressure to an extent, but I haven't looked at the evidence in that area in enough detail to say much more beyond what I just said. And as far as mood is concerned, it's my understanding that some studies that have produced evidence that would support the idea that fish oil might help to alleviate depressive symptoms in those with mood disorders. I don't think that any published review articles to date have concluded that fish oil is indeed an effective treatment for mood disorders (although it's possible that I might have missed something), but at the same time, there are some reasons to think that fish oil might help to boost mood in some individuals. At any rate, I hope that you'll get some good long-term results from fish oil if you do keep taking it.
Tom (the former Tomatheus)
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 2, 2016, at 14:23:34
In reply to Re: fish oil.., posted by shadowtom2 on August 1, 2016, at 21:27:35
thanks for your input.
I keep layering on the supplements, lol. Oh well. I really should have been in a state mental hospital for a while there, so...I jumped on this orthomolecular thing, and I'm sticking with it.
If fish oil enhances the effects of C, then I should derive some kind of benefit quickly, I would think/assume. I've pulled a Linus Pauling...I'm up to 20 grams C, 2 daily doses of 10 time release grams, AM and PM. I do feel calmer and more...resilient, I suppose. My allergies are better too, lol.
Sorry some supplements seemed to have ill effects for you. I'm mostly hoping to avoid TD and all the other tardive problems, plus vitamin depletion and all the fun results from that w/ the anti-seizure meds. So far...so good.
thanks again.
Posted by Chris O on August 3, 2016, at 15:22:22
In reply to fish oil.., posted by Christ_empowered on August 1, 2016, at 20:28:23
I've taken a lot of fish oil over the past 15 years. I've bought many many bottles of the Carlson's and Nordic Natural liquid versions and swigged them from the bottle. I knew I do many tens of grams at a time. I also took Andrew Stoll's brand during the late 90s/early 2000s. He's the guy who wrote a popular book of the time, something like The Omega 3 Solution. Anyhoo, my experience with fish oil is this:
1) It does provide a mild anti-anxiety, anti-depressant effect when I swig it. I have to drink a fair amount of it (over 10 grams, as you are doing). But I do notice a feeling of calm. It's not super grand, mind you. But it's there.
2) It appears to lower my blood pressure. After I take the fish oil for a few days, my blood pressure does appear to go down. Using the free CVS blood pressure machine is not a very scientific way of measuring my BP, I'll admit, but it does appear to go down when I am drinking fish oil.
3) In terms of blood sugar, I thought the risk was that it could raise blood sugar levels and that there was some concern with diabetics taking fish oil.
Sounds like you're getting some benefit. My only concern with fish oil is the residual crap that might be with it--the pollutants, heavy metals, chemicals, etc. I know all of these companies say they purify everything and that it is all certified by this and that organization, but really who knows?
I wish you luck.
Chris
Posted by Hugh on August 6, 2016, at 13:45:46
In reply to fish oil.., posted by Christ_empowered on August 1, 2016, at 20:28:23
I've taken fish oil off and on for years. I sometimes get that calm feeling when I take a high dose. I also take krill oil at times, which has more of an effect on me than fish oil. I find krill oil stimulating.
Michael Norden has a chapter in Beyond Prozac on combining fish oil and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). Norden and Barry Sears (author of The Zone diet books) recommend taking tiny amounts of GLA -- only a few milligrams a week. (A capsule of evening primrose oil typically contains 90 mg of GLA.) It might be in Omega Rx Zone that Sears discusses GLA at length. He writes that people typically do well on it in the beginning, but then its benefits begin to fade because they're taking way too much of it. When I've taken the huge amounts of GLA in evening primrose and in borage oil capsules, it's made me feel very irritable. What I do now is prick a capsule with a pin, squeeze out a drop or two, and then keep the capsule in a sandwich bag in the refrigerator to use again in a few days.
This is the end of the thread.
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