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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 20:20:48
I'm interested in Vitex as a dopamine agonist. I am curious as to whether it has typical dopamine agonist side effects, such as nausea or sleepiness. For anyone who has tried it, what side effects did you have, and at what doses?
Posted by TenMan on December 15, 2007, at 9:44:29
In reply to Anyone Have Experience or Knowledge of Vitex?, posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 20:20:48
I take 800mgs. of Vitex daily, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. This herb is one of my favorites and is a fantastic anhedonia fighter in my experience.
Studies done on Vitex have shown that at lower doses it actually has a prolactin stimulating effect which would indicate an antagonist effect on dopamine. At higher doses prolactin is reduced so with Vitex it is better to err on the side of too much than too little.
A good starting dose is 400mgs. in the morning, once daily. I would remain there for a couple days and if no benefit is noticed go two 800mgs once in the morning. It is important to time the dose with your bodies natural circadian rhythm so you do not disrupt the prolactin surge that happens in the early morning hours which is essential for healthy functioning of the libido among other things.
Vitex is an amazing and under-appreciated herb. Apart from its actions on dopamine the herb has anti-inflammatory activity through COX-2 inhibition and is liver protective through Glutathione synthesis upregulation. One study showed that Vitex had liver protective effects equal to that of Milk Thistle which is very impressive.
Good luck.
Posted by bleauberry on December 16, 2007, at 18:54:22
In reply to Re: Anyone Have Experience or Knowledge of Vitex?, posted by TenMan on December 15, 2007, at 9:44:29
You're awesome for sharing! Thanks a bunch!
I have been interested in Vitex for quite a while and have been staring at a bottle for months...too chicken to try it. I am mainly interested in the dopamine agonist part of it for possibly helping anhedonia. Doing research on it was frustrating because it is almost all for women and not men and not anhedonia. A few women got suicidal depression from vitex because it messed with their hormones the wrong way. But now that I have heard from an actual user of it, maybe I might finally give it a go and see what happens.
Posted by linkadge on December 16, 2007, at 20:53:24
In reply to Re: Anyone Have Experience or Knowledge of Vitex? » TenMan, posted by bleauberry on December 16, 2007, at 18:54:22
I've heard nothing but good reports about vitex.
Vitex has some interesting properties. As mentioned it has some dopamine d2 activity. It is also a SSRI. It also has some opiate binding affinity.
Don't be chicken to try it. I find it a very sanitizing herb. It is grounding, and helps with mood/anhedonia.
It also helps with residual SSRI related problems like cognition, and movement issues. Open up the cap and split it if you're too scared to take a whole.
I have tried probably over 100 supplements, and vitx easily makes the top 5.
Linkadge
Posted by H2Obuffalo on December 16, 2007, at 22:51:51
In reply to Re: Anyone Have Experience or Knowledge of Vitex?, posted by linkadge on December 16, 2007, at 20:53:24
Unfortunately, vitex extract at 250mg, 500mg, or 1000mg once a day first thing in the morning did nothing but dampen my libido (which needs no dampening), make me feel spacey and detached, and give me a headache. It may now be having similar effects on my trash can.
Extra low dose maca, on the other hand, is my very good friend.
-H2Obuffalo
Posted by Sigismund on December 17, 2007, at 1:16:48
In reply to No good reaction, posted by H2Obuffalo on December 16, 2007, at 22:51:51
I'm wondering if maca gives you insomnia, or, you know, might conceivably aggravate it?
I *thought* it gave me insomnia when I tried it, but I never knew why I couldn't sleep, so everything was suspect.
It has the most wonderful taste.
Posted by Sigismund on December 17, 2007, at 1:20:21
In reply to Re: Anyone Have Experience or Knowledge of Vitex?, posted by linkadge on December 16, 2007, at 20:53:24
It seemed OK to me. Bit of an up feeling.
I took around 400mg or a bit more.
It was liquid so it's hard to say for sure.
Posted by Jamal Spelling on December 17, 2007, at 4:42:34
In reply to Re: Anyone Have Experience or Knowledge of Vitex?, posted by linkadge on December 16, 2007, at 20:53:24
> I have tried probably over 100 supplements, and vitx easily makes the top 5.
Mind sharing your top 5 list?
Posted by H2Obuffalo on December 17, 2007, at 21:04:37
In reply to Maca » H2Obuffalo, posted by Sigismund on December 17, 2007, at 1:16:48
Hi Sigismund-
Maca is one of the only stimulating herbs that *doesn't* cause insomnia for me. However, I always take it in the morning, not later in the day. Before bed it wouldn't be good for me and might cause insomnia. I take only 1/4 (one quarter) tablet of the Planetary Formulas brand full spectrum maca extract at the very start of breakfast. It doesn't seem to absorb well if taken after a meal. Also, once breakfast is over, I have one cup of coffee. The maca and the coffee seem to synergize well. Maca in the morning really helps me fight fatigue all day and keeps me feeling perky. My sleep quality is also better. Maca also enhances my libido and sexual sensations. If I have more than the extra small dose described above, my neck region swells up and and the benefits are lost. It took some time before I felt the effects- about two weeks of daily use. But these effects are definitely from the maca. I have been using it for three years now. Its very good stuff for my physiology. I have some sort of neurological and/or endocrine damage from being vegan for a foolish period in my past.
-H2Obuffalo
> I'm wondering if maca gives you insomnia, or, you know, might conceivably aggravate it?
>
> I *thought* it gave me insomnia when I tried it, but I never knew why I couldn't sleep, so everything was suspect.
>
> It has the most wonderful taste.
Posted by linkadge on December 18, 2007, at 11:20:54
In reply to Re: Anyone Have Experience or Knowledge of Vitex? » linkadge, posted by Jamal Spelling on December 17, 2007, at 4:42:34
The top 5 supplements (that work for me) are probably,
omega-3, folic acid, turmeric, SJW, vitex
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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