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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LaoTzu on October 7, 2015, at 15:05:22
It is interesting how the focus of depression revolves around neurotransmitters. What if, also, the mitochondria were involved in some cases of depression? Google Mito Cocktail. It is used for mitochondrial diseases. I'm just opening this up for discussion because even with antidepressants, I still had a lethargic depression. The medication helped, but there was something else going on. I started taking vitamin E, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin, and magnesium with my medication, and melatonin at bedtime. This lifted my depression a lot, and I have more energy. I still have social anxiety. That hasn't gone away. Have you found that any of these vitamins, some of which are in the Mito Cocktail, helped your depression? I just thought it would make an interesting topic.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 7, 2015, at 16:15:48
In reply to Mitochondria and Depression, posted by LaoTzu on October 7, 2015, at 15:05:22
this is interesting. I remember reading somewhere that ppl on psych meds often are judged to look older than other ppl their age not on psych meds. Part stress, but...probably also part ill effects of meds, too.
Anyway, I take a ton of supplements--Orthomolecular plus extra--and they help a lot. I take some of the ones you mentioned in your post, plus others.
I read somewhere that around the same time Thorazine hit it big, they were doing research into B3 and alpha lipoic acid for schizophrenia...oxidative stress as a potential cause of psychosis and potent antioxidants as potential treatments. Thorazine went on to be a huge money maker and the antioxidant research has mostly been neglected it seems, until fairly recently...
I do take coenzyme q10, the kind in the softgel. 200mgs, once daily. So far...it seems to help a good bit with everything.
Anyway, thanks for your post.
Posted by Tomatheus on October 7, 2015, at 22:56:33
In reply to Mitochondria and Depression, posted by LaoTzu on October 7, 2015, at 15:05:22
LaoTzu,
I think that you could very well be onto something about mitochondria being involved in some cases of depression. And yes, modulating the neurotransmitter systems does seem to be the big focus as far as the biological treatment of depression is concerned, but even though such an approach does benefit a certain percentage of depressed patients, I think that other approaches need to be looked at -- especially for patients whose symptoms don't respond to first-line treatments. So yes, looking at boosting mitochondrial function as a target for depression makes sense. I've personally looked at very little of the research in this area, and so I can't recall what researchers have found, but I think that considering targeting mitochondria is at least worth a try as far as the treatment of depression is concerned.
As far as my own case is concerned, the problems that I have with energy and concentration (as well as the related symptoms that I experience) did not, in the long run, respond to the supplements that you mentioned, and melatonin just seems to worsen my symptoms. I am, however, glad that you've found some supplements that seem to be helping you. It seems that best path toward resolving the symptoms of depression seems to be at least a bit different for everybody, so even though I didn't seem to be helped by the supplements that you mentioned (curcumin is what I prefer), I think it's really good that you can say that the supplements you're taking have lifted your mood and boosted your energy. I wish you continued success with all of your treatments.
Tomatheus
Posted by LaoTzu on October 8, 2015, at 9:01:01
In reply to Mitochondria and Depression, posted by LaoTzu on October 7, 2015, at 15:05:22
Thanks all of you for your comments and feedback.
This is the end of the thread.
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