Posted by Green Willow on October 15, 2008, at 17:30:36
In reply to Re: Help! ~ B6 gives me insomnia, posted by Lao Tzu on October 14, 2008, at 3:39:40
Yipes, Lao Tzu, the insomnia problem is coming directly from the B6. Time after time I experience insomnia with B6 supplementation. What kind of problems do you get from folic acid? I am on prescription folic acid as I need it to offset the side effects from methotrexate, but have never had a problem with folic acid. I do take citalopram for depression. Wondering if I am getting too much seratonin?? I am highly sensitive to things of this nature. Also the form of B6 that I take is HCl. Does that make any difference? Thanks, GW
> I've read that B vitamins usually help with insomnia, but if you are especially sensitive to B6, then taking it in the morning rather than at night might be in order. I have bipolar/schizophrenia and B6 actually helps me a lot, even with insomnia. I take some in the morning and 50mg at bedtime with Niacin, vitamin E, calcium, and a little melatonin. This combination helps me with insomnia. Are you currently taking any prescription medications that might cause your insomnia? I had a similar experience with vitamin B5 causing me to have insomnia, but I couldn't be sure that's exactly what it was. B6 can affect your neurotransmitters, and I agree that you might have to balance it with one or more other B vitamins. Niacin is a good one to take at bedtime. I also agree that taking a B complex may be more helpful because of the balance you're getting of B vitamins. Personally, and this is just me not everyone, I don't like B complexes because I react negatively to the folic acid in them. Some people do well on folic acid, some get worse. In the past, I have had good success with taking a combination of B12, Niacin, and B6 along with magnesium and/or calcium, vitamin C, and if you need it, a little zinc. And as a I said, supplementing with other nutrients at bedtime is important. Niacin, vitamin E, P5P (B6), melatonin, calcium, and an amino acid complex supplement all help me get a good night's rest. In addition, if you have low serotonin and are not taking any prescription antidepressants for sleep, then maybe adding something like 5HTP or L-trytophan at bedtime might help you also. This is just my experience as a schizophrenic/bipolar. I wish you the best in figuring out what will help you with your insomnia.
poster:Green Willow
thread:856592
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20081006/msgs/857617.html