![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ksvt on September 26, 2000, at 19:56:54
I've read somewhere that people who are on ADs should supplement with vitamin B=12 and folic acid. Can someone please tell me why and what amounts are recommended? Thanks ksvt
Posted by bee on September 26, 2000, at 21:39:42
In reply to vitamin info please, posted by ksvt on September 26, 2000, at 19:56:54
Actually, I just came back from a doctor who supplements depression with vitamins. Of course, check with your own doctor before starting anything like I did. For me, I take folic acid, B-complex, Niacin, Vit. C, B-12 injections and Kirunal which is a oil supplement kind of like Evening Primrose. I don't know how it will work but can't hurt me to try.
Be interesting to see what others have to say.
bee
> I've read somewhere that people who are on ADs should supplement with vitamin B=12 and folic acid. Can someone please tell me why and what amounts are recommended? Thanks ksvt
Posted by stjames on September 27, 2000, at 0:22:59
In reply to vitamin info please, posted by ksvt on September 26, 2000, at 19:56:54
> I've read somewhere that people who are on ADs should supplement with vitamin B=12 and folic acid. Can someone please tell me why and what amounts are recommended? Thanks ksvt
James here.....
You need B-5 or 6 to make an amino which that is precursor to nor-e. Perhaps you need some of the other B's to make other neurchems. It is common to see big doses of the B-complex used in smart drugs, some of them are important for neurological function.
James
Posted by Cam W. on September 27, 2000, at 7:08:54
In reply to vitamin info please, posted by ksvt on September 26, 2000, at 19:56:54
> I've read somewhere that people who are on ADs should supplement with vitamin B=12 and folic acid. Can someone please tell me why and what amounts are recommended? Thanks ksvt
ksvt - Unless you have low blood levels of B12, adding more will not help (can be checked via a blood test, I believe). The B vitamins work as a complex (they all work together). A B-complex supplement usually works better and any excess B-vitamins your body doesn't need are peed off.
In depression, the theory probably is that since B-vitamins help maintain and fix the integrity of the nerve cell, they will help with cell recovery. The B-vitamins help electrical signals travel more quickly and efficiently down nerve cell axons byhelping maintain some specialized brain cells (Schwann cells), which wrap around nerves and act sort of like electrical conductors, speeding the electrical signal (the signal jumps over the Schwann cell, speeding conduction).
If I were you, take a B-vitamin complex tablet daily. Basically anything that says "stress" on the label. It is usually cheaper to buy the preparations that contain vitamin C as well, but the C doesn't hurt. Check to label to make sure that there is vitamin B12 in tablet (along with other B-vitamins).
As for dose, one tablet daily is usually enough. You can take one twice daily, as any excess is peed off. If you eat a lot of raw fruits and vegetables, take only one a day. If you don't, try one vitamin twice daily for about a month and then cut back to one daily, otherwise some of your money is just going down the drain (literally).
The folic acid never hurts, but I believe that higher doses are available by prescription only (at least in Canada). If you are lucky you may be able to find a "stress tab" contain B & C vitamins, as well as folic acid. Folic acid also helps with nerve cell maintenance.
Hope this helps - Cam
Posted by SLS on September 27, 2000, at 22:28:12
In reply to Re: vitamin info please » ksvt, posted by Cam W. on September 27, 2000, at 7:08:54
> > I've read somewhere that people who are on ADs should supplement with vitamin B=12 and folic acid. Can someone please tell me why and what amounts are recommended? Thanks ksvt
>
> ksvt - Unless you have low blood levels of B12, adding more will not help (can be checked via a blood test, I believe). The B vitamins work as a complex (they all work together). A B-complex supplement usually works better and any excess B-vitamins your body doesn't need are peed off.> The folic acid never hurts, but I believe that higher doses are available by prescription only (at least in Canada). If you are lucky you may be able to find a "stress tab" contain B & C vitamins, as well as folic acid. Folic acid also helps with nerve cell maintenance.
>
> Hope this helps - Cam
Recently, there has been an association observed between depression and high levels of homocysteine and low levels of both folate (folic acid) and B-12 (pyridoxine). I believe that the degree of anomolous levels increases with the severity of depression. There may also be an association linking low levels of folate with resistance to antidepressant treatment. Studies are now underway evaluating the efficacy of administering folic acid to potentiate the therapeutic response to antidepressants. Low levels of S-AMe (S-AdenosylMethionine) have also been associated with high levels of homocysteine.In many depressed individuals:
homocysteine - increased
folate - decreased
S-AMe - decreasedI thought B-12 was only negligibly absorbed through ingestion, and that this is why B-12 shots are necessary. I recall someone here describing a preparation that was more readily absorbed.
1. Enhancement of the antidepressant action of fluoxetine by folic acid: a randomised, placebo controlled trial.
2. Homocysteine, folate, methylation, and monoamine metabolism in depression.
- Scott
Posted by Cam W. on September 28, 2000, at 6:35:41
In reply to Re: vitamin info please, posted by SLS on September 27, 2000, at 22:28:12
8^)
Posted by noa on September 28, 2000, at 16:43:55
In reply to Re: vitamin info please - Thanks Scott (np), posted by Cam W. on September 28, 2000, at 6:35:41
Thanks you guys for reminding me of this. B-vitamins and folic acid have been on my list of things to do. I am a vegetarian and am aware that I probably don't get enough B6 or B12.
And, my disorganized lifestyle these past couple of years means I hardly ever eat properly, so my folic acid is probably insufficient.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.