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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 KaraS on July 14, 2004, at 13:17:11
I've been taking the full dosage for a couple of days now (of that good brand from Sweden) and half that dosage for a week previous to that. I don't have any side effects - just feel a little more relaxed and calm. I haven't seen any antidepressant effect yet. I thought I noticed more energy and ability to focus on the first day that I took it but now I think that was probably just wishful thinking (or else a one time thing). I'm beginning to think that if I haven't experienced better ability to concentrate and more energy yet, that this isn't going to work for me. Am I already seeing this correctly or do I need to stick it out another 10-12 days to be sure?
Kara
Posted by mistermindmasta on July 14, 2004, at 21:35:05
In reply to Rhodiola experience so far - any advice?, posted by KaraS on July 14, 2004, at 13:17:11
> I've been taking the full dosage for a couple of days now (of that good brand from Sweden) and half that dosage for a week previous to that. I don't have any side effects - just feel a little more relaxed and calm. I haven't seen any antidepressant effect yet. I thought I noticed more energy and ability to focus on the first day that I took it but now I think that was probably just wishful thinking (or else a one time thing). I'm beginning to think that if I haven't experienced better ability to concentrate and more energy yet, that this isn't going to work for me. Am I already seeing this correctly or do I need to stick it out another 10-12 days to be sure?
>
> KaraFrom everyone else's experience and my own, Rhodiola doesn't seem to need that 4 - 6 month time delay before the full effects are realised. I think the effects are felt short term. For me, Rhodiola made feel a lot less stressed out. Like, when something crappy might happen to me, I wouldn't really care about it a whole lot. Not much bothered me. This was actually similar to how St. John's Wort made me feel. I also noticed increased ability + increased desire to socialise, ESPECIALLY in the first few days. This all occured within the first 72 hours of taking it. Mind you, I did take high doses in comparison to what the swedish institute tablets have in them. I used abut 1000mg / day, I think of the Nature's Way brand (i could double check that, though, since it might actually be another brand).
Overall, I would recommend Rhodiola to people who tend to have negative thinking and maybe a little social anxiety. But, it really does seem to affect diff people in diff ways. I suspect this may be that diff brands have diff amts of the active compounds that cause the psychoactive effects. Therefore, maybe high doses of the Swedish Institute brand might have a stronger overall stimulant / antidepressant effect??? Maybe Enzymatic Therapy might have different effects as well? SO MUCH INCONSISTANCY IN HERBS!!! Oh well, its better than having them strictly regulated and taken off the market by the FDA... or only getting them by prescription. I'm happy enough doing my trials + experiments, but quicker results and more consistancy would be nice.
Posted by KaraS on July 14, 2004, at 23:20:56
In reply to Re: Rhodiola experience so far - any advice?, posted by mistermindmasta on July 14, 2004, at 21:35:05
> > I've been taking the full dosage for a couple of days now (of that good brand from Sweden) and half that dosage for a week previous to that. I don't have any side effects - just feel a little more relaxed and calm. I haven't seen any antidepressant effect yet. I thought I noticed more energy and ability to focus on the first day that I took it but now I think that was probably just wishful thinking (or else a one time thing). I'm beginning to think that if I haven't experienced better ability to concentrate and more energy yet, that this isn't going to work for me. Am I already seeing this correctly or do I need to stick it out another 10-12 days to be sure?
> >
> > Kara
>
>
>
> From everyone else's experience and my own, Rhodiola doesn't seem to need that 4 - 6 month time delay before the full effects are realised. I think the effects are felt short term. For me, Rhodiola made feel a lot less stressed out. Like, when something crappy might happen to me, I wouldn't really care about it a whole lot. Not much bothered me. This was actually similar to how St. John's Wort made me feel. I also noticed increased ability + increased desire to socialise, ESPECIALLY in the first few days. This all occured within the first 72 hours of taking it. Mind you, I did take high doses in comparison to what the swedish institute tablets have in them. I used abut 1000mg / day, I think of the Nature's Way brand (i could double check that, though, since it might actually be another brand).
>
> Overall, I would recommend Rhodiola to people who tend to have negative thinking and maybe a little social anxiety. But, it really does seem to affect diff people in diff ways. I suspect this may be that diff brands have diff amts of the active compounds that cause the psychoactive effects. Therefore, maybe high doses of the Swedish Institute brand might have a stronger overall stimulant / antidepressant effect??? Maybe Enzymatic Therapy might have different effects as well? SO MUCH INCONSISTANCY IN HERBS!!! Oh well, its better than having them strictly regulated and taken off the market by the FDA... or only getting them by prescription. I'm happy enough doing my trials + experiments, but quicker results and more consistancy would be nice.
>
>
>Yeah, I feel like I should be experiencing a deeper effect these first few days but I'll stick with it longer and see what happens. Unfortunately I wanted more of the dopamine activity rather than the serotonin. I'm taking the equivalent of 360 mg. rosavin (4.0% standardized). Dr. Richard Brown recommends in his book that the dosage be 200-400 mg. (4% standardized) which matches the recommendations on the Rhodiola package. These recommendations may be too conservative though for various reasons. I may try increasing the dosage but I'm afraid it will put me to sleep. I've heard that other good brands (besides Enzymatic Therapy that you mentioned) are Solgar, New Chapter and Rhodick (sp?). Maybe I'll try one or more of those as well. Once this herb is better known, I suspect there will be more info out there about which brands tend to produce specific effects (e.g. Perika the most stimulating of the St. John's Wort brands) but until then I'll have to wing it.
I know there are benefits to being unregulated and easily available but I'm tired of wasting time trying things that don't work out! (This is just my disappointment talking.)
Thanks for your input!
Posted by KaraS on July 17, 2004, at 16:55:37
In reply to Re: Rhodiola experience so far - any advice?, posted by KaraS on July 14, 2004, at 23:20:56
I stopped taking the Rhodiola last night. It was making me groggy and making it nearly impossible to think clearly. I've never felt so mentally unfocussed.
I'm so disappointed that this didn't work out. It would have been too good to be true. I was hoping it would solve many problems all in one fell swoop: antidepression, energy, focus, estrogen replacement and adatogen for possible adrenal fatigue issues. Now I have to try to treat those things separately. It's so dangerous to get such high expectations! You know it while you're engaging in them but you can't seem to help it.
This is the end of the thread.
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