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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by psychobot5000 on November 19, 2007, at 17:31:51
Took 2 zinc and vitamin C lozenges, swallowed, yesterday (because I was feeling sick), and, several hours later, got panicky anxiety. It was very unpleasant, and abnormal for me, so I assume it was related to the zinc/C supplements. Anyone know which, of those two, might be most likely to cause feelings of tension/being wired? It was all very odd!
Posted by nolvas on November 19, 2007, at 18:52:07
In reply to Zinc and Vit C lozenge = anxiety (!?), posted by psychobot5000 on November 19, 2007, at 17:31:51
The problem with anxiety is that a large component of it is psychogenic. I can take a supplement and start panicking before it's even had any time to have an effect. Check your breathing to see if it's shallow and causing anxiety and panic feelings seemingly out of the blue.
Vitamin C should reduce stress as it reduces the serum levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. Too much zinc can cause nausea, although if you took the standard dose then that would seem unlikely that it would contribute to any anxiety.
Posted by bleauberry on November 20, 2007, at 19:44:42
In reply to Zinc and Vit C lozenge = anxiety (!?), posted by psychobot5000 on November 19, 2007, at 17:31:51
Maybe if you were deficient in zinc and you suddenly corrected it you would experience unusual reactions as things downstream were happening, kind of like someone deficient in serotonin starting an SSRI. Talk about anxiety. Your reaction could mean you need the stuff, but that the amount you took got things rolling too fast.
I doubt it was the C. Z and C are involved in neurtransmitter production, so who knows, maybe you made more serotonin or dopamine all of a sudden that you were not accustomed to.
Or maybe it was just a fluke reaction. You could try again in a few days and see if it repeats.
There is also the decent possibility it wasn't the Z or C at all, but instead the sweetener in the lozenge...sugar, aspartame? Aspartame is two excitatory amino acids joined together. If by chance it was aspartame, that has panic/anxiety written all over it for susceptible people. A good dose of sugar can do that to people to. It is not uncommon for people to be sensitive to food colorings, especially Red and Yellow.
Posted by Netch on November 21, 2007, at 9:54:28
In reply to Zinc and Vit C lozenge = anxiety (!?), posted by psychobot5000 on November 19, 2007, at 17:31:51
Sounds like you got too much zinc
/Netch
Posted by qqqsimmons on December 5, 2007, at 14:54:28
In reply to Re: Zinc and Vit C lozenge = anxiety (!?), posted by Netch on November 21, 2007, at 9:54:28
i agree with netch. too much zinc can make me hyper and/or anxious, and can cause insomnia...
Posted by psychobot5000 on December 5, 2007, at 19:45:46
In reply to Re: Zinc and Vit C lozenge = anxiety (!?), posted by qqqsimmons on December 5, 2007, at 14:54:28
> i agree with netch. too much zinc can make me hyper and/or anxious, and can cause insomnia...
Aah. Well, that seems like it makes sense. Zinc probably wasn't the sole factor, of course, but I bet it made a contribution after all. It's helpful to know others can have similar experiences.
Think I'll be avoiding zinc supplements for the time being.
Psychbot
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