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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tex1 on April 23, 2008, at 4:38:34
Hy all. Have on Depakote for almost 3 years with very good results (Cyclothymic Disorder) but gave it a break due to a personal decision and health complications. I'm now looking for a natural alternative to it, because honestly I'm missing it. Is out there any good and effective natural alternative ?
Posted by BPinWA on April 23, 2008, at 21:15:48
In reply to Mood stabilizer alternative, posted by tex1 on April 23, 2008, at 4:38:34
Lamictal has been a good mood stabilizer for me and many others. I was on Depakote for years, but had to go off for many health problems including major weight gain.
Good luck! :)
Posted by tex1 on April 24, 2008, at 4:10:03
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizer alternative, posted by BPinWA on April 23, 2008, at 21:15:48
BPinWA,
thanks for suggestion but with the word "alternative" I meant something natural, like supplements...Anyone knows something about ?
Posted by clipper40 on April 24, 2008, at 4:46:51
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizer alternative, posted by tex1 on April 24, 2008, at 4:10:03
Only natural one I've heard of is lithium orotate (it's a supplement at health food stores - not the lithium that you get from the pharmacy) Have you looked into that at all? You can do a search here and find some posts about it.
Also, there are holistic mental health sites that have information on this. Supposedly the actress Margot Kidder has been able to get her bipolar disorder under control with only natural supplements. If you're interested, I could probably find the link for you.
Posted by bleauberry on April 24, 2008, at 19:41:44
In reply to Mood stabilizer alternative, posted by tex1 on April 23, 2008, at 4:38:34
Since depakote is unique in what it does, and what it does is a mystery, it would be hard I think to know how to duplicate it naturally. However, mood stabilizing stuff in the natural world usually falls into these chemistries:
Lithium Orotate
Magnesium glycinate, citrate, or malate.
GABA
Glycine
Taurine
Vitamin C with a low dose B complex but high dose Niacinimide addition.If one is not prone to SSRI induced mania, even tyrptophan or 5htp in low doses can be quite grounding and stabilizing.
I sure cannot think of it right now, but there was some herb at pubmed that was found to have many similar properties to Lamictal. OH! Just remembered. Kava Kava. Usually for anxiety. But clinically it has similarities to Lamictal.
Posted by tex1 on April 28, 2008, at 4:11:39
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizer alternative » tex1, posted by clipper40 on April 24, 2008, at 4:46:51
Clipper,
I'd appreciate it....I don't actually know if in my country Lithium orotate is available. I'll look for it. I thought that some natural remedies were available. I've heard about Omega fatty acids being mood stabilizers. Is it true ?
Posted by clipper40 on April 28, 2008, at 5:22:57
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizer alternative, posted by tex1 on April 28, 2008, at 4:11:39
Yes, I've also heard of the Omega fatty acids having some mood stabilizing effect, now that you mention it. Don't know that I've heard of anyone being stabilized on just those though.
Lithium Orotate is available through iHerb.com and they sell to a lot of different countries so it might be worth looking into. I'm sure there are other online stores that sell it as well.
In terms of the Margot Kidder article, here's the link:
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/aminobipolar.htm
I would also encourage you to investigate the things that bleauberry mentioned in his post as he is very knowledgeable.
Posted by okydoky on May 11, 2008, at 14:39:06
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizer alternative, posted by bleauberry on April 24, 2008, at 19:41:44
"Just remembered. Kava Kava. Usually for anxiety. But clinically it has similarities to Lamictal"
How so? Always looking for alternatives if I can avoid meds. Usually end up on meds.
oky
This is the end of the thread.
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